Quick answer: The best rental for a guest with limited mobility has a bedroom and full bathroom on the same level as the kitchen and living room, a walk-in shower, and few or no steps to get in. Four of our homes check every one of those boxes: Lake Therapy, Green Lake Therapy, Leelanau Resort Therapy, and Little Ranch Therapy. Not sure what you need? Contact us and we’ll answer room by room before you book.
What to look for in a rental
Listing pages don’t always spell these out, so it’s worth asking the host:
How many steps lead inside?
Is there a bedroom and full bathroom on the same floor as the kitchen and living area?
Is the shower a walk-in, or a tub with a shower over it?
Are there grab bars in the bathroom?
How close is the parking to the front door?
Our top picks for limited mobility
Each of these homes has a king bed in a main-floor bedroom, a main-floor kitchen and living area, a main-floor full bathroom with a walk-in shower, and parking close to the front door.
Lake Therapy: 2 steps to enter, with grab bars in the main-floor bathroom. It also has a dock, fire pit, game room, and hot tub. Read about it here.
Green Lake Therapy: 2 steps to enter. A lakefront home about 10 minutes from Traverse City, with a hot tub, private dock, and kayaks. Read about it here.
Leelanau Resort Therapy: No steps to enter. A waterfront home on South Lake Leelanau. Read about it here.
Little Ranch Therapy: No steps to enter. A western-inspired retreat on 8 private acres with a hot tub and fire pit, sleeping 2 to 4. Read about it here.
Good options too: Northwoods Therapy and Empire Therapy both have a main-floor king bedroom and a main-floor walk-in shower, with 2 and 3 steps to enter. The walk from the driveway to the front door is about 50 feet. Read more about Northwoods Therapy and Empire Therapy.
Grab bars are currently in the main-floor bathroom at Lake Therapy only. If they’re essential for your group, we recommend Lake Therapy.
Getting around with limited mobility
Some of the area’s best views take very little walking, especially at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive: The National Park Service says much of this 7.4-mile loop can be enjoyed from your vehicle. The Dune Overlook (Stop 3) has a ramp to a wheelchair-accessible deck. Overlooks 9 and 10 are not accessible because of a steep path and boardwalk.
Beaches: The park has offered free beach wheelchairs, so ask at a visitor center about availability. Entry is $25 per vehicle, per the NPS fees page.
More details are on the park’s accessibility page. For ideas on where to go, see our guide to the best places to see fall colors.
Book with confidence
If you need further assistance choosing the right home, tell us who’s traveling and what you need, and we’ll point you to the right home. When you’re ready, book direct and skip the service fees you’d pay on third-party sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Traverse City Getaway homes have a main-floor bedroom and bathroom?
Lake Therapy, Green Lake Therapy, Leelanau Resort Therapy, and Little Ranch Therapy each have a main-floor king bedroom, kitchen and living area, and full bathroom with a walk-in shower. Northwoods Therapy and Empire Therapy do too, with a slightly longer walk of about 50 feet from the driveway to the front door.
How many steps are there to get into your homes?
Leelanau Resort Therapy and Little Ranch Therapy have no steps to enter. Lake Therapy, Green Lake Therapy, and Northwoods Therapy have 2, and Empire Therapy has 3.
Do your homes have grab bars?
Lake Therapy has grab bars in the main-floor bathroom. Let us know if you need them so we can help you choose.
Are your homes wheelchair accessible?
Leelanau Resort Therapy and Little Ranch Therapy have no steps to enter. If you use a wheelchair or walker, contact us with your questions about doorways and room layouts before booking.
Can someone with limited mobility still see Sleeping Bear Dunes?
Yes. Much of Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive can be enjoyed from your vehicle, and the Dune Overlook has a ramp to an accessible deck.
Sources: NPS: Sleeping Bear Dunes Accessibility | NPS: Dune Overlook | NPS: Fees & Passes | The Dyrt: Beach Wheelchairs
