M-22 Scenic Byway

Traverse City to Manistee

Northwestern Michigan · Michigan · United States

Key measurements

Distance

117.0 miles

Elevation gain

3,124 ft

Elevation loss

3,017 ft

High point

952 ft

Low point

581 ft

Net change

104 ft (587 ft to 691 ft)

Surface

Paved

Route type

point-to-point

Route Overview

This 117-mile ride traces Northern Lower Michigan’s celebrated M-22 corridor, following the Lake Michigan Circle Tour along the perimeter of the Leelanau Peninsula and south down the Lake Michigan shoreline to Manistee.

The geography is defined by glacial landforms: deep bay waters, rolling fruit orchards, inland lakes, hardwood forests, and towering sand dunes along the lake bluffs. Elevations range from Lake Michigan's waterline at 581 feet up to coastal ridges reaching over 950 feet near Arcadia. Visually rich and naturally winding, this is a quintessential Great Lakes coastal run that transitions from bay-side agricultural hills to elevated shoreline bluffs.

Key Segments & Geographic Transitions

East Grand Traverse Bay and the Outer Peninsula — Miles 0.0–38.0

Departing Traverse City, M-22 skirts the western shore of Grand Traverse Bay before turning north into the cherry orchard and vineyard hills of the Leelanau Peninsula. The road works through coastal harbour settlements, tracking close to the water on smooth sweeps and gentle rolling climbs. Rounding the northern tip of the peninsula near Northport, the route swings south toward the open Lake Michigan side, setting up the transition from sheltered bay country to open lake coast.

Sleeping Bear Dunes and the Western Leelanau Shore — Miles 38.2–65.2

Heading south along the western edge of Leelanau County, the route enters the glaciated terrain of the Sleeping Bear Dunes area. Here, M-22 cuts through shaded forest canopies, skirts the edges of Glen Lake, and crosses rolling glacial moraines. The landscape alternates between dense hardwoods and elevated corridors with glimpses of massive sand dunes and open water bluffs down toward Empire.

Benzie County Lakes and Harbor Towns — Miles 65.5–87.6

Crossing into Benzie County, the road winds through a dense network of inland lakes and glacial valleys. Curves tighten slightly as M-22 traces natural landforms around Crystal Lake and down into the harbor communities of Frankfort and Elberta. This segment features brief urban transitions balanced by sweeping runs along lake margins and forested river valleys.

Arcadia Bluffs and Portage Lake — Miles 88.4–98.5

South of Elberta, the road climbs onto high coastal ridges, reaching the route’s highest elevation near Arcadia. This is the most dramatic topographic stretch of the trip, where high glacial bluffs drop off toward Lake Michigan. The highway executes broad, flowing turns across high ground before dropping back down toward the waters of Portage Lake and the village of Onekama.

Lower Coastal Forests to Manistee — Miles 99.8–117.0

The final stretch leaves Portage Lake and traverses the rolling pine and hardwood tracts of northern Manistee County. The road straightens into gentler curves and mild undulating hills, moving through farmland and timberland before ending on the northern approach into Manistee.

Seasonal & Environmental Context

Summer brings warm temperatures and long daylight hours, but also high traffic volumes. Being a primary tourist corridor, M-22 sees heavy weekend traffic, slow-moving recreational vehicles, and frequent pedestrian activity in harbour villages.

Microclimates are significant along this route: water temperatures keep immediate shoreline air noticeably cooler than inland areas, particularly in late spring and early summer. Late September and October bring peak autumn foliage, drawing substantial leaf-peeping traffic to the dense hardwood canopies lining the peninsula.

Logistics & Services

Fuel and food are readily available along the entire route. Harbor towns along the coast—such as Suttons Bay, Northport, Leland, Glen Arbor, Empire, Frankfort, and Onekama—provide regular access to services every 10 to 20 miles.

Cellular coverage is generally reliable along M-22, though localized signal drops can occur in low-lying forested valleys around the national lakeshore. Given the low speed limits through small towns and scenic slow-downs, plan on budgeting 3 to 4 hours of actual travel time for the 117-mile trip.

Important Considerations

Expect sudden slowdowns and turning vehicles near scenic pullouts, orchard stands, and trailhead parking areas throughout the summer and fall. * Be alert for blown sand near coastal dunes and loose gravel in rural driveway aprons or agricultural intersections along orchard stretches. * White-tailed deer are abundant throughout Leelanau and Benzie counties; extra vigilance is required around dawn and dusk, especially where woodland corridors intersect the highway.