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Large Lakefront House 20 Minutes from Downtown Traverse City ~ Includes pontoon.

Photo gallery for Large Lakefront House 20 Minutes from Downtown Traverse City ~ Includes pontoon.

A wooden cabin with a dock extending into a lake, surrounded by trees.
A lakeside cabin with a balcony, dock with chairs, and an American flag.
A view from a room with a large window overlooking a calm lake at sunrise or sunset.
A dining area with a table and chairs, a view of the outdoors, and a clock on the wall.
A modern kitchen with wooden cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and a granite countertop.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
Set at the waterfront, this 4-bedroom vacation home accommodates 12 guests. It includes 2 separate living rooms and a patio. Enjoy lake views and engage in nearby water sports, sailing, and birdwatching. Explore attractions like Forest Lakes and Spider Lake while being in the city center, close to shopping and golf.

Highlights

  • Beach equipment
    A rare find — beach equipment ready to go for your days by the sea.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Walk to Spider Lake
4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 12

Popular amenities

  • Gas barbecue
  • Toys
  • Patio
  • Onsite parking available
  • Air-conditioning
  • Internet

Explore the area

View in a map
Traverse City, MI
  • Place, Forest Lakes
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Spider Lake
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Rennie Lake
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Airport, Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪17 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Double Bed and 2 Double Futons

Living Room 1

1 Double Futon

Living Room 2

1 Double Futon

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Number of living rooms
Dining area

About this property

Large Lakefront House 20 Minutes from Downtown Traverse City ~ Includes pontoon.

In addition to our 3 cozy cabins (1188460,1188477 and 1188484), the four-bedroom main house is now available for weekly rentals!

The main house can comfortably sleep large families/groups of 8-12 guests. There is no cleaning fee for the house.

Features include:

Four bedrooms
Two full bathrooms
Full kitchen with standard appliances and cooking utensils
Two large family room/sitting areas, each with large sliding glass doors leading out to the deck and lower level
Wrap-around porch/deck with beautiful lakefront views
Rental comes with pontoon boat. There are 4 kayaks, 2 pedal boats, a row boat and a paddleboard for shared use.
House also has docking space to bring your own boat.
Gas grill for BBQs!
Dining room seats 8, 4 stools in kitchen and table for 4 in attached living room area plus outdoor seating at patio table on porch.

Spider Lake is a small all sports lake.

GUESTS MUST BRING THEIR OWN SHEETS AND TOWELS.

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No smoking inside.

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
Leave the key in the boat ignition.
Return any furniture you may have moved to its original place.
Remember to sign out of any of your streaming apps you may have used on the tvs,
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Must bring own sheets and towels. Extra charge if they are provided.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 1003797vb
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Traverse City

Located in Traverse City, this holiday home is in the city centre and on the waterfront. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Michigan and Traverse City State Park, while The Dennos Museum Center and Music House Museum are cultural highlights. Travelling with kids? Consider Centre Ice Arena, or check out an event or a game at Turtle Creek Stadium. Jet skiing and kayaking offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking and horse riding nearby.
View more Holiday homes in Traverse CityOpens in a new window
Map
Traverse City, MI

What's nearby

  • Forest Lakes - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Spider Lake - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Rennie Lake - 4 min drive - 2.9 km
  • Traverse City Beach - 13 min drive - 14.4 km
  • Front Street - 18 min drive - 19.5 km

Getting around

  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 19 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Burger King - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪Peegeo's - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Bayview Inn Bar & Grill - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪Red Mesa Grill - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Bob Evans - ‬14 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Large Lakefront House 20 Minutes from Downtown Traverse City ~ Includes pontoon. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Large Lakefront House 20 Minutes from Downtown Traverse City ~ Includes pontoon.?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Large Lakefront House 20 Minutes from Downtown Traverse City ~ Includes pontoon.?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Large Lakefront House 20 Minutes from Downtown Traverse City ~ Includes pontoon.?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Large Lakefront House 20 Minutes from Downtown Traverse City ~ Includes pontoon. located?

This family-friendly Traverse City holiday home is located on the waterfront, just steps away from Forest Lakes and Spider Lake. Rennie Lake and Tibbets Lake are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 34 out of 38 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 38 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 38 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 38 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 38 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Property was fantastic for a family vacation. Included a nice pontoon boat which made it all the much better!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The house and property were clean and a Great Lake view. The hosts were so wonderful and we appreciated them checking in on us throughout our stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Location
The house was large with tons of space for our family of five. It was very clean and well kept. The kids loved all the various boats and the dock where they spent hours fishing. We had an amazing and relaxing week at Spider lake! The hosts were very attentive to a couple very minor issues. Highly recommend!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Jul, 2026
We are so happy you enjoyed your vacation. It was a pleasure to host you and we hope you come back.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location, great communication between from the host, clean house
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Sept, 2025
So glad you and your friends enjoyed your stay.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Vacation

Excellent accommodations, will definitely be back
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 16 Aug, 2023
We are so glad you enjoyed your stay. We look forward to you visiting again.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing stay

Very friendly owners, Will check up with you every day to make sure you're having a peaceful stay. House was very clean and boats were amazing. Highly recommended this house to who ever wants a water getaway.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 27 Jun, 2025
We are so glad your family enjoyed their stay in our lakeside home. We hope you visit again.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful

Would recommend and stay here again
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Aug, 2022
So glad you enjoyed your vacation!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place !

