A day exploring the route from Traverse City to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and the charming village of Empire is designed to feel equal parts effortless and inspiring, blending scenic drives, meaningful stops, and time to wander at your own pace.

With Wander with Direction, your experience begins the moment you’re picked up at your home or hotel, setting the tone for a thoughtfully curated day that unfolds naturally as you move west toward the Lake Michigan shoreline.

Sleeping Bear Dunes Overlook

Choose Your Own Adventure5 or 6-Hour Tour Itinerary– Drive There (45 Minutes)
– M-72 Handmade Hwy – Stop at a couple of shops along the way.
– SBD Park Headquarters
– Pierce Stock Scenic Drive (2-Hours)
– Village of Empire (1-Hour)
– Empire Bluffs Hike (1-Hour)
– Drive Back (45 Minutes)

Tour Rate: $175 Per Hour for up to 6 guests

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Start & End your Day in Traverse City

Your tour begins with a convenient pickup, allowing you to settle in and enjoy the ride without the stress of planning or navigation. Heading out along M-72, you’ll quickly trade city energy for rolling countryside, forested stretches, and glimpses of Northern Michigan’s quieter side.

En Route

Optional Local Stops

Along the way, you can choose to pause and explore a few hidden gems that add personality and depth to your tour. These stops can be visited on the way to the dunes or saved for the return journey.

Sleeping Bear Lavender Farm – seasonal blooms and calming scents create a sensory experience

Arrival

National Park Welcome Stop

Before heading into the heart of the dunes, you’ll stop at the park headquarters to pick up your park pass and get oriented for the experience ahead.

  • Purchase park passes at the visitor center
  • Quick overview of the park layout and highlights
  • Restroom and refresh opportunity before continuing
Highlight

Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive

The centerpiece of the day is the iconic Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, a winding route that showcases some of the most breathtaking views in the Midwest. This is where the landscape truly opens up.

  • Multiple scenic overlooks of Lake Michigan
  • Towering sand dunes and sweeping vistas
  • Opportunities to stop, walk, and take in the views at your own pace
  • A perfect blend of drive-and-stop exploration
Explore

Village of Empire & Empire Bluffs Hike

After taking in the grandeur of the dunes, the tour shifts into a slower rhythm in the nearby village of Empire, where small-town charm meets lakeshore beauty—and where you’ll experience one of the most rewarding hikes in the park at Empire Bluff Trail.

Guided hike along the Empire Bluff Trail, a moderate out-and-back path through forest and up to panoramic bluff-top views overlooking Lake Michigan, one of the most iconic vistas in the park. Time to pause, take photos, and fully soak in the landscape

How hard is the hike?

It is easy to moderate highly groomed nature trail. You will walk on gravel, dirt, and sand. You will also encounter hills to walk up. I recommend wearing tennis shoes. The trail is 1.5 miles total. It is an in-and-out trail.

After your Hike

Enjoy time in the village of Empire

  • Stroll the village main street for local shops and relaxed exploration
  • Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate – handcrafted chocolates, fudgesicles, and hot cocoa.
  • Empire Beach – a serene stretch of shoreline with stunning views of Sleeping Bear Dunes to the north and the Manitou Islands to west in Lake Michigan.
Return

A Flexible Journey Back

As the day winds down, the return to Traverse City remains flexible, giving you the option to revisit a favorite stop or discover something new along the way.

  • Opportunity for additional stops on the return route
  • Time to reflect, relax, and enjoy the scenic drive
  • Drop-off back at your home or hotel

This tour is less about rushing from place to place and more about creating space to experience Northern Michigan in a way that feels personal, unhurried, and memorable—where every stop, view, and detour adds to the story of your day.

Traverse City to Empire Tour

Are you interested in exploring Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park?

Ride in style when you book Atlas for the day.

Tour Rate: $175 Per Hour for up to 6 guests

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