Belle Isle Park
Belle Isle Park
4
5:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Monday
5:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Tuesday
5:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Wednesday
5:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Thursday
5:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Friday
5:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
5:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday
5:00 AM - 10:00 PM
About
Rich with history and natural beauty, Belle Isle Park is a Detroit gem and a Michigan state park. The 987-acre island park features the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, the Belle Isle Aquarium, Dossin Great Lakes Museum, giant slide, athletic fields, picnic areas, Belle Isle Nature Zoo, the James Scott Memorial Fountain and more attractions popular with all ages and interests. The park includes three lakes, 150 acres of wooded area and spectacular views of the Detroit and Windsor skyline. Rentals available for: Watercraft, Bike, Snow Sports. Food and ice sales available. Recreation Passport Required for entry. Please check website for hours for each attraction.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
1,100 reviews
Excellent
556
Very good
347
Average
119
Poor
48
Terrible
30
CapeCodTravler
Brewster, MA244 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Visiting in January we decided to do a quick tour around. The island looks to have quite a bit to do and must really come alive in the Spring. There is certainly a need for some upkeep and love but Detroit seems to be strapped for funds. I hope the ongoing work is completed by spring to show off this beautiful location. I did find it unsettling that the community yacht club looked so beat up while The private yacht club was a bit better maintained. With all the yacht clubs and money up the shore, you would think they would all chip in to assist the community sailing for city kids on the island. Noticed folks fishing the river, even in January.
Written January 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tansy2015
Michigan336 contributions
Feb 2020
A wonderful job the DNR has done revamping this gem. The aquarium has had all its ceiling tile cleaned and it is beautiful. The Conservatory is fabulous with all the tropical and desert plants (leave a donation!), and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum is just the same as it was 20 years ago. You get to go inside a real pilot house and listen to the captain of passing freighters speaking on their radios. The dosents are happy to help explain anything that your interested in. Al FREE!
Written February 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michelle M
Detroit, MI26 contributions
Feb 2020
As long as you have your state rec pass on the plate, admission is free, donations are accepted which help with caring of the aquarium and all the plants. Our visit wasn't very long, but the place was packed, I can see why. It is great for photos
Written March 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MidwestKathM
Detroit, MI940 contributions
Oct 2020
Lifelong Detroiter with many visits to Belle Isle through the years. Many family memories. Still make it to the island numerous times each year. During these COVID times, it has been a terrific place to walk and bike. Most of the buildings are closed, but you can walk through the Conservatory gardens (limited hours), visit the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, walk and bike all the way around the island, check out the architecture of the buildings (thank you, Albert Kahn and others) and other structures, walk out to the Lighthouse and the adjacent island, sit and relax and enjoy the view of downtown Detroit and the Detroit River, go fishing, wander about and take photos of the natural beauty, the historical monuments, the architecture, or your family, and more. Certainly the island can always be better maintained, but the improvement since it became a Michigan State Park is visible. Looking forward to the Conservatory, Aquarium, and Nature Center to being open again. A great place for your family gathering or for showing out-of-town visitors too!!
Written October 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bcsystems
Ann Arbor, MI4,069 contributions
Aug 2020
This park has so much potential unfortunately, only the two main attractions, the aquarium and conservatory has been maintained. There's definitely plenty of space for picnic, swimming. biking, walking, etc but it just lacks the attractions you see at other great city parks in Chicago, NYC, Boston, etc.
Written August 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deborah M
Akron, OH63 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
We drove over from the mainland and parked (no admission fee Mon 7/18). We then hopped on our bikes and enjoyed riding the one-way loop around the island. The buildings were all closed (guessing bc it was a Monday) but we enjoyed stopping to see the koi pond outside the conservatory and the sculpture at the end with the lighthouse. By following the contour of the island, you see water nearly the entire time, which I loved.
We then spent a little time putting our feet in the water at the public beach-- nice sandy expanse along the shimmering Detroit River.
Tons of parking, picnic areas, sports fields to accommodate anything you want to do. Great recreation spot!
We then spent a little time putting our feet in the water at the public beach-- nice sandy expanse along the shimmering Detroit River.
Tons of parking, picnic areas, sports fields to accommodate anything you want to do. Great recreation spot!
Written July 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brendan S
Arlington, VA1,691 contributions
Sep 2023 • Solo
Belle Isle could be a nice place, but in its current state, it isn’t. It’s a large park several miles long with views of the city, a beach, a museum, a small aquarium and a conservancy. Every surface, building and sign is dilapidated - rusting, crumbling, faded, paint peeling, cracked and in need of repair in every possible way. And those are the sites that are open. Several others were closed and fenced off. The ornate fountain was off. There’s no attempt at landscaping even though entrance fees are collected. The park is mostly used for large picnics and relaxing by the shore in an urban oasis. There were a lot of people enjoying the Park, but I couldn’t get past how lacking in upkeep it was.
