Camp Haven Retreat · 3 Homes
Empire, Michigan
12 beds · 5 baths · sleeps 26
From $2,199 / night
About 24 miles west of Traverse City, a little over half an hour.
Empire, on Lake Michigan at Sleeping Bear.
Empire is a small village on Lake Michigan at the south end of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The park visitor center is in town. People stay here for the beach and the bluff, not for a downtown like Traverse City.
The place
What to plan around.
The village beach is a short walk from Front Street. South Bar Lake, just inland, has a public swimming beach. Joe’s Friendly Tavern and Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate are on that same short main street. Our four listings are not in the village. They are the Camp Haven homes on Little Glen Lake, so plan a drive into Empire for dinner.
Philip A. Hart Visitor Center
The Sleeping Bear visitor center in Empire. Start here for maps, passes, and current trail notes.
Empire Bluff Trail
A 1.5-mile round trip through the woods to a Lake Michigan overlook, south of the village off M-22. Stay on the trail. The park asks people not to go down the bluff.
Empire Beach
Village beach on Lake Michigan. Water stays cold into July.
Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive
About 7.4 miles, one way, inside the park. A vehicle pass is required. The drive is a summer route. Do not assume it is open to cars in fall or winter.
Homes
4 Coastal Stay homes in Empire.
These are the rentals. The guide above is the town.
