Sleeping Bear Dunes

Sleeping Bear Dunes: crowds and conditions

Typical pattern: moderate; weekends busier. Been there recently? Post today’s status and it shows here for the next traveller.

Status options for this beach: Open, good conditions · Very crowded · Approach road bad · Closed / not accessible.

Best time to visit Sleeping Bear Dunes

Season: October to March; rough seas and lifeguard warnings June to September.

Busiest days: Weekends and long holidays.

Crowd: Moderate; weekends busier.

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

How to reach Sleeping Bear Dunes — distance from nearby cities

Coordinates: 44.89153, -86.06036. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near Sleeping Bear Dunes

• Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore · sanctuary · Michigan · ~7 km · Must-see
• Manitou Passage Underwater Preserve · sanctuary · Michigan · ~9 km · Must-see
• Big Glen Lake · lake · Leelanau · ~10 km · Must-see
• South Bar Lake · lake · Leelanau · ~10 km · Must-see
• Robert H. Manning Memorial Lighthouse · beach · Leelanau · ~11 km · Must-see
• South Manitou Island Lighthouse · fort · Leelanau · ~16 km · Must-see
• North Manitou Shoal Light Station · fort · Michigan · ~21 km · Must-see
• Lime Lake · lake · Leelanau · ~21 km · Must-see
• Platte Lake · lake · Benzie · ~28 km · Must-see
• North Manitou Island · river spot · Leelanau · ~30 km · Must-see
• Lake Leelanau · lake · Leelanau · ~33 km · Must-see
• Pointe Betsie Lighthouse · lake · Benzie · ~34 km · Must-see
• Crystal Lake · lake · Benzie · ~35 km · Must-see
• Long Lake · lake · Grand Traverse · ~39 km · Must-see
• Lake Dubonnet · lake · Grand Traverse · ~39 km · Must-see
• Frankfort North Breakwater Light · fort · Michigan · ~41 km · Must-see
• Cedar Hedge Lake · lake · Grand Traverse · ~41 km · Must-see
• Bass Lake · lake · Grand Traverse · ~44 km · Must-see

See everything within a day’s drive of Sleeping Bear Dunes

Other beaches & coast near Sleeping Bear Dunes

• Robert H. Manning Memorial Lighthouse · beach · Leelanau · ~11 km · Must-see
• Old Mission Point Lighthouse · beach · Michigan · ~59 km · Must-see
• Old South Fox Island Lighthouse · beach · Leelanau · ~71 km · Must-see
• Orchard Beach State Park · beach · Manistee · ~89 km · Must-see
• Pilot Island Lighthouse · beach · Door · ~100 km · Must-see
• Cana Island Lighthouse · beach · Door · ~101 km · Must-see
• Beaver Head Lighthouse · beach · Charlevoix · ~106 km · Must-see
• Minneapolis Shoal Lighthouse · beach · Michigan · ~133 km · Must-see
• Peninsula Point Lighthouse · beach · Delta · ~140 km · Must-see
• Squaw Island Lighthouse · beach · Charlevoix · ~140 km · Must-see

All beaches & coast in Michigan

Frequently asked