Last Updated on April 5, 2022
What many people don’t know is that Michigan is truly a magical place (once you get the idea that Michigan is defined by Detroit or Flint out of your mind, you’ll see why). Growing up there, I found myself taking so much of what Michigan had to offer for granted (literally thought adorable Hallmark movie towns and beautiful beaches were just a normal thing that every place in the world had). Now that I have lived and traveled all over the world, I’m so proud to say that Michigan will always be my home.
Check out this Michigan road trip that highlights some of my favorite spots in the mitten. I will only be touching on the Lower Peninsula here, but you’ll have the opportunity to hop on up to the Upper Peninsula midway through the trip if you choose to do so. Also note that this road trip does not showcase all of the amazing places to visit in Michigan. If you have the time, I encourage you to wander and explore more areas on your own.
The Best Way to Get Around Michigan
First off, let’s talk about the best way to get around Michigan. Unfortunately, any form of public transportation or ride sharing service is just not readily available or anything I would honestly rely on. That being said, you’re going to need a car.
There are many car rental companies in Detroit or I would recommend you look into using Turo. Turo is like an Airbnb for cars. It’s super simple to use – just search for the dates you need a car, filter cars by specific details or price range, then choose what car best suits you and your road trip needs! The owner of the car will get in touch with you to arrange pick-up or drop-off details.
Once on your road trip, another great way to get around, especially in smaller towns in Northern Michigan, is via bicycle. If you are traveling from out of state or don’t have a bike of your own, many of these cute towns offer bike rental by the hour or day.
Lastly, no matter where you go in Michigan, I encourage you to get out and walk around. You miss so much by driving from place to place when you’re only focused on the next destination.
Michigan Road Trip Itinerary from Detroit
Detroit
Starting in Detroit – although the city has gotten a bad rap, it is such an underrated urban destination. There are so many cool and unique things that make up the Motor City, visitors just need to give it a shot.
How much time to spend in Detroit:
If you’ve got the time, I’d suggest spending 2 to 3 days in Detroit.
Key things to do or see in Detroit:
- Catch a game (Lions and Tigers and
BearsRed Wings, oh my!) - Eat a Coney Dog or check out the rest of Detroit’s food scene
- Stroll around Eastern Market
- Enjoy Campus Martius Park
- When in the Motor City… Visit the Henry Ford Museum
- Visit the Motown Museum (also known as Hitsville U.S.A)
- Wave to Canada (yup, you can see Ontario, Canada right across the river from Detroit!)
Lansing
Moving on to the middle of the mitten, Lansing is the next stop. Lansing is Michigan’s capital and also home to the Michigan State Spartans.
How much time to spend in Lansing:
There’s not a ton to see and do in Lansing, so I’d suggest just driving through and stopping for a couple of hours to break up the trip.
Key things to do or see in Lansing:
- See the state capital
- Stop by MSU’s campus
- Check out the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum
Grand Rapids
Next up, Grand Rapids! Most people may know GR as Beer City USA. Even if beer isn’t your thing, there’s something special for everyone here.
How much time to spend in Grand Rapids:
If going through GR when there is an event going on, such as ArtPrize, I would suggest spending at least 2 or 3 days in the city. Otherwise, spending one full day and staying the night should suffice.
Key things to do or see in Grand Rapids:
- Go on a brewery tour around Grand Rapids
- Admire the art throughout the city (if you plan it right, stick around for ArtPrize!)
- Stop by Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
- Enjoy one (or more) of the many museums throughout GR.
- Get your foodie-fix at Downtown Market
Holland
You may think you accidentally drove to the Netherlands (which would be an amazing place to end up on a Michigan road trip…) but nope, you probably just made it to the Dutch-inspired city of Holland!
How much time to spend in Holland:
Just a few hours to see the major attractions should do it for Holland.
Key things to do or see in Holland:
- See the windmills at Windmill Island Gardens
- Visit the Nelis’ Dutch Village
- Catch the tulips in bloom at Veldheer Tulip Gardens (late April through May is the best time to visit!)
Grand Haven
Grand Haven is your first beach town stop on the trip! By this point, you may be a couple days into your Michigan road trip. Take some time to relax on the beach, enjoy some outdoor activities, or shop in town.
How much time to spend in Grand Haven:
This is a good spot to hang out at the beach for the day or just stop through for a couple of hours to appreciate the Lake Michigan views.
Key things to do or see in Grand Haven:
- Enjoy the beach
- Check out the Grand Haven boardwalk and lighthouse
- Go biking along the Lake Michigan shoreline (in fact, you can bike from Holland to Grand Haven!)
- Shop and eat your way through Downtown Grand Haven
- Ooo and ahh at the Grand Haven Musical Fountain (are we at the Bellagio in Las Vegas?!)
Sleeping Bear Dunes
This incredible attraction along the Lake Michigan shoreline is a must-see!
How much time to spend at Sleeping Bear Dunes:
Depending on personal preferences, a couple hours to even a night or two at Sleeping Bear Dunes is acceptable.
Key things to do or see at Sleeping Bear Dunes:
- Climb the dunes
- Explore different trails
- Spend time at the beach
- Go camping
- Enjoy different water activities such as tubing or kayaking
- Take advantage of the dark skies at night to stargaze
Traverse City
Traverse City is the Cherry Capital of the World! Beyond that, there is so much to see and do in this cute Michigan town (it may just all be cherry themed).
