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Lakefront cottage close to Traverse City, Sleeping Bear Dunes & Crystal Mountain

Photo gallery for Lakefront cottage close to Traverse City, Sleeping Bear Dunes & Crystal Mountain

Dining
Smart TV
On the beach, sun-loungers, beach towels
Exterior
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 493 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor space

Explore the area

View map
Traverse City, MI
  • Place, Bass Lake
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Front Street
    ‪15 min drive‬
  • Place, Traverse City Beach
    ‪21 min drive‬
  • Airport, Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪19 min drive‬

Room options

Similar properties

Lobby
Tamarack Lodge of Traverse City
Traverse City
  • On private beach
  • Parking included
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning
4.7 out of 5, Exceptional, 262 reviews
The price is NZ$452
includes taxes & fees
21 June - 22 June
Tamarack Lodge of Traverse City

About the area

Traverse City

When you stay at this vacation home in Traverse City, you'll be on the beach, within a 15-minute drive of Lake Michigan and Front Street. .This beach vacation home is 11.5 mi (18.5 km) from Traverse City Beach and 0.1 mi (0.1 km) from Bass Lake.
View more Holiday homes in Traverse CityOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Bass Lake - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Turtle Creek Stadium - 13 min drive - 15.1 km
  • Front Street - 15 min drive - 16.2 km
  • Traverse City Beach - 21 min drive - 22.4 km
  • Traverse City State Park - 21 min drive - 22.4 km

Getting around

  • Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) - 17 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Chick-fil-A - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Culver's - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Burger King - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬10 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Lakefront cottage close to Traverse City, Sleeping Bear Dunes & Crystal Mountain

Just 10 minutes from Traverse City, 30 minutes from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and 35 minutes from Crystal Mountain, Whitetail Cottage is nestled on the shores of Bass Lake. Although it's an all-sports lake, it is best suited for fishing and kayaking. With 500 feet of shared sandy beach frontage, Whitetail Cottage has a gas grill on the deck overlooking the water as well as a beachfront fire pit. Two kayaks are available for renters to use for free and two child-size kayaks are available upon request. We also have paddle boards and bikes that can be rented for a separate fee by the day based on availability.

The cottage has two bedrooms with queen beds. There is a strict 4 person limit due to township rules. The upstairs bathroom has a tub and the downstairs bathroom has a newly renovated, walk-in shower.

A few quirks to note:
- The upstairs, where the bedrooms are located, has lower than standard ceilings, so if you are more than 6 feet tall, please take that into consideration.
- Whitetail Cottage has window air conditioner units in place during the summer - one downstairs and one upstairs (as pictured). Traverse City summers tend to be temperate and while these should do the trick, additional fans are also provided.
- The dock at Whitetail Cottage is not big enough to tie up motorized boats. Please contact us first if you plan to bring a boat and we will see if we can help!

Unfortunately, we don't allow guests to have pets; however, the property owners have doodles that love people and will want to say hi at some point, guaranteed!

While Traverse City is well known for its festivals, shopping, and restaurants, easy access to a quiet lake and extensive trail system are what sets our property apart. Plus, our proximity to Sleeping Bear Dunes and Crystal Mountain makes it a perfect location for those seeking natural beauty, freshwater beaches, and more.

Here are some of our favorite leisure activities by season:
- Summer: Beach days, fishing, kayaking, rock hounding, paddle boarding, and berry picking
- Fall: Mountain biking, leaf peeping, hiking, beer/cider tasting, and apple picking
- Winter: Cross-country/downhill skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, sledding, and snowmobiling
-Spring: Cherry blossoms, trail biking, bird watching, winery hopping, and morel mushroom hunting

We are more than happy to offer local insight on our favorite spots to do all the above - except for morel mushroom hunting - you're on your own :)

Lastly, we are a family-run property with multiple listings, so if you're interested in coordinating several cottages for a larger group, please don't hesitate to contact us. Thanks for considering Whitetail Cottage and please reach out with any questions!

Long Lake Township Certificate Number: STR22-00071
Make yourself comfortable in this air-conditioned vacation home, featuring a kitchen with a refrigerator and an oven. There's a private patio. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and a Smart television is provided for your entertainment. Conveniences include a microwave and a coffee/tea maker.
This smoke-free vacation home features games, hiking/biking trails nearby, and kayaking nearby.
Guests will find features like internet access and onsite parking.

Property amenities

Beach

  • On the beach
  • Beach loungers
  • Beach towels

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Hob
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Games
  • Smart TV

Outdoor areas

  • Charcoal grill
  • Firepit
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • On a lake
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Kayak
  • Casino nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby
  • Winery tours nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher

General

  • Unit size: 1,000 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM

Contactless check-in available

Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Check-out instructions

The host requires you complete the following before checking out:

Strip any used beds and gather used towels

Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks, and take out the trash

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

This property does not have elevators

Lakefront cottage close to Traverse City, Sleeping Bear Dunes & Crystal Mountain Reviews

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 82 out of 97 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 10 out of 97 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 5 out of 97 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 97 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 97 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Shannon S.

