East Grand Traverse Bay · Traverse City to Elk Rapids, MI
East Bay waterfront homes for sale
Every waterfront home, condo and lot for sale on East Grand Traverse Bay, from Traverse City and Acme up to Elk Rapids and along the east side of Old Mission, pulled from the MLS each week, with a 3D map of the bay floor.
Listings updated October 5, 2026. Prices and status can change between updates, so ask us before you fall for one.
East Bay
Grand Traverse Bay · Lake Michigan
This 3D lake model needs a browser with WebGL. Ask us about East Bay frontage and we’ll send you the depth map.
The bay floor comes from NOAA Great Lakes bathymetry, with the height exaggerated so the drop offs show. West Bay and open Lake Michigan are shaded gray. A guide, not a navigation chart.
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Waterfront homes and lots for sale on East Bay
Every active East Bay waterfront listing, homes first, highest price first, then lots. Tap a photo to fly to it on the bay.
$3,850,000
10249 Kay Ray Road
Williamsburg, MI 49690
5 bd · 4.5 ba · 6,262 sq ft
104 ft of private frontage · Built 2013
Listing courtesy of Five Star Real Estate · MLS #1945825
Ask about this home →$3,495,000
8871 Birchview Drive
Williamsburg, MI 49690
5 bd · 5 ba · 3,302 sq ft
100 ft of private frontage · Built 2018
Listing courtesy of RE/MAX Bayshore · MLS #1951175
Ask about this home →$3,350,000
6885 E Shore Road
Traverse City, MI 49686
4 bd · 3 ba · 4,378 sq ft
160 ft of private frontage · Built 2016
Listing courtesy of MI Properties North Real Estate Group · MLS #1947985
Ask about this home →$3,295,000
15724 Shoreline Court
Traverse City, MI 49686
5 bd · 4.5 ba · 4,492 sq ft
85 ft of private frontage · Built 2021
Listing courtesy of Real Estate One · MLS #1951013
Ask about this home →$2,897,500
3619 Tompkins Road
Traverse City, MI 49686
3 bd · 1.5 ba · 1,632 sq ft
100 ft of private frontage
Listing courtesy of Coldwell Banker Schmidt Traverse City · MLS #1944870
Ask about this home →$2,799,000
1143 Bay View Drive
Kewadin, MI 49648
6 bd · 4.5 ba · 5,456 sq ft
200 ft of private frontage · Built 1994
Listing courtesy of RE/MAX of Elk Rapids · MLS #1946514
Ask about this home →$2,625,000
1995 San Marino Trail
Kewadin, MI 49648
4 bd · 3.5 ba · 4,422 sq ft
148 ft of private frontage · Built 1996
Listing courtesy of Wittbrodt WATERSIDE PROPERTIES · MLS #1932893
Ask about this home →$2,599,000
14788 Mallard Drive
Traverse City, MI 49696
5 bd · 5 ba · 4,939 sq ft
150 ft of private frontage · Built 1998
Listing courtesy of EXIT Northern Shores Realty · MLS #1950984
Ask about this home →$2,550,000
2175 N US-31 N
Traverse City, MI 49686
6 bd · 4 ba · 3,270 sq ft
106 ft of private frontage · Built 1984
Listing courtesy of RE/MAX of Elk Rapids · MLS #1942892
Ask about this home →$2,200,000
17744 Smokey Hollow Road
Traverse City, MI 49686
4 bd · 2.5 ba · 3,152 sq ft
150 ft of private frontage · Built 1990
Listing courtesy of Real Estate One · MLS #1945791
Ask about this home →$2,200,000
724 S Golden Beach Drive
Kewadin, MI 49648
5 bd · 3.5 ba · 3,072 sq ft
102 ft of private frontage · Built 1950
Listing courtesy of RE/MAX of Elk Rapids · MLS #1945453
Ask about this home →$1,975,000
3981 Smokey Ridge Road
Traverse City, MI 49686
6 bd · 4 ba · 5,927 sq ft
250 ft of shared frontage · Built 2004
Listing courtesy of RE/MAX Bayshore · MLS #1947726
Ask about this home →$1,725,000
2359 San Marino Trail
Kewadin, MI 49648
5 bd · 3 ba · 3,274 sq ft
125 ft of private frontage · Built 1989
Listing courtesy of @properties Christie's International · MLS #1948470
Ask about this home →$1,650,000
10892 Lakeshore Road
Elk Rapids, MI 49629
3 bd · 3.5 ba · 3,208 sq ft
100 ft of private frontage · Built 1970
Listing courtesy of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices · MLS #1949038
Ask about this home →$1,395,000
2856 Birchview Drive
Kewadin, MI 49648
5 bd · 2.5 ba · 2,490 sq ft
86 ft of private frontage · Built 1972
Listing courtesy of RE/MAX of Elk Rapids · MLS #1946633
Ask about this home →$1,395,000
6436 Peregrin Court
Traverse City, MI 49686
5 bd · 2.5 ba · 3,737 sq ft
230 ft of shared frontage · Built 2006
Listing courtesy of @properties Christie's International · MLS #1947462
Ask about this home →$1,275,000
7852 Underwood Ridge
Traverse City, MI 49686
4 bd · 3.5 ba · 3,048 sq ft
