Home > Group Tours > Tour Support & Services

Tour Support & Services

Bureau Services:

The bureau offers special services to assist you in planning and conducting your tour through this beautiful and unique region.

Contact the Traverse City Convention & Visitors Bureau for:
- FAM tours for operators and group leaders

- Customized itinerary development

- Assistance in securing accommodations

- Step on tour guide referrals

- Brochures and maps

- Photos

Contact: Sarah Barnard, Group Sales Manager at 231-995-3910 or email sarah@traversecity.com

Bus regulations:

Insurance requirements: A motorcoach, owned and operated by a non-resident of Michigan, must carry a certificate of insurance for bodily injury and property damage liability, as required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, to serve Michigan in interstate or foreign commerce operations. No authority filing is required. No intrastate operations of any type are permitted without a Certificate of Authority from the Michigan Department of Transportation. No other insurance, fuel tax permit or filings are required.

Miscellaneous information: Maximum bus width - 102"; maximum height - 13'6"; maximum length - 45'. Maximum gross weight depends on tire size and axle spacing. Maximum speed ranges from 55 mph to 70 mph depending on weather, road conditions, traffic conditions and posted speed. Non-resident vehicles operated in Michigan must be properly equipped mechanically and carry plates required by home states.

For further information write or call:

Michigan Department of Transportation Motor Bus Regulatory Unit
Passenger Transportation Division
Multi-Modal Transportation Services Bureau
P.O. Box 30050
Lansing, MI 48909
(517) 241-0679 or (517) 241-0680

Guide & Charter Services:

Blue Lakes Charter & Tours
2528-A Preston Drive
Traverse City, MI 49684
(800) 282-4287
Services offered: Transportation

Traverse City Convention & Visitors Bureau
101 W. Grandview Parkway
Traverse City, MI 49684
(800) 940-1120
Services offered: Step-on guide referral

Dumping Stations:

Northern Michigan Diesel
2528 Preston Drive
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 935-1774

BATA
(Bay Area Transportation Authority)
3233 Cass Road
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 941-2355

Holiday Park
4860 US 31 South
Traverse City, MI 49685
(231) 943-4410

Fuel Stations: (Overhang at the following stations is 10'9')

Acme Shell Mini-Mart
5927 US 31 - North
Acme, MI 49610
(231) 938-1922

Chum's Corners Shell Mini-Mart
948 US 31 South
Traverse City, MI 49685
(231) 943-3666

Elk Rapids Shell Mini-Mart
111 Ames Street
Elk Rapids, MI 49629
(231) 264-5990

South Airport Shell Mini-Mart
1458 S Airport Road West
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 941-0639

Townhall Shell Mini-Mart
2408 US 31 South
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 947-2456

Shell Mini-Marts provide groceries and snacks, Shell gasoline, petroleum products and diesel. Stations are handicap accessible and offer motorcoach parking.

Repair Services:

Northern Michigan Diesel
2528 Preston Drive
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 935-1774

Emergency Services:

Use 911 for all emergencies, medical and public safety, in Antrim, Leelanau and Grand Traverse Counties.

Medical Services: Life-Threatening Emergencies
Munson Medical Center
Emergency Department
1105 Sixth Street
Two blocks west of Division Street (M 37 / US 31)
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 935-6333

Medical Services: Non-Life-Threatening Emergencies
Munson Urgent Care
550 Munson Avenue
(between Airport Access Road and 8th Street)
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 935-8686

Miscellaneous Information:

Tax 6% state sales tax

Assessment
5% on hotel/motel rooms

Currency Exchange
Currency exchange is not readily available in the area. Visitors are advised to do so upon their arrival at point-of-entry or metropolitan areas.

Liquor Sales
Monday-Saturday 7 a.m. - 2 a.m. Sunday noon - 2 a.m. Minimum drinking age is 21.

Smoking
The legal age in Michigan is 18. All state offices and many public and private businesses prohibit smoking.

Driving Regulations
All residents, non-residents and international visitors must possess valid operator's licence as well as auto registration certificates and proof of insurance for vehicles driven. Driving under the influence of, or while impaired by alcohol or drugs is illegal. A blood alcohol content of .08 constitutes impairment. Where not otherwise prohibited, Michigan allows right turns on red lights after a full stop and left turns onto one-way streets when there is no oncoming traffic.

Rest Areas:

Location	Route Lane	Direction	Mile Post
Gaylord...........................	I-75.................	North.................	277
Grayling..........................	I-75.................	North.................	252
Hartwick Pines..................	I-75.................	South.................	262
Hebron (Seasonal)..............	I-75.................	South.................	328
Mackinaw City..................	I-75.................	Both..................	338
Topinabee (Seasonal)...........	I-75.................	North.................	317
Vanderbilt........................	I-75.................	South.................	287

Mileage Chart:

Traverse City to other Michigan destinations:

Ann Arbor............	240	Grayling..............	50
Battle Creek..........	219	Holland...............	168
Bellaire...............	37	Interlochen...........	14
Cadillac...............	47	Kalamazoo...........	190
Charlevoix...........	50	Lansing...............	180
Detroit................	256	Leland................	26
Empire................	24	Mackinaw City......	105
Flint...................	191	Muskegon...........	147
Frankenmuth.........	170	Petoskey.............	67
Gaylord...............	62	Saginaw..............	157
Grand Rapids........	139	Sault Ste. Marie.....	160

Traverse City to destinations outside Michigan:

Atlanta, GA................	939	Louisville, KY..............	557
Chicago, IL................	320	Miami, FL...................	1,601
Cincinnati, OH............	485	Milwaukee, WI.............	410
Cleveland, OH............	407	New York City, NY.......	853
Columbus,OH............	431	Orlando, FL................	1,377
Dallas, TX.................	1,250	South Bend, IN............	255
Dayton, OH...............	438	Toledo, OH.................	292
Fort Wayne, IN...........	311	Toronto, Ont...............	440
Houston, TX..............	1,371	Washington DC...........	763
Indianapolis, IN..........	395	Windsor, Ont...............	257

Traverse City

Trip Planner

Current Weather