Looking for the best Michigan road trips for adventures outside? From the Upper Peninsula, to off the beaten path in the Lower Peninsula, here are the best road trip routes in Michigan for hikers, car campers, and outdoor lovers!

why this blog? Hi there! My name is Maddy, and I’m an outdoor guide & guidebook writer born & raised in Michigan committed to helping adventurers like yourself explore the Midwest & Great Lakes region. I spent almost every summer playing in Northern Michigan as a kid, and since then have taken more road trips through the state than I can count. I’m stoked to show you around!

Note: this blog post contains affiliate links! That just means that if you chose to make a purchase based on my recommendation, I make a small kickback at no additional cost to you 🙂

from right to left: hiking in the sleeping bear dunes, a beautiful overlook in the pictured rocks, canoeing near the chain of lakes

When is the best time to go on a road trip in Michigan?

Michigan is one of those magical states that can be really beautiful in any season! Personally, I think the spring is the perfect time to visit the shores of Lake Michigan, and the there’s no time quite like autumn and late summer in the Upper Peninsula. Of course, the entire state is beautiful in the summer with incredible beaches and swimming you just can’t miss!

What to pack for a Michigan Road Trip:

For a Michigan summer or late autumn road trip approximately one week in length, here’s what you’ll need:

• 2 lightweight, long hiking pants. I wear a size 8 and am short, and find the REI trailmade to be super flattering as well as the Kuhl freeflex.
• A pair of shorts, and yoga pants with pockets 
• A fleece. Any fleece will do, but I really love my Patagonia Synchilla
• Wool baselayers. Five years of heavy paddling and my Smartwool baselayers are the only wool baselayers I’ve had that have really stood the test of time. For seven days, pack four baselayer tops. 
• Study hiking boots. I like my Briger Mids. Working in outdoor retail I literally never had anyone try on these shoes and not buy them. Pair with Darn Tough hiking socks and pack at least five pairs. In the alpine areas, trekking poles are also a great choice!
• hiking sandals
• Quick dry shots: I like Patagonia Baggies
• A puffy jacket. It can be cool even in the summer near the lakeshore, especially evenings. My partner Andy (also a wilderness guide) swears by the Patagonia Nano Puff. I like my Helly Hansen Liftloft. 
• If camping, a tent, packable sleeping bag (Nemo Disco) and pad (comfortable sleeping pad): Read my budget tent recommendations here!
• A day hiking pack: I love my Perimeter 35L. I was gifted this pack a few years back and it’s still my go-to day pack; a savvy packer can easily pack for a seven day hiking trip in this bag. 
• A raincoat. I love the Moss Raincoat from Helly Hansen; It’s affordable, cute, and super durable.

9 Best Michigan Road Trips:

From Manistee to the UP, here are the best road trips in the State of Michigan for hiking, waterfalls, northern lights, and so much more!

1) Sleeping Bear Dunes: best Michigan road trip for beaches

If you’re looking for a beautiful Michigan road trip for wild swimming in crystal clear lakes, hiking, sunset watching, and more, head to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore near Traverse City, Michigan. Here you’ll find family-friendly adventure, but you’re likely to be competing with crowds peak summer months.

The best time of year for a Sleeping Bear Dunes road trip is either June, when the wildflowers bloom, or late October with the fall colors. Of course, July and August are the best times of year for swimming. When road tripping through the Sleeping Bear Dunes, you can’t miss the best hike in Lower Michigan, Empire Bluffs. Be sure to check out the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, and go for a swim at beautiful Empire Beach.

Check out the Best Things to do in the Sleeping Bear Dunes

2) Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: best road trip for hiking

Looking for an incredible road trip in Michigan for hiking and scenery? Head to the iconic Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore near Munising, Michigan. Here, you’ll find waterfalls, cliffs, sand dunes, swimming holes, and so much more!

The best time of year to visit the Pictured Rocks is late August and early September! This time of year the bugs usually aren’t too bad and the water is warm enough to swim. In the Pictured Rocks, you can’t miss hiking the Chapel-Basin Loop, visiting Miner’s Falls, and checking out the nearby (ish) Tahquamenon Falls.

