Best Time to Visit Traverse City, MI
Traverse City weather can accommodate every type of seasonal activity whether it's fishing, boating, and sunbathing in the summer or skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating during the winter. During the summer, temperatures are in the pleasant 80-degree range, while ample snowfall and cold temperatures during the winter create the ideal landscape for snow activities and enthusiasts.
If seeing picturesque landscapes with acres of blooming cherry orchards is on your itinerary, visit Traverse City in May when the weather is comfortable and the visual delights are exceptional.
Fall is another season popular with visitors for camping, hiking, and fall foliage observation with the temperatures still comfortable through October.
The high season is summer from July to August with crowd-pleasing outdoor activities in the parks and on the bay. July is also Cherry Festival month, which draws big crowds. During the summer, rates are higher for hotels and services such as restaurants and rental cars.
For the best rates, winter is the off-peak season, but the weather can include snow storms. Except for the possibility of bad weather, winter is the ideal time for skiing enthusiasts to visit.
Below is a chart of the current pricing seasonality of hotels and motels in Traverse City, MI:
Averate Rates by Star Rating
Below are 3 charts displaying average nightly cost trends by star rating class in Traverse City, MI. Analyze these illustrations to determine the cheapest time period to book a room in Traverse City for upcoming travels.
Luxury Hotels in Traverse City, MI
4 Star Average Prices: $185.82
For panoramic views from guest room balconies, exceptional guest service, and an elegant atmosphere in a historic location, the Park Place Hotel is the destination for business and leisure travelers. Comfortable king or queen beds await guests after a day of business or pleasure, along with a microwave, refrigerator, and coffee maker for early morning or late night beverages and snacks. Complimentary wireless internet is also available to stay up-to-date with the latest happenings. The pet-friendly hotel is ADA accessible, and it provides complimentary parking, in-room dining, a business center, and laundry service. For relaxation time, a fitness center, sauna, and indoor pool are available.
The Bayshore Resort is a lovely Victorian hotel with elegance and style. Its white sandy beach leads to the shore of West Traverse Bay where sparkling water, blue skies, and brilliant sunsets are an everyday occurrence. Select a standard room, a waterfront room, spa room, or suite with fireplace, refrigerator, and wet bar. All guests enjoy numerous amenities from the daily continental breakfast and laundry facilities to the game room and indoor pool. Full cable TV adds to the entertainment factor, and free Wi-Fi is available when you need it. An added amenity is the complimentary shuttle to the airport.
Affordable Hotels in Traverse City, MI
3 Star Average Prices: $191.33
Travelodge takes the stress out of traveling by providing modern comfort and amenities at the remodeled, pet-friendly hotel. Choose a spacious single room with king bed or two double beds. Each provides entertainment via a 40” flat screen TV with cable and complimentary Wi-Fi for connecting with friends and family. A complimentary Bear Bites breakfast awaits each morning to get you started, and if you feel like unwinding, the seasonal heated pool and whirlpool are readily available. Guests also have access to a computer and printer in the lobby, mini refrigerators and rollaway beds upon request, and a picnic area. For shopping and dining, Travelodge is just 2.1 miles from downtown.
Quality Inn By the Bay is located near many of the city's attractions and beautiful landscapes at places such as Grand Traverse Bay and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Leisure and business travelers will find warm and inviting guest rooms at affordable prices. Guests can enjoy freshly brewed coffee in the comfort of their room, watch TV, and connect with free Wi-Fi. A complimentary breakfast is served each morning, and guests have access to an invigorating whirlpool or indoor heated pool. For guest convenience, this smoke-free and pet-friendly hotel also features a business center and microwave and refrigerator rental.
