DaylightSunset about 7:53 PM. Long evenings, so the sunset stops stay light late.
HappeningWarm days and cooler nights, with fewer visitors after Labor Day. The Mackinac Bridge is open for a walk on Labor Day morning (dates vary). Color begins late in the month in the Upper Peninsula.
From average weather, 2021 to 2025: days that are warm but not hot, with few rainy days, score highest. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
Arrival day
Before Day 1. Northern Michigan is spread out, so plan the car, the layers and the weather first.Details
Flying in
Most visitors from abroad connect through a large hub such as Chicago or Detroit and fly on to Traverse City, where Cherry Capital Airport is a short drive from the shore. Pick up a rental car at the airport, since the dunes, the peninsulas and the north are all drives.
A night away
Days 4 and 5 are in the Upper Peninsula, across the Mackinac Bridge, and it is a long road. Pack a small bag for one night away, leave the rest at your base, and check the road ahead before you set out.
Layers and water
The lakes make their own weather. Wind off the water can be cool even in summer, and Lake Superior stays cold all year. Bring layers, a rain jacket, good walking shoes and sun cover, and keep out of the water when the waves are high.
The island ferry
Day 3 uses a ferry to Mackinac Island, which runs from Mackinaw City or St. Ignace. Ferries run by season and by schedule, so check ahead on both and fix the day before you plan the others. Cars are not allowed on the island. Day 1 starts in the dunes, a drive west of Traverse City, so eat early the night before.
How much walking? On foot, about 0.6 to 0.9 miles a day, and 521.1 miles by car in all across 4 days. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
Day 1. Sleeping Bear Dunes and the Lake Michigan shore and Traverse City and the Old Mission Peninsula
7 stops · 0.6 mi on foot, 115.0 mi by carAbout 3 h 26 min driving
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
1
Morning
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
A long stretch of Lake Michigan shore with tall sand dunes, beech and maple woods and inland lakes, about a drive west of Traverse City. The main dune climb lies across from Glen Lake, and it is a long, hot walk over sand to reach the lake. Bring water, sun cover and shoes you can empty. Check ahead on the park pass.
Go whenMorning, while the sand is cool.
Local tip Sand in the sun gets hot, and the climb back up is harder than the way down. Carry water, wear shoes you can empty, and turn back early if you are tired. Check ahead on the park pass.
A looping scenic road inside the park, off M-109 between Empire and Glen Arbor, with numbered stops and overlooks of the dunes and the Lake Michigan shore. Drive it slowly and get out at the overlooks. Check ahead on the season and on the park pass.
Go whenLate afternoon into evening (about 7:53 PM), when the light is low over the lake.
Local tip Take the loop slowly and get out at the overlooks, since the views over the dunes are better on foot than through the glass. Stay on the marked paths, because the dune plants are fragile.
A spread of smoked Great Lakes whitefish with crackers and a pickle, a picnic lunch to eat at an overlook or on the beach.
Local tip Buy it that morning and keep it cool, and take any scraps with you.
About 50 min by car25.6 mi
3
Midday
Old Mission Peninsula
A narrow peninsula that runs about 17 miles north from Traverse City into Grand Traverse Bay, with water on both sides and cherry orchards on the slopes. Drive it slowly, stop only where it is safe, and watch for bicycles and slow farm traffic on the two lane road.
Go whenMidday, as a slow drive with stops.
Local tip The road runs along the ridge, with the bay on both sides. Pull off only where it is safe, watch for bicycles, and keep to the public roads and the signed viewpoints, since the orchards are private land.
A white lighthouse with a dwelling attached, built in 1870 at the end of the peninsula and a working light until 1933. It stands just south of the 45th parallel north. The shore here is stony, so wear sturdy shoes. Check ahead on the grounds.
Go whenAfternoon, with an hour at the water.
Local tip Walk the stony shore beside the lighthouse and look back down the bay. The road ends here, so the way home is the same as the way up. Leave daylight for the drive.
A restored port village on Sleeping Bear Bay, with a general store and a blacksmith shop from its lumber days and a beach on Lake Michigan. The old dock poles can still be seen off the shore. Check ahead on which buildings are open.
Go whenAfternoon, with time for the beach.
