Skip to content

Top Navigation

Midwest Living Midwest Living
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Home
  • Garden
  • Holidays & Entertaining
  • Videos
  • Magazine

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Win Your Dream Getaway!
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Magazine Issues
  • Destinations
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Midwest Living

Midwest Living Midwest Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • Midwest Living's Best of the Midwest Winners 2021

      Midwest Living's Best of the Midwest Winners 2021

      Read More
    • Best Midwest Family Vacations

      Best Midwest Family Vacations

      Read More
    • 25 Top Easy-Care Plants for Midwest Gardens

      25 Top Easy-Care Plants for Midwest Gardens

      Plant these low-maintenance perennials and shrubs—including hostas, peonies, yarrow, daylilies, catmint and switchgrass—for a carefree Midwest garden. Read More
  • Travel

    Travel

    See All Travel
    50 Midwest Resorts We Love

    50 Midwest Resorts We Love

    Our favorite Midwest resort destinations range from cozy lakeside lodges to indoor water park behemoths. Dive in to check out our top picks for a fabulous Midwest getaway.
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Missouri
    • Nebraska
    • North Dakota
    • Ohio
    • South Dakota
    • Wisconsin
    • Around the Region
    • Free Travel Info
  • Food

    Food

    See All Food
    Midwest Living May/June 2021 Recipes

    Midwest Living May/June 2021 Recipes

    • Comfort Foods
    • Desserts & Baking
    • Breakfast
    • Quick & Easy
    • Chicken
    • Soups & Stews
    • Midwest Favorites
    • Fruits & Vegetables
    • Fish
    • Grilling
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home
    30 Ideas to Dress Up Your Deck

    30 Ideas to Dress Up Your Deck

    Furnish your deck or patio with accessories and designs that add comfort and style to outdoor living. Here are 30 suggestions to get you started.
    • Quick Decorating
    • Featured Homes
    • Organizing & Storage
    • Outdoor Living
    • Seasonal Decorating
    • Room Decorating
  • Garden

    Garden

    See All Garden
    10 Trendy Plants for Midwest Gardens in 2021

    10 Trendy Plants for Midwest Gardens in 2021

    • Container Gardens
    • Flowers
    • Featured Gardens
    • Midwest Gardening Calendar
    • Garden Ideas & Inspiration
  • Holidays & Entertaining

    Holidays & Entertaining

    See All Holidays & Entertaining
    50 Easy Spring Decorating Ideas

    50 Easy Spring Decorating Ideas

    Add pretty spring flair to your home with our ideas for centerpieces, table settings, door decorations, Easter egg displays and more.
    • Easter
    • July 4th
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine's Day
    • Christmas
  • Videos

    Videos

    See All Videos
    How to Make a Lemon Posset

    How to Make a Lemon Posset

    See how to make lemon possets, a British dessert that uses just heat and kitchen magic to turn lemon and cream into luscious pudding.
    • How to Make a Dried Floral Arrangement
    • How to Make an All-Butter Pie Crust
  • Magazine

    Magazine

    See All Magazine
    Endless Water: A Journey Into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

    Endless Water: A Journey Into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

    Longtime Midwest Living photographer Kevin J. Miyazaki shares an intimate, first-person look at Minnesota’s wild Boundary Waters.
    • May/June 2021 Issue
    • Best Vacation Sweepstakes
    • Spring Getaways Sweepstakes

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Win Your Dream Getaway!
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Magazine Issues
  • Destinations
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

LIVE
  1. Midwest Living
  2. Travel
  3. Michigan
  4. Best Michigan Road Trips

Best Michigan Road Trips

By The editors of MidwestLiving.com
Updated August 11, 2020
Skip gallery slides
Pin
Paddling the channel
Credit: Blaine Moats

Traverse City, Mackinac Island, the Upper Peninsula and the beach towns of southwest Michigan are just some of the great destinations to visit in Michigan on road trips for a weekend, a week or more.

Start Slideshow

1 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Southwest Michigan Shore

Paddling the channel
Credit: Blaine Moats

With more than 140 miles of soft sand, almost every beach is the right beach along Michigan's southwest shore. Explore towns like St. Joseph, South Haven, Saugatuck, Holland (pictured), Grand Haven, Muskegon and Ludington for activity-filled state parks, family-friendly attractions and lighthouses all along the way.

Read more about planning a trip to Michigan's southwest shore.  

1 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Mackinac Island

Grand Hotel

To be clear, you can't actually drive here—that's one of the charms of this famously car-free island. But you can drive to nearby Mackinaw City or St. Ignace to catch a short ferry ride over. Take carriage tours, explore by bike, visit historic Fort Mackinac and relax on the porch of the Grand Hotel. You can make it a day trip by returning to your ferry stop, or stay in one of the island's many luxury accommodations.

Read more about Mackinac Island. 

2 of 11

3 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Upper Peninsula

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

You could base a stay in the UP at one of the area's larger towns like Marquette, Sault Ste. Marie or Munising, or plan a road trip that hopscotches across from east to west (the area is about 320 miles wide at a maximum). Expect active adventures at sites like Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (shown in photo) or Tahquamenon Falls State Park. But you'll find plenty of art, culture and history throughout the UP as well. 

Read more about planning a trip to the Upper Peninsula.

Read about a getaway based in Marquette.

