Hi there!
Peterson Beach is one of the less crowded beaches in Sleeping Bear Dunes that you can swim at.
It’s located at the end of Peterson Road.
There are many beaches in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
Peterson Beach is one of them!
The National Park Service calls Peterson Beach “one of the most beautiful and secluded beaches” in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
The beach is at the end of a mostly gravel road in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and then you’ll walk across some low-lying sand dunes to get to Peterson Beach!
This is a Lake Michigan beach that is located in Platte Bay.
Cost to visit Peterson Road Beach
The beach is officially a part of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
It’s listed at the beach that this is a National Park Service “fee area.”
There’s no one actively monitoring the Peterson Beach area (at least there are no park rangers posted at the beach) but it’s still a good thing to have a Sleeping Bear Dunes park pass or another kind of national park pass when visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore!
You can get a park pass at the Sleeping Bear Dunes visitor center (about a 20 minute drive from the beach), or you can make your payment at the self-pay stations that are located throughout the park.
There is one of these pay stations at Peterson Beach.
In 2023, a one week pass is $25. See current fees here, where you can also buy your pass online.
Things to do near Peterson Beach
aka ideas for planning out a perfect day in Sleeping Bear Dunes that includes a Lake Michigan beach!
1. Empire Bluff Trail
This is one of the best hikes in Sleeping Bear Dunes. If you’ve decided that Peterson Beach is your beach choice of the day, then it can be a perfect hike + beach day, by first hiking the Empire Bluff Trail and then drive over to Peterson Beach for some Lake Michigan time by the shore! It’s about a 20 minute drive.
2. Platte Plains trails (Bass Lake)
The Platte Plains area has multiple trailheads and 15 miles worth of hiking trails.
The Bass Lake trailhead is about a 15 minute drive from Peterson Beach. If you start from Bass Lake, you can do a hike that’s around 5-6 miles, including a hike to a Lake Michigan beach.
3. Platte River
This is a popular river for tubing and kayaking. A common starting point is near the Platte River picnic area, where you’ll also find a rental shop nearby.
This river empties out into Lake Michigan, and you’ll end up at a beach, the Platte River Point Beach! You can also drive to this beach.
4. Platte River campground
You can stay at a campground that’s about a 10 minute drive from Peterson Road Beach. There’s tent camping and RV camping available. You can also hike to a Lake Michigan beach from Platte River campground, which is around 1.6 miles round trip.
5. Esch Beach
And if you want to make it a beach hopping kind of day, then there’s yet another Lake Michigan beach in the area! There’s the Esch Road Beach which is also located in Platte Bay. This is about a 20 minute drive from Peterson Beach.
🌳
Here is a quick list of places to stay for your Tennessee North Carolina road trip, and you can read the reviews at partner website booking.com.
- Sevierville: Serenity, A Rustic Log Cabin Retreat or Berry Springs Lodge
- Pigeon Forge: Twin Mountain Inn and Suites
- Pigeon Forge on a budget: Travelodge by Wyndham Pigeon Forge Dollywood Lane
- Gatlinburg on a budget: Marshall's Creek Rest Motel or River Edge Inn or Gatlinburg Mountain Inn
- Gatlinburg resort: Embassy Suites By Hilton Gatlinburg Resort
- More in Gatlinburg: Greystone Lodge on the River
- Asheville: Princess Anne Boutique Hotel
📌 Pin this post for later! Save on Pinterest! 👈📌
And now…
More PHOTOS of Peterson Road Beach!
For google maps, you can locate Peterson Road in Honor MI. Peterson Road is a turn off of one of the main roads (M-22) that goes through Sleeping Bear Dunes .
You’ll turn onto Peterson Road and drive as far as the road goes. You’ll find a small parking area at the end of the road.
Then you’ll walk the path to the beach which will take you across some small low-lying sand dunes! It’s a short beach trail that you’ll walk for maybe 1 minute to get to the beach. Dune grass is said to be fragile and an important part of the coastal ecosystem so try not to step on it!
And you’ve made it to Peterson Beach at Platte Bay!
Off in the distance what you see are the Empire Bluffs and the Sleeping Bear Point bluffs. From Esch Beach, you can go swimming with a closer view of the Empire Bluffs.
And…
Be safe when swimming at a Lake Michigan beach!
In some ways, the Great Lakes can act like an ocean. Rip currents are a thing in the Great Lakes, including in Lake Michigan. Know before you go, just in case!
And that’s a bit about making a visit to Peterson Road Beach and the area!
See the list of more Lake Michigan beaches in Sleeping Bear Dunes!
See some of the great hikes in Sleeping Bear Dunes, including hikes to a Lake Michigan beach!
Making it a Michigan road trip?!
More Lake Michigan beaches in Michigan:
Also see Lake Superior beaches in Michigan’s other national lakeshore!
Plus, see the best of Michigan’s national lakeshores.
HAPPY VISIT TO PETERSON BEACH!
Top places to visit in Michigan:
- Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
- Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
- Upper Peninsula Michigan
- Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park
There are affiliate links on this page. I may earn a commission.