Local tip Walk out along the shore and look for the old dock poles in the water. The village was a lumber port, so the buildings tell that story. Check ahead on which ones are open.
A house in the village of Old Mission, a Michigan State Historic Site, linked to the Presbyterian missionary Peter Dougherty, who was sent to the Grand Traverse area in 1839 and settled at Old Mission at the request of Chief Ahgosa of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. It is thought to be the first post and beam house in the northern Lower Peninsula. Check ahead on whether it is open.
Go whenAfternoon, on the way to the lighthouse.
Local tip The house belongs to the story of the Ottawa and Chippewa people of this shore and of the mission that grew here. Read the signs, keep a respectful tone, and check ahead on whether it is open.
A Coast Guard station built in 1901, now a maritime museum in the park, close to Glen Haven. Look at the building and its displays, then walk out to the water. Check ahead on the opening.
Go whenAfternoon, right after Glen Haven.
Local tip A small museum in a Coast Guard building from the days of life saving crews. Look at the building from the beach side too, and check ahead on the opening.
Lake whitefish, a mild fish of the Great Lakes, pan-fried or broiled and served with potatoes and a lemon wedge.
Local tip Ask whether the fish is from the lake, and have it simple to taste it.
If it rains. Dougherty Mission House and Sleeping Bear Point Life Saving Station are covered, so keep them. Move Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, Old Mission Peninsula, Mission Point Light and Glen Haven to a dry day if you can.
Day 2. Mackinac Island
3 stops · 0.9 mi on foot, 94.7 mi by car
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Drive from Sleeping Bear Point Life Saving StationAbout 2 h 13 min by car94.7 mi
Where Day 1 ended.
1
MiddayBook ahead
Fort Mackinac
A former British and American military outpost on the bluff above the harbor, begun in the early 1780s and now a museum. Walk the ramparts and the buildings and look out over the harbor and the straits. The way up from town is a climb, so wear walking shoes. Check ahead on the opening.
Go whenMorning, as soon as you land on the island.
Local tip Go up on foot with water, since the way from town is a climb. Walk the ramparts for the view over the harbor, and check ahead on the opening and on any timed entry.
An earthen redoubt built by British forces in 1814 on the highest point of the island, up the hill behind Fort Mackinac. Walk up through the woods for the view over the island and the straits. Check ahead on access.
Go whenMidday, after the fort.
Local tip A short walk up the hill behind Fort Mackinac, through the trees, to the highest point on the island. The view is the point of the stop, so pick a clear day. Check ahead on access.
Whitefish fried or broiled on a bun with tartar sauce, a plain lunch of the Great Lakes to eat before the afternoon rides and walks.
Local tip Pick a simple spot with a short wait.
About 9 min walk0.4 mi
3
Afternoon
Arch Rock
A natural limestone arch on the Lake Huron shore, 146 feet above the water, and a rare kind of formation for the Great Lakes. The Native peoples of the island have long held it as a place of power. Look through it from the path, and keep to the rails and the marked ways.
Go whenAfternoon, at an easy pace.
Local tip Look through the arch to the lake from the path, and keep behind the rails. The Native peoples of the island have long held it as a place of power, so a quiet moment suits it.
Lake perch, lightly breaded and fried and served with fries, then a slab of Mackinac Island fudge, a dense chocolate sweet cut from a block, for the walk back to the ferry.
Local tip Share one piece of fudge, since it is rich.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Day 3. Mackinac Island and The Straits of Mackinac and the road north
3 stops · 201.7 mi by carAbout 4 h 33 min driving
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Travel from Arch RockAbout 24 min by car or transit6.4 mi
Where Day 2 ended.
1
Midday
Mackinac Bridge
The suspension bridge that opened in 1957 and joins the Lower and Upper peninsulas across the Straits of Mackinac, on Interstate 75, with Lake Michigan on one side and Lake Huron on the other. The crossing is the stop. Check ahead on wind and on any rules for the bridge.
Go whenMidday, in clear weather.
Local tip Keep your eyes on the road, and let a passenger do the looking. Lake Michigan lies on one side and Lake Huron on the other. Check ahead on wind and on any rules for the bridge.
