This 14-day road trip in our self-contained Ford Transit camper van starts on the eastern side of Lake Michigan in the town of St. Joseph and ends in the Upper Peninsula in Marquette along Lake Superior.
Along the way, we visited lively beach towns, photographed lighthouses, ferried over to Mackinac Island for an overnight stay, explored Sleeping Bear Dunes and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshores, and even found a giant troll fishing a quiet stream! We took this trip in early June, so the weather was mostly pleasant, even on the cool side.
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Taking a road trip to explore the beaches and towns along Lake Michigan and Lake Superior has been on my vacation list for years. We finally made the trip a reality, heading off for 2 weeks in our Class B sprinter-type van. While I may not be sold on the small van life, no matter how you travel, you can’t go wrong with a road trip around this scenic part of Michigan.
Here is our general itinerary for the 14-day Michigan road trip, including approximate driving times between destinations. This slice of the Midwest certainly lived up to all the hype, and two weeks was clearly not long enough (like our other road trips, we pack a lot into our days!)
My idea of van life is less boondocking and more a mix of campgrounds, Harvest Hosts (favorites are breweries and wineries!), and hotel stays. This worked well on this trip, where we found some wonderful places to stay in the van. We also enjoy trying local restaurants, with an occasional meal cooked in the van. This trip can easily be done in a passenger vehicle with all hotels.
For national park visits, check the National Park Service (NPS) websites for the latest information, alerts, and program news. Download the NPS App and save the park for offline use before you head out. Always carry extra water, a first aid kit, and emergency supplies for your road trip.
Michigan Road Trip General Itinerary
Day 1: Start in St. Joseph, Michigan, and begin to meander up the coast towards Holland; visit the St Joseph North Pier Lighthouse; travel on the Blue Star Highway; stop in South Haven and Saugatuck, then overnight in Muskegon (total drive time ~2 hours).
Day 2: Continue to make your way up the coast, with stops at Ludington State Park for a short hike to Big Sable Point Lighthouse; travel on scenic Route 22 in Manistee; Arcadia Scenic Turnout after the town of Arcadia; and overnight at Platte River Campground. If you have time, begin to explore Sleeping Bear Dunes (total drive time ~2.5 hours).
Day 3: Explore Sleeping Bear Dunes, then stop in historic Fishtown in Leland. We stayed overnight at a Harvest Host winery in Lake Leelanau (total drive time ~45 minutes).
Day 4: Drive towards Traverse City with stops to see scenic Torch Lake; biking in Traverse City; overnight at Cherry Tree Inn and Suites on the lake (total drive time ~45 minutes).
Day 5: Drive from Traverse City to Petoskey State Park with a stop in Charlevoix; overnight at Petoskey State Park Dunes Campground with beach access (total drive time ~90 minutes).
Day 6: Explore Harbor Springs or Petoskey by bike or car; drive to Legs Inn for a meal on the lake; overnight at Petoskey State Park Dunes Campground (~35 minutes each way).
Day 7: Travel towards Mackinaw City enroute to the ferry to Mackinac Island; explore Old Mackinaw Point Lighthouse (total drive time ~45 minutes).
Day 8: Catch early morning ferry from St. Ignace to Mackinac Island (no cars are allowed on the island; be sure to book a Mackinac Island hotel in advance); explore Mackinac Island (the ferry takes between 15-25 minutes).
Day 9: Rent bikes and spend the morning exploring the island; late afternoon ferry back to car; travel to overnight stay at Northland Outfitters Campground & Canoe / Kayak Livery in Germfask. See Benny the Beard Fisher Troll. (total drive time ~80 minutes).
Day 10: Head to the Grand Sable Visitor Center to begin exploring Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore; spend the day on the scenic drive with a few hikes. Overnight in Munising at Greenland Motel. (actual drive time is about one hour without stops).
Day 11: From Munising, head out on a boat tour/kayak adventure to see Pictured Rocks from the water (weather permitting). Overnight in Munising at Greenland Motel. (minimal driving).
Day 12: Head to Marquette; explore Presque Isle Park and downtown Marquette. Overnight in Marquette at Tourist Park Campground. (total drive time ~50 minutes).
Day 13: Travel from Marquette to Houghton; explore this fun college town, with an overnight at the Super 8 by Wyndham Houghton. (total drive time just under 2 hours).
Day 14: Drive to Copper Harbor (drive time ~1 hour); take the scenic Brockway Mountain Drive; view waterfalls; head back to spend the night at Baraga Lakeside Inn before traveling back to Marquette in the morning to fly out of Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport.
