Dune Rides in Michigan: Mac Wood’s & Saugatuck (The Complete Guide)

Last Updated: July 2026

by Jill Halpin

A dune ride is one of the best ways to experience Michigan’s sand dunes — you get right up into the towering sand, out to the edge of Lake Michigan, and over hills you’d never be able to climb on your own, all without a permit, a 4×4, or a drop of sweat. But here’s the thing most people don’t realize: there are only two places in Michigan where the public can ride the dunes by vehicle. This guide covers both — what they cost, what to expect, and how to plan your visit.

If you’re weighing your options for getting onto the dunes, a guided ride is the sweet spot between climbing them on foot (free, but a real workout) and renting your own off-road vehicle (a blast, but more money and more responsibility). A ride is perfect for families with young kids, for grandparents, for anyone who wants the thrill and the views without the climb.

Mac Wood’s Dune Rides (Silver Lake)

Mac Wood’s is the original, and it’s a genuine piece of Michigan history. The dune rides here started back in 1930, when Mac Wood dreamed up the “dune scooter” to entertain guests at his resort — passersby were so intrigued that they talked him into making it a business, and it’s been running ever since. Nearly a century later, it’s still the classic Silver Lake experience and one of the most beloved family attractions in West Michigan.

The ride is a 40-minute, 7-mile tour over the Silver Lake sand dunes in a specially built open-air vehicle that holds about 20 people. Your driver doubles as a guide, sharing the history, ecology, and geology of the constantly shifting dunes — and, if the reviews are any indication, usually a few good dad jokes too. You’ll climb to the summit for a panoramic view, glide down into the valleys (people compare it to a roller coaster in spots), and stop for a few minutes at Lake Michigan for photos and a chance to dip your toes in.

Mac Wood’s Details

• 📍 629 N 18th Ave, Mears, MI 49436 (Silver Lake area)
• ⏱️ About 40 minutes, 7-mile trail, with a Lake Michigan stop
• 💰 $25 adults (12+), $15 children ages 3–11, free for ages 2 and under
• 🎟️ Walk-in only — no reservations or presold tickets (tour and school groups call ahead)
• 📅 Open roughly mid-May through early October
• 🛍️ Gift shop, snacks, and restrooms on site
• 🌐 macwoodsdunerides.com

PRO TIP: Because Mac Wood’s is walk-in only, wait times can stretch to an hour during peak summer weekends. Go early in the day or later in the afternoon to beat the crowd, and bring a light layer — it can get windy and cool out on the open dunes, even in July. Sand can sting on breezy days, so sunglasses help.

Mac Wood’s pairs naturally with a full day at Silver Lake — the beaches, the pedestrian dune, and Little Sable Point Lighthouse are all right there. For everything else in the area, see our complete Silver Lake Sand Dunes guide.

Saugatuck Dune Rides

On the other side of West Michigan, tucked into the wooded dunes near the artsy resort town of Saugatuck, Saugatuck Dune Rides offers the state’s other public dune ride — and it has a completely different character. Where Mac Wood’s is wide-open sand and Lake Michigan panoramas, Saugatuck’s ride winds through a privately owned stretch of forested dunes in a vintage open-air “dune schooner,” with a guide who mixes local history, ecology, and a running stream of jokes into the roughly 40-minute trip.

It’s a fun, family-friendly ride with plenty of little thrills as the schooner crests and dips through the dunes, and it’s a perfect add-on to a day spent exploring Saugatuck and neighboring Douglas — two of the most charming small towns on the Lake Michigan shoreline, full of galleries, boutiques, and good restaurants.

Saugatuck Dune Rides Details

• 📍 Blue Star Highway, Saugatuck, MI (just off I-196)
• ⏱️ About a 40-minute guided ride through private wooded dunes
• 💰 $29 adults, $15 children ages 3–11, free for ages 1–2 (no children under 1)
• ↩️ Refunds with 24-hour cancellation notice; full refund for inclement weather
• 📅 Seasonal (roughly mid-May through early fall) — confirm current dates and hours before you go

PRO TIP: Saugatuck itself is worth a full day. Pair the dune ride with the Oval Beach (regularly named one of the best beaches in the Midwest), the Saugatuck Chain Ferry, and dinner downtown. It makes for one of the easiest, most rewarding weekend getaways in West Michigan.