This property had all we needed on a beautiful lake! The property owners were great with communication!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 23 Jul, 2022
So glad you enjoyed your week!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place for family vacation

All of our family enjoyed staying at the property, adults and children included. There was lots of room for all of us. We especially liked that we had access to the pontoon for cruising on the lake.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Sept, 2021
We are so glad you enjoyed your vacation. We love helping families get together.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Multiple family stay

Loved this place! Rooms for everyone, beds super comfy! Boats included allowed for fun every day! Hosts were super helpful and friendly. Would love to stay here again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Aug, 2022
Thank you for your review. We would love to have you visit again.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location

The location is on a less busy lake and our kids LOVED the SUP, kayaks and paddle boats. Not to mention the pontoon. Great trip.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Jun, 2020
We are so glad you enjoyed your vacation on beautiful Spider Lake. We hope you visit again.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice Property

Good location on the lake. Really enjoyed all the extras provided: paddle boat, pontoon, etc. Glad to have the AC!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 6 Mar, 2020
We are so glad you enjoyed your stay on beautiful Spider Lake. We love sharing it with guests and helping them have an enjoyable vacation. There are so many fun things to do and see in Traverse City. We hope you return.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Vacation

We loved our stay . The house was so spacious and had everything we needed . Everyone enjoyed the boats and kayaks and the great sand dune right across the lake . Beautiful lake . Great family time and beautiful weather . Thanks Kathleen for helping us make memories to last a lifetime.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Aug, 2023
We love sharing this special place. We are so glad you had such a wonderful family vacation.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lake life as advertised

No reason to do anything else, if you love lake like.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 9 Jul, 2024
We are so glad you enjoyed your stay on Spider Lake.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

12 nicely fit in this Spider Lake Getaway

We had 12 people stay at this home and the overall accommodations exceeded our expectations. The bathrooms were clean and everything worked well throughout the house. The kitchen was very nice and the view of the lake spectacular. When we come back to Spider lake this will be our first choice. Nice job and hats off to the owners.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 6 Mar, 2020
It was a pleasure to have such clean, responsible guests. We are really happy you enjoyed your stay and hope you will return.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice little place

Happy to recommend this for any families. Great spot on the lake. Wonderful owners who only live a short distance away. The house isn't fancy, it could use some lighting updates (the kitchen is not lit well enough for instance), but *tons* of things to do outside. I believe there are 4 boating options on the shore/dock.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Aug, 2022
We are happy you enjoyed your time at our beautiful spot on Spider Lake.
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cousins week!

Very relaxing atmosphere. The hosts were very nice and accommodating. The pontoon boat had some issues with shift and throttle handle falling off. But host quickly gave us another boat to use. What would be nice if host would supply sheets and towels for guests.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice week at the lake!

Property was roomy for our group of 8 adults and 4 children age 7 and under. Lots of water toys provided including a pontoon boat. Location is right on a lovely lake with an island/sand bar in easy reach. Close to Traverse City for bars, restaurants etc. If I could make a suggestion to make it better i would ask to add laundry and maybe a dehumidifier for the lower level. All in all- a great place for a large family vacation!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 16 Jul, 2023
So gladWe We are so glad you enjoyed your vacation. We are mindful of weighing guest amenities in a septic tank home that has a drain field with the importance of maintaining the health of the lake. We can certainly put in a dehumidifier.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

House is great for a big family!

Kathleen was great to communicate very quickly with us. She met us at the house with keys and pointers for using the place. We really enjoyed use of the pontoon, paddle boat, and kayaks. This property is right across from a little island that has public access for picnics and water volleyball in a large shallow water area. Great for water fun!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Aug, 2022
So nice that you had a great vacation. You are welcome any time.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Time On The Lake

We had a wonderful time at the Oaks Resort at Spider Lake. Kathleen and Tom, the owners, were great and made us feel so welcome and at ease. The lake house was great with a wonderful view of the lake. Our five grandchildren had a fabulous time swimming, fishing, and boating. The fishing was great right off of the dock! A great time was had by all, Grand parents, adult children and grand children. Thank you Kathleen and Tom! Steve
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 13 Sept, 2023
Thank you for your kind words. We are so glad you had such a nice family vacation. We hope to see you again!
Archival

8/10 Good

Great week at Spider Lake!