14-Day Michigan Road Trip Details
Day 1 – St. Joseph to Muskegon
Our June road trip began with my flight into South Bend International Airport. My husband had been traveling in his van, so this was a convenient meeting spot. Forty-five minutes from the airport was the first of our many views of Lake Michigan and the St. Joseph North Pier Lighthouses.
From there, continue to the town of South Haven, perfect for a stroll and shopping. We had a chance to stick our toes into chilly Lake Michigan at one of the local beaches. Then, as you drive towards Saugatuck on the Blue Star Highway, plan for a stop at the historic Douglas Root Beer Barrel. The frosty root beer float and a Chicago Dog hit the spot on a sunny June day. The original Root Beer Barrel started serving root beer and hot dogs in 1952, and after closing for 25 years, restoration began in 2011.
Take time to explore the artsy town of Saugatuck. Grab a drink upstairs at the BARge, with views of the busy Kalamazoo River. You can easily add extra time in any of these small towns along the coast.
Next up is a stop in Holland, a town settled by Dutch immigrants back in the 1840s. The downtown area reflects this heritage with shops, authentic bakeries, and restaurants. Be sure to stop in the large Cherry Republic, a store for everything cherry! Other tourist attractions include Windmill Island Gardens and Nelis’ Dutch Village, but since we had recently been to Amsterdam, we skipped those.
Our drive continued to our stop for the night, the Brewers Lounge at Pigeon Hill in Muskegon. As Harvest Hosts members, we can reserve space to park our self-contained van for the night on the property of various member breweries, wineries, and farms (there are over 9,000 locations). Benefits include having an authorized, safe place to spend the night while supporting local businesses. Meeting new people and gaining insight from the locals is also a plus.
Day 2 – Muskegon to Sleeping Bear Dunes
After an early morning stop for breakfast at the delicious Brooklyn Bagels Café (and a few muffins to go), our first stop was Ludington State Park, and a hike to a lighthouse! The 3-mile trail took us through the campground, then passed between dunes, with no shade to speak of (bring sunscreen). It was impressive to see Big Sable Point Lighthouse, standing over 100 feet tall. Be sure to arrive when it is open if you are interested in climbing the lighthouse (hours vary, so check the website for the latest).
Next up was a lunch stop at 5th Avenue Beach—one of Manistee’s beautiful beaches. It was my favorite on Lake Michigan, with a wide beach, bathhouse, concessions, playground, and the Manistee North Pier Lighthouse. After leaving Manistee, continue the drive towards Sleeping Bear Dunes on the M22 scenic highway. Don’t miss the Arcadia Overlook just north of the town with the same name. Climb as many steps as you can at the overlook for stunning views of Lake Michigan!
Our destination for the night was the Platte River Campground, part of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (be prepared to pay the national park entrance fee or use your annual pass). With rain in the forecast for the next day and plenty of daylight left, we decided to travel the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive after checking in at the campground. It’s a must-do, 7+ mile, scenic loop with 12 stops. We enjoyed reading the information on the National Park App Interpretive Tour to enhance our drive.
The first three stops on the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive are worth a look: 1) Stop 1, a covered bridge photo opportunity for national park lovers; 2) Stop 2, Glen Lake Overlook with blue water and an “alligator” view; and 3) Stop 3, the Dune Overlook. But Stop 9, the Lake Michigan Overlook, stole the show!
The views looking down on the lake from atop a giant, 430ft dune are hard to describe; the natural beauty can’t really be captured in photographs. It’s enticing to run down to the sparkling lake, especially on a summer day.
Going down the dunes here is highly discouraged by the NPS, as continual climbing causes erosion. Not to mention that getting back up is very strenuous! Nevertheless, we did watch several folks struggle as they slowly made their way back up in the late afternoon heat and very hot sand. A rescue can cost several thousand dollars!
Visitors often confuse the Lake Michigan Overlook with the Dune Climb, located in a different area of the park. It’s adjacent to a large parking lot, where you can watch people climbing up and down the first towering dune. Climbing the first dune will also give you a sense of what to expect if you continue.
Don’t be fooled into thinking that if you reach the top of the first dune, you will see Lake Michigan. Those views are only reached after an additional hike over ~1 ½ miles across other dunes with no shade. It was hot and late in the afternoon, and after our experience at Great Sand Dunes National Park, we decided that we would forgo climbing the dunes.
