The Lake Michigan Circle is one of the quintessential, must-do American road trips. You’ll find beaches, forests, dunes, and plenty of local breweries and wineries during your 24-hour drive. The trip spans 4 different Midwestern states and dozens of different cities. Read on for a detailed 7-day Lake Michigan circle road trip itinerary!
Last updated: 9 April 2023
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- Planning your Lake Michigan circle road trip
- Lake Michigan circle road trip itinerary
- If you have more time on your Lake Michigan circle tour
- Things to know before your Lake Michigan circle trip
Planning your Lake Michigan circle road trip
This itinerary assumes that you’re starting in Chicago, but you can start from any part of the circle! You can also add or remove days based on how much time you have. I don’t recommend trying to do this in less than 5 days, however, as that would be too much driving at once to be enjoyable. Summer and fall are both wonderful times to take this trip since many of the activities are outdoors.
Lake Michigan circle road trip itinerary
Day 1: Indiana Dunes, Holland, & Grand Haven
From Chicago, drive 45 minutes over the state line to the Indiana Dunes. The Indiana Dunes National Park takes up 15 miles of shoreline around Lake Michigan and features a unique ecosystem with lots of native birds and plants. Spend the morning here either relaxing by the beach or doing something a bit more active. Afterwards, stop by the nearby town of Michigan City, IN for lunch at Shoreline Brewery.
Fun fact: the Indiana Dunes just became a National Park in February of 2019, making it the third-newest park after White Sands (December 2019) and New River Gorge (December 2020)!
Things to do at Indiana Dunes National Park
- Relax on one of the 8 beaches
- Hike through dunes, forest, or wetlands
- Kayak or canoe on Lake Michigan
- Go camping
Once you’ve gotten enough beach time, drive 1 hour and 40 minutes along the Dunes Highway to Holland, a city in the state of Michigan. Holland (you can probably guess by the name) is a former Dutch settlement in Michigan. The town could be mistaken for one in the Netherlands, with plenty of tulips, windmills, and European-style architecture. Spend some time exploring the town, and make sure to check out the Windmill Island and Tulip Gardens.
If you have some time, make a quick detour to Grand Rapids — there, you can check out the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, appreciate art at the Grand Rapids Art Museum, and have a drink at one of the many breweries.
After exploring Holland, drive thirty minutes to Grand Haven. There are plenty of delicious dinner spots here — Rustic Roots, Mamas Thai Cafe, and Righteous Cuisine are some good options. Catch the sunset at the Grand Haven State Park Lighthouse, then head over to the Musical Fountain in town (it plays nightly at dusk).
Where to stay in Grand Haven
Day 2: Silver Lake & Sleeping Bear Dunes
From Grand Haven, drive 55 minutes north to Petite Pointe Au Sable Lighthouse (Little Sable Point Lighthouse) in Mears, Michigan. Built in 1874, this lighthouse is a great place to take in the grandeur of Lake Michigan and the surrounding sand dunes. Drive a bit farther to get to the town of Ludington, where you can stop for coffee and some pastries at Red Rooster Coffee & Community or relax at Ludington State Park.
After your morning pick-me-up, continue driving north until you reach Inspiration Point. This viewpoint off of the main highway is one of the best places to get a bird’s eye view of the Lake Michigan shoreline. There are a few stairs to reach the top, so make sure to wear some comfortable shoes!
A 45-minute drive from Inspiration Point will bring you the main attraction of the day, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The park encompasses hundreds of acres of sand dunes, lakeshore, and forest. There are plenty of activities to keep you busy, so spend your afternoon doing whatever sounds the most fun.
Things to do at Sleeping Bear Dunes
- Dune Climb: uphill sand climbs and hiking
- Walk or bike the Heritage Trail
- Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive
- Canoe the Crystal and Platte rivers
- Camping: on the mainland or on North and South Manitou Islands
Where to stay near Sleeping Bear Dunes
- Chimney Corners Resort in Frankfort
- Sylvan Inn Bed & Breakfast in Glen Arbor
- Cedar Ridge Cabins in Honor
Day 3: Traverse City & the Leelanau Peninsula
From Sleeping Bear Dunes, drive 45 minutes to Traverse City. Make sure to stop at Cherry Republic Gift Shop and Pyramid Point Trailhead along the way. You’re in wine country now — sampling some locally-produced bottles is a must today!
