Directions

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is located in Northwestern Lower Michigan along the eastern shoreline of Lake Michigan. The closest city is Traverse City, 25 miles to the east. Several park maps are available to download.

Getting Around

Most visitors to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore arrive and travel through the park by car, RV, or motorcycle. You can easily get to all attractions by driving on M-22 through most of the park and then taking the M-109 loop about 2 miles north of Empire. You can take M-109 to the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, the Dune Climb, Glen Haven, and D. H. Day Campground and then back to M-22 in Glen Arbor.

Check out the park map, download the NPS app, or stop in the visitor center and pick one up.

Access to North and South Manitou Islands is by private boat or by passenger ferry service operated by Manitou Island Transit.

Park addresses for GPS

Philip A. Visitor Center
9922 Front Street, Empire, MI 49630

Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive
8500 Stocking Drive, Empire, MI 49630

Dune Climb
6748 Dune Hwy (M-109), Glen Arbor, MI 49636

Maritime Museum
8799 Sleeping Bear Road, Glen Arbor, MI 49636

Platte River Campground
5685 Lake Michigan Road, Honor, MI 49640

D. H. Day Campground
8010 West Harbor Hwy. (M-109), Glen Arbor, MI 49636

Directions

By Car

From the South (Detroit or Chicago areas)

Take US-31, US-131, US-27 to M-115 & M-37, I-75 and M-72 North to Traverse City, then west on M-72 to the Village of Empire. You will see the Visitor Center as you enter Empire on your right.

You may also get to Empire from the south via US-31 to Ludington and then north to Manistee. You can follow either US-31 or M-22 from north of Manistee.

If you follow M-22, stay on it through Frankfort, and in about 10 miles, you will come to the Platte River Campground. Another 10 miles north will bring you to Empire where the Visitor Center is located. To get to the Visitor Center, turn right at M-72 and drive about 100 yards and you will see the Visitor Center on your left.

If you follow US-31 north of Manistee, you can either take M-115 to Frankfort where you can take M-22 to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore as described above, or you can continue north on US-31 to Beulah. Proceed 3.3 miles and turn left on County Road 706. Follow CR 706 4.4 miles to M-22. Turn right and drive 1 mile to the Platte River Campground. Another 10 miles north on M-22 will bring you to Empire. To get to the Visitor Center, turn right at M-72 and drive about 100 yards and you will see the Visitor Center on your left.

Or you may go about 4.3 miles past Beulah to Deadstream Road (CR 708) in Honor. Turn left and drive 4.4 miles to M-22. You will be about 0.5 miles north of the Platte River Campground and 9.5 miles south of Empire. To get to the Visitor Center, turn right at M-72 and drive about 100 yards and you will see the Visitor Center on your left.

From the North (Michigan's Upper Peninsula)

Take I-75 to Grayling and follow M-72 to Traverse City or take US-31 south to Traverse City, then go west on M-72 to the Village of Empire.

By Plane

The Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) in Traverse City (30 miles from the Lakeshore) has daily connections to Detroit, Chicago, and Minneapolis with seasonal connections to Cincinnati, Dallas, and New York City. The Traverse City Airport is serviced by Northwest, United, American, and Delta Airlines.

By Bus

Traverse City has a Greyhound bus station with local bus (BATA) service to Empire. BATA also offers a summer service that goes from Traverse City to downtown Glen Arbor, DH Day Campground, the Dune Climb, Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive parking lot, and downtown Empire. The bus can fit up to 11 bikes and trailers of any type.

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