2 Star Average Prices: $168.89
Best Discounts in Traverse City, MI
Great Wolf Lodge is an all-in-one destination location where comfort and family-friendly attractions blend together under one roof. Select standard, family, loft and fireplace suites, or one with a themed area for kids, such as the Wolf Den or KidKamp suite. Included with your stay, you'll enjoy unlimited Wi-Fi, activities for kids, a fitness center, shows in the lobby, and passes to the water park. The Great Wolf water park provides endless hours of fun splashing, gliding down water slides, and rafting under water falls and along a meandering indoor river. In the restaurant, kids will enjoy the wolf print waffles at the Camp Critter Bar & Grille, pizza, sweets, and poolside picnics.
West Bay Beach, situated on the waterfront of Lake Michigan, offers comfort every season throughout the year. With each room designed with floor-to-ceiling windows, guests enjoy relaxing views each day. The full-service restaurant is sure to please any palate, while the heated pool, fitness center, whirlpool, and sauna offer opportunities for complete relaxation. Additional amenities include room service, same-day dry cleaning, laundry facility, concierge service, and complimentary Wi-Fi. A free shuttle available 24 hours a day along with watercraft rentals are added bonuses at the smoke-free property. With its convenient location, guests are just minutes away from downtown, parks, trails, and cruises on the bay.
Best Value Options in Traverse City, MI
Fairfield Inn & Suites Traverse City offers an inviting atmosphere in each renovated guest room and suite decorated with warm pastel colors and modern furniture and accessories. Each spacious accommodation features luxury bedding with custom linens, a microwave, optional mini-fridge, and a CD player. Relax in a deluxe lounge chair while accessing Wi-Fi or searching for a favorite program on the 72-channel cable flat-screen TV. Unwind at the fitness center, refresh in the whirlpool, or swim a lap or two at the sparkling indoor pool. Enjoy a free buffet or continental breakfast or order from nearby restaurants that deliver. The hotel is conveniently located just five miles from Cherry Capital Airport.
Comfort Inn Traverse City is conveniently located near area attractions like Turtle Creek Casino, Leelanau Sands Casino, and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore for guest entertainment. For in-room comfort, inviting guest rooms are equipped with a coffee maker, microwave, and refrigerator to provide options for in-room dining. Each room also features a TV and complimentary Wi-Fi. Desks and whirlpools are also available in select rooms. Guest laundry facilities, free breakfast, whirlpool, and a 24-hour indoor heated pool add to the available amenities. The hotel also provides courtesy transportation, complimentary airport transportation, business center, meeting room, valet service, game room, computer, and a concierge desk.
Things to Do in Traverse City, MI
For any visitor to Traverse City, whether on business or for pleasure, the city offers a menu of fun activities, cultural locations, outdoor sport locations, and extraordinary landscapes that include orchards, shorelines, and national parks.
The cultural scene in Traverse City is diverse with a variety of museums with interesting exhibits, events, and activities. Choose to spend the day exploring and discovering at the Great Lakes Children's Museum, Dennos Museum Center, the Grand Traverse Heritage Center, Watermelon Sugar Gallery, the City Opera House, and the Grand Traverse Art Center.
Outdoor enthusiasts have beautiful terrain to explore at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park where miles of beach, forests, and high dunes highlight the scenic views of the lake. Located just two miles from downtown, the 47-acre Keith J. Charters Traverse City State Park offers visitors a lovely urban oasis featuring a pristine beach.
Traverse City is known for its annual cherry and grape orchards. For a taste of grape, take a tour of one of the wineries in the area such as Chateau Grand Traverse Winery, an award-winning winery and one the oldest in Michigan.
Fishing, sailing, and leisurely boating excursions are popular activities on Grand Traverse Bay. Hiking and golfing are also on the list of things to do. For a bird's eye view of the bay from atop a lighthouse tower, visit Mission Point Lighthouse, which was commissioned in 1870 and offers self-guided tours, a historic log cabin, hiking trails, gift shop, and picnic area.
Less than 40 minutes from Traverse City, adults can bring their “A” game to the gaming tables at Turtle Creek Casino and Leelanau Sands Casino. Whether blackjack, stud poker, slots, or roulette is your preference, both casinos offer hours of entertainment in a fun-filled atmosphere.