3 of 11

Advertisement

4 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Lake Huron Shore

Alpena, Michigan

Start your getaway in Alpena or Bay City to explore shipwrecks, lighthouses and Lake Huron beaches on the Sunrise Side of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. In Alpena, see the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Museum and peer at shipwrecks in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary; in Bay City, sail on vintage-looking schooners and relax in the sand at Bay City State Park.

Read more about the Lake Huron shore and Alpena.

Read more about Bay City's attractions.

4 of 11

5 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Traverse City

Traverse City, Michigan, food
Credit: Tony Demin

A town of about 16,000, Traverse City sits at the base of Old Mission Peninsula, a long finger that points north into Lake Michigan's Grand Traverse Bay.  The lake insulates the land and softens the seasons' rough edges, making this a prime destination for vacationers—as well as fishermen and farmers. Enjoy the bounty of the land at wineries, restaurants and roadside stands; get out on the lake via kayak or sailboat; or head to nearby destinations such as Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore for adventures along sand dunes and bluffs.

Read more about planning a trip to Traverse City. 

5 of 11

6 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Harbor Springs, Charlevoix and Petoskey

Charlevoix, Michigan
Credit: Kevin J. Miyazaki/Redux

These three nearby towns—it's 27 miles from Harbor Springs to Charlevoix, with Petoskey in the middle—each have welcoming downtowns full of boutiques and galleries, plus stunning scenery along Little Traverse Bay, northeast of Traverse City.  

Read more about planning a trip to Harbor Springs, Charlevoix and Petoskey.

6 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Grand Rapids

Frederik Meijer Gardens, Grand Rapids
Credit: John Noltner

The state's second-largest city, developed around the Grand River, has built a big reputation for culture, cuisine and craft beverages. It's a worthwhile destination on its own, but also less than an hour's drive from southwest Michigan if you're vacationing on the beaches there. See attractions like the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, Grand Rapids Art Museum and John Ball Zoo—plus any of dozens of breweries in a town that brands itself Beer City U.S.A.

Read more about planning a trip to Grand Rapids.

7 of 11

8 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Ann Arbor

36 Hours in Ann Arbor

The University of Michigan campus boasts gems such as Matthaei Botanical Gardens and the new University of Michigan Museum of Natural History (as well as the University of Michigan stadium, the largest in college football). Explore the city's culinary scene on a food tour or just drop in for a meal at restaurants like MANI Osteria and Bar (artisanal pizza) or one of the legendary Zingerman's family of eateries. The 204-room Graduate Ann Arbor captures Wolverine pride in its decor.  

Read more about planning a trip to Ann Arbor.

8 of 11

9 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Kalamazoo

5 Top Stops in Kalamazoo

Just over two hours' drive from Detroit and an hour from the beaches of Lake Michigan, Kalamazoo has plenty to entertain the family on a road trip. The Smithsonian Institute-affiliated Air Zoo displays more than 50 aircraft; the Kalamazoo Valley Museum is part science, part history and part children's museum; and at the Kalamazoo Nature Center, 16 trails cover 10 miles of habitats. 

Read more about a trip to Kalamazoo.

9 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Frankenmuth

Bavarian Inn Restaurant, Frankenmuth
Credit: Jill Richards

Visitors see clues to why it's known as Little Bavaria in the town's architecture and dancing wooden figures in the glockenspiel at the Bavarian Inn Restaurant and its Castle Shops. Shoppers will also find plenty to like at Frankenmuth River Place Shops and megasize Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland. Toast a day well spent at Frankenmuth Brewery, then settle in at Zehnder's Splash Village Hotel and Water Park or the Bavarian Inn Lodge.

Read more about a getaway to Frankenmuth.

10 of 11

11 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

More in Michigan

Ways to water in the MIdwest
Credit: Brad Ziegler

Check out our guides to other Michigan destinations to help plan your road trip across the state.

Detroit Trip Guide

Lansing Trip Guide

Unique Retreats for Overnight Stays in Michigan

Fall Road Trip on Michigan's M-22

 

11 of 11

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By The editors of MidwestLiving.com

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 11 Southwest Michigan Shore
    2 of 11 Mackinac Island
    3 of 11 Upper Peninsula
    4 of 11 Lake Huron Shore
    5 of 11 Traverse City
    6 of 11 Harbor Springs, Charlevoix and Petoskey
    7 of 11 Grand Rapids
    8 of 11 Ann Arbor
    9 of 11 Kalamazoo
    10 of 11 Frankenmuth
    11 of 11 More in Michigan

    Share options

    Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

    Login

    Midwest Living

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • Free Newsletters this link opens in a new tab
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Customer Service this link opens in a new tab
    • Renew this link opens in a new tab
    • Advertise this link opens in a new tab
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Affiliate Program
    • Free Travel Info this link opens in a new tab
    • Special Promotions this link opens in a new tab
    • Sweepstakes this link opens in a new tab
    • Video
    • Home Advisor this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Other Meredith Sites

    Other Meredith Sites

    • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
    • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
    • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
    • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
    • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
    • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
    • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
    • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
    • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
    • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
    • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
    • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
    • Health this link opens in a new tab
    • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
    • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
    • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
    • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
    • More this link opens in a new tab
    • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
    • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
    • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
    • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
    • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
    • Parents this link opens in a new tab
    • People this link opens in a new tab
    • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
    • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
    • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
    • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
    • Shape this link opens in a new tab
    • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
    • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
    • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
    • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
    MeredithMidwest Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.midwestliving.com

    View image

    Best Michigan Road Trips
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.