500 ft of shared frontage · Built 2000
Listing courtesy of Real Estate One · MLS #1948229
Ask about this home →$1,199,000
5628 MacKenzie Drive
Kewadin, MI 49648
2 bd · 2 ba · 1,012 sq ft
100 ft of private frontage · Built 1960
Listing courtesy of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices · MLS #1948998
Ask about this home →$1,150,000
5271 US-31 N
Williamsburg, MI 49690
2 bd · 2 ba · 2,825 sq ft
115 ft of private frontage · Built 1943
Listing courtesy of Coldwell Banker Schmidt Traverse City · MLS #1944800
Ask about this home →$998,500
4133 Old Mission Road
Traverse City, MI 49686
3 bd · 3 ba · 2,871 sq ft
85 ft of shared frontage · Built 1999
Listing courtesy of Coldwell Banker Schmidt Traverse City · MLS #1945478
Ask about this home →$875,000
1321 Bayview Drive
Kewadin, MI 49648
1 bd · 1 ba · 810 sq ft
132 ft of private frontage · Built 1947
Listing courtesy of RE/MAX of Elk Rapids · MLS #1939288
Ask about this home →$869,000
1941 N US-31 N 55
Traverse City, MI 49686
2 bd · 2 ba · 1,117 sq ft
330 ft of shared frontage · Built 2006
Listing courtesy of RE/MAX Bayshore · MLS #1945119
Ask about this home →$749,900
10774 S US-31
Williamsburg, MI 49690
11 bd · 6 ba · 5,500 sq ft
200 ft of shared frontage · Built 1940
Listing courtesy of RE/MAX of Elk Rapids · MLS #1941709
Ask about this home →$599,900
10159 Council Oak Drive
Traverse City, MI 49686
4 bd · 2 ba · 2,350 sq ft
390 ft of shared frontage · Built 1997
Listing courtesy of @properties Christie's International · MLS #1946079
Ask about this home →$539,900
6831 E Harbor Drive
Elk Rapids, MI 49629
3 bd · 3 ba · 1,443 sq ft
100 ft of shared frontage · Built 1990
Listing courtesy of Real Estate One · MLS #1945724
Ask about this home →$525,000
8877 US-31 N
Williamsburg, MI 49690
3 bd · 2 ba · 2,197 sq ft
200 ft of shared frontage · Built 1980
Listing courtesy of Real Estate One · MLS #1950099
Ask about this home →$445,000
1995 US-31 N 329
Traverse City, MI 49686
1 bd · 1 ba · 802 sq ft
300 ft of shared frontage · Built 1986
Listing courtesy of Real Estate One · MLS #1951014
Ask about this home →$425,000
8877 US-31 N
Williamsburg, MI 49690
3 bd · 2 ba · 2,197 sq ft
200 ft of shared frontage · Built 1980
Listing courtesy of Real Estate One · MLS #1950098
Ask about this home →$3,500,000
14750 Mallard Drive
Traverse City, MI 49686
Vacant lot · 4.99 acres
561 ft of private frontage
Listing courtesy of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices · MLS #1947779
Ask about this lot →$1,100,000
19829/19855 Eagle Rise Road
Traverse City, MI 49686
Vacant lot · 19.36 acres
100 ft of private frontage
Listing courtesy of Coldwell Banker Schmidt Traverse City · MLS #1949039
Ask about this lot →$895,000
00000 Bluff Road
Traverse City, MI 49686
Vacant lot · 4.22 acres
123 ft of private frontage
Listing courtesy of Century 21 Northland · MLS #1950216
Ask about this lot →$840,000
1 Cavalieri Court
Traverse City, MI 49686
Vacant lot · 0.50 acres
369 ft of shared frontage
Listing courtesy of @properties Christie's International · MLS #1949709
Ask about this lot →$460,000
Lot 21 Moonrise Court
Traverse City, MI 49686
Vacant lot · 4.92 acres
370 ft of shared frontage
Listing courtesy of Coldwell Banker Schmidt Traverse City · MLS #1947234
Ask about this lot →$110,000
4170 Dornoch Court
Williamsburg, MI 49690
Vacant lot · 0.45 acres
1450 ft of shared frontage
Listing courtesy of Real Estate One · MLS #1937761
Ask about this lot →$110,000
4182 Dornoch Court
Williamsburg, MI 49690
Vacant lot · 0.45 acres
1450 ft of shared frontage
Listing courtesy of Real Estate One · MLS #1937762
Ask about this lot →$100,000
Parcel A US-31 N
Williamsburg, MI 49690
Vacant lot · 0.67 acres
200 ft of shared frontage
Listing courtesy of Real Estate One · MLS #1950101
Ask about this lot →$85,000
7549 Highgrove
Williamsburg, MI 49690
Vacant lot · 0.59 acres
1450 ft of shared frontage
Listing courtesy of RE/MAX Bayshore · MLS #1945304
Ask about this lot →$42,000
00 Shawnee Trail
Kewadin, MI 49648
Vacant lot · 0.27 acres
200 ft of shared frontage
Listing courtesy of RE/MAX of Elk Rapids · MLS #1949729
Ask about this lot →Living on East Bay
East Grand Traverse Bay is the deeper, wilder arm of the bay: Lake Michigan water from Traverse City and Acme north to Elk Rapids, with Old Mission Peninsula along its west side.