Mac Wood’s vs. Saugatuck: Which Dune Ride Should You Choose?

Both are guided, family-friendly, and roughly 40 minutes — so the right choice mostly comes down to where you already are and what scenery you want.

	Mac Wood’s (Silver Lake)	Saugatuck Dune Rides
Scenery	Wide-open sand, big Lake Michigan panoramas	Forested, wooded dunes
Adult price	$25	$29
Lake Michigan stop	Yes	No (wooded route)
Booking	Walk-in only	Reservations available
Pair with	Silver Lake dunes, ORV area, lighthouse	Saugatuck/Douglas towns, Oval Beach

If you want the quintessential “mountains of sand meeting the lake” experience and you’re up north near Ludington, go with Mac Wood’s. If you’re doing a southwest Michigan or Lake Michigan shoreline trip and want to combine your ride with beach-town charm, choose Saugatuck. Honestly? They’re different enough that dedicated dune fans do both.

Want to Drive the Dunes Yourself?

If a guided ride isn’t quite enough adventure, Silver Lake is also the only place east of the Mississippi where you can drive your own vehicle on the open sand dunes. The Silver Lake ORV area is open to 4x4s, ATVs, and dirt bikes (with the proper permits), and local outfitters rent dune-ready vehicles if you don’t own one. It’s a completely different level of thrill — and it’s covered in full in our Silver Lake Sand Dunes guide.

And if you’d rather explore the dunes on foot, there’s a whole world of them across the state — from Sleeping Bear’s famous Dune Climb to the quiet Lake Huron dunes at Port Crescent. See our complete guide to Michigan’s sand dunes for all of them.

Dune Rides in Michigan FAQ

Where can you take a dune ride in Michigan?

There are two public dune rides in Michigan: Mac Wood’s Dune Rides at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes in Mears, and Saugatuck Dune Rides in Saugatuck. Both are guided rides of about 40 minutes over private or specially permitted dune areas, and both are family-friendly.

How much does a Michigan dune ride cost?

Mac Wood’s Dune Rides costs $25 for adults and $15 for children ages 3–11 (free for ages 2 and under). Saugatuck Dune Rides costs $29 for adults and $15 for children ages 3–11 (free for ages 1–2). Prices are for 2026 and subject to change, so check each operator’s site before you go.

How long is a Michigan dune ride?

Both Mac Wood’s and Saugatuck Dune Rides run about 40 minutes. Mac Wood’s covers a 7-mile trail over the Silver Lake dunes with a stop at Lake Michigan; Saugatuck’s ride winds through private wooded dunes.

Do you need reservations for a dune ride?

Mac Wood’s is walk-in only — no reservations or presold tickets, so arrive early on busy summer days when waits can reach an hour. Saugatuck Dune Rides accepts reservations and has a 24-hour cancellation refund policy, with a full refund for inclement weather.

Are dune rides good for young kids and seniors?

Yes — that’s a big part of their appeal. A guided dune ride lets young children, grandparents, and anyone who can’t (or would rather not) climb a steep sand dune still experience the dunes up close. The vehicles are open-air but designed for safety, with a fun but not extreme ride. Mac Wood’s allows all ages; Saugatuck does not allow children under 1 year old.

Can you drive your own vehicle on the dunes instead?

Yes, but only at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes, which has the only public ORV dune area east of the Mississippi. You’ll need a Recreation Passport, an ORV license and trail permit, and a safety flag, and you can rent a dune-ready vehicle locally if you don’t own one. See our Silver Lake Sand Dunes guide for the full details.

What should you wear on a dune ride?

Dress for wind and sun. The open-air vehicles can get breezy and cool even on warm days, so bring a light layer, and pack sunglasses (blowing sand can sting) plus sunscreen and a hat. Closed shoes or sandals are fine — you’re seated for the ride, but you may step out onto the sand at the Lake Michigan stop.

Ready to plan the rest of your dune trip? Start with our guides to the Silver Lake Sand Dunes and all of Michigan’s sand dunes.