Hotel · Budget
Cherry Tree Inn & Suites
On US-31 North along East Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City
A beachfront hotel on East Grand Traverse Bay with studios and suites, many with kitchenettes or full kitchens, plus indoor and outdoor pools.
Bay · Grand Traverse & Inland Lakes
Grand Traverse Bay
Traverse City's big water: a Lake Michigan bay with city beaches, five public harbors with slips, fuel at two, sailing, paddling and trout and salmon fishing.
Grand Traverse Bay is why Traverse City feels like a beach town. It is open Lake Michigan water, all-sports outside the no-wake zone by downtown and the buffers around city swim areas, with public harbors at Traverse City, Elmwood Township, Suttons Bay, Northport and Elk Rapids for slips, and fuel at Traverse City and Elk Rapids. Swim at a city beach downtown or the state park, rent a kayak or paddleboard on either arm, sail, or head out for trout, salmon and whitefish.
Start on the Traverse City shoreline, the easiest way in. Clinch Park and West End Beach are on the west arm downtown. East Bay Beach and the Traverse City State Park day-use area line the east arm. The TART Trail follows much of the shore through town, so you can walk or bike between them.
It helps to know the shape. The bay reaches about 32 miles south from Lake Michigan to its base at Traverse City. It is 10 miles across at its widest and about 590 feet deep at its deepest point. A peninsula running roughly 18 miles north from town splits it into a western and an eastern arm, which locals and the DNR call West Bay and East Bay. The map pin marks the outer bay north of the peninsula.
The bay ties the whole region together. Traverse City wraps around its southern end, with Suttons Bay and Northport on the Leelanau side and Elk Rapids on the east shore. Two of the area’s main rivers end here: the Boardman in downtown Traverse City, and the Elk River, which carries the outflow of the Elk River Chain of Lakes into East Bay at Elk Rapids.
The water is in good shape. The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay rates its quality as excellent and counts it among the few high-quality embayments left in the Great Lakes.
On the water
Motorboats and rules
In Traverse City, the West Arm south of a line from Clinch Marina to the Boardman River breakwater is slow, no-wake. You also may not beach, moor or run a boat within 50 feet of the city's buoyed swim areas: the one on the West Arm downtown and those at Bryant Park, East Bay Park and West End Beach.
Swimming
Traverse City State Park has a buoyed swim area off a quarter mile of sandy East Arm beach, across US-31 from the campground (use the pedestrian overpass). The beach house has restrooms and a changing area, and the park lists a beach wheelchair when water levels allow; confirm before you go if you need it. A Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry.
Public access
On the west arm, the city's Clinch Park beach downtown sits on the TART Trail and is listed with summer lifeguards; check lifeguard hours before you swim. On the east arm, Keith J. Charters Traverse City State Park, about 2 miles from downtown, has a day-use area with about a quarter mile of sandy beach, a small beach house and a picnic area. A Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry.
Paddling
Paddle TC rents kayaks and paddleboards at Clinch Park on West Bay and at Traverse City State Park on East Bay. Boats must stay 50 feet off the city's buoyed swim areas.
Fishing
Both East Bay and West Bay are on the Michigan DNR's list of better fishing waters for brown trout, Chinook salmon, lake trout, lake whitefish, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. Check current Michigan DNR rules before fishing.
Fish species
Species include brown trout, chinook salmon, lake trout, lake whitefish, smallmouth bass, and yellow perch.
Stocking
The DNR stocked lake trout in the bay from 2016 to 2019 and from 2021 to 2026, and rainbow trout in the West Arm in 2016 and 2017.
Connected waters
The bay opens north into Lake Michigan, and its public harbors at Traverse City, Elmwood Township, Suttons Bay, Northport and Elk Rapids all sit within half a mile of Great Lakes water. The Boardman River enters at Traverse City and the Elk River at Elk Rapids.
In winter
Ice on the bay is unreliable. The DNR reported open water on both East and West Bay in March 2012 and February 2021, and in April 2014 East Bay had too much ice for boats but not enough for ice fishing. Check current reports before you plan a winter trip around it.
Public boat launches
Clinch Marina boat launch (City of Traverse City)
At the east end of the downtown marina on the West Arm. Boats not registered at the marina pay a daily launch fee (seasonal permits are sold). Trailer spaces by the ramp are metered and day-use only; overnight trailer parking is off-site at 570 Station Street.
Marinas
- Duncan L. Clinch Marina (Traverse City)
The city marina on West Bay downtown, with transient and seasonal slips. It lists diesel and mid-grade gasoline at the fuel dock, pump-outs there, and a boaters' building with restrooms, showers and laundry for registered boaters. The DNR harbor map lists it for reservations through the state system.
- Elmwood Township Marina
On West Bay just north of Traverse City, with seasonal and short-term transient slips, courtesy docks, launch ramps, a marina store, a pump-out station, summer and winter storage and a fish cleaning station, as listed on its site.
- Suttons Bay Marina
Village marina at Suttons Bay with transient slips (two-week maximum in July) and a limited number of monthly slips in May, June, August and September. Launching goes through the village's North Park launch.
Northport G. Marsten Dame Marina
Public harbor at Northport near the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula, listed on the DNR harbor map with reservations through the state system.
- Elk Rapids Edward C. Grace Memorial Harbor
Village harbor on East Bay with 213 slips from 25 to 70 feet, about 50 of them set aside for transient boaters from May to October, plus short-term shopping dockage. The fuel dock lists diesel and ethanol-free premium gasoline and a pump-out, and there is a four-lane launch ramp.