Check out the Best Things to do in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

3) Keweenaw Peninsula: best Michigan road trip for wilderness

For one of the best road trips to a quiet corner of Michigan, buckle up and head to the Keweenaw Peninsula. Here, you’ll find stunning lighthouses, hidden waterfalls, sea stacks, and access to the remote Isle Royale National Park.

In the Keweenaw, you can’t miss Brockway Mountain Scenic Drive, the beautiful town of Eagle River, and a sea kayaking adventure with Keweenaw Adventure Company! For extra adventure, hop on a ferry to cross out to one of the least-visited National Parks in the United States, Isle Royale National Park!

Learn how to get to and what to do in Isle Royale National Park

4) Upper Peninsula: best Michigan road trip for waterfalls

Looking to spend a week in the summer traveling to the best waterfalls in the Midwest? Head to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and begin your waterfall road trip!

On your Michigan waterfall road trip, be sure to stop at Tahquamenon Falls, Bond Falls, Agate Falls, and Miners Falls!

Check out more road trip ideas and things to do in the Upper Peninsula in Hidden Gems of the Northern Great Lakes (also available in eBook bundle at much cheaper rate)

5) Bellaire & Chain of Lakes: best road trip for kayaking

If you love spending time on the water and paddling, visiting Bellaire, Michigan and the Chain of Lakes is the perfect road trip for you! Here between Elk Lake, Torch Lake, Intermediate Lake all the way up to Walloon Lake, you can find some of the most beautiful places to kayak in Michigan!

On this road trip, be sure to check out paddling the Jordan River in the Mackinaw State Forest, where you’ll encounter some of the best intermediate level kayaking and canoeing in the Lower Peninsula. You can’t miss paddling the beautiful Grass River Natural Area accessible by Lake Bellaire. As a bonus, head to Short’s Brewery in downtown Bellaire, one of the best breweries in Michigan (in my opinion!).

Check out the best things to do in Bellaire, MI

6) Mackinaw & Wilderness State Park: best Michigan road trip for families

Mackinac Island (pronounced Mack-i- naw) and Wilderness State Park easily make for one of the best Michigan road trips for families! Here, you can head out to Mackinaw Island for fudge and fun shops, then head back to Wilderness State Park to camp on a beach under the stars.

When visiting Mackinaw, be sure to hike the miles beach in Wilderness State Park, check out Fort Michilimackinac, and on clear nights watch for the Northern Lights!

Wilderness State Park and Mackinac are extra beautiful in the winter, where both blue ice and the northern lights can sometimes be seen! Check out 16 incredible winter adventures in Michigan!

7) Traverse City: best road trip in the spring

If you’re looking for the perfect spring Michigan road trip, head to Traverse City during the cherry bloom. Here, you’ll find dozens of great hiking trails, wineries and so much more.

While in Traverse City, check out the Old Mission Peninsula or come in the summer to enjoy the cherry festival.

Check out the best hiking trails near Traverse City!

8) Manistee National Forest & Ludington: best Lower Peninsula hiking road trip

The best Michigan road trip for hikers and outdoors people in the Lower Peninsula begins in Ludington, Michigan, and winds through the Huron-Manistee National Forest!

Here, enjoy the unique lighthouses and day trip routes in Ludington State Park before heading north to the Manistee River Trail. Stop and hike here before heading next to High Rollaways also on the Manistee River.

9) Saugatuck and Warren Dunes: best Michigan road trip near Chicago

Looking for the best road trip in Michigan accessible for people in Chicago? Visit Michigan State parks Warren Dunes and Saugatuck for beautiful beaches. Check out the many wineries in the area and check out the thriving Saugatuck art scene.

Love reading about the best road trips in Michigan? Check out these other destinations for Midwest Adventurers:

• Best places for winter hiking in Michigan
• Plan a 7-day budget road trip through Washington State that begins & ends at the SeaTac Airport
• Head to 15 Beautiful Great Lakes destinations
• For the ultimate guide to solo car camping, including route planning, no-build camping set ups, and more, click here 🙂

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