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Empire
is located on the Lake Michigan coastline and is the southernmost town in Leelanau County. The village was first settled in 1853 and named after a boat that became ice-bound in the harbor in the winter of 1863. With the lumber industry going strong, the little town eventually thrived and today is largely a tourist resort area. Situated in Michigan's northwestern Lower Peninsula, at the base of the Leelanua Peninsula, Empire is the gateway to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. This area encompasses 35 miles along coast, with rocky bluffs and breathtaking views. It also includes North and South Manitou Islands. The park contains beaches, forests, awesome sand dunes and ancient glacial formations. The Lakeshore also contains an 1871 lighthouse and Rural Historic Farm District. Rangers are always on hand with interesting and helpful information about the dunes, and can give directions for hiking trails, beaches and scenic drives. Many inland lakes in the region offer swimming, boating, fishing and canoeing. If it happens to rain while you're there, visit the Empire Historical Society and one room schoolhouse, and later enjoy dinner at one of the area's fine restaurants - there are always things to see and do in Empire and beautiful Leelanau County - no matter what the weather.
Surrounding areas: Glen Arbor, Michigan (2.5 mi), Maple City, Michigan (10.4 mi), Lake Ann, Michigan (12.2 mi), Beulah, Michigan (12.4 mi), Cedar, Michigan (13.2 mi), Frankfort, Michigan (15.0 mi), Long Lake, Michigan (16.6 mi)
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Empire Vacation Rentals
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Empire Hotels and Resorts
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| | | Hotels & Motels |
| The Homestead | Wood RDG Rd | Glen Arbor, MI | 7.0 mi. | (616) 334-5000 | | Leelanau Country Inn | 149 E HBR Hwy | Maple City, MI | 10.4 mi. | (616) 228-5060 | | Best Western - Scenic Hill Resort | 1400 US 31 Hwy | Beulah, MI | 12.4 mi. | (231) 882-7754 | | Crystal Beach Resort | 222 CTR St | Beulah, MI | 12.4 mi. | (231) 882-7229 | | Harbor Lights Motel | 15 Second St | Frankfort, MI | 15.4 mi. | (231) 352-5614 | | Crystal Mountain | 12500 Crystal Mountain Dr | Thompsonville, MI | 20.5 mi. | (800) 968-7686 | | Park Place Hotel | 300 E State St | Traverse City, MI | 21.6 mi. | (231) 946-5000 | | Americinn Motel & Suites | 1614 US 31 North | Traverse City, MI | 21.8 mi. | (231) 938-0288 | | Baymont Inn & Suites | 2326 North US 31 South | Traverse City, MI | 21.8 mi. | (231) 933-4454 | | Econo Lodge | 1065 M 37 S | Traverse City, MI | 21.8 mi. | (231) 943-3040 | | Fairfield Inn By Marriott--Traverse City | 3701 N County Dr | Traverse City, MI | 21.8 mi. | (231) 922-7900 | | Grand Beach Resort Hotel | 1683 N US Hwy 31 N | Traverse City, MI | 21.8 mi. | (231) 938-4455 | | Great Wolf Lodge | 3575 N Hwy US 31 S | Traverse City, MI | 21.8 mi. | (231) 941-3600 | | Hampton Inn - Traverse City | 100 US 31 N | Traverse City, MI | 21.8 mi. | (231) 946-8900 | | Hampton Inn | 1000 US 31 North | Traverse City, MI | 21.8 mi. | (231) 946-8900 | | Knights Inn | 1941 US 31 N | Traverse City, MI | 21.8 mi. | (231) 938-1900 | | Quality Inn | 1492 US 31 N | Traverse City, MI | 21.8 mi. | (231) 929-4423 | | Sugar Beach Resort Hotel | 1773 N US Hwy 31 N | Traverse City, MI | 21.8 mi. | (231) 938-0100 | | Sugar Beach Resort Hotel | 1773 US 31 N | Traverse City, MI | 21.8 mi. | (231) 938-0100 | | Super 8 Motel | 1870 N US Hwy 31 N | Traverse City, MI | 21.8 mi. | (231) 938-1887 | | Traverse Bay Inn | 2300 N US Hwy 31 N | Traverse City, MI | 21.8 mi. | (231) 938-2646 | | Traverse City Courtyard | 3615 W S Airport Rd | Traverse City, MI | 21.8 mi. | (231) 929-1800 | | Bayshore Resort | 833 E Front St | Traverse City, MI | 22.6 mi. | (231) 935-4400 | | Best Western Four Seasons | 305 Munson Ave | Traverse City, MI | 23.5 mi. | (231) 946-8424 | | Days Inn And Suites Traverse City | 420 Munson Ave | Traverse City, MI | 23.7 mi. | (231) 941-0208 | | Travelodge & Suites-traverse City | 460 Munson Ave | Traverse City, MI | 23.8 mi. | (231) 947-5436 | | Traverse Victorian Inn | 461 Munson Ave | Traverse City, MI | 23.8 mi. | (231) 947-5525 | | Century Farms | 2421 N Jacobson Rd | Suttons Bay, MI | 24.8 mi. | (231) 271-2421 | | Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites | 3536 Mt Hope Rd | Acme, MI | 27.5 mi. | (231) 938-2600 | | Sleep Inn And Suites | 5520 US 31 N | Acme, MI | 27.5 mi. | (231) 938-7000 |
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Empire Weather & Climate
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The lake effect is quite strong on the northwest area of Lower Michigan near the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park. This area has a distinct four-season climate, although Lake Michigan helps modify temperatures, keeping them cooler in late spring and early summer, and warmer during late fall and winter. Showers and thunderstorms are common in spring and summer, and precipitation is generally evenly distributed during the crop season of April through September, receiving an average of 17.45 inches of rain during that time. The lake also acts as a giant humidifier, increasing moisture content in the air throughout the year. However, extremely hot and humid summer days are not that common and don't last long in this part of the state. Snowfall varies greatly from season to season.