Written September 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cubsfan_1974
Aurora, IL321 contributions
Jun 2021
Due to covid and due to heavy rains the night before, a lot was closed the day we went to Belle Isle. There were very few people on the island so it made it for a nice and quiet visit, but we also did not get to see the aquarium or the conservatory. The beach was also essentially closed with no food or bathrooms open. We did walk along the beach anyway and it's nice enough. As others have said in reviews, there is some garbage along the beach and it's not really a soft sand beach (more like tiny rocks), but it seems like it would be a nice enough beach for swimming or wading if the weather was better. Seems a beautiful island with a lot of nice nature, except most of it was closed so I can't say much more about it.
Written June 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JBH
409 contributions
Aug 2020
I'm not sure if the island is on shut down since all of the buildings are closed because of COVID, but the island is very unkept. The buildings looked like they were falling apart. The fountain was a disaster. The grass was unmown and there was almost no place for a blanket with the goose droppings, broken glass and other bits of liter all around. There was no charge for going and plenty of parking, despite there being soooo many people. The play set was filled to the max with no social distancing that I could see. We decided we'd have a picnic, but it was very uncomfortable to say the least. I wouldn't recommend visiting until things open and the buildings get updated.
Written August 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lori P
Indiana59 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
Not much to do but it only cost $11 to get in. We drove around and went into the aquarium (included in the entrance fee)That was a quick visit but was nice. The round, tiled ceiling was cool. There are no bathrooms in the aquarium/ need to use the outdoor bathrooms in the parking lot.
The conservatory is under renovation so it is closed right now.
Aquarium is only open Friday-Sunday I believe
The conservatory is under renovation so it is closed right now.
Aquarium is only open Friday-Sunday I believe
Written July 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
is there a dog pool there
MidwestKathM
Detroit, MI940 contributions
No. In fact, the only swimming is at the beach. No inland splashpads for humans or pets.
Valerie B
Detroit, MI
Thinking of having a picnic with my guy. How much is it to enter and park at belle isle? I'm a Michigan resident.
MidwestKathM
Detroit, MI940 contributions
A Michigan State Park daily pass is $5. If you've purchased the Annual Passport for $11 when you renewed your license plate, then you're all set! That said, I'm not sure if the entrance booth is open and taking the daily fee as it's been closed every time I've been to Belle Isle during COVID.
Micki S
Clinton Township, MI
Does the park let visitors in FREE before Memorial Day?
Do they have one day a week for a FREE day?
MidwestKathM
Detroit, MI940 contributions
Belle Isle is a Michigan State Park that operates year round. Admission is via annual pass (that you can buy for $12 when you renew your car registration) or you can buy a daypass for $9 to get in. No free days. That said, sometimes the booth is not manned, drivers without a pass who come in run the risk of the police seeing that there is no pass on the car's tag or on the windshield and giving them a ticket. Check the Michigan Department of Natural Resources website for more info on Belle Isle.
Tiffany
Grand Rapids, MI47 contributions
I have never been before. Do they have regular flush toilet bathrooms or just port-a-potties? Thanks!
idzilla
Frankenmuth, MI579 contributions
They have both. There is a good amount of renovation going on, so a few of the bathrooms are closed. Your best bet for full bathroom is near the aquarium.
Kristi T
Ann Arbor, MI329 contributions
Can you walk to Belle Isle from the Riverfront? I’m going to be going to the DNR and Riverfront wondering if i can do it all without moving my vehicle.
Philly, PA
Philadelphia, PA29 contributions
Not really, unless you can walk several miles out and then back. I stayed at RenCen and took a taxi to the aquarium and a Lyft back. Had a great time!
Kathy L
4 contributions
Are there any daffodils in blossom now 4-16-2019?
patriciasowers
Alexandria, VA169 contributions
I doubt it. I am sorry to say.
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Claim your listingBelle Isle Park - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions about Belle Isle Park
- Belle Isle Park is open:
- Sun - Sat 5:00 AM - 10:00 PM
- Hotels near Belle Isle Park:
- (3.37 mi) HOTEL DAVID WHITNEY, AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION
- (3.45 mi) ROOST Detroit
- (3.45 mi) Sonder Gabriel Richard
- (3.29 mi) Element Detroit At The Metropolitan
- (3.32 mi) Detroit Foundation Hotel
- Restaurants near Belle Isle Park:
- (3.25 mi) Eddy's Mediterranean Bistro
- (2.57 mi) Mezzo Ristorante & Lounge
- (2.65 mi) Spago
- (3.86 mi) Souq Lebanese Grill
- (3.27 mi) Dime Store
- Attractions near Belle Isle Park:
- (0.09 mi) Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory
- (0.08 mi) Belle Isle Aquarium
- (0.13 mi) William Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse
- (0.20 mi) Dossin Great Lakes Museum
- (1.11 mi) Show Me Detroit Tours