Looking for the best road trip ideas for the Midwest? Check out these awesome Midwest road trips for hiking, views, camping, and more to experience the best adventures the Midwest has to offer!

why this blog? Hi there, I’m Maddy! You might notice this article is often written in first person. That’s because it was written by a real person, me! I grew up in the Midwest and spent my summers as a kid exploring Northern Michigan. In my early 20s I worked as a wilderness guide on Lake Superior and throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota. Today, I still work as an outdoor guide & guidebook writer and am committed to exploring the beautiful Midwest! I care so much about the beautiful places here, and can’t wait to share them with you!

Images from exploring the Midwest, right to left: Clifty Falls, Indianna, Devils Island, Lake Superior, and Blue Mound State Park in the Driftless Region of Wisconsin

The Ultimate Midwest Road Trip Guide:

From the Great Lakes to the edge of the south, here is the ultimate guide to planning your perfect Midwest Road Trip!

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What to pack for a Midwest Road Trip:

Depending on where you visit in the Midwest and what time of year, conditions can be changeable! For any outdoor adventure trip in the Midwest, especially along the Great Lakes, I recommend…

• Long pants: for women looking for a flattering fit and functionality try Kuhl Freeflexor REI Trailmade
• Long sleeve wool baselayers : wool tops like this make a great hiking layer both for sun protection and for regulating body temperature 
• Shorts: I like a quick dry pair with a built-in belt  and a elastic waist, swim-friendly pair
• If paddling or swimming: a UPF sun hoodie
• A down puffy jacket that packs down small: nights are a lot cooler than you might expect!
• Leggings with pockets!!! 
• A solid day hiking pack
• On rugged trails, trekking poles
• Hiking boots: I like Oboz Bridger Mids for best grip and ankle support, or alternately hiking/paddling sandals like Bedrocks (designed for paddling guides and paddling guide (me) approved)
• A solid raincoat
• Binoculars for watching wildlife
• If camping, a tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad
• If backpacking, backpacking gear!
• An America the Beautiful Pass

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1) Road Trip Wisconsin’s Great River Road

One of the best road trips in the Midwest is the Wisconsin Great River Road! This road trip is easily accessible from the Twin Cities, and easily has some of the best outdoor adventure you can find in the Midwest.

Early spring adventures along Wisconsin’s Great River Road. Left to right: Wyalysing State Park, Willow River State Park, Ice Age Trail Terminus in Interstate State Park.

The Great River Road has a number of super cute coffee shops and towns (Red Wing, Minnesota anyone?), as well as great hiking and waterfalls. This is the perfect road trip for anyone looking for short drive times between destinations, and the option to be as outdoorsy as you want (ie camp the whole way) or stay in a hotel the entire way. Highlights include Interstate State Park, Willow River State Park, Perrot State Park, and Wyalusing State Park.

READ: Ultimate guide to Wisconsin’s Great River Road

2) Ultimate One-Week Great Lakes Road Trip

This one-week Great Lakes road trip is based on my own road trip I took after finishing up my first ever season as a guide on Lake Superior, and includes all of the must-see spots along the Great Lakes.

Adventures along the Great Lakes. From left to right: hiking in the Sleeping Bear Dunes, sea kayaking in the Pictured Rocks, cruising the Apostle Islands

Hike the Sleeping Bear Dunes and swim in tropical-like waters, explore the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, waterfalls of the Upper Peninsula, and lighthouses of the North Shore. This is the perfect road trip for anyone looking to see the absolute best things the Midwest has to offer on a budgeted timeframe– this is for people who want to get up early, hike most of the day, and make every second of their trip count.

READ: The Ultimate One-Week Great Lakes Road Trip

3) Road Trip the Southern Illinois and Indiana: Shawnee National Forest and Clifty Falls

Looking for the perfect Midwest road trip for someone based in Chicago and looking for jungle vibes? Hop in a car and head down to the Shawnee National Forest in Illinois. In the Shawnee, you can find waterfalls, beautiful overlook hikes, turtles and butterflies and unique waterfalls and of course, the beautiful Garden of the Gods scenic overlook.

Exploring southern Illinois and Indiana. Left to right: hiking in the Shawnee National Forest, Garden of the Gods at sunset, Clifty Falls State Park in Indiana.

Pair the Shawnee National Forest with Indiana’s Clifty Falls State Park for beautiful waterfalls and charming small town vibes all around. Road out the trip with a visit to Mammoth Cave National Park for a Midwest road trip that’s perfect for outdoor lovers and great for families or people traveling in groups.

READ: Weekend Guide to the Shawnee National Forest

4) West Coast Road Trip (but make it Michigan)

Truly nothing beats the West Coast… of Michigan! Here, you can find crystal clear waters, beaches that rival the tropics, small town vibes, great bike trails and so much more. The West Coast of Michigan is the perfect road trip for beach bums or travelers from Chicago or Detroit looking for a tropical escape but with Midwest charm.

Exploring the Sleeping Bear Dunes near Traverse City. Left to right: kayaking the Crystal River, sunset in the sleeping bear dunes, the view from the Empire Bluffs Trail.

