What age and license do I need to drive?

All drivers must have a valid driver’s license; minimum driver and passenger ages vary by vehicle model—check your confirmation details for the specific vehicle you booked.

Check in at the SunBuggy Office one hour before your reservation to get fitted for safety gear and view the safety briefing; a shuttle takes you into the park.

Are helmets provided?

Yes; safety gear is fitted at check-in. Bring a child car seat if your child requires one and your vehicle permits it.

Do I need the Michigan recreation passport?

SunBuggy pays the recreation passport fee for rented vehicles. If you bring your own vehicle, you must have a recreation passport before arriving.

When are rentals available?

Seasonal hours vary—peak season runs May 1–September 15 with extended hours; last rentals are scheduled two hours before park closing.

What is the cancellation policy?

Cancellation and waiver policies are provided in your confirmation email; review those details or contact the vendor directly if you need to change plans.

Silver Lake Dunes Dune Buggy Rental: 2.5-Hour Off-Road Adventure Near Mears MI

At the crest of western Michigan’s Silver Lake Dunes, 2,000 acres of wind-shaped sand rise between Lake Michigan and the 690-acre Silver Lake. The 2.5 Hour DUNE BUGGY Rental puts you behind the wheel of a purpose-built dune buggy or sand rail to climb those dunes, carve bowl turns and stare down long lake vistas. Check in one hour before your reserved time at the SunBuggy Office, where staff fit your helmet and give a safety briefing before a complimentary shuttle delivers you into the park and the rental starts inside the dunes.

These dunes are a raw sand mountain—paddle tires, open frames and big V-twin or water-cooled engines are part of the program. Choose from single-seat Spider buggies up to six-seat De-Ranger rigs; XP models and sand rails offer larger engines for steeper climbs and higher top-end speed. All drivers must carry a valid driver’s license; vehicle age and passenger minimums vary by model, and waivers arrive with your confirmation email.

The terrain is what makes this experience distinct: sculpted ridgelines, soft bowls, wind-swept faces and rim views over both a freshwater lake and the broad shoreline of Lake Michigan. Underfoot is quartz sand that has migrated and stacked into dunes over generations; this sand mountain acts as a physical barrier and creates microhabitats for grasses, dune-loving wildflowers and nesting shorebirds. Riding here feels loud, immediate, and technical — line choice, throttle control and paddle-tire grip matter more than raw horsepower.

Practical details are lean and visitor-friendly. State park hours vary seasonally; last rentals are scheduled two hours before park closing and the vendor gate opens at 8:30 a.m. SunBuggy handles state recreation passport fees for rented vehicles, so your paperwork is mostly done ahead of time. Bring closed-toe shoes, eye protection and a full water bottle; sunscreen and a windproof layer make late-afternoon runs more comfortable.

Why book it? Because few places in the Midwest deliver this combination of raw off-road driving, lakeside panoramas and scale. For families and small groups who want controlled adrenaline without technical trail navigation, this rental model—complete with safety orientation and shuttle—makes the dunes accessible. For photographers and sunset chasers, the dune rims frame low, dramatic light across sand and water. For anyone who’s felt curiosity about off-road driving but hasn’t tried it, the 2.5 Hour DUNE BUGGY Rental is one of the most direct ways to turn that curiosity into an unforgettable afternoon.

Expect varied light and shifting sand textures that change by wind and time of day; experienced staff at check-in can advise on lines for different models. Aim for shoulder-season mornings for cooler temperatures and fewer riders, and always pack extra water, a phone and a first-aid kit for remote dunes.