East Tawas is a city in Iosco County in the U.S. state of Michigan.

The western New York firm Smith, Van Valkenburg, & Company bought land in the area in order to exploit the area's lumber resources.

The East Tawas post office opened on April 15, 1867.

A predecessor of the Detroit and Mackinac Railway built a station here, and the community incorporated as a village in 1887 and later as a city in 1895.

Tawas Beach was established nearby in 1903 along the railway line in Baldwin Township.

A post office opened here on June 12, 1903, until the community was annexed into the city of East Tawas in 1922.

38.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

37.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 23.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.