Traverse City Beaches

This list includes most popular beaches in the Traverse City area. There are more, particularly in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, but some require a bit of a hike. For suggestions, ask at the Sleeping Bear Dunes visitor center in Empire.

Acme Township Park - Four miles north of Acme off US 31 North, 12 miles east of Traverse City, this beach offers picnic grounds, a playground and a sandy beach on the eastern shore of East Grand Traverse Bay. Acme MI

Alden Depot Park & Museum - On the eastern shore of beautiful Torch Lake is the village of Alden, whose restored 1908 train depot features photographs and memorabilia from the community's past as a railroad and resort area. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend. 10670 Coy P.O. Box 204 Alden MI 49612(231) 331-4274

Antrim County Park (Barnes Park) - On East Grand Traverse Bay, this park features a sandy beach, hiking trails, a playground, restroom facilities, and covered picnic facilities. Day use is free. It's west of US 31 and M 88 in Torch Lake Township. Bellaire MI

Arbutus Lake - A shallow, spring-fed lake, Arbutus Lake is 30 minutes south of Traverse City, off Garfield Road and has a nice playground near the beach. Traverse City MI

Bayside Park - The combination of 600 feet of sandy beach with the bathhouse and the picnic and playground areas make Bayside Park not only lovely but also fully equipped for beach goers to stay the whole day. The water is shallow a long way out with a sandy bottom, perfect for wading. It's on East Grand Traverse Bay off US 31 North, just south of the M 72 junction in Acme and eight miles from Traverse City. Acme MI

Bowers Harbor Beach - Tucked into protected Bowers Harbor on Old Mission Peninsula, this beach offers picnic facilities as well as a nearby boat launch with restrooms. Bowers Harbor Beach looks out West Grand Traverse Bay at Power Island. It is 15 miles north of Traverse City on Peninsula Drive. Traverse City MI

Bryant Park - Picnic area, a playground, restrooms, charcoal grills, tall pines, a long stretch of sandy beach, and lifeguards (mid-June -- August) make this a popular spot near downtown Traverse City off M 37. Often you'll find excellent sunset views overlooking West Grand Traverse Bay, bright sun and cool shade. It is located where Garfield and Front Streets intersect at the base of Old Mission Peninsula. Traverse City MI

Centerville Township Park - This beach on Lake Leelanau is off Highway 643 south of the Village of Lake Leelanau. It has picnic facilities, a playground, and restrooms. Lake Leelanau MI
Central Lake Municipal Park (Thurston Park)In the village of Central Lake you will find a picnic area next to a beach, and a boat launch on Intermediate Lake. It is off M 88 in Antrim County. Central Lake MI

Clinch Park - The area's most populated if not it's most popular beach features over 1500 feet of sand along West Grand Traverse Bay in downtown Traverse City. Clinch Park has picnic tables, lifeguards (mid-June -- August) and restrooms. It is adjacent to Clinch Park Marina, east of Union Street on Grandview Parkway. Grandview Parkway Traverse City MI 49684(231) 922-4903

Custer Township Park - On Lake of the Woods, five miles west of Mancelona off M 88, there's a beach and boat launch that is part of Custer Township Park. Mancelona MI

East Bay Park - This beach is popular with young families. It has shady picnic areas, shallow water with a gradual slope, lifeguards, a playground and restrooms. Find it at the base of East Grand Traverse Bay and the foot of Front Street. Traverse City MI

Elk Rapids County Day Park - A 13-acre park with a large beach, a bathhouse, restrooms and playground; this beach park also features a picnic area, nature trails, and tennis and basketball courts. It's just outside of Elk Rapids on south Bayshore Drive. South Bayshore Drive Elk Rapids MI

Elk Rapids Dam Fishing Park - Sandy beach and privies adjacent to the Elk Rapids Dam off Dexter Road. It borders East Grand Traverse Bay. Elk Rapids MI

Elmwood Township Park - This beach, with a playground, picnic facilities and restrooms, is located on West Bay, off M 22, one mile north of the M 72 junction in Traverse City. Traverse City MI

Empire Village Park - This beach at the foot of Niagara Street in Empire has views of the stunning Empire Bluffs, part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. It is located 22 miles west of Traverse City on M 22. Restrooms, picnic facilities. Empire MI

Esch Road Beach - Twenty miles west of Traverse City and 12 miles south of the Village of Empire, Esch Road Beach looks out on the impressive aqua and deep blue waters of Lake Michigan's Platte Bay. Picnic facilities. Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore or National Park pass required.Empire MI

Forest Home Township Park - A lovely beach on Torch Lake is the park's main attraction, its jewel. Other of its valuable features include picnic facilities, restrooms, a playground, tennis and basketball courts in the Village of Bellaire. Bellaire MI

Gilbert Park - You'll find a sandy beach, picnic tables and privies on Long Lake in Gilbert Park. It is located eight miles west of Traverse City on North Long Lake Road (Front Street). Traverse City MI

