About Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Miles of sand beach, bluffs that tower 450’ above Lake Michigan, lush forests, clear inland lakes, unique flora and fauna make up the natural world of Sleeping Bear Dunes. High dunes afford spectacular views across the lake. An island lighthouse, US Life-Saving Service stations, coastal villages, and picturesque farmsteads reflect the park’s rich maritime, agricultural, and recreational history.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
Spring: Temperatures usually range from 40 F to 70 F. Rain is common. Summer: Temperatures usually range from from 50 F to 83 F. Rain and sun are equally common. On very sunny days, be prepared with plenty of water--heat exhaustion is common, especially when hiking on the dunes. Fall:…
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: Michigan. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
Entrance Fees
Sedan 1-6 Person Capacity $25.00 + $10.00 Per Person 16 years or older (up to a maximum of $40.00)
Van 7-15 Person Capacity $40.00
Mini Bus 16-25 Person Capacity $40.00
Motorcoach 26+ Person Capacity $100.00
Entrance pass - vehicle 1-7 day.
Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.
If you enter the park on a bicycle or on foot and are at least 16 years old, you need your own entrance pass. Children under the age of 16 don't need an entrance pass.
Operating Hours
The Lakeshore is open 24 hours a day. Campgrounds, visitor centers, and facilities have separate hours, however, please see descriptions of those facilities elsewhere.
Activities
Current Alerts
Michigan has many designated hunting seasons for different animals. Several of these hunting seasons overlap and begin mid-September. Hunting is permitted within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in accordance with Michigan state laws and regulations. Hunting is not permitted within 450 feet of popular sites within the park, which are listed in the Superintendent's Compendium. Wearing brightly colored clothing is recommended for visitors.
Getting There
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. From the north (Michigan's Upper Peninsula), take I-75 to Grayling and follow M-72 to Traverse City or take US-31 south
View Official DirectionsContact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Entrance Passes
Sleeping Bear Dunes Annual Pass
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
Port Oneida Fair
Step back in time at the Port Oneida Fair and experience life as it was in the late 1850's through…
ParkPuzzler
Park Puzzler- a set of puzzles that you can complete while in the park or anywhere!
Visit Glen Haven Historic Village
Glen Haven is the best-preserved cord wood station on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, and perhaps in the entire…
Explore Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive
Enjoy spectacular views of Glen Lake, undulating sand dunes, and breathtaking views of the grandest of all dunes, with shimmering…
Biking in the Lakeshore
Where can you bike in the Lakeshore? On public roads or the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail but not on any…
Paddle and Fish Loon Lake
Have a picnic on the shore of one of the park’s tranquil inland lakes. A big lake with a sandy…
More Things to Do
Additional activities and experiences from the National Park Service.
Float the Platte and Crystal Rivers
Canoe, kayak, or float these calm rivers. Rent equipment near either launch site if you don’t have your own. Great for kids!
Visitor Centers
Philip A. Hart Visitor Center
The Philip A. Hart Visitor Center is located on M-72 just east of the intersection with M-22 in Empire, MI. You will find a wealth…
South Manitou Island Visitor Center
The former general store for the island now serves as a visitor center. It houses an interesting collection of photos and artifacts that tell the…
Port Oneida Heritage Center
The Port Oneida Heritage Center, at the Olsen farmhouse is operated by Sleeping Bear Forever (previously Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear), a nonprofit partner of the…
Campgrounds
Bay Campground - South Manitou Island
The Bay Campground is the closest campground to the dock. Bring water filtration equipment because there is no source of purified drinking water. There are…
D. H. Day Campground Group Campground
The D.H. Day Group Campground offers more rustic camping. You will find dirt roads, vault toilets, and ready access to the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail.…
White Pine Backcountry Campground
This camp has 6 sites and is located about 2 miles from the Trail's End Road trailhead on the Platte Plains hiking trail south of…
Weather Station Campground - South Manitou Island
The Weather Station Campground overlooks Lake Michigan from the bluffs on the south side of the island. Camp sites are well secluded from each other…
Village Campground - North Manitou Island
The small Village Campground contains eight first-come, first-served designated campsites, two fire rings and one outhouse. There is a limit of two tents and four…
Platte River Campground
Platte River Campground is open year-round and offers a wide variety of camping styles. You can find back-in and pull-through sites for RV's, including electrical…
Popple Campground - South Manitou Island
The Popple Campground is the furthest from the dock (about 3.5 miles), so you are likely to have fewer people camping there. The campground is…
D. H. Day Campground
The rustic D.H. Day Campground is located in the northern district of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, on the lower peninsula of Michigan. This…
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.
Nearby Cities for Trip Planning
These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.
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