Roadtripping through Michigan - Late August/Early September 2026
 

Hi, all. I'm in the planning stages for a 2026 road trip and seeking some suggestions about Michigan. We'll set off in mid to late August and travel cross country for approximately 2 months, round trip. Michigan is not an area I've ever spent any time (usually we gravitate toward Western states), so our outbound route will take us from Florida to the Kent, Ohio, area to see DH's family, then into Michigan, including the UP, and from there westward. We try to stay off the interstates as much as possible for these long road trips, since we are both retired and don't need to worry overmuch about the time.

We plan to spend a couple of days in Frankenmuth. From there, my thought are to take 31 up the western side of the state. Any towns that are particularly scenic or interesting? I'm afraid it will still be pretty crowded, since it's still before Labor Day, but would like to take in pretty harbours, lighthouses, interesting/odd attractions, regional food specialities.

From there, we'll go on towards Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota, so will be following route 2 quite a bit.

Thanks for any ideas!

One of the great vistas of the US is from Sleeping Bear Dune on the Leelanau Peninsula. Really nice hiking there and nearby. Close by, the town of Leland is one of the great small towns of America. Highly unusual falls right in the middle of the town, and you can stay in a motel that straddles the falls.

Thanks, the falls in town sound interesting. I'll check that out. Would that be Falling Waters Lodge, and Fishtown?

I grew up in SE Michigan. My parents took me to Frankenmuth multiple times when I was a kid. First we stopped at the outlet stores at Birch Run, and then we had a big lunch at Zehender's in Frankenmuth and then gawked at stuff for sale in stores on Main street in Frankenmuth. These 3 places are all tourist traps. If you go to Frankenmuth anyway, it doesn't need more than part of a day, and at least don't buy stuff you don't need, and see the old mill with the waterwheel along the river near Zehender's. As I vaguely remember, last time I was there, the bottom floor had been converted into a store that sold yarn, while you could go onto the second floor and see antique machinery that the waterwheel gave power to. There is a local history museum in Frankfurt which could be worthwhile.

Mackinac Island and Mackinaw City (yes the two places are spelled differently) both have a tourist-trap shopping district. On Mackinac Island if you are willing to walk outside the shopping district there is the fort you can enter for about $17 per person and a good collection of walking trails and landmarks labeled with placks that have signs with a paragraph of description.

I took a solo trip to Sleeping Bear dunes once. It cost $25 to get in. The trail I walked on was 3-1/2 miles one way which led from the parking lot to the lake. The path was all sand with poor traction which took some effort. The roads near the park were hilly with some tight turns - drive slower than you think you should and slow down sooner than you think you should before the turns.

The trail you took is but one of many.

For the OP, the famous overlooks (there are a series of four) are a total of .3 miles one way from the parking lot off Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, so just a little more than half a mile round trip. The walking is easy. There are also impressive viewpoints looking over Glen Lake which is bisected by a road. From above you can see how different the water is from one end of the lake to the other as each end serves a different ecological purpose.

Fishtown is the name of the historic area. Falling Waters Lodge is the name of the motel. It is not fancy lodging, but it serves its purpose and is unique. The motel does a good job in keeping the effects of the water to a minimum, including the roar form the rushing water.