Map and Directions to the Sleeping Bear Dunes

he Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is located in the northwest corner of Michigan's Lower Peninsula about 25 miles west of Traverse City. The maps below shows its location relative to the state of Michigan; the map in the center shows its location relative within Leelanau County; and, the map on the right shows its location relative to the Glen Arbor Area. The table below the maps shows the approximate driving distance to Sleeping Bear Dunes from a number of cities.

Click to view larger map (PDF)

Driving Distances

If you are driving, drive to the intersection of M-72 and M-22 on the western side of Traverse City and then:

• Turn left on M-72 toward Empire and travel about 14 miles to a blinking light and;
• Turn left to continue on M-72 another 8.25 miles. The Philip A. Hart Visitor Center will be on your right.
• For more information, visit http://www.nps.gov/slbe/planyourvisit/directions.htm

Driving Instructions

If you are driving from any location to the south or west of Lake Michigan you should know that Lake Michigan car ferries provide an alternative form of transportation which, in and of itself, adds excitement to the trip. One, the Lake Express, is a newer, high-speed, catamaran style ship which sails between Milwaukee and Muskegon in 2 ½ hours. For more information, visit www.lake-express.com. The other, the Badger, is an older and larger ship which sails between Manitowoc and Ludington in 4 hours. For more information, visit www.ssbadger.com. Note that the time changes from Central to Eastern or Eastern to Central in route. For an interesting article on the history of car ferries on Lake Michigan, visit www.carferries.com.

Flying Instructions

If you are flying to the area, you will fly to Traverse City's Cherry Capital Airport. For information, including schedules, visit www.tvcairport.com. The Philip A. Hart Visitor Center at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is located about 28 miles from the airport. The drive, depending on the time of year and weather, will take three-quarters of an hour to an hour with these directions:

• Take the airport access road to South Airport Road and turn right.
• Drive west on South Airport 1 mile to Garfield Road and turn right.
• Continue north on Garfield about 2.25 miles to Grandview Parkway and turn left.
• Go east on Grandview Parkway about 2.5 miles to M-72.
• Turn left on M-72 toward Empire and travel about 14 miles until you come to a blinking light.
• Turn left to continue on M-72 another 8.25 miles. The Philip A. Hart Visitor Center will be on your right.

For more information, visit www.nps.gov/slbe/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.