Things to do in Traverse City
- Wander around the charming downtown area
- Get a cider flight at Acoustic Tap Room
- Have a tasting at a winery
- Visit Mission Point Lighthouse
Where to stay in Traverse City
Book a tour in Traverse City
Day 4: Mackinac Island
Drive 2 hours from Traverse City over to Mackinaw City. Along the way, you’ll drive through the Tunnel of Trees, one of the most scenic routes that feels like you’re getting swallowed by all the nature around you. When you get to Mackinaw City, you’ll need to take the ferry over to Mackinac Island (pronounced like Mack-i-naw). Adult tickets cost $27 per person with the option of adding a bike pass for $12.
Mackinac Island was founded in 1780 and occasionally, it seems like time has stopped completely. There are no cars allowed on the island, due in part to an 1898 ban on “horseless carriages” that has remained unchanged. You won’t find any chain hotels, either — every accommodation option is unique and family-owned. Biking is a popular way to get around the island, as are horse-drawn carriages. Mackinac Island is the best place in the Midwest to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life!
Things to do on Mackinac Island
- Rent a bike (or bring your own) and bike around the perimeter of the island. The M-185 Bicycle Route is 8.2 miles (13 km) long and takes about an hour to complete.
- Check out Arch Rock
- Take a horse-drawn carriage tour
- Learn some local history at Fort Mackinac
- Sample some world-famous fudge at Murdick’s
- Grab lunch at Mighty Mac Hamburgers
Where to stay on Mackinac Island
Note: Hotels on Mackinac Island are notoriously expensive. To save some money, take the ferry back over to the mainland and stay in Mackinaw City or St. Ignace for the night.
Day 5: Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
Today, you’ll leave the Lower Peninsula and cross over the Mackinac Bridge to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Although it’s only a 15-minute drive across the Straits of Mackinac, the Upper Peninsula feels like a different world from the colonial vibe of Mackinac Island. Its proximity to Canada, heavily forested hills, and lack of decent cell service make it feel like you’re at the ends of the earth. Spend today exploring all of the beautiful marvels of nature the UP has to offer.
Things to do on the Upper Peninsula
- Visit Pictured Rocks Lakeshore
- Kayak to Lover’s Leap
- Hike Chapel Basin
- Relax at Miners Beach
- Take in the blue waters of Kitch-iti-kipi, a scenic natural spring
- Explore Fayette Historic Townsite
- Hike up the Porcupine Mountains
Where to stay on the Upper Peninsula
- Magnuson Grand Pioneer Inn and Suites in Escanaba
- Kewadin Sault Ste Marie Hotel in Sault Ste Marie
- Landmark Inn in Marquette
Day 6: Wisconsin’s lakeshore
On day 6 of our Lake Michigan circle itinerary, you’ll cross into our fourth and final state — Wisconsin. Land of New Glarus beer, Cheeseheads, and Midwestern hospitality, driving down Wisconsin’s lakeshore is a pleasure in and of itself. Although not quite as scenic as Michigan’s side of the lake, you’ll be sure to soak in some beautiful views along the way regardless.
Things to do on Wisconsin’s eastern coast
- Stop by the historic town of Marinette
- Eat some cheese curds in Green Bay
- Cheer on the Packers at Lambeau Field
- Go swimming at Point Beach State Forest
- Attend a concert at Milwaukee’s annual Summerfest
- Check out some art at the Milwaukee Art Museum
- Hike the Seven Bridges area
Where to stay in Milwaukee
Day 7: Chicago
End your week-long trip right where you started — the Windy City, one of the greatest big cities in the world! Today, you’ll do some sightseeing and finish off strong with some hearty Chicagoan food. You’ve earned it after all that driving!
