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Sight Sleeping Bear Dunes, Traverse City

Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive

A sight in Sleeping Bear Dunes, Traverse City, budget-friendly ($) and worth about 1.5 hours. Best time to go: Sunset.

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Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive in Sleeping Bear Dunes, Traverse City
Photo: Clint Stephenson · Google

Why go

Seven-mile loop through the dunes with overlooks 450 ft above Lake Michigan.

It is one of 10 curated places we feature in Traverse City, alongside 3 bars & cafés, 3 places to eat and 1 activity. The closest of our other picks is Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, 0.9 mi away as the crow flies.

Type
Sight · Nature
Neighborhood
Sleeping Bear Dunes
Price
$
Time needed
1.5 hr
Best time
Sunset

Nearby

Our closest curated picks, including 5 beyond Traverse City. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.

  1. 1
    Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive

    7-mile loop with Lake Michigan Overlook, 450 feet above the water.

    Sight · Sleeping Bear Dunes · 0.9 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Dune Climb

    Steep 110-foot sand climb; the full trail to Lake Michigan is 3.5 miles round trip.

    Activity · Sleeping Bear Dunes · 2.1 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Dune Climb

    Climb a huge sand dune; the full hike to Lake Michigan is 3.5 miles round trip.

    Activity · 2.2 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail

    Paved bike path linking Empire, Glen Arbor and Glen Haven through the lakeshore.

    Activity · Sleeping Bear Dunes · 3.1 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Glen Haven Historic Village

    Restored lumber-era village with the Cannery Boat Museum and a blacksmith shop.

    Sight · Sleeping Bear Dunes · 3.5 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Cherry Republic

    Flagship store for tart cherry products, with free tastings and a café.

    Shopping · Sleeping Bear Dunes · 3.8 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is a stop on our Great Lakes Hidden Gems route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More sights to see in Traverse City

Another curated sight in Traverse City. See the full Traverse City guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Traverse City run from 28°F in February to 74°F in August; October is usually the wettest month. For Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive itself, we suggest: Sunset.

Modelled monthly averages for Traverse City from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Traverse City weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
8500 Pierce Stocking Scenic Dr, Empire, MI 49630, USA
Coordinates
44.85277, -86.03659
Destination
Traverse City, Michigan

Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive: quick answers

How much time do you need at Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive?

Plan on about 1.5 hours at Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive?

Our pick: Sunset. Insider tip: Stop 9 (Lake Michigan Overlook) is the best view.

Where is Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive?

Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is at 8500 Pierce Stocking Scenic Dr, Empire, MI 49630, USA, in Sleeping Bear Dunes. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive?

Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive appears on Great Lakes Hidden Gems, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Traverse City.

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Also in Traverse City

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.