The southern portion remains largely rural, with many small lakes.

East Bay Township is the location of Traverse City State Park.

The north of East Bay Township is heavily urbanized, while the south remains more rural, with rolling hills, dense forests, and kettle lakes.

Traverse City State Park is located in the northwest of the township, along the shore of East Bay.

US Highway 31 and M-72 share a concurrency in the north of the township, paralleling the Grand Traverse Bay shoreline as a major east–west thoroughfare.

19.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.