Area Information
Empire is the headquarters to the Sleeping Bear Dunes national park. Staying in Empire makes it easy - truly a walk in the park! Set up base camp at an in-town hotel, bed & breakfast, or nearby campground and you'll be just a short walk, ride, or drive from everything the park has to offer. Traverse City is just 20 minutes down the road for exceptional food, wine tasting and beer.
Empire Beach with the Empire Bluffs in the background.
Visiting Empire - click here for things to do
Visit the Empire Museum
Coastal Living ranks Empire as one of the three best beach towns in Michigan, and Thrillist says the state with the best beaches isn't on the coasts, its Michigan. Read about it here;
Fodor's Travel ranks The Beaches of Sleeping Bear Dunes as the top inland lake beach in the country. Read about it here;
The Travel Channel includes Traverse City in their list of the New Top 10 Cities For Wine Snobs. Read about it here;
CNN Money includes Traverse City in their list of America's Best Beer Towns (giving Traverse a perfect Oktoberfest Index rating of 100!). Read about it here:
Empire and the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore voted the most beautiful place in America in 2011 by ABC-TV's Good Morning America. Read about it and see the video here;
and named one of the 21 top beaches on earth by National Geographic in 2017. Read about it here.
Fodor's Travel ranks The Beaches of Sleeping Bear Dunes as the top inland lake beach in the country. Read about it here;
The Travel Channel includes Traverse City in their list of the New Top 10 Cities For Wine Snobs. Read about it here;
CNN Money includes Traverse City in their list of America's Best Beer Towns (giving Traverse a perfect Oktoberfest Index rating of 100!). Read about it here:
Empire and the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore voted the most beautiful place in America in 2011 by ABC-TV's Good Morning America. Read about it and see the video here;
and named one of the 21 top beaches on earth by National Geographic in 2017. Read about it here.
William B. Bolton Airport
Empire Airport - FAA designation Y87
13264 S. Benzonia Trail
Empire, MI 49630
CTAF 122.9
Empire Airport - FAA designation Y87
13264 S. Benzonia Trail
Empire, MI 49630
CTAF 122.9