It’s no secret that the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is one of the biggest Northern Michigan attractions. Labeled by Good Morning America as the most “Beautiful Place in America,” the Sleeping Bear Dunes are a great place for to get out and enjoy Northern Michigan’s outdoors. And planning your Northern Michigan vacation to the Dunes just got a lot simpler now that park passes can be purchased online.

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In order to make your vacation easier, the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park service has made purchasing park passes available online at Pay.gov.  Only one-year passes are available for purchase online, at the standard price of $20 per vehicle.  Weekly passes for vehicles ($10) or individuals ($5) must be purchased at one of the pay stations listed below.

While there is no fee to drive on the county and state roads that run through the park, you must purchase a pass if you plan on stopping at any of the attractions or use the park land for activities like swimming, hiking, skiing, etc.  If you plan on spending numerous weekends up in Northern Michigan or are a local who loves the Sleeping Bear Dunes National park, then the annual pass is recommended.

The park pass covers all members within a vehicle and can be purchased at the following stations throughout the year:

  • Philip A. Hart Visitor Center, Empire, MI – Year-round
  • Platte River Campground Office – March to November
  • Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive Entrance Station – Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day
  • Dune Climb Entrance Station – Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day
  • D. H. Day Campground Office – May to October
  • Leland Boat Dock – May to September
  • North Bar Lake Self-Pay Fee Canister – Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day
  • Esch Beach Self-Pay Fee Canister – Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day
  • Peterson Beach Self-Pay Fee Canister – Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day
  • 669 Beach Self-Pay Fee Canister – Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day
  • 651 Beach Self-Pay Fee Canister – Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day
  • Maritime Museum Self-Pay Fee Canister – Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day

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