Stay at M22 Inn Empire, a 4.1-rated motel in Empire, MI, offering free Wi-Fi, parking, pet-friendly rooms, and easy access to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
Guests appreciate the motel’s peaceful setting by the lake, helpful service, and convenient access to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The accommodations are simple but clean, with some practical drawbacks noted.
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Rooms, shared spaces, dining and exterior — grouped so you can skim quickly.
M22 Inn Empire is a casual motel housed in an early 20th-century clapboard building along with annexes dating back to 1901. Accommodations are straightforward and unassuming, with some rooms featuring kitchenettes for added convenience. Though not luxurious, the rooms are generally clean and comfortable, offering guests a peaceful stay near the lakeshore. A few reviews mention minor issues such as spotty Wi-Fi and dated bathroom fixtures, but the friendly staff and relaxed check-in process help balance these points.
Set on a dead-end road just steps from a private beach and jetty on Little Glen Lake, the property offers direct access to calm, shallow waters ideal for families. Outdoor amenities include a volleyball court, playground, and a fire pit, making it easy to enjoy the natural surroundings without needing to go far. The motel’s location is quiet and removed from town, placing it about a mile from the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive entrance and within a few miles of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, a major local attraction.
The motel provides essential services such as free Wi-Fi and parking, air conditioning, and is pet-friendly, though it does not have on-site dining or a fitness center. Its informal atmosphere and modest facilities suit visitors looking for a simple, budget-conscious base with close proximity to outdoor activities and nature rather than a full-service hotel experience.
Nearby airports include Cherry Capital Airport, about a 40-minute drive away, and Manistee County Blacker Airport within an hour by car. Other accommodations like Maple Lane Resort and Dune Climb Inn are also accessible within a short distance for those exploring lodging options in the area.
The short version: what's available day-to-day, and the key practical details most travelers search for.
Reviews from travelers who stayed here in the last 12 months, grouped to help you spot the pattern quickly.
Amazing for the price. Very cozy and customer service was awesome despite us checking in late. WiFi was a little spotty, but we just needed a place to sleep for the night. I would come back again!
Basic motel style lodging but really fit our needs! Note it’s not right in the town of Empire (so no businesses to walk to) but on a dead end road leading right to a lake. The lake was fantastic for kids - super shallow and sandy and they have kayaks and a canoe to borrow! And sand volleyball and a small playground right at the motel. It’s a short and easy drive to all the Sleeping Bear sites, which is what we were looking for. Very helpful front desk staff too!
Stayed here 3 weeks ago, the accommodation complex is about 100 meters from the lake shore. The check in was very relaxed, basically found the room upstairs our selves and left a filled in form on the office desk. It was pleasant to walk to the lake and there was a jetty and small beach for M22 use. I have to say I am not used to private ownership of beaches and lake shore which does tend to limit access and you see annoying private property signs here and there. Still a nice place to visit. There is more public beach access in Traverse City and wonderful views at the Sleeping Bear Lake shore area.
Super cute, quiet, comfortable lodging with great proximity to Sleeping Bear Dunes NL. We slept very well, shower had great water pressure, the grounds look fun for other activities (fire pit, volleyball), and the staff is incredibly friendly. Will stay again when back in the area!
Truly a hidden gem! Nestled in a super cute and quiet little neighborhood off of M22. It’s so peaceful and they provide so many amenities that you don’t even have to go far to have a good time. The rooms aren’t luxurious by any means but they’re clean enough and offer a good night’s sleep. The wifi isn’t the best but hopefully you’ll be enjoying the outdoors anyway! They have their own private pier and beach area at the end of the road that truly saved us when we tried to go to one of the bigger beaches on a terribly windy day. They also offer free kayak, canoe, and bicycle rentals! They have a really nice outdoor area in the back with volleyball, corn hole, and a fire pit. We bought some starter logs and had a great bonfire the last two nights. Place is super charming & the owner is a nice guy. Will stay again.
Decent hotel. A bit dated. Super easy check in and out. Great location near Sleeping Bear Dunes. My only complaints were the toilet seat was broken and when I wanted to take a bath, the stopper did not work.
It was pretty solid. There was a bit of a musty smell. Room was clean though. Staff was super nice. Great location. Would definitely stay there again.
Rooms in the home are charming and clean. The house and adjacent hotel are undergoing renovation. Staff stay on the property and are friendly and helpful. At the end of the block is access to beautiful Little Glen Lake with a private dock and free kayaks. There is a lovely quiet enclosed porch to sip coffee and read. It’s not fancy or high tech, more like staying with your grandma. We loved it and will be back.
Set within a clapboard house and annexes, all dating from 1901, this casual hotel is a mile from the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive Entrance, 3 miles from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and 16 miles from Highway 31.
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