Traverse City is one of the premier small town destinations for seasonal climates, exceptional attractions, and a choice of reasonably priced hotels and resorts. From its many orchards and wineries to snow skiing and nearby casinos, leisure and business travelers have a diverse list of activities available for all ages any time of year.
No matter what time of year you choose to travel, Traverse City's small town vibe is big on catering to the enjoyment of visitors to the region.
'Weird News Radio' provides me with an excellent excuse to read trashy grocery store magazines and news sites, because now I can justify it as research. I love this show! says Kate Botello, former television personality in the United States and famous for her work in G4.
Known for its cultivation of tart cherries, the city attracts more than 500,000 visitors every year towards its National Cherry Festival in July. Hotels in Traverse City are usually full during the season. It is gifted with natural beauty including freshwater beaches, green forests, skiing locations, and vineyards. The all-season resort has over 20 golf courses blending with vineyards and orchards. Tourism is definitely high on its list with advertising campaigns making it a popular brand worldwide.
2 Cheap Hotels Close To Nature
Hotels are usually busy throughout the year, which is why many budget hotels offer great value for money. Grand Beach Resort Hotel - Located around 4.5 km away from downtown areas, the quiet property offers clean rooms at affordable tariffs. Guests have access to a large-sized hot tub, which is quite useful in the winter. Adequate portions are served with breakfasts. Rooms facing the Bay offer great views. Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Traverse City - The hotel has been renovated in 2015 and modernized to increase visitor benefits. It also has a saltwater pool with friendly service attendants always at hand. Hotels in Traverse City do have the elegant look. Real value is provided within the rooms and at the breakfast table. Cheap hotels are highly functional and can compete with some mid-range hotels quite easily.
3 Top Notch Traverse City Hotels Among Orchards
Spacious luxury hotels are found nearly everywhere spread around orchards and close to vineyards. They offer leisure stays and the opportunity to blend with nature. Country Inn & Suites by Carlson - Offering whirlpool suites fitted with tubs in the bedroom, the luxurious property has a great location. It is normally full during the holiday season, but friendly staff members are on their toes providing efficient services. Guests can relax in the Jacuzzi or large pool and enjoy delicious breakfasts. The pet-friendly hotel offers a shuttle service to the casino. Cambria Hotel & Suites - The property is close to downtown areas and shopping opportunities, restaurants, and wineries. Relax in a hot whirlpool. Attentive staff members ensure snow is cleared off vehicles parked within the property during winter. Tasty and elaborate home-made breakfasts are served. Cherry Tree Inn & Suites - An eternal favorite with guests, the hotel is an ideal spot with many seating areas for guests to enjoy each other's company. There's always the spacious pool and hot tub to relax. Well-designed rooms offer relaxing stays with excellent views of the lake. Other essentials like refrigerator and microwave oven are fitted within the rooms. Complimentary breakfasts are offered.
Exciting Festival Destination In Summer and Winter
If the Cherry Festival in summer attracts huge crowds, the resort welcomes winter with the National Beer Week. Visitors have many opportunities to try out local dinners, sample craft brews, visit breweries, and attend workshops. Campsites are set up at the Traverse City State Park, which is less than 5 km away from downtown areas. Over 50 wineries are found close to the center, and travelers can also visit Old Mission Peninsula wineries including Black Star Farms and Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery. Traverse City hotels are found close to all these important tourist destinations providing great value for money.
FAQs about hotels in Traverse City
How much does a cheap hotel in Traverse City cost per night?
In the last year, a 2 star hotel in Traverse City can be as cheap as $168.89 per night. (based on HotelPlanner prices)
How much does a 3 star hotel in Traverse City cost per night?
In the last year, the average 3 star hotel in Traverse City has been $191.33 per night. (based on HotelPlanner prices)
How much does a luxury hotel in Traverse City cost?
In the last year, the average 4 star hotel in Traverse City has been $185.82 per night. (based on HotelPlanner prices)