Sleeping Bear Dunes
Empire, MI
Sand bluffs 450 feet above Lake Michigan. The Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive has the best overlooks.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore near Empire, Michigan, covers about 288 square kilometers (71,000 acres), about 56 km (35 miles) of Lake Michigan shoreline, and the islands of North and South Manitou. It was established on October 21, 1970. According to an Ojibwe legend, a mother bear waits under the dunes for her two cubs, who drowned while swimming across the lake; the Manitou Islands commemorate them. The Philip A. Hart Visitor Center is in Empire.
The Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is an 11.9 km (7.4 mile) one-way loop starting from M-109 near Empire, completed in 1967. The Lake Michigan Overlook sits about 140 meters (450 feet) above the lake. The NPS lists twelve stops and about two hours with stops; trailers are not allowed, the clearance is 4.1 meters (13 feet 6 inches), and the speed limit is 32 km/h (20 mph). For vehicles the season runs from about late May to late October, after which the road is open only on foot (as of October 2026).
The Dune Climb is about 8 km (5 miles) north of Empire on M-109. According to the NPS, the hike from there to Lake Michigan is about 5.6 km (3.5 miles) round trip, takes 2 to 4 hours and is considered strenuous. Bring plenty of water and shoes, because the sand gets hot; cell reception is unreliable.
- Nearest town
- Empire, MI
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 44.8826, -86.0417
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. Cold, short days in December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Indigo Bluffs RV ParkMotorhome stopover6 mi from Sleeping Bear DunesMotorhomes
- Platte River CampgroundCampsite12 mi from Sleeping Bear DunesTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Leelanau Pines CampgroundMotorhome stopover15 mi from Sleeping Bear DunesTentsMotorhomes
- Wild Cherry ResortMotorhome stopover20 mi from Sleeping Bear DunesTentsMotorhomes
- Interlochen Duck Lake Modern CampgroundCampsite22 mi from Sleeping Bear Dunes · 392 pitchesTentsCaravans
- Interlochen Duck Lake Modern CampgroundCampsite23 mi from Sleeping Bear Dunes · 392 pitchesTentsCaravans
All campsites in Michigan · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Sleeping Bear Dunes?
Sleeping Bear Dunes is in Empire, MI, at GPS 44.8826, -86.0417. It is about 3 mi from Glen Arbor.
Can you camp near Sleeping Bear Dunes?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is D.H. Day Campground, about 2 mi away; within 25 mi there are 36 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Sleeping Bear Dunes?
Sleeping Bear Dunes is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Lake Michigan's dune coast.
What is there to see near Sleeping Bear Dunes?
Places worth a stop nearby: Fish Creek (61 mi), Peninsula State Park (62 mi), Ludington State Park (63 mi) and Tunnel of Trees (M-119) (65 mi).
When is the best time to visit Sleeping Bear Dunes?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)