Boat, kayak and paddleboard rentals
- Paddle TC
Kayak and paddleboard rentals at Clinch Park on the West Arm and at Traverse City State Park on the East Arm, as listed on its site.
Listed because their own sites say they rent on this water. Not an endorsement, and we have no ties to them. Check with them for what is available.
Fishing, launching at a state site or parking at a state park? See licenses and passes for what you need before you go.
Anything not listed here is unverified. Do not assume public access across private shoreline. Check the Michigan DNR boating access listings and the current fishing regulations.
Through the seasons
Summer
Summer is beach season on both arms, from Clinch Park and East Bay Beach in Traverse City to the state park. With small children, try East Bay Beach, where the water is shallow and warmer.
Fall
Fall is still a good time for the paved TART Trail along the bay shore in Traverse City, which stays busy with walkers and riders.
Location
Map of Grand Traverse Bay
5 places on an OpenStreetMap map
Places to stay near Grand Traverse Bay
Lakefront cottages and homes are listed by the local rental managers and booking sites below.
Hotels and inns
Upscale
Delamar Traverse CityAAA Three Diamond · Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice 2026 · Listed by Traverse City Tourism
Mid-range
Park Place HotelAAA Three Diamond · Listed by Traverse City Tourism
Budget
Cherry Tree Inn & SuitesTripadvisor Travelers' Choice 2026 · Listed by Traverse City Tourism
Search all hotels in Traverse City: Booking.com · Expedia · Hotels.com · Google Hotels
We don’t take bookings or earn anything from these links. Rates, availability and any booking problems are handled by the booking site.
More places to stay in Traverse City
- Old Mission Inn · An inn on the Old Mission Peninsula that dates to 1869 and is described as Michigan's oldest historic hotel, with rooms facing East Grand Traverse Bay.
- Antiquities' Wellington Inn · A bed and breakfast in a restored 1905 neoclassical mansion built for one of Traverse City's lumber barons, a short walk from downtown.
- Traverse City Tourism places to stay · The tourism bureau's directory of hotels, resorts, B&Bs, condos, cottages, campgrounds and vacation rentals in the Traverse City area.
Vacation rentals
- Golden Swan Management · goldenswanmgt.com
A Traverse City company that rents and manages vacation properties across northwest Michigan.
- Northland Vacation Rentals · northlandvacationrentals.com
A Traverse City rental company tied to Century 21 Northland, with cottages and homes in places such as Frankfort and Glen Arbor.
- Unsalted Vacations · unsaltedvacations.com
A West Michigan rental company with homes, cottages and cabins in areas including Grand Haven, Spring Lake, Manistee and Traverse City.
- Visit Up North Vacation Rentals · visitupnorth.com
A Traverse City rental company with homes, cottages and condos across Leelanau, Glen Arbor, the Benzie area and nearby Arcadia and Bear Lake.
Resort · Upscale
Delamar Traverse City
On East Front Street, on Grand Traverse Bay near downtown Traverse City
A waterfront resort hotel on Grand Traverse Bay at the edge of downtown Traverse City, with heated pools it lists as open year-round and a bayside restaurant.
Inn
Old Mission Inn
On Mission Road in Old Mission, on the Old Mission Peninsula
An inn on the Old Mission Peninsula that dates to 1869 and is described as Michigan's oldest historic hotel, with rooms facing East Grand Traverse Bay.
Listed as open seasonally, May 1 through October 31.
Nearby towns
Grand Traverse & Inland Lakes
Traverse City
A bayfront city at the head of Grand Traverse Bay, with a walkable Front Street downtown, bay beaches, cherry orchards and two wine peninsulas close by.
About 15 miles away (straight line)
Grand Traverse & Inland Lakes · Small town
Suttons Bay
A walkable Leelanau village on Grand Traverse Bay with a public beach, a marina and a historic downtown, and the north end of the paved Leelanau Trail.
About 5 miles away (straight line)
Grand Traverse & Inland Lakes · Small town
Northport
The last village on the Leelanau Peninsula, a harbor town on Grand Traverse Bay close to a state park, the Grand Traverse Lighthouse and beach trails.
About 10 miles away (straight line)
Grand Traverse & Inland Lakes · Small town
Elk Rapids
For paddlers and boaters: a village between East Grand Traverse Bay and Elk Lake, at the end of the Chain of Lakes Water Trail, with a harbor and downtown.
About 9 miles away (straight line)
Nearby attractions
Straight-line distances from the map point.
Beach
Clinch Park
Traverse City's downtown beach on West Grand Traverse Bay, with a splash pad, playground, city marina and the TART trail running through.
About 15 miles away (straight line)
Trail
TART Trails
Traverse City's trail network, built around the 10.5-mile paved TART along the bay and linked to the Leelanau Trail, Boardman Lake Loop and VASA Pathway.
About 15 miles away (straight line)
More lakes and rivers nearby
River · Grand Traverse & Inland Lakes
Elk River
The short river in Elk Rapids where the Chain of Lakes Water Trail ends, with a kayak launch, steelhead below the dam and salmon in fall.
- Public launch
Lake · Benzie & Sleeping Bear
Lake Leelanau
A long, clear, all-sports lake down the Leelanau Peninsula: walleye in both basins, lake trout in the deep north, township beaches and winter ice fishing.
- All-sports
- Swim beach
- Public launch
Lake · Grand Traverse & Inland Lakes
Elk Lake
A deep, clear, emerald-green all-sports lake at Elk Rapids: ski and cruise, rent a boat or slip at the marinas, swim at Whitewater Township Park.
- All-sports
- Swim beach
- Public launch
- Rentals