Tar Lake

Tar Lake: crowds and conditions

Typical pattern: usually quiet; mostly local visitors. Been there recently? Post today’s status and it shows here for the next traveller.

Status options for this lake: Full / gates open · Low water level · Entry closed.

Best time to visit Tar Lake

Season: August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

Crowd: Usually quiet; mostly local visitors.

Typical week: Mon quiet · Tue quiet · Wed quiet · Thu quiet · Fri light · Sat light · Sun light.

How to reach Tar Lake — distance from nearby cities

Coordinates: 44.88584, -85.07255. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near Tar Lake

• Starvation Lake · lake · Kalkaska · ~13 km · Must-see
• Lake Five · lake · Kalkaska · ~17 km · Must-see
• Thayer Lake · lake · Antrim · ~21 km · Must-see
• Torch Lake · lake · Antrim · ~23 km · Must-see
• Bear Lake · lake · Kalkaska · ~25 km · Must-see
• Lake Skegemog · lake · Kalkaska · ~27 km · Must-see
• Skegemog Point Site · fort · Grand Traverse · ~29 km · Must-see
• Elk Lake · lake · Antrim · ~31 km · Must-see
• Heart Lake · lake · Otsego · ~37 km · Must-see
• Otsego Lake State Park · lake · Otsego · ~38 km · Must-see
• Otsego Lake · lake · Otsego · ~38 km · Must-see
• Old Mission State Park · sanctuary · Grand Traverse · ~42 km · Must-see
• Old Mission Point Lighthouse · beach · Michigan · ~43 km · Must-see
• Lake Margrethe · lake · Crawford · ~43 km · Must-see
• Saint Mary Cathedral · church · Otsego · ~43 km · Must-see
• Hartwick Pines State Park · sanctuary · Crawford · ~44 km · Must-see
• Grand Traverse Bay Underwater Preserve · sanctuary · Michigan · ~45 km · Must-see
• Young State Park · park · Charlevoix · ~48 km · Must-see

See everything within a day’s drive of Tar Lake

Other lakes, dams & reservoirs near Tar Lake

• Starvation Lake · lake · Kalkaska · ~13 km · Must-see
• Lake Five · lake · Kalkaska · ~17 km · Must-see
• Thayer Lake · lake · Antrim · ~21 km · Must-see
• Torch Lake · lake · Antrim · ~23 km · Must-see
• Bear Lake · lake · Kalkaska · ~25 km · Must-see
• Lake Skegemog · lake · Kalkaska · ~27 km · Must-see
• Elk Lake · lake · Antrim · ~31 km · Must-see
• Heart Lake · lake · Otsego · ~37 km · Must-see
• Otsego Lake State Park · lake · Otsego · ~38 km · Must-see
• Otsego Lake · lake · Otsego · ~38 km · Must-see

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Michigan

Frequently asked