9 Activities
⚡ Day Trip to Michigan's Little Bavaria
Starts from
Detroit
Transportation
Electric Car
CO2 Savings
112 lb
Guidance
Self-Guided
Activities
9
Duration
11 hrs 15 min
Length
96 mi
Guide details
Starts from
Detroit
Transportation
Electric Car
CO2 Savings
112 lb
Guidance
Self-Guided
Duration
11 hrs 15 min
Length
96 mi
- History and Culture
- Gastronomy
- ⚡ Electric Routes
Laura Brown
Travel Expert
- You'll find the Christmas shop delightful and wacky.
- Don't forget to try some fudge as you explore the town.
- Catch the feeling like you're in Bavaria for the afternoon.
This route includes Tesla Superchargers. For CCS charging stations, follow this link.
Frankenmuth is known as Michigan's Little Bavaria for how heavily the town, established in 1845, leans into its German heritage. You'll find a wide variety of activities and shopping, including a river boat tour, and a stroll through the World's Largest Christmas store. Have lunch at America's oldest microbrewery, and finish your evening with fried chicken.
Make sure to fully charge your car before going on a road trip.
Frankenmuth is known as Michigan's Little Bavaria for how heavily the town, established in 1845, leans into its German heritage. You'll find a wide variety of activities and shopping, including a river boat tour, and a stroll through the World's Largest Christmas store. Have lunch at America's oldest microbrewery, and finish your evening with fried chicken.
Make sure to fully charge your car before going on a road trip.
Categories
- History and Culture
- Gastronomy
- ⚡ Electric Routes
This route includes Tesla Superchargers. For CCS charging stations, follow this link.
Frankenmuth is known as Michigan's Little Bavaria for how heavily the town, established in 1845, leans into its German heritage. You'll find a wide variety of activities and shopping, including a river boat tour, and a stroll through the World's Largest Christmas store. Have lunch at America's oldest microbrewery, and finish your evening with fried chicken.
Make sure to fully charge your car before going on a road trip.
Frankenmuth is known as Michigan's Little Bavaria for how heavily the town, established in 1845, leans into its German heritage. You'll find a wide variety of activities and shopping, including a river boat tour, and a stroll through the World's Largest Christmas store. Have lunch at America's oldest microbrewery, and finish your evening with fried chicken.
Make sure to fully charge your car before going on a road trip.
Laura Brown
Travel Expert
- You'll find the Christmas shop delightful and wacky.
- Don't forget to try some fudge as you explore the town.
- Catch the feeling like you're in Bavaria for the afternoon.
Day Itinerary
9 Activities
Day 1
95 mi1 mi
Day of Strolls and Shopping in Little Bavaria
You'll spend the day exploring Frankenmuth, a charming small town featuring Bavarian architecture and culture, and a real love of Christmas. You'll have lunch and a beer tasting at the oldest microbrewery in America, spend some time shopping, going on a riverboat tour, and try some famous fried chicken.
This route one-way is plenty capable of being done in one charge.
This route one-way is plenty capable of being done in one charge.
09:1545 min
The Laundry
Stop for coffee and brunch at a hidden gem in Felton, Michigan. Which has a great brunch and dinner 6 days a week (closed Tuesdays), and the baked goods are legendary. You'll want to be caffeinated and well nourished for the rest of your day!
20.5 mi
25 min
10:3045 min
Tesla
At this car parking, you can charge up your vehicle. By the way, it is located near the large shopping mall. So, here you can have a stroll, while your EV is charging up.
Type: Tesla Supercharger 10 Plugs Power: 120 kW
Type: Tesla Supercharger 10 Plugs Power: 120 kW
32.7 mi
40 min
12:0015 min
Frankenmuth
Spend 5-10 minutes driving through downtown Frankenmuth to get your bearings, see the full thing, and find a charging station.
1.4 mi
5 min
12:2045 min
Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland
Your first introduction to Frankenmuth should always be Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland, America's biggest Christmas store. Imagine it like Costco for Christmas decorations! Admire the spectacle and feel a little Christmas joy (no matter the time of year) before heading into downtown Frankenmuth, a town that leans heavily into its Bavarian theme.
Have a look at the official website to know about some special events.
Have a look at the official website to know about some special events.
1.4 mi
5 min
13:151 hr 30 min
Frankenmuth Brewery
Stop for lunch and a beer tasting at America's oldest microbrewery, open since 1862. The brewery has a wide-ranging food menu (with a German twist) and a minimum of 15 different beers on tap to try. You'll love trying the flight of their best ales!
You can check the official website to explore the menu.
Note that the place is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
You can check the official website to explore the menu.
Note that the place is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
0.6 mi
15 min
15:151 hr 30 min
Frankenmuth River Place Shops
Take a leisurely stroll down S Main Street and explore downtown Frankenmuth, which has a great shopping district. You'll end at the River Place Shops. Some shops waiting to be discovered on your route: The Cheese Haus, Doll Shop, Chocolate Shop (seriously: you won't want to miss a chance to try the fudge).
0.1 mi
5 min
16:501 hr 30 min
Bavarian Belle Riverboat
You're aiming for the evening sailing of the Bavarian Belle Riverboat. This tour will take you on a historical riverboat for a 1-hour history tour, rated the best thing to do in Frankenmuth.
Open May-October. Schedules can be checked here.
Open May-October. Schedules can be checked here.
0.3 mi
10 min
18:301 hr
Bavarian Inn Restaurant
End your day in Frankenmuth at the Bavarian Inn Restaurant. You'll be treated to southern classics, include a famous fried chicken. Make sure you try the home-brewed root beer (maybe with ice cream?).
You can reserve the table or order a take-out on the official website.
You can reserve the table or order a take-out on the official website.
39 mi
1 hr
20:3030 min
Rowden Park
Since you have a pretty long day, you may need to stretch your leg and have a stroll. The beautiful Rowden park is located on the coast of the small local lake, so there you can see a mesmerizing view of the sunset rays reflecting on the surface of the water. The trail here is not very long, so it won't take much time to see all the beauties.