A VISITLP TRAVEL GUIDE
An Unhurried Leelanau Road Trip
A Leelanau road trip works best when the stops matter more than the mileage. Use these three regional outings to explore the peninsula over several days, or choose just one for a relaxed day away.
By VisitLP · Planning references checked October 5, 2026 · Photography from the VisitLP collection
YOUR PLAN AT A GLANCE
Choose one regional outing for a day trip.
Allow several days if you want meaningful stops around the whole peninsula.
Use navigation for the day’s route and keep maps available offline.
Check seasonal access before building a drive around a park or attraction.
Plan by region, then connect the places you want to see
Start with your lodging or arrival point and choose a part of the peninsula. A line on a map does not include parking, lunch, browsing, photographs, or the time you will want beside the water. The route suggestions below are deliberately modular so you can keep a day manageable.
Before leaving, identify your main destination and one optional extra. Enter the actual stops in your navigation app and check the return journey. Use signed public roads and designated parking. Farm lanes, vineyard drives, and attractive waterfront paths are not automatically public access.
Outing one: Empire, Sleeping Bear scenery, and Glen Arbor
Build the first outing around the southern part of this plan. From the Empire area, choose a Sleeping Bear experience, then make Glen Arbor your town stop. This gives the day a simple rhythm: an outdoor highlight, lunch, and some time on foot before heading back.
Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive can be the main attraction when vehicle access is open. It is an approximately 7.4-mile loop within the national lakeshore, with separate stops and walks. Check the current entry and access information. If you prefer a trail, choose that instead of stacking a substantial hike on top of a full morning of overlooks.
Outing two: make Leland the destination
Give Leland more than a quick photo stop. Start beside the river in Fishtown, continue through the town, and choose somewhere for lunch. Look for one shop or gallery you would like to spend time in rather than trying to enter every doorway.
An inland return through the Lake Leelanau area can create a different feel for the journey home, depending on where you are staying. Check that route before departing. If the afternoon is already going well in Leland, there is no need to move on simply because another destination was on the original list.
Outing three: Suttons Bay, Omena, and Northport
Use the east side and northern peninsula as a separate day. Start with a walk and meal in the town most convenient to your base, then choose whether Omena or Northport will be the next main stop. Keep the pace loose enough to browse and sit by a public waterfront where access is permitted.
If Grand Traverse Lighthouse is your priority, plan the day around its current visiting arrangements and the state park entry requirements. It is a mainland destination at the northern end of the peninsula. That is a different plan from visiting an offshore lighthouse or arranging island transport. Check those excursions separately.
A road trip for photographs
Choose a few subjects instead of collecting the same view repeatedly. A wide landscape, a building or boat detail, and a small scene from a town can tell a fuller story of the day. Your photographs will also be more varied if you spend time walking after parking.
Stop only where it is legal and safe. Do not brake suddenly for a view or block traffic while looking for an angle. Pass an awkward stopping place and look for a suitable public area farther along. Respect residents, working properties, and signs, even when the light is excellent.
Add food and wine without overloading the route
Pick one meal you would like to linger over and let it anchor the middle of the day. Check current menus, reservations, and opening hours directly. Farm and seasonal food stops should follow what is actually available during your visit.
If tasting rooms are part of your plans, arrange a sober driver or transportation first and keep the stops geographically close. Check booking requirements and group policies. You can make a wine-focused outing a separate day rather than attaching it to a long sightseeing drive.
Leave room for changing plans
An unhurried route needs a clear stopping point. Decide when you want to be back and leave yourself a comfortable return journey. If weather changes, shorten the outdoor part of the day instead of adding more miles to chase a perfect view.
Park roads and visitor facilities can operate seasonally. Consult the National Park Service’s current conditions page for Sleeping Bear, and the official operator for a particular attraction. Save another region for tomorrow when a long lunch or a favorite town earns more of your time.
A FEW PRACTICAL ANSWERS
Questions before you go.
Can I see the entire peninsula in a day?
You can spend a day driving widely, but these outings are designed for time at the stops. Choose one region if you only have a day.
Is Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive part of M-22?
It is a separate scenic loop inside Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Check its seasonal vehicle access and park entry requirements.
How does this differ from the shorter scenic-drive guide?
This guide helps divide the peninsula into separate, relaxed outings. The shorter scenic-drive article is useful for choosing individual stops and connecting them into your own route.
CHECK THE DETAILS FOR YOUR DATES
Official planning information.
These are suggested plans. Confirm current hours, access, reservations, weather, and park requirements for your dates with the relevant operator or land manager.