How much time to spend in Traverse City:
To truly get a feel for this popular lakeside city, a good two or three days should suffice, but some people love to stay longer – especially if the Annual Cherry Festival is going on!
Key things to do or see in Traverse City:
- The Annual Cherry Festival is a must!
- Check out all of the wineries and microbreweries
- Enjoy the shops and food in downtown Traverse City.
- Soak in Lake Michigan (literally or figuratively). Swim, paddleboard, kayak, canoe, and more!
- Go hiking or biking
Charlevoix
Now we’re really getting to the good stuff. Although much smaller than Traverse City, Charlevoix is one of my favorite Northern Michigan towns. Everything about this town instantly makes you feel at home.
How much time to spend in Charlevoix:
Personally, I would suggest a minimum of one full day, if not more. Though, some people just prefer stopping through for a few hours.
Key things to do or see in Charlevoix:
- Visit the beautiful Castle Farms
- Check out the Mushroom Houses
- Admire the pretty boats and houses at the marina
- Spend time popping in and out of all the cute shops on Bridge Street
- Attend Charlevoix’s Annual Venetian Festival
- Catch a sunset down by the pier or on the beach
Petoskey
Another favorite stop! Petoskey is such a fun area to explore.
How much time to spend in Petoskey:
Typically, if trying to see as much as possible, two to three days is a decent amount of time without feeling overly rushed.
Things to do or see in Petoskey:
- Enjoy the beautiful sandy beaches at Petoskey State Park
- Explore town and all of the cute boutique shops
- Eat chocolate, ice cream, and fudge at the Kilwin’s Chocolate Factory
- Spend some time exploring around Bay Harbor
- Search for Petoskey stones
- Check out Bill’s Farmers Market (go for the produce, stay for the views!)
- Go wine tasting at the local wineries
Harbor Springs
You guessed it, another favorite stop of mine. Harbor Springs is a picture-perfect Hallmark movie town. The Main Street is lined with small shops and boutiques with a chapel at the end, overlooking the harbor filled with beautiful sailboats, paddle boarders, and kayakers.
How much time to spend in Harbor Springs:
Although Harbor Springs is a very small town, I would suggest at least two days to really take in the experience without rushing.
Key things to see or do in Harbor Springs:
- Go kayaking or paddle boarding in the harbor
- Wander through all of the boutique shops
- Get coffee and a pastry from Johann’s Bakery and go down to the harbor to watch the boats
- Get a Tom’s Moms Cookie (or a dozen – they’re delicious!)
- Visit Pond Hill Farm for a wine tasting or gnome hunt
- Drive through the Tunnel of Trees
Mackinac Island
Leave the car on the mainland and hop on a ferry over to Mackinac Island (Mack-i-naW) from Mackinac City.
How much time to spend on Mackinac Island:
If you get an early start, you can see the island in a day. If you’d rather not be rushed, spend a night or two on the island.
Key things to do or see on Mackinac Island:
- Eat fudge (this is the place to do it!)
- Get a horse & carriage ride
- Ride bikes around the island
- Wander along the Main Street
- Check out the beautiful Grand Hotel
*If you’re planning on going to the Upper Peninsula, this is the time!
Gaylord
Although this city is not on one of the Great Lakes, it has plenty of other attractions for any type of visitor.
How much time to spend in Gaylord:
Just driving through and stopping for a few hours is enough time, or stay the night and spend a day exploring town.
Key things to do or see in Gaylord:
- Downtown shopping
- Sip your way through the Craft Beer & Tap Trail
- Enjoy a wide variety of snow sports
- Choose from 17 different golf courses to golf at
- See a herd of elk at Gaylord’s very own Elk Park
Frankenmuth
This Bavarian-style town is charming all year round!
How much time to spend in Frankenmuth:
A couple of hours or a full day is enough. If checking out the food & beverage scene, staying overnight may be a better option.
Key things to do or see in Frankenmuth:
- Shop for Christmas ornaments and knickknacks at Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland
- Eat a world-famous chicken dinner
- Enjoy the Bavarian-themed town and shops
- Go to a brewery or Biergarten (you could even celebrate Oktoberfest here!)
Ann Arbor
Lastly, we’ll end our road trip in Ann Arbor. This city with small-town vibes is a great transition back to Detroit to end your Michigan road trip.
How much time to spend in Ann Arbor:
Simply driving through and spending a couple of hours exploring should be an ample amount of time.
Key things to do and see in Ann Arbor:
- Visit the University of Michigan
- Check out the Matthaei Botanical Gardens
- Wander around Main Street
- Enjoy Ann Arbor’s farmer’s markets
- Make your way through Ann Arbor’s food scene (don’t forget to stop by some bars, pubs, breweries, and coffee shops)
Michigan Road Trip Summary:
- Detroit
- Lansing
- Grand Rapids
- Holland
- Grand Haven
- Sleeping Bear Dunes
- Traverse City
- Charlevoix
- Petoskey
- Harbor Springs
- Mackinac Island
- Gaylord
- Frankenmuth
- Ann Arbor
Enjoy your Michigan road trip! Let me know your favorite part in the comments 🙂
Check out these other Michigan posts!
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