Welcome to the Traverse City area. Here, it’s small enough to get away from it all, yet big enough to pick from any type of lodging you can imagine. Dive in to explore some of our favorite Traverse City hotels, inns, campgrounds and more for your summer 2021 adventure.
This article was featured in the 2021 Traverse Magazine Vacation Guide. Download your free digital issue today to experience the full guide for yourself.
Upscale Lodging & Gaming in Traverse City
The biggest player in the Traverse City lodging scene is Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, owned by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, with its combination of hotel rooms, condos and private houses—that come with access to a slew of upscale amenities. The tribe also owns nearby Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel where lux rooms and suites accompany the gaming facilities.
Hotels in Downtown Traverse City
Downtown hotels put you within walking distance of fabulous eateries and bars, as well as the city’s beautiful beaches. Hotel Indigo (with its rooftop deck) sits across from Grand Traverse Bay, while the landmark Park Place Hotel & Conference Center looks over downtown and the bay. West Bay Beach resort sits directly on the beach and is within walking distance of downtown.
Hotels on The Miracle Mine on East Grand Traverse Bay
Hotels abound here, many with their own beach frontage. Cherry Tree Inn & Suites and Tamarack Lodge upscale condos are fine examples of the lodging along this strip of US-31.
Gracious Inns Near Downtown Traverse City
Discover some venerable beauties here. Just several blocks from downtown Traverse City find the Wellington Inn. Country Hermitage Bed & Breakfast is surrounded by cherry orchards and is close to Grand Traverse Resort. Views of both East and West Grand Traverse Bay as well as a slew of wine tasting opportunities come with rooms at Chateau Chantal, a winery and inn, and the Old Mission Inn.
Old-Timey Resorts in Traverse City
These still live happily ever after in the woods scattered amid the forests and small lakes of Grand Traverse County. Standouts include Moonlight Bay Resort on Spider Lake and Brookside Cottages on Duck Lake. At Ranch Rudolf, tucked away on 195 acres of woods on the Boardman River, find ranch-themed motel rooms, horseback riding, paddling, tubing, fishing and more all with a laid-back cowboy atmosphere.
Campgrounds in Traverse City
Holiday Park Campground on Silver Lake offers full hook-ups and a private beach. Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort is brimming with amenities and equipped with cabins, yurts, RV and tent sites tucked in the woods north of Traverse City.
Traverse City State Park, just two miles from downtown Traverse City, offers all types of camping as well as cabins. An East Bay beach is accessed by a walkway across busy US-31. Interlochen State Park, located on both Green and Duck Lakes, is open to rustic and modern camping and offers cabins. Find inner and outer serenity at 50 rustic sites in Lake Dubonnet State Forest Campground.
Find this article and more in the 2021 issue of the Traverse Magazine Vacation Guide. If you’re not subscribed to Traverse Magazine, you can download the Vacation Guide for free.
