Travel Guides
Best Beaches Near Traverse City: A Local's Guide to Sand, Sunsets & Swimming
March 7, 2026
The beaches near Traverse City don't look like they belong in Michigan. Turquoise water, sugar sand, towering dune bluffs — the whole thing looks like someone photoshopped the Caribbean onto a freshwater lake. They didn't. Lake Michigan's northwest coast is one of the most beautiful shorelines in the country, and Traverse City sits right in the middle of it. The trick is knowing which beach to go to and when. This is that guide.
The Quick Decision
Not every beach is right for every day. Here's the cheat sheet:
- Families with young kids: Clinch Park or Platte River Point (calm, shallow water)
- Couples at sunset: Empire Beach or Peterson Park
- Space and solitude: Good Harbor Bay or Esch Road Beach
- Best swimming: Empire Beach or Suttons Bay public beach
- Kayaking: Crystal River to Lake Michigan, or Power Island
- Close to downtown TC: Clinch Park or West End Beach
Empire Beach
Our pick for the all-around best beach in the area. Right in the village of Empire — soft sand, protected swimming, and the Empire Bluff rising dramatically behind you. It's easy to access (paid parking by the restrooms), the water is clean, and the village is a two-minute walk for ice cream or snacks. Beach fires are allowed in the evening, so bring some wood and stay for sunset. The combination of swimming, scenery, and convenience is hard to beat.
Best for: Swimming, sunset, families, couples. Parking: Paid lot ($10/day typical). From TC: 30 minutes. Nearest Roost property: The A-Frame (20 min).
Good Harbor Bay
If Empire Beach is the most popular, Good Harbor is its quieter counterpart. A mile-long crescent of sand with a sandbar you can walk to when the water is low — it feels remote even in July. The drive from TC is about 40 minutes (via M-22 through Glen Arbor), which keeps the crowds manageable. There are no services here — pack everything you need and plan to stay. The water is shallow for a long way out, and on calm days it's impossibly clear.
Best for: Solitude, long beach days, photographers. Parking: National Park pass required ($25/vehicle). From TC: 40 minutes.
Platte River Point
Where the Platte River empties into Lake Michigan, you get the best of both worlds: a gentle, warm river for floating and a wide-open Lake Michigan beach. This is the go-to for families with little kids — the river is shallow and calm, the sand is soft, and you can rent tubes in Honor and float downstream to the lake. It's a Northern Michigan rite of passage. On hot days, the parking lot fills early, so arrive before 10am.
Best for: Families, tubing, warm water. Parking: National Park pass required. From TC: 35 minutes. See our Sleeping Bear Dunes guide for more on this area.
Clinch Park Beach
The most convenient beach if you're staying in town. Right on West Grand Traverse Bay, a few blocks from Front Street. The water is calm (it's a bay, not open Lake Michigan), which makes it great for swimming and paddleboarding. The beach isn't huge, but the location can't be beat — grab lunch downtown, walk to the beach, walk back for dinner. Sunsets over the bay from here are consistently stunning.
Best for: Convenience, paddleboarding, sunset. Parking: Metered street parking or nearby lots. From downtown TC: Walking distance.
Van's Beach (Leland)
A hidden gem next to Fishtown in Leland. The beach faces west toward the Manitou Islands, giving you some of the best sunset views in the region. It's small and can get busy in peak summer, but the combination of beach + Fishtown (smoked whitefish, ice cream, boutique shops) makes it a perfect half-day destination. Walk the pier for panoramic views.
Best for: Sunset, Fishtown access, charm. Parking: Limited street parking (arrive early). From TC: 35 minutes.
Peterson Park
The local's sunset spot. A blufftop park on the west side of the Leelanau Peninsula with a steep staircase down to a pebble beach. The views from the top are panoramic — open Lake Michigan stretching to the horizon, with the Manitou Islands in the distance. It's not a swimming beach (the shore is rocky), but for sunset, it might be the most dramatic viewpoint accessible by car. Bring a blanket and a bottle of wine.
Best for: Sunset, views, romance. Parking: Small lot (free). From TC: 40 minutes.
Esch Road Beach
A Sleeping Bear Dunes beach that stays under the radar. It's at the end of a forest road and doesn't have the name recognition of Empire or Good Harbor, so it stays quieter. The beach is wide and sandy, the water is beautiful, and Otter Creek runs through the sand into the lake — a fun feature for kids. Limited amenities (vault toilets only), which is part of its charm.
Best for: Solitude, nature lovers. Parking: National Park pass required. From TC: 30 minutes.
Suttons Bay Public Beach
A charming town beach on Grand Traverse Bay. Calm water, a nice stretch of sand, and the walkable village of Suttons Bay right behind you. Great for a beach morning followed by lunch and wine tasting on the peninsula. The water warms up faster here than on the Lake Michigan side because it's a protected bay.
Best for: Wine country day trips, calm water. Parking: Free lot and street parking. From TC: 20 minutes.
Water Temperature: What to Expect
Lake Michigan is a freshwater lake, not a pool — and the water temperature reflects that. Here's the honest truth:
- June: 55-65°F. Refreshing is a generous word. You'll wade in, maybe swim if you're brave.
- July: 65-72°F. Comfortable for swimming, especially on calm days when the sun heats the shallows.
- August: 70-75°F. Peak swimming temps. This is when the water finally feels warm.
- September: 65-70°F. Still pleasant, and the beaches are empty.
Bay beaches (Clinch Park, Suttons Bay) warm up faster than open Lake Michigan beaches. If cold water isn't your thing, aim for late July or August and stick to the bay side.
Pro-tip:
Sleeping Bear Dunes beaches (Empire, Good Harbor, Platte River, Esch Road) require a National Park pass — $25 per vehicle for a 7-day pass, or $80 for an annual America the Beautiful pass. Bay beaches (Clinch Park, Suttons Bay) are free. Empire village beach has its own paid parking separate from the park system.
Your Beach Basecamp
The Roost A-Frame is 20 minutes from Empire Beach and the Sleeping Bear Dunes — the closest property to the best beaches in the area. Spend the day on the sand, come home to a private hot tub and fire pit in the woods. The A-Frame as Dunes basecamp is what it was made for.
View the A-Frame →Related Guides
The sand is waiting. Bring a towel and stay for sunset.