redshoe

Hubby and I are wanting to take a little 4 day jaunt to the UP area of michigan and possibly ending up near Habor Springs but want to avoid going through that hellish traffic via Chicago. I did a map thing and it tells me that it would be a 12 hour drive through Wi...why is it so much longer?

We have only been as far as Saugatuck via the southern half and would really like to check out the upper half but I have no idea what towns are cute despite pouring over these posts.

Also will have a toddler with us.

Hoping to travel the last week in June and looked at the new Mountain Lodge resort, Harborside and the quaint hotels/motels via the net but I'm still unsure of where to go.

Am I biting off more than we can do in 4 days car drive? Had thought of the ferry for one way but it sure is expensive.

I'm open to all suggestions.

abram

Where are you coming from? It's hard to tell you how long it will take without knowing that.

jlm_mi

I agree that where you are coming from is key, but can touch on two points:

1) The UP of Michigan is very long. It's a lot of miles to add going that way to Harbor Springs. And I think a lot of it is still 2-lane roads with a 55mph speed limit rather than the 70 you'll find on Michigan's freeways.

2) Chicago traffic is simply not always "hellish". It can be, but it is often perfectly easy also. If you plan your trip to go through the Chicago area at a quieter time you should have no troubles at all. Of course, if your goal is the UP this may not make sense, but if you really want to get to Harbor Springs it might be better.

As for wanting to check out the upper half - do you mean the upper part of the lower peninsula, or the upper peninsula? Harbor Springs is in the lower peninsula, and other towns you might want to see in that area would include Mackinaw City, Petoskey, Charlevoix, Boyne City and Traverse City (much larger than the others). You could also include a day trip over to Mackinac Island.

JJ5

Listen to jlm mi and also timing can be important. And for the towns he mentioned you could take the skyway out of Chicago proper, which is not as bad as where I come from, straight West and down I-80 all the way.

Michigan 94 would scoot you up way, way faster.

You haven't seen the best parts (those he mentioned)which are all quite North of Saugatuck.

From what I hear from my two friends with mid-State WI vacation homes, the WI roads have been very slow. Your route that way would take many more hours.

The ferry is so expensive that I would not even consider it as an option. Of course, others may feel differently.

redshoe

Oh sorry, will be coming from the gurnee IL area (northern suburbs of IL)

Cali

I would go thru Chicago and around or take the ferry across before I would ever go through WI and Northern MI - it is al ong way and there are a lot of trees and nothing more. I grew up in N. MN so I appreciate trees and beauty but it just is too long for a 4 day trip to Harbor Springs. The traffic is terrible in Chicago (everytime we have been there and I am from S. Calif so know terrible traffic) but still will make it quicker than going up and around. Just not worth it in my opinion. The ferry across would be another option although you mention the cost is a factor. Whatever you decide - have a great time.

eileenleft

Getting through Chicago tip: plan your trip so you will be going thru the Loop 10:45am-1pm or after 8pm. Traffic moves quickly then.

rkkwan

Why is it so much longer?

Chicago to Harbor Springs via MI is 369 miles with the last 100 from Cadillac to Harbor Springs being non-freeway.

Chicago to Harbor Springs via the Upper Peninsula is 500 miles, with 292 miles of non-freeway from Green Bay to Harbor Springs, most of it just two-lanes.

Not hard to see "why"...

abram

From Gurnee to Harbor Springs via Chicago is, I believe 410 miles, with the UP being beyond that.

Gurnee to Harbor Springs is 450 miles, going through the UP, which, I believe is the area the OP wanted to see.

rkkwan

Yes, since Gurnee is about 45 miles north of Chicago downtown, those mileage numbers are correct.

Personally, I'd take the UP route, even if it takes longer. Less traffic to deal with. But I also know some people hate non-freeway travel, so that's a factor too.

tikinana

The boat ferry out of Manitowac is your best bet within your time frame. If you had more time, the drive is well worth it through Wisconsin. I love Traverse City. There is plenty to do for kids, but the only place I liked was the Holiday Inn on the Bay. Hope this helped.
You definitely need more travel days.

placeu2

I think it's an easy choice to do WI. You are practically on the border in Gurnee to begin with. You are all expressway to Green Bay and not difficult driving after that. You can be in Menominee in 4 hours, Iron Mountain in 5, maybe even quicker.

Heck, you are easily 1 hour in good (if not ideal)times to the IL/IN border.

I guess I don't get the 12 hour thing. Heck, I drove from O'Hare to Toronto in about 10 hours.

Keith

I would take the route through Wisconsin.

Having driven from Kansas City to Mackinaw City several tmes, I find that avoiding the Chicago area avoids a lot of stress.

Keith

scaaty

Just don't drive during rush hour and going thru IN is doable. I drive 294S from Oak Brook to NW Indiana daily during late afternoon rush hour and have some good commute days and some bad. During the summer, going south & east on Friday afternoon will be bad, doubling or tripling a normal commute. Going west or north on Friday evening or Sunday evening is bad. On June 18 additional nighttime lane closures begin on I80 around 394. Good luck!

redshoe

Thanks everyone for the great advice...we are going to head out on a Wed afternoon and go up via Wisconsin way. Drive as far as we can then crash for the night at any hotel we can find. Continue on the next day. We have reservations at the new Mountain Grand Lodge.

I was really surprised at the cost of hotels in the area. Everything is expensive. The new resort has some good prices right now because I guess they are trying to get business in.

Does anyone have recomendations for sights and towns via the Wisconsin route?

Keith

Pulling from my previous posts to others.

Kitch-iti-kipi Springs in Palms Book State Park near Manistque, Michigan. It is clear, two hundred feet across and forty feet deep. There is a raft you can take out into the center to see down to the bottom of the springs.

Fayette ghost town in the Garden Peninsula, 17 miles south of US 2. An abandoned iron smelting community. Tour the buildings and hike or fish.

Mackinaw City has Fort Michilimackinac, a reconstructed community from the 1700s, which has crafts people, weapons demonstrations and the longest running archeology program in North America. The lighthouse near the fort and Mackinac Bridge is being restored and you can climb to the top of the tower. There is also a 625 acre Mill Creek park on the shore 3 miles out of town with a reconstructed lumber mill from the 1790s.

Of course you can take a ferry to Mackinac Island from either St Ignace or Mackinaw City.


I'm surprised the rates were that high for the week you are going.

Keith

yesiree100

Milwaukee to St. Ignace, MI takes 7.5 hours, so add a minimum of an hour from Gurnee to Milwaukee and another hour from St. Ignace to Harbor Springs.

Some towns en route: Cedarburg (just north of Milwaukee), Sheboygan (the Kohler Art Center is worth the stop and its free), Marinette, WI/Menominee, MI, Manistique, MI, Mackinaw City, MI.

Be sure to stop for a Pasty (pronounced "pass-tee") around St. Ignace and get some frozen custard while in northern Wisconsin

Wednesday is a good day to travel that route. Fridays and Sundays can be a slow going between St. Ignace, MI and Green Bay, WI, but still peaceful driving compared to bumper to bumper freeway traffic.

Harbor Springs and Petoskey are very popular destinations with lots of people with summer homes and boats there...hence the high prices. I'd suggest a visit to Petoskey's downtown while you are there.

Try to schedule your trip so you avoid Milwaukee at rush hour...they're doing major construction on the Marquette Interchange (the main freeway that runs through downtown) and it could slow you down. If you can get north of Milwaukee before 4 you should be fine.