A rock on the Lake Superior shore with a tree growing on top, reached on a long trail through the woods. It is a hard day for many walkers, so go only if you are fit, with water, good shoes and daylight in hand. Check ahead on the trail, the weather and the conditions on the lake.
Go whenAfternoon, only with daylight to spare.
Local tip It is a long trail out and back, so set out only if you are fit, with water and good shoes. Check ahead on the trail, the weather and the lake, and turn back if anything looks wrong.
A baked pastry filled with beef, potato, onion and rutabaga, brought to the Upper Peninsula by Cornish miners, a hand pie made to carry to work.
Local tip Eat it hot or cold, with ketchup or gravy as you like.
About 2 h 18 min by car99.1 mi
3
Afternoon
Sugar Loaf
A limestone stack about 75 feet high, standing in the woods of the island interior, left behind when the waters of an ancient lake cut away the land around it. Reach it on foot or by bicycle, and check ahead on the path and the steps.
Go whenAfternoon, on a bicycle or on foot.
Local tip The stack stands in the woods, away from the water, which is part of its charm. Keep to the path and the steps, and check ahead on the way up.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Day 4. Pictured Rocks and Lake Superior
3 stops · 109.6 mi by car
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Drive from Sugar LoafAbout 2 h 22 min by car102.3 mi
Where Day 3 ended.
1
Midday
Miners Castle
A sandstone rock formation on the Lake Superior shore, one of the few places in the lakeshore where a road runs close to the water. A short walk leads to the overlooks. The sandstone is crumbly and loses pieces to rockfalls, so keep behind the railings.
Go whenMorning, as soon as you can get there.
Local tip It is a road stop with a short walk to the overlooks, so it is easy to share with everyone in the party. The sandstone is crumbly, so keep behind the railings. Check ahead on the road.
About 10 min by car or transit1.8 mi
2
Midday
Miners Falls
A waterfall of about 40 feet on the Miners River, reached by a gravel path through the woods with stairs down to a lookout. Mind the wet steps. Check ahead on the path.
Go whenMidday, as a woodland break.
Local tip A gravel path through the trees ends in stairs to the lookout. The steps are wet near the falls, and the path is longer than it looks on the way back. Check ahead on the path.
A waterfall of about 50 feet over a sandstone cliff, on the edge of the town of Munising at the west end of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Trails lead to viewpoints. The flow is small outside the spring thaw. Check ahead on the trails and the visitor center.
Go whenEvening, as your first look at the lakeshore.
Local tip The paths are short and well kept, and the falls run lighter outside the spring thaw. Wet rock and stairs can be slick, so mind your footing. Check ahead on the trails.
Whitefish from the cold waters of Lake Superior, broiled with butter and served with potatoes, a plain supper after the long drive.
Local tip Order it plain to taste the fish.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Departure day
After the last day. The road back from Lake Superior is a long one, so do not plan a tight flight.Details
The road back
Pictured Rocks is a long way from Traverse City, across the Mackinac Bridge and down the Lower Peninsula. Check the road ahead, fill the tank before you leave the Upper Peninsula and leave extra room before any flight.
Your flight
If you fly the day after Day 5, consider a night near Traverse City first. Cherry Capital Airport is a short drive from town, and a morning flight is easier from a bed close by.
Sweets to carry
Dried tart cherries, a jar of cherry jam and a box of fudge all travel well. Wrap anything in glass, and check the rules on food before you fly.
If you have a few hours
Walk the Traverse City waterfront on Grand Traverse Bay once more, or look at a map of the bay and pick the peninsula you want to come back to.
Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Traverse City?
By average weather from 2021 to 2025, May to September are the most comfortable months for walking around Traverse City. This plan is built for september to October, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
How many days does this plan cover?
It covers 4 days in Traverse City, planned for september to October. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
Who is this plan for?
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
Is anything on this plan booked?
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Can I plan my own days like this?
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Can I change this plan?
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
How much walking is there?
On foot, about 0.6 to 0.9 miles a day, and 521.1 miles by car in all across 4 days. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
3 slow days in Door County, WisconsinAbout 80 miles awayAn easy add-on
3 days on the Apostle Islands and BayfieldAbout 270 miles away
3 days of skyline and deep dish in ChicagoAbout 280 miles away
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