Overview
Manistee is located on the shores of Lake Michigan in the northwestern lower peninsula of Michigan, about 65 miles south of Traverse City. Manistee offers small town charm with beautiful beaches, great fishing, and the Manistee National Forest. For vacationers Manistee has a lot to offer but it may be more notable for what it doesn't: large crowds, high prices, heavy traffic and tacky tourist traps.
16 sights · 2 things to do · 1 places to eat · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Manistee
Kaleva Bottle House Museum
SS City of Milwaukee Museum Ship
USCGC Acacia Museum Ship
Sands Park
Rietz Park
Red Szymarek Park
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 81°F; winter lows dip to about 16°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Oct and Sep. (climate data from nearby Traverse City)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- TVC Cherry Capital Airport, Traverse City — 50 mi away. Directions
- MKG Muskegon County Airport, Muskegon — 74 mi away. Directions
- GRR Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Grand Rapids — 102 mi away (major hub). Directions
Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Veterans Memorial Park, Sands Park, Red Szymarek Park
- Lunch Bungalow Inn
- Afternoon Rietz Park, Ninth Street Boat Launch
Day 2
- Morning SS City of Milwaukee Museum Ship, USCGC Acacia Museum Ship, North Beach Access Park
- Afternoon Mack Park, Arthur Street Boat Launch
Day 3
- Morning Kaleva Bottle House Museum, South Riverwalk, Morton Park
- Afternoon Duffy Park, Little River Casino
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Local eats include the Bluefish Kitchen + Bar and The Glenwood north of Manistee overlooking Portage Lake.
Chain restaurants in Manistee include Burger King, McDonald's, Wendy's, KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and A&W.
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
- Most visitors to Manistee will arrive by car from US 31 that runs north and south through town or via M-55 that ends just north of town at US 31.
- For boaters there is a municipal marina with easy access from Lake Michigan.
- You can fly in from Chicago Midway Airport via North Country Sky to Manistee's Blacker Airport.
See
- You can tour the town on one of the trolley buses that depart from the Dial-a-Ride on Memorial Drive just north of the Manistee River. The drivers offer some history of the town including the claim that Manistee had more millionaires per capita than anywhere in the U.S. in the late 1800s. The tour passes by some of the old Victorian style homes that housed the lumber barons years ago.
See Kaleva Bottle House Museum (John J. Makinen Bottle House)
Parks
Do
- The Riverwalk offers a wonderful way to take in Manistee. It runs along the south side of the river from US 31 all the way to Lake Michigan, about a mile and a half altogether. If you're lucky you'll see a 700 foot lake freighter slowly making its way through the narrow river channel on its way from Lake Michigan to Manistee Lake.
- You can take a nice walk along the beach and walk to the tip of the lighthouse. The beach sand is very nice and on the side of the lighthouse you can usually see some nice fish since the water is so clear.
- Go Fish! Manistee offers great fishing from fly fishing in the Manistee River to small catches in Manistee Lake to the big King Salmon in Lake Michigan. Dozens of charter boats are available at Fish Manistee
- Golf at nearby courses including Manistee National, Arcadia Bluffs, Manistee Golf and Country Club, The Heathlands, and County Highlands.
Events
- Manistee National Forest Festival is Manistee's biggest annual event. Enjoy a huge variety of events including a flea market, carnival, entertainment, arts and crafts fair, fireworks over Lake Michigan, and a parade on July 4.
- Victorian Sleigh Bell Weekend is the first weekend of December. Enjoy an old time Christmas parade and events. The parade has no motor vehicles, everything is pulled with horses. It includes 2 huge Christmas trees that make there was down River Street.
Buy
Shop downtown on River Street at the many boutique stores, department store, or antique stores.
Eat
Local eats include the Bluefish Kitchen + Bar and The Glenwood north of Manistee overlooking Portage Lake.
Chain restaurants in Manistee include Burger King, McDonald's, Wendy's, KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and A&W.
Eat Bungalow Inn
Full service restaurant.
Drink
There are many bars in Manistee, such as Stu's.
Sleep
Nearby
Bear Lake
City / town · 3 listings · 15 mi away
Arcadia
City / town · 10 listings · 18 mi away
Ludington
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Frankfort
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Pentwater
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Honor
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Interlochen
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Cadillac
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My experience
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