The US-31 shore from Acme to Elk Rapids faces west toward the sunset over Old Mission. The east side of Old Mission faces the morning sun. At the south end, Traverse City’s east side has long shallow sandy beaches that warm up in summer.
The middle of the bay drops to about 600 feet, among the deepest water anywhere near Traverse City, which you can see on the 3D map.
East Bay real estate runs from beach condos near town to large homes on Old Mission and along the shore toward Elk Rapids, plus lots with bay views. Frontage is listed as private or shared, and every card above says which one it is.
Depth
About 600 feet at the deepest point, with shallow sandy shelves near Traverse City and Acme.
Two shores
The US-31 shore from Acme to Elk Rapids faces the sunset. Old Mission’s east shore faces the sunrise.
Elk River
The Chain of Lakes drains into East Bay through the Elk River at Elk Rapids.
Water quality
The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay tests area beaches for E. coli every week in summer.
Traverse City State Park
A Michigan state park with a beach on East Bay along US-31.
Acme bayfront
Township parkland and beach along the bay in Acme.
Elk Rapids harbor
A harbor and launch at the north end near the mouth of the Elk River.
Getting on the water
East Bay has easy public access at the state park and the Acme shore, and a full harbor at Elk Rapids. On calm days the shallows near town are perfect for paddling, and the deep water to the north is big Lake Michigan boating.
Fishing is Great Lakes style, with lake trout and salmon in the deep water and perch and smallmouth bass closer to shore.
Buying on East Bay: what to know
Septic inspection at sale
Since 2026 Grand Traverse County requires a well and septic evaluation at sale for waterfront homes. We get it scheduled early.
Short term rentals
Peninsula Township bans most short term rentals, and other townships have their own rules. We check the exact address.
Private or shared frontage
Many condos and subdivisions share a beach or dock. Ask for the association documents before you write an offer.
Lake Michigan levels
The water moves a few feet over the years. Look at the seawall, dock and setbacks with both high and low water in mind.
Erosion and dunes
Parts of the shoreline are state designated high risk erosion areas, which need permits to build or add on.
US-31 frontage
Many bayfront homes sit between the highway and the water. Listen for traffic noise at a showing.
East Bay questions
How deep is East Grand Traverse Bay?
East Bay is the deeper arm of Grand Traverse Bay, reaching about 600 feet in the middle based on NOAA bathymetry. The shorelines are much shallower, and the south end near Traverse City and Acme has long sandy shallows.
What towns are on East Bay?
Traverse City sits at the south end, with Acme and Williamsburg along US-31, Elk Rapids at the northeast, and the east shore of Old Mission Peninsula on the other side.
Where is public access on East Bay?
Traverse City State Park has a beach on East Bay along US-31, and the city and Acme Township have bayfront parks and beaches. Elk Rapids has a harbor and launch at the north end.
Is the Elk River connected to East Bay?
Yes. The Elk River runs from Elk Lake through Elk Rapids into East Bay, carrying water from the whole Chain of Lakes.
Is Lake Michigan water level a concern on East Bay?
It can be. Lake Michigan hit near record highs around 2020, then dropped below its long term average by 2026. Levels change a few feet over the years, so check the shoreline, seawall and dock with both high and low water in mind.
Can I rent an East Bay home short term?
It depends on where. Peninsula Township on Old Mission bans non owner occupied rentals under 30 days, while Acme, Elk Rapids and other areas have their own rules. Ask us to check the exact address.
Do East Bay homes need a septic inspection to sell?
On the Grand Traverse County side, since January 1, 2026 the county requires a well and septic evaluation at sale for homes within 300 feet of the water. Homes on sewer are handled differently, and the Antrim County side is handled locally, so we check the exact address.
Looking on East Bay?
East Bay waterfront often sells to people who were watching for it. We are Traverse City Realtors who work both sides of the bay every week. Tell us your budget and whether you want Old Mission, Acme and Williamsburg, or Elk Rapids, and we will send you new East Bay listings as soon as they hit the MLS.
More lakes near Traverse City
Listing information comes from Northern Great Lakes REALTORS® MLS and is refreshed weekly. Homes listed by other brokerages are shown with the listing office’s name. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be verified. Janel Brown and Taylor Brown, Real Estate One, Traverse City.
Bay facts: Grand Traverse Bay, The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay, Grand Traverse County time of transfer, EGLE high risk erosion areas. Depth map from NOAA NCEI Great Lakes bathymetry. Imagery: USGS. Elevation: Mapzen / AWS Terrain Tiles.