Tucked along the eastern shore of Grand Traverse Bay in northern Michigan, Keith J. Charters Traverse City State Park packs a remarkable amount of beauty into its compact 75 acres. What sets this park apart is its location — it’s one of the few state parks situated directly within a city, giving visitors easy access to Traverse City’s renowned restaurants, wineries, and cherry orchards while still offering a genuine outdoor retreat.

The park’s quarter-mile of sandy Lake Michigan beachfront is the main draw, with clear, shallow waters ideal for swimming and wading during summer months. A paved trail connects the campground to the TART Trail network, opening up miles of biking and walking paths that wind through the region. Birdwatching is productive here year-round, with the bay attracting migrating waterfowl in spring and fall.

The campground features over 340 sites nestled among mature trees, accommodating everything from tents to large RVs with modern restrooms and a camp store nearby. Sites fill quickly during July and August, so reservations well in advance are essential for peak season.

Visit in late June through early August for warm swimming conditions, or time your trip for early July’s National Cherry Festival when the entire region comes alive. Fall brings stunning color along the bay, fewer crowds, and crisp hiking weather.

Come for the beach, stay for the sunsets — Grand Traverse Bay delivers some of the most vivid in the Midwest.

Explore Nearby

• Mission Point Light (1933) — Lighthouse in Michigan
• Mission Point Light — Lighthouse in Michigan
• Historic Michigan Road Byway Alternate — Scenic Byway in Indiana
• Huron–Manistee National Forest — National Forest in Michigan
• Newport State Park — Dark Sky Site in Wisconsin