Spend four hours driving your own off-road vehicle across towering sand dunes with gear and fuel included.
4 hrs
Helmets, Fuel, Transport
Drive your chosen off-road vehicle across the 450-acre Silver Lake Sand Dunes ORV Park. After a brief guided orientation, enjoy up to four hours of free exploration over picturesque dunes.
Renters must be 18+ with valid ID. Drivers must be 16+ (two-seat) or 21+ (four-seat) with license. Children 2+ may ride in forward-facing car seats. Not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with back or neck issues.
If you cancel, you may reschedule or receive a gift certificate. No refunds are provided for no-shows. Weather-related cancellations are accepted only if the operator or DNR closes the dunes; in that case a full refund is issued.
They have provided dune riding experiences for over 25 years with a focus on safety and detailed instruction.
Yes, youth and adult helmets are free to borrow; charges apply only if not returned or damaged.
Renters must be 18+. Drivers must be 16+ for two-seat vehicles and 21+ for four-seat vehicles, each with a valid driver’s license.
Silver Lake Buggy Rentals, 8288 W Hazel Rd, Mears, MI 49436
<p>At Silver Lake State Park Off-Road Vehicle Area, towering sand dunes stretch toward the horizon in every direction, forming one of the few places in the United States where you can legally drive an off-highway vehicle across open coastal dunes.</p><p>The Silver Lake State Park Off-Road Vehicle Area puts you at the edge of Lake Michigan, where the landscape shifts constantly underfoot and every ridge reveals a new panorama of sand, sky, and shimmering water.</p>
The team here absolutely nails the fundamentals that matter most for first-timers tackling the dunes. Staff members like Taylor, Larry, Mark, and Jim get consistent praise for being genuinely friendly and taking extra time on safety briefings and orientation tours. People really appreciate how thorough they are about explaining the rules and terrain before sending you off, which helps nervous newcomers feel confident enough to actually enjoy themselves. The buggies themselves run reliably, though one reviewer noted their KRX struggled with some of the steeper hills despite the premium rental price. Still, that's a minor quibble in an otherwise glowing collection of feedback. Multiple families mention returning year after year, and several call out how responsive the staff was when small issues came up. The guided orientation tour seems particularly valuable for getting your bearings and understanding which areas you can actually explore. It's clearly a well-run operation where the crew genuinely cares about setting people up for a great dune experience.
What an awesome experience. Everything from Autumn being very informative to the equipment to the ORV area orientation, everything was top notch. The equipment was excellent. Rising the dunes can be overwhelming for nube but their process is second to none when it comes to knowing what you are doing enough to have a great time. Would definitely do again.
J.C. Wogomon
July 7, 2026
What an awesome experience. Everything from Autumn being very informative to the equipment to the ORV area orientation, everything was top notch. The equipment was excellent. Rising the dunes can be overwhelming for nube but their process is second to none when it comes to knowing what you are doing enough to have a great time. Would definitely do again.
J.C. Wogomon
July 7, 2026
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