Heading back to the campground, we stopped for dinner at the Empire Village Inn. I skipped the pizza and went for the house-smoked pork BBQ sandwich, a delicious choice. On the advice of the park ranger, we headed to Platte River Point for sunset. The mosquitoes were raging, but I managed to grab a few photos of the colorful sky.
Day 3 – Sleeping Bear Dunes & Historic Fishtown
Our original plans were to spend the day exploring Sleeping Bear Dunes, including biking on the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, a 20-mile multi-use trail with connections to Glen Arbor and Empire, or additional hiking. Instead, we spent time in the Visitor Center in Empire, then explored the Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station Maritime Museum.
The Maritime Museum and adjacent Boathouse hold the fascinating history of the life-saving station, and the evolution to today’s Coast Guard. It’s hard to believe men in wooden lifeboats, using a Breeches Buoy, saved so many stranded sailors on stormy Lake Michigan. Don’t skip spending some time here. The Glen Haven Historic Village is also here, with buildings open to the public.
Continuing on scenic M22 brought us to the historic Fishtown. This wasn’t on our radar, but several locals highly recommended a visit. It’s the kind of place that makes a road trip special. We enjoyed learning about Michigan’s commercial fishing industry while chatting with staff of the Fishtown Preservation Society in the Welcome Center.
Old fishing shanties in this historic, working town now serve as a place to grab a sandwich or shop for handmade clothing and other locally produced goods. Stop in the fish market for the fresh catch of the day. The giant sandwiches from the Village Cheese Shanty were way too much for one person to eat!
Our stop for the night was another Harvest Hosts location—Amoritas Vineyards. Arriving late in the afternoon gave us a chance for a wine tasting of everything from a bubbly and dry white to rosé and a house fruity Cherry Wine. Relaxing on the covered front porch was a nice way to end a rainy day.
Day 4 – Lake Leelanau to Traverse City
It took less than an hour to drive to Traverse City, and the Cherry Tree Inn & Suites, our next overnight. Arriving mid-day, we hopped on our bikes to explore the extensive, local trail system, making our way to Grand Traverse Pie Company for a slice of their famous pie. Dinner at Apache Trout Grill came highly recommended, but the long wait for our food overshadowed the meal.
Day 5 – Traverse City to Petoskey State Park
After a lazy morning, we were off to our next stop, Petoskey State Park. Along the way, we stopped to see what all the fuss was about Torch Lake. The Instagram versus reality on a cloudy day was a “not the Caribbean green like all the photos you see” lake view. Based on a tip from a local, we also stopped at the beach near Fisherman’s Island State Park to search for the famous Petoskey Stone, considered Michigan’s state fossil.
Lunch was in the cute town of Charlevoix, where we strolled the Farmer’s Market, viewed the Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse, and enjoyed lunch at the Bridge Street Tap Room. The tagline “Charlevoix the Beautiful” fits well.
From there, another 20+ miles brought us to our destination for the next 2 nights, the Petoskey State Park Campground. I loved that we could walk over the hill to the beach, and we were close to both Petoskey and Harbor Springs, by car or bike trails.
Day 6 – Local Exploring & Lunch at Legs Inn
After some morning biking on the Little Traverse Wheelway, we set out for a midday adventure to the Legs Inn in nearby Cross Village. Noted as one of the most iconic restaurants in Michigan, it’s worth a stop just for the drop-dead views of Lake Michigan from the backyard. The inside is filled with interesting carvings, but I think the back patio is the place to be. The menu features traditional Polish food and, if you can’t decide, get the Taste of Poland and save room for the Old-Fashioned Polish Berry Szarlotka!
Fall brings an overwhelming number of visitors to see the brilliant colors on the M-119 and the famous Tunnel of Trees. During the summer, the drive was pretty gorgeous, even with the construction detours.
Day 7 – Harbor Springs to Mackinaw City
One of the things my husband discovered while traveling in the van for 6 months is that the local library is a great place to relax and catch up on reading and journaling. The Harbor Springs Library was quaint and perfect for an hour on a rainy morning while we waited for the Farmers Market to open.
After doing our part to support the local economy, we headed to Mackinaw City, our next stop before our trip to Mackinac Island. Staying just across from the bridge made it easy to explore the lighthouse and capture stunning sunset photos later that evening.