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| Month |
High Temp |
Low Temp |
Rainfall |
Ocean Temp |
| January |
28°F |
15°F |
2.80 in. |
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| February |
32°F |
15°F |
1.80 in. |
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| March |
41°F |
22°F |
2.14 in. |
- |
| April |
54°F |
31°F |
2.51 in. |
- |
| May |
67°F |
41°F |
2.63 in. |
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| June |
77°F |
51°F |
2.95 in. |
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| July |
81°F |
57°F |
2.91 in. |
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| August |
79°F |
56°F |
3.37 in. |
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| September |
70°F |
49°F |
4.22 in. |
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| October |
59°F |
40°F |
3.36 in. |
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| November |
44°F |
30°F |
3.21 in. |
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| December |
33°F |
21°F |
2.84 in. |
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Empire Map & Transportation
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| Click each thumbnail image to enlarge. |
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The closest airports in the area are the Cherry Capital airport (TVC) located about 23 miles east of Empire in Traverse City, Michigan, the Manistee County Blacker airport (MBL) located approximately 38 miles south of Empire in Manistee, Michigan, the Antrim County airport (ACB) located roughly 43 miles east of Empire in Bellaire, Michigan, the Wexford County airport (CAD) located around 48 miles southeast of Empire in Cadillac, Michigan, the Mason County airport (LDM) located about 61 miles southwest of Empire in Ludington, Michigan, and finally the Otsego County airport (GLR) located approximately 67 miles east of Empire in Gaylord, Michigan.
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Empire Attractions
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| | | Amusement and Theme Parks |
| Funland Amusement Park | Shelby Township | MI | 84.6 mi. | |
| | | Water Parks |
| Michigan's Wild Water Adventure Water Park | Muskegon | MI | 109.3 mi. | |
| | | Golf Courses |
| Dunes Golf Club | Empire | MI | | | | Mistwood Golf Course | Lake Ann | MI | 12.4 mi. | | | Pinecroft Golf Plantation | Benzonia | MI | 12.5 mi. | | | Champion Hill | Benzonia | MI | 13.3 mi. | | | Crystal Lake Golf Club | Beulah | MI | 14.1 mi. | | | Frankfort Golf Course | Frankfort | MI | 15.0 mi. | | | Cedar Hills Golf Course | Traverse City | MI | 16.6 mi. | | | Interlochen Golf Club | Interlochen | MI | 18.8 mi. | | | Veronica Valley Golf Course | Lake Leelanau | MI | 20.7 mi. | | | Arcadia Bluffs Golf Course | Arcadia | MI | 21.1 mi. | | | Bay Meadows Golf Course | Traverse City | MI | 22.2 mi. | | | Crown Golf Course | Traverse City | MI | 22.2 mi. | | | Elmbrook Golf Course | Traverse City | MI | 22.2 mi. | | | Mitchell Creek Golf Course | Traverse City | MI | 22.2 mi. | | | Chestnut Hills Golf Course | Bear Lake | MI | 27.2 mi. | | | County Highlands Golf Course | Bear Lake | MI | 27.2 mi. | |
| | | Ski Areas |
| The Homestead Resort | Glen Arbor | MI | 7.0 mi. | | | Sugar Loaf Resort | Cedar | MI | 13.2 mi. | | | Crystal Mountain | Thompsonville | MI | 20.9 mi. | | | Shanty Creek | Bellaire | MI | 43.1 mi. | | | Caberfae Peaks Ski & Golf Resort | Cadillac | MI | 50.4 mi. | | | Boyne USA Resorts | Boyne Falls | MI | 61.1 mi. | | | Nubs Nob | Harbor Springs | MI | 67.4 mi. | | | Treetops Sylvan | Gaylord | MI | 69.4 mi. | | | Riverview Highlands | Riverview | MI | 96.3 mi. | | | Pando Ski Center | Rockford | MI | 119.4 mi. | | | Pine Mountain | Iron Mountain | MI | 119.9 mi. | |
| | | State Parks |
| D H Day State Park | | MI | 5.8 mi. | | | Interlochen State Park | | MI | 19.7 mi. | | | Traverse City State Park | | MI | 25.4 mi. | | | Orchard Beach State Park | | MI | 38.7 mi. | |
| | | Museums |
| Dennos Museum Center | Traverse City | MI | 21.8 mi. | (Multidisciplinary) |
| | | Zoos and Aquariums |
| North Eastern Wisconsin Zoo | Green Bay | WI | 98.4 mi. | |
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