Bare-bones waterfront motel on Portage Lake with WiFi, A/C, and private beach. Kid-friendly, close to Lake Michigan and Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club.
Guests appreciate the motel's clean, comfortable rooms, attentive hospitality, and unique lakeside setting with private beach access. Its convenient location close to Portage Lake and local attractions also earns praise.
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Rooms, shared spaces, dining and exterior — grouped so you can skim quickly.
Portage Lake Motel is a modest waterfront accommodation located directly across the road from Portage Lake in the heart of Onekama town center. This 4.7-rated motel offers basic motel rooms with practical amenities such as WiFi access, air conditioning, and a private sandy beach area that guests can enjoy. The welcoming owners provide a comfortable and clean environment, with recent updates noted by visitors.
The property is especially appreciated for its private beach and a guest firepit area that add to a relaxed setting ideal for families and travelers seeking a peaceful lakeside stay. Reviews commonly highlight the friendly hospitality, convenient access to local attractions, and the quiet, well-maintained rooms. The motel also caters to families with kid-friendly service options.
Strategically positioned just minutes from US Highway 31 and a short drive from Lake Michigan, it serves as a practical base for exploring the surrounding natural attractions. Nearby places to visit include Orchard Beach State Park with its shaded campsites and bluff views, Portage Lake itself, and the Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club, known for its scenic golf experience. Several airports are accessible within reasonable driving distance, including Manistee County Blacker Airport and Cherry Capital Airport.
This motel represents a straightforward, no-frills option for visitors mainly interested in outdoor activities and lakeside relaxation, rather than luxury. Guests looking for an intimate setting and easy access to the lake, while benefiting from attentive, personable service, will find the Portage Lake Motel a suitable choice for their stay in the region.
The short version: what's available day-to-day, and the key practical details most travelers search for.
Reviews from travelers who stayed here in the last 12 months, grouped to help you spot the pattern quickly.
Always a warm welcome, the owners Andrew & Ania are the best hosts! Rooms clean and stocked, comfy beds, private beach area and firepit for guests (took full advantage of, thanks to beautiful weather end September!). Highly recommend if visiting Onekama or surrounding area.
My husband and I just stayed here for a short getaway and this place was perfect! Location is amazing. You can walk out on their dock and small sandy beach across the street as well as enjoy a campfire. The rooms are excellent and very very clean! The owner is very personable and makes sure that your stay is perfect. Lots of beautiful scenery and delicious food stops close by. Highly recommend!!
Our family had an unforgettable stay at Portage Lake Motel over Memorial Day weekend. From the moment we arrived, the hospitality was outstanding—the owner went above and beyond to recommend fantastic local attractions that made our trip even more special. The property itself is truly one of a kind in the neighborhood, featuring a stunning sand beach setup complete with a cozy bonfire pit. It was the perfect spot to unwind and create lasting memories. Plus, it's conveniently located near all the nearby landmarks and scenic views, making exploration effortless and enjoyable. If you're looking for a getaway that combines great service, thoughtful recommendations, a unique setting, and prime location, this is the place to be. Highly recommend!
Awesome stay with a LAKE VIEW AND ACCESS! Our room was meticulously clean, and smelled fresh when we checked in. The beds are comfortable, the room was quiet, and has been recently updated. We thoroughly enjoyed the common area out front that has a gas fire pit, and grill for cooking. But the best part was the private beach directly across the street! They have a beautiful private area to sit and watch the sunset, or swim, or drop kayaks in like we did. Andrew the owner makes you feel like you are at home, like family. He gave great suggestions for local eateries, and things to do and see. We will certainly be back, and highly recommend staying at Portage Lake Motel!
were in area the weekend of Thanksgiving visiting family. off season price was great! was vey clean & the owner was attentive to any needs we might have as the bad weather & days went by. will definitely stay again, if it has any openings in season, they fill quickly.
We appreciated the last minute accommodation when our power went out in our area! Andrew was very accommodating. Clean and comfortable rooms! I would definitely recommend this place to others in the area!! It’s also located directly across the street from beautiful Portage Lake!
Wow!! We had such a wonderful experience here this summer. The rooms were so nice, clean and updated!! We were able to walk across the street to the beach area they owned. They had a firepit to enjoy while watching the sunset. It was a wonderful experience and we can't wait to come back.
A sweet and perfect spot!! We loved the stay. The owners are the nicest couple and so friendly! Great, comfortable clean rooms, beautiful scenery and they also own an ice cream shop within walking distance! Perfect place to stay, we loved it!
This bare-bones motel sits across the road from Portage Lake in the Onekama town center. It's 4 minutes' drive from US Highway 31 and 7 minutes' drive from Lake Michigan.
Curated spots travelers usually pair with a stay in Michigan. Distances are rough real-world times, not straight-line.
910 reviews 2064 Lakeshore Rd, Manistee, MI 49660, United States
513 reviews 14710 Northwood Hwy, Arcadia, MI 49613, United States
24 reviews Onekama Township, MI 49660, USA
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