Days 8 & 9 – Mackinac Island to Germfask
Thankfully, the windy conditions subsided before our drive over the Mighty Mac bridge. St. Ignace was the launching point for our passenger ferry to Mackinac Island, a quick boat ride with a short detour to see the bridge up close. Mackinac Island had been on my bucket list for quite a while, so I was excited when we finally set foot on the island, with its charming inns, colorful flowers, and horse-drawn carriages.
Our arrival coincided with the end of the Mackinac Island Lilac Festival and an explosion of lilac blooms! With horse-drawn carriages everywhere (no cars allowed), we made our way to the Island House Hotel to enjoy the views for a few minutes from the porch. The island has 70+ miles of trails for nature-lovers; we settled for a 3-mile walk. This took us away from the Main Street crowds and into the quiet forest on the Island Botanical Trail, plus stops at Arch Rock and Fort George.
Drinks at the Pink Pony and Mary’s Bistro Draught House, dinner at Ice House BBQ, and a hearty breakfast at the Chuckwagon of Mackinac Island fueled us for the 8-mile bike ride around the island’s perimeter the next morning. The views of the lake from the road are mesmerizing! The ferries run frequently in the summer season, allowing for flexibility with departure times. I loved that our hotel took care of our baggage so that we didn’t have to haul it to and from the ferry.
Once back in St. Ignace, we set off for Northland Outfitters Campground and Canoe/Kayak Livery in Germfask, our next overnight stay. I would definitely return here to explore the local waterways with a kayak. Our campsite was a peaceful spot on the river, and within walking distance to Benny the Beard Fisher, another of the Thomas Dambo trolls.
Day 10 – Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
The campground was less than 35 minutes from the Grand Sable Visitor Center, the start of our two days exploring Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Our day was spent exploring this unique park via a scenic drive that led to numerous overlooks, a lighthouse hike, and waterfalls. Check out our detailed 2-day Pictured Rocks itinerary here.
Day 11 – Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Besides Mackinac Island, this was the day I was most looking forward to—our big kayak adventure with Pictured Rocks Kayaking! The weather, which often creates unsafe conditions for kayaking on Lake Superior, couldn’t have been better. The Ultimate Kayak Tour combines a short boat ride with about 5 miles of kayaking along the colorful Pictured Rocks with names like Lovers Leap and Rainbow Cave. Between the surreal green color of the water and the towering rocks, it was an adventure to remember.
While staying in Munising at the cute Greenland Motel on the edge of town, we enjoyed the Whitefish Chowder at Tracey’s at Roam Inn and had a Savory Blueberry Pizza at The Cooking Carberry’s Woodfired Pizza (cash only), washed down with a blueberry lager.
Day 12 – Munising to Marquette
Before we left for Marquette, we stopped in the free Pictured Rocks Interpretive Center in Munising. It’s attached to a gift shop if you want to pick up any souvenirs. The drive to Marquette took less than an hour, and upon arrival, we took a short walk at nearby Presque Isle Park. A last-minute decision was made to spend the night at Tourist Park, a local campground not far from downtown.
From brewpubs to Cajun cuisine, there was no shortage of fun places to eat in Marquette. Lagniappe Cajun Creole Eatery did not disappoint with the Catfish Pontchartrain and the Low Country Shrimp and Grits. We came back at the end of our trip to have brunch at Donckers, a place where you can have a meal, enjoy an ice cream cone, or browse a selection of handmade candy.
Day 13 – Marquette to Houghton
Being this close to the Keweenaw Peninsula, we took the last two days to explore. Early on we had ruled out a trip to Isle Royale due to logistics of getting to and staying overnight at this remote park. But we thoroughly enjoyed our time in Houghton, home to Michigan Tech. Small town vibes, great food and beer, and a rich mining history make it a fun place to visit.
The A. E. Seaman Mineralogical Museum is quite impressive with an extensive collection, perfect for geology lovers like my husband. Several hotels, including the Super 8 by Wyndham Houghton, were walkable to downtown.
Day 14 – Hougton to Copper Harbor
Our last full day of exploring took us to Copper Harbor, along the scenic Brockway Mountain Drive, and waterfall hunting (the staff and brochures from the tourist office in Houghton were excellent). Mountain biking is popular in Copper Harbor, with shuttles regularly running up and down the mountain. The recommendation for fish tacos from Captain Matt’s food truck was spot on for lunch in this very small town!
We made our way back down the peninsula, with a stop at the Jampot to pick up homemade jam sold by the monks of the Holy Protection Monastery. Our final night was spent at the Baraga Lakeside Inn, with a beautiful, evening sky. This made it easy to get to the small Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport, for a flight out the next day.