Start your trip in wine country at Saugatuck, Michigan, where you can hike Saugatuck Dunes in the morning and spend the evening exploring the arty local town. From here, head Ludington State Park where you could truly hike forever. Ludington is a great spot to car camp for a little while and catch a Lake Michigan sunset. After Ludington, it’s time to spend sometime exploring the classic Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

READ: Ultimate Guide to the Sleeping Bear Dunes

5) Road Trip Highway 61, North Shore, Minnesota

Hop on the Minnesota North Shore’s Highway 61 to cruise one of the most scenic roads in the United States, not only the Midwest. This is the ultimate road trip for outdoor lovers seeking the closest vibes you can find to Norway in the Midwest– which is no coincidence! Much of this region was settled by Norwegian immigrants who found the rugged shore of Lake Superior and boreal forest looked like a slice of home.

Exploring the North Shore of Minnesota. Left to right: Hiking Bean and Bear Lakes, Split Rock Lighthouse, Day Hill Trail

Here, you can’t miss the iconic Gooseberry Falls, Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, the epic hiking in Tettegouche State Park, and the iconic small town of Grand Marias, MN.

READ: Ultimate Guide to the North Shore, MN

6) Northern Wisconsin Waterfall Road Trip

Looking for the best under the radar road trip in the Midwest? Consider taking a waterfall road trip through the Wisconsin Northwoods. Here, you can find dozens of incredible waterfalls, beach hikes, unique cabin stays and so much more. A Wisconsin waterfall road trip is the perfect road trip for anyone looking for solitude, wilderness vibes, and to be able to travel at a slower place to appreciate the scenery.

There’s also a number of great one-night backpacking trips in this area!

Waterfalls in Northern Wisconsin. Left to Right: Copper Falls, the shore near Houghton Falls, Copper Falls State Park Canyon

Be sure to check out Copper Falls State Park, Amnicon Falls State Park, and Pattison State Park. There are dozens of other smaller waterfalls here worth exploring as well, outlined in the full article below:

READ: Ultimate Northern Wisconsin Waterfall Road Trip

7) Road Trip the Upper Peninsula, Michigan

Looking to dive in the best waterfalls and beaches in the Midwest? You’re looking for an Upper Peninsula road trip! Here, you can find incredible hiking, so many great secluded campsites, and so many opportunities for great wilderness adventure!

Exploring the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Left to right: waterfalls on the Black River Scenic Byway, a cove in the Pictured Rocks perfect for swimming, Lake of the Clouds in the Fall

I recommend checking out the Pictured Rocks, the Porcupine Mountains, and as many waterfalls as you can! Personally, I love solo road tripping in the Upper Peninsula and think it’s one of the best places to truly appreciate the rugged shores of the Great Lakes.

READ: Ultimate Upper Peninsula, Michigan Guide

8) Driftless Region Road Trip, Wisconsin

I’ve been lucky to travel all throughout the Midwest, and I can honestly say that the Driftless Region of Wisconsin is the region I’m itching to revisit most! It always reminds me of the English countryside with deep greens, idyllic farms and rolling hills.

Exploring the Driftless Region, Wisconsin. Left to right: Escape in a-frame camper rental {hosted}, Blue mounds state park, Devils Lake State Park

The Driftless is about a four hour drive from Chicago, three hours from the Twin Cities, and just outside of Madison, Wisconsin. While visiting, be sure to check out Devils Lake State Park for scenic hiking (WILL be crowded), Cave of the Mounds, and Wyalusing State Park.

READ: Check out the best things to do in the Driftless Region, Wisconsin

9) Hocking Hills and Red River Gorge Road Trip

One of the coolest Midwest Road Trips you can take for caves, cliffs, waterfalls and overlooks is to head to Hocking Hills in Ohio, then continue on to Kentucky’s Red River Gorge. I’ve been to “the Gorge” twice– once in college, when I had first gotten into camping and exploring, then again in Spring 2024 on a big solo road trip through the southern Midwest.

Hocking Hills was on my list this trip, but I ended up cutting the trip short! Next time for sure!

Adventures on the Red River Gorge. Left to right: hiking Copperas Falls in the Red River Gorge, hiking Auxier Ridge, swimming in the Red River.

In Hocking Hills, had I had the chance to visit I would’ve checked out Ash Cave, Conkle’s Hollow, and Cantwell Cliffs.

The Red River Gorge remains one of my absolute favorite destinations! Though it is certainly the South and not the Midwest, the Gorge is an easy drive from a lot of major Midwest cities. The Gorge is truly incredible in that it is home to the highest concentration of natural sandstone arches outside of Arches National Park! This area is truly a treasure for hikers or people who love the outdoors, and I deeply recommend planning a trip here.

READ: Best Things to do in the Red River Gorge

10) Way Out West Road Trip: Theodore Roosevelt, Spearfish and the Badlands

The Western Midwest is a long haul drive for most of us, but it’s still 100% worth the trek on this all-American road trip. On this trip, you’ll want to hit Badlands National Park, Spearfish Canyon, and Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Adventuring the western Midwest. Left to right: camping on the Little Missouri River, a bison, badlands..

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okay so you want to backpack the midwest instead of road trip? i’ve got ideas for you!!!

Love road tripping the Midwest? Did you know the Midwest also has a lot of really great backpacking opportunities, including super beginner-friendly options? Dive into all of my resources designed specifically for Midwest backpackers below:

• Check out the best backpacking in the Midwest
• How to Backpack: A Full Guide for Beginners
• Best Hiking Pants for Women (that AREN’T leggings because lets be so for real)
• Choose the right tent for your needs (and, uh, budget)

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