Our family enjoyed our week at Spider Lake. Accommodations were great for our family-plenty of room. One drawback was that the lower level smelled musty. We noticed the lower level toilet was leaking a bit. We also noticed mice droppings in one of the lower level bedrooms. We enjoyed the pontoon boat, paddle board, kayaks and paddle boat. The hosts were very gracious-we would come back again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 6 Mar, 2020
We are glad you enjoyed your stay. The house now has air conditioning which will help with the humidity. We are happy to respond to any issues and appreciate them being mentioned during your stay so we can remedy them and your vacation can be even more enjoyable.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great setup for a low-key getaway

We rented the place for 4 adults and 2 kids and the place was almost too big for us. The house was a bit outdated but very clean. The house came with a pontoon boat that could not be used for tubing, but we certainly enjoyed fishing and going swimming every single day that we were at the lake! When we had a problem with the boat, the owner quickly responded to our needs and gave us a replacement boat. There is a sandbar that is super close to the house so my little kids stayed in the water for hours. We enjoyed our stay very much.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Aug, 2023
We are so glad you enjoyed your stay!
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great family stay

We stayed in the main house with different generations of family. The upstairs of the house was perfect for gathering together, outside or inside, cooking meals and eating together. The amenities of the pontoon boat, paddle boats and kayaks were perfect especially with the most popular shallow swimming island within a short distance from the home. Our kids (7,11,13) enjoyed the independence of kayaking or paddle boating to and around the island while we could watch from the deck. Kathleen was a helpful and gracious host. The only downside was the basement floor was a bit dark and felt a little more closed in, but since we only slept there and spent most our out time upstairs it wasn’t a big deal. Great memories.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Aug, 2023
We are happy your family had such a great week.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This area is a quiet, tucked away slice of heaven perfect for a weekend with friends or family. The host is very accommodating/helpful and responsive to questions both before and during the trip. Be respectful to the people and property, it is in close proximity to multiple other smaller cabins. The inside has everything you need to have a great weekend. We had (8) total 27-37yr olds but the home never felt crowded. Plenty of beds/couches to sleep us all comfortably. Plenty of extra chairs on both top and bottom decksTons of toys to keep busy with provided by the host - multiple kayaks, paddle boards, peddle boats,rowboat, and pontoon. The host offered to show us how to use the pontoon as soon as we arrived and has all required safety gear. She will make sure you have a great time 20min drive to most places like golf, casino, restaurants, bars, etc. Pictures don’t do it any justice, it was an unforgettable weekend!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 28 Jul, 2025
We are glad you enjoyed your stay. Thank you for review.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had an amazing stay! There were 11 of us total — 6 adults, 3 teenagers (13, 13, and 14), and 2 toddlers (ages 3 and 4). Everyone slept comfortably. Two adults used the futons upstairs and downstairs, and the toddlers shared the master bed with Mom. It would’ve been tight with one more adult, but for our group, the space was perfect.Kathleen and Tom were absolutely wonderful hosts — friendly, responsive, and super helpful with anything we needed. The pontoon boat worked great, and the kayaks and paddle boats were a hit. There were also plenty of toys and activities to keep the kids entertained.The lakefront access is truly priceless. Waking up to that view from both the upstairs and downstairs decks was something special. Fishing was a bit slow (as expected in July), but we still caught a few bass and pike, and tons of bluegill for the kids — they bite year-round!We had nothing but a positive experience and I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone looking for a fun, family-friendly getaway on the water.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Aug, 2025
We are glad you and your family enjoyed our lake as much as we do. Next time maybe you will be able to spread out into a cabin in addition to the house. It was a pleasure to host you.

About the host

Hosted by Kathleen McClanaghan

Host profile image
Tom and Kathleen have been Spider Lake property owners for 30 years. They are Michigan natives that embrace Northern Michigan's four seasons of beauty and fun.

Why they chose this property

Favorite Activities Include:

Boating, swimming and fishing on Spider Lake
Hiking Sleeping Bear Dunes
Kayaking and tubing on the Boardman River
Horse back riding at Ranch Rudolf
Shopping and Dining in Downtown Traverse City
Bike riding on Mission Point
Winery tours on Old Mission Peninsula
Snowmobiling and cross-country skiing
Let us help create a memorable family vacation for you!

What makes this property unique

The Oaks has a panoramic view of Spider Lake which is beautiful any time of the year.
While we have our own sandy swimming area, we are across from a small island for exploring and sandbars for swimming. The road is a peninsula with woods in the center. You will often see deer there, or on our property. Come see for yourself. You will have a wonderful time!

Languages:

English
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