Liked: Cleanliness
We had a great weekend at the cottage! Clean, comfortable, and cute. Enjoyed campfires on the beach and the relaxing cottage vibe! Close to lots of great Michigan destinations: Sleeping Bear Dunes, Leland, Sutton's Bay, Skybridge, etc. Hosts were very responsive for questions before our stay and once we arrived. Would definitely stay again!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Bill S.

Liked: Cleanliness
The view of the lake from the back porch AND from the couch in the living room are amazing. This is a fantastic property. The owners are wonderful and the trip couldn’t have gone better. This place is worth a visit!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025

6/10 Okay

Mandy H.

Liked: Cleanliness
The view was good.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Laura F.

Liked: Cleanliness
We enjoyed the lake view, the quiet, and fire on the beach at night. We enjoyed the stay immensely. The cottage was quaint, clean and cozy.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Krista W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Peaceful lake view! Really appreciated the little guide put together by the hosts, very thoughtful and helpful.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Katie S.

Liked: Cleanliness
We loved this little slice of heaven. Cottage is cute and has beautiful beach access. We enjoyed a bonfire with friends, kayaking around the entire lake and reading lakeside for sunrise.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

L H.

Liked: Cleanliness
The location was convenient to many attractions, and the property and amenities were perfect.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Shari V.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful weekend!!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Gary B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Very clean cottage. Beautiful view.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kyle A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent little spot!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Donna P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Absolutely loved this property. It was above what we expected. It was lovely to be right on the lake for fishing in our small boat and walking around the woods. The house was very clean and comfortable and met all our needs. We will definitely love to come back again and stay there.
The view from the deck
The lake
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kelsey H., Fairplay, USA

Liked: Cleanliness
We had a great stay on the lake. Quiet, calm and clean. Look forward to staying again.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mark G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beach was great! Proximity to both Traverse City and Sleeping Bear made for a great vacation. Would definitely rent again!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Diane S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great cottage

We enjoyed our stay. We had everything we needed to just rest and relax. Nice sandy beach.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

James G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great location!!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Courtney O.

Liked: Cleanliness
Loved it! Thank you to awesome hosts, great location- peaceful and short drive to TC!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
The location was indeed lovely on the lake.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jessica Q.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect for a short girls trip! My daughter and I used the kayaks for a trip around the lake, relaxed on the beach with my mom, took a day trip to Sleeping Bear Dunes and played games inside at night. Jody and Katlyn were great hosts! They found a tube pump so my daughter could float around on the lake during the day.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Derek B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Nice awesome Lakeview front house for vacation.

Overall it was what our family was looking for for our vacation mini trip! Has exactly what everything we needed and more! Was a fun trip to get out of the city life and fish from the dock and do alot of exploring!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Kimberly J.

Liked: Cleanliness

Interesting

Had some issues. Manager did everything they could but had to leave a day early due to extreme heat and air conditioner not working and hot water kept going out.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lorna N.

Liked: Cleanliness

Comfortable, and perfect location for us

Cute and cozy. Great view. Great communication with host.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jessica W.

Liked: Cleanliness

So relaxing

The property has everything needed to relax, kayak, fish, enjoy the incredible view. Very clean lake, quiet lake.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sara L.

Liked: Cleanliness

Cute cottage perfect for family getaway!

Stayed with my two kids (4 & 1.5 yo) & my mom and it was the perfect space for us. Great location to explore Traverse city. After a busy day trip downtown it was nice to come back and relax by the water.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kory B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Northen Michigan lake cottage

The hosts were very nice people and very accommodating with great and prompt communication. The cottage is quaint and has everything you need.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Mary S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Lovely & quiet, would have been perfect for a few things

It's a little haven of peace & we really enjoyed it. As the host mentioned there are dogs in the neighborhood which was fine with us (we love dogs!). We were a bit worried about some noisy jet skis but the host quickly reassured us & indeed it happened only once during our stay. Beds are very comfortable (but the pillows are a bit 'plasticky'). Like in many cabins the water's sulfurous. It smells but is safe to drink. It dissipates if you let it sit a while. The staircase steps are pretty narrow & can be tricky for a person with balance issue. All in all we recommend the cabin for anyone who wants to enjoy the quiet by a beautiful lake. For families/group of friends there are plenty of games available too. Now compared to other cabins we rented there are a few things we were surprised not to find hence the 4-star overall rating. We didn't find any shower gel/soap or shampoo, only hand soap. We don't expect a full pantry but since there was oil, spices and coffee we were surprised not to find tea or sugar/sweetener. Some foil or wrap to pack our leftovers would have been helpful. We didn't find a scrubbing pad or dish brush to do the dishes. The Welcome Book could have more practical info on the area: the nearest store for basic shopping, where to get bait, good breakfast place... Of course there's internet for that but it's always nice to have the host's personal recommendations.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2024