Things to do in Chicago
- Take cheesy mirror pics at the Bean
- Stroll down Michigan Avenue and do some shopping
- Stand on the edge of the Willis Tower (…ahem… Sears Tower) Skydeck
- Order some deep dish pizza from Lou Malnati’s or a Chicago-style hot dog from Superdawg
- Ride the ferris wheel at Navy Pier
- Cheer on the Bears at Soldier Field
⇉ Chicago Summer Activities: The 21 Best Things to Eat, See, and Do
⇉ Winter in Chicago: The Best Things to Eat, See, and Do
Where to stay in Chicago
Book a tour in Chicago
If you have more time on your Lake Michigan circle tour
This Lake Michigan circle itinerary can be easily extended by spending a bit more time in each destination. Additionally, you can add stops to your trip in the following locations:
Michigan
- New Buffalo
- Downtown South Haven
- Benton Harbor
- St. Joseph: Silver Beach County Park
- Silver Lake State Park
- Downtown Muskegon
- Charlevoix
- Isle Royale National Park
Wisconsin
- Door Peninsula, the “Cape Cod of the Midwest”: Door County, Peninsula State Park, Fish Creek, Sturgeon Bay, and Egg Harbor
- Take a boat trip to Washington Island
- Sheboygan
- Port Washington
- Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve
Things to know before your Lake Michigan circle trip
- If time is not a factor, you can extend your trip to become a full Great Lakes Circle Tour, adding on Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and the St. Lawrence River! The full drive is 6,500 mi (10,460 km) long and takes over 100+ hours of driving.
- Some of the state highways in Illinois are toll roads. You can pay any unpaid tolls after the fact on the Illinois Tollway website.
- Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake that’s entirely inside the United States! You won’t be needing your passport for this single-nation circle tour.
Thanks for reading this Lake Michigan circle itinerary! I hope you found it helpful for planning your own road trip.
xoxo Niki
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Flights | I start my search on Google Flights, then usually book directly with the airline so I’m protected in case anything goes wrong.
Accommodation | Booking.com is my go-to for booking accommodation. They have an awesome cancellation policy and a super easy-to-use website.
Activities | GetYourGuide is my all-time favorite site to book day tours and activities because their cancellation policy is unmatched. Viator is another great option, especially for multi-day trips and tours.
Luggage | Carry-on only or bust! I use my Fjallraven Kanken backpack on just about every trip I take. I also love Beis for carry-on suitcases, weekender bags, and makeup/toiletry cases.
Photography | I use my iPhone 12 Pro, a Canon G7x Mark ii, and a DJI Mini 2 drone for all of my photos and videos. I also edit my photos in Lightroom.
Thanks for this itenerary! We did it exactly as is written this past June 2023. We did stay 2 days in Glen Arbor at the Sylvan Inn. We rented bikes in town and rode out on the heritage trail. We also rented kayaks to go down the creek there (can’t remember the name) That was my favorite place! I also really liked Traverse City. Unfortunately we did experience some of the smoke from the Canadian fires in both Milwaukee and Chicago, but it wasn’t horrible. We had beautiful weather on Mackinac Island however. I loved all the cherry stores, but was there too soon for the actual fruit! However we experienced no mosquitos that Michigan is known for. Beautiful sandy beaches, and friendly people!!
Following your itinerary! Shoreline Brewery is a must. Jasmine I’d the best!
Hi Niki! We are planning on using your itinerary this summer for a road trip with our 3 boys (ages 10,8,4). We want to spend a couple days in Chicago to kick it off. Which stops would you cut out while traveling with kids? (least kid-friendly activities). Thanks!
Lauren
Hey Lauren! That sounds like an awesome trip!
I’d say that the majority of this itinerary is actually super kid-friendly, especially if you go at your own pace and leave some extra room to stop between cities. Most of the suggestions I’ve listed are outdoors and/or free which is awesome! Running down sand dunes, exploring Mackinac Island, and camping/biking/hiking around Door Peninsula would be my must-dos with kids.
If I had to pick one stop to get rid of, it would be the Leelenau Peninsula — there’s not as much to do and the kids would probably find the wineries/breweries boring.
Chicago in particular is a really family-friendly city. Depending on what they’re interested in, I’d recommend checking out Lincoln Park Zoo, the Children’s Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Navy Pier, and the Museum of Science and Industry!
Happy travels 🙂
Thanks so very much for your great website…. I was lucky to find you while considering my trip around Lake Michigan next Septembfer
I spend half an hour to read this website’s articles or reviews all the time along with a cup of coffee 🙂