Glen Arbor Municipal Beach - Thirty miles northwest of Traverse City in the town of Glen Arbor, off M 22, the municipal beach has picnic facilities, restrooms, and a playground. Glen Arbor MI

Glen Haven Beach - Thirty miles northwest of Traverse City, near Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore Dunes Climb, there is a quiet, beautiful and almost private Lake Michigan beach in historic Glen Haven, a deserted village. Glen Arbor MI

Glen Lake Beach - Located on M 22 across from Sleeping Bear Dunes Climb on Little Glen Lake, Glen Lake Beach is approximately 30 miles from Traverse City and has restrooms and picnic facilities. Empire MI

Haserot Beach Park - Just east of the town of Old Mission and 20 miles north of Traverse City on Old Mission Peninsula lies Haserot Beach Park. It boasts a variety of features -- a sandy beach on a protected bay of Lake Michigan, restrooms, picnic facilities, playground, and boat launch. Traverse City MI

Interlochen State Park - This beach on Duck Lake is only 14 miles southwest of Traverse City in the Village of Interlochen and has picnic facilities, a playground and restrooms. Interlochen MI

Leelanau State Park - This Lake Michigan beach is at the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula in the Village of Northport. It's 30 miles north of Traverse City on M 22. Besides the beach, it has restrooms, hiking trails and historic Grand Traverse Lighthouse, which is open to the public. Northport MI

Leland Municipal Beach - Twenty-four miles northwest of Traverse City off M 22 in the Village of Leland, this town beach looks out on Lake Michigan. There's a marina nearby, as well as restrooms, and picnic facilities. Leland MI

Long Lake Township Park - Picnic facilities, restrooms, playground, boat launch and warmish (mid-summer), crystalline water makes this beach popular. It is on Long Lake just off Highway 610 southwest of Traverse City. Traverse City MI

Northport Beach - This park has a beach area with playground and restrooms. It is adjacent to the marina at the foot of Nagonaba Street in Northport, which is 26 miles north of Traverse City on M 22. Northport MI

Old Mission Lighthouse Park - At the end of M 37, on the tip of Old Mission Peninsula, is a large, wide beach area with extremely shallow water, a picnic area, a reconstruction of an early settler's cabin and privies. It is an ideal spot for wading. The lighthouse there is not open to the public. Beach sites are accessible along the final mile of M 37 until the road ends at the park. To reach this park, take M 37 to the end of Old Mission Peninsula. At this point you are about 22 miles from Front Street in Traverse City. Old Mission MI

Old Settlers' Park - This park, 18 miles northwest of Traverse City on the east shore of Glen Lake off Highway 675, has restrooms, a playground and picnic facilities. Empire MI

Peterson Park - On Lake Michigan in Northport, 26 miles north of Traverse City on M 22, Peterson Park's rock-strewn beach is an excellent spot for finding Petoskey stones. Northport MI

Power Island - Accessible only by boat, this beach on West Grand Traverse Bay's Power Island, off Bower's Harbor on Old Mission Peninsula, features picnic facilities, restrooms and hiking trails. Traverse City MI

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - This park contains numerous spectacular beaches on its 33 miles of protected Lake Michigan shoreline, including D.H. Day Park in Glen Haven, north Bar Lake, Good Harbor Bay and Manitou Island. Stop at the Philip Hart Visitor Center at the junction of M 72 and M 22 in Empire for directions. The Philip Hart Visitor Center is located 22 miles west of Traverse City. Many trails are located within the 70,000-acre federally owned park. Maps are available at the visitor center in Empire. Park fee is $10 for seven days or $20 for a year paid at the visitor center. More information on Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. 9922 Front Street Empire MI 49630(231) 326-5134

Suttons Bay Municipal Beach - On the west arm of Grand Traverse Bay, 15 miles north of Traverse City on M 22 in the Village of Suttons Bay, the Suttons Bay Municipal Beach is a fun spot at a beautiful location. It has a beach, picnic facilities, playground and restrooms. Suttons Bay MI

Tony Gilroy Township Park - On US 31 in Acme, the Tony Gilroy Township Park has picnic tables and a sandy beach on East Grand Traverse Bay. Acme MI

Traverse City State Park - This popular beach offers 700 feet of sandy beach on East Bay. Beach goers enjoy the bathhouse, the picnic area and ample parking. It is located across the street from the Traverse City State Park campgrounds on US 31 North in Traverse City. Traverse City MI

West End Beach - Large, bay-front park and beach features ample parking and restrooms. You will find it overlooking West Grand Traverse Bay at the foot of Division Street, on Grandview Parkway, just west of downtown Traverse City. Traverse City MI

Whitewater Township Park - At this beach there are picnic areas, playground, boat launch, restrooms on Elk Lake east of Highway 685 north of Williamsburg. Williamsburg MI