Great Lakes Road Trip Itinerary: The Highlights Loop

Frankenmuth to Manistee | 4+ Hours

There are lots of different route options to cross the state. The most direct routes will take you around four hours. 

We suggest detouring slightly at the start by heading north to Frankenmuth. Home to one of the best Oktoberfest celebrations in the US, this Bavarian-inspired town is also home to the biggest Christmas store in the world.

If your route to the western shore takes you through Grand Rapids, be sure to check out the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Once you reach the Lake Michigan shoreline, head north, stopping off in the charming and scenic communities like Muskegon, Ludington, and Pentwater. 

Stay the night in Manistee, where you can stroll the expansive beach.

Sleeping Bear Dunes to Charlevoix | 3+ Hours

The third day of your Great Lakes region road trip leads to somewhere truly extraordinary: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. There, 450-foot tall sand dunes tower over Lake Michigan. Tackle the dune climb if you’re feeling up for a challenge. Beware: dune trekking is very intense as the sand is lose and deep with some nearly vertical inclines. What takes minutes to descend make take an hour or two to climb back up. Rescue fees are upwards of $3,000, so adventure wisely.

By now you’ve earned some refreshment, so refuel at a local brewery or somewhere in Traverse City.

Stay the night at Chantau Chantal for a truly unique experience, or find lodging in Elk Rapids or Charlevoix.

After a day of treacherous hiking on the Sleeping Bear Dunes, give yourself the gift of a rest day. Michigan’s Old Mission peninsula is a fabulous wine region road trip destination in its own right with its abundance of wineries and vineyards.

If you’re not sure where to start, the Old Mission peninsula wine trail is a great inspirational route. Book in with a group like Northern Michigan Wine and Beer Tours, Ridetastic Winery Tours, or Traverse City Wine and Beer Tours. They take care of all the logistics for you plus you get to let someone else do the driving for a day. 

Beer drinkers will find loads of breweries for building ale trails, too.

Charlevoix to St. Ignace | 1.5 Hours

Next stop: Mackinac Island, one of America’s only islands without cars. To get there, drive up to Saint Ignace, leave the car for the night, and hop on a ferry to Mackinac Island.

To really get the feel for this unique community, book an overnight stay in one of the island accommodations. Reservations fill up fast, though, so make arrangements early. 

Either before or after your excursion to Mackinac Island, carve out time to see the Museum of Ojibwa Culture at Old Mission Saint-Ignace. Highlighting the Indigenous roots of the region, learn about the original seven clans of the Ojibwa peoples while wandering the museum and outdoor sculpture garden.

Whitefish Point to Munising | 3.5 Hours

When you’re ready to leave St. Ignace, head up to Whitefish Point where the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum awaits. Exhibits describe the perilous maritime history of the Great Lakes, and the property is also the site of Lake Superior’s oldest lighthouse. The museum is open May 1 through October 31, so plan accordingly. 

Grab some food in Grand Marais before heading over to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. This area popular for outdoor recreation on land and water. Despite being edged by impressive cliffs, cliff jumping is strictly prohibited in Pictured Rocks. The refreshing waters welcome waders and swimmers in designated swimming areas and commercial boat tours are also available. 

Just a few miles down the road, the lakefront town of Munising provides the perfect setting for a cozy room to rest your head.

Manistee to Copper Harbor | 4+ Hours

Today, head for Hiawatha National Forest for a scenic hike or horseback ride. Get an early start and test your paddling skills on the Au Train canoe trail, a six-hour river adventure.

The lakefront town of Marquette is the perfect opportunity for lunch with a view. Pop up to Black Rocks for an exhilaration cliff jump into the chilly waters of Lake Superior.

Finish the day in Houghton, Hancock, or somewhere else nearby. Tomorrow, you’re headed to Copper Harbor to catch the ferry.

This park is remarkably remote, and transit on and off the island is subject to weather conditions. Pack for the day bearing in mind that you might need to stay overnight in an emergency. Essentials like prescription medications and appropriate clothing if you do need to sleep outdoors overnight will help you make it through an unexpected night.

A guided hike is a great way to safely experience this truly off-the-beaten-track landscape. Keep alert of moose, and make note of new food storage safety regulations as of 2025.

Copper Harbor to Green Bay, Wisconsin | 5+ Hours

This will probably be your longest day of driving. Get a break from the car by scheduling a stop in Ottawa National Forest. Nearly one million acres of Michigan’s scenic upper peninsula comprise this rugged wilderness. Give yourself plenty of time for a hike, you’ll be glad you did!

Continue south towards Green Bay. You can stop there, or push on a bit further to Two Rivers, the lakeshore town that wears the culinary crown as the birthplace of the ice cream sundae. You can learn all about one of America’s favorite desserts at the Washington House Museum and Visitors Center. Inside, an ice cream parlour serves up creamy scoops which make the perfect base for a variety of sundae toppings.

Green Bay to Milwaukee, Wisconsin or Chicago, Illinois | 2-4 Hours

On the last day of your Great Lakes highlights road trip, head towards Milwaukee or Chicago (or both!) to complete your 10-day adventure. From here, you can add one a few extra days to explore more in these two compelling cities or dive deeper into the Great Lakes region.