Day Itinerary
8 Activities
Day 1
249 mi0.7 mi
Northern Drive to the Upper Peninsula
On the first leg of your trip, you'll make your way through Michigan's Lower Peninsula, stopping at Michigan's best inland lakes. You'll continue on until you reach St. Ignace over the Mackinac Bridge, where you'll view sweeping lake views and large limestone rock formations.
Leave early to head out to explore some of the northernmost points of Michigan, including waterfalls, natural springs, and glaciated coasts. Pack a cooler with some snacks and lunch you can have while driving and when you stop off at scenic spots for lunch.
Leave early to head out to explore some of the northernmost points of Michigan, including waterfalls, natural springs, and glaciated coasts. Pack a cooler with some snacks and lunch you can have while driving and when you stop off at scenic spots for lunch.
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08:3045 min
Flint Crepe Company
A café serving savory and sweet crêpes, direct-trade coffee, and house-made ingredients, catering to various dietary needs including vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free.
On the ride up, stop at Flint Crepe Company for some of the best coffee in the area and crêpes. Choose from delicious seasonal, savory, or sweet crêpes, which are all sourced locally. Everything on the menu can be completely customizable—vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free people rejoice!
🗓️ Check the opening hours before your visit. 🅿️ Street parking is available.
On the ride up, stop at Flint Crepe Company for some of the best coffee in the area and crêpes. Choose from delicious seasonal, savory, or sweet crêpes, which are all sourced locally. Everything on the menu can be completely customizable—vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free people rejoice!
🗓️ Check the opening hours before your visit. 🅿️ Street parking is available.
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131.5 mi
2 hrs
11:152 hrs
South Higgins Lake State Park
A 1,364-acre park in Michigan featuring extensive camping, popular boating areas, and diverse water recreation opportunities on both Higgins Lake and the quieter Marl Lake.
In the middle of the Mitten lies two of the largest inland lakes in Michigan that sit side by side—Higgins and Houghton Lake. Both lakes were formed during the last Ice Age thousands of years ago by receding glaciers, but today serve as popular beach destinations and wildlife viewing spots.
Unpack your cooler and have a picnic on the park grounds before heading out to the beach to enjoy the deep blue waters. 🅿️ On-site parking is available.
In the middle of the Mitten lies two of the largest inland lakes in Michigan that sit side by side—Higgins and Houghton Lake. Both lakes were formed during the last Ice Age thousands of years ago by receding glaciers, but today serve as popular beach destinations and wildlife viewing spots.
Unpack your cooler and have a picnic on the park grounds before heading out to the beach to enjoy the deep blue waters. 🅿️ On-site parking is available.
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0.7 mi
15 min
13:3015 min
Nibbles Ice Cream
A locally owned ice cream store near Higgins Lake South State Park, offering premium Michigan-made ice cream and hand-crafted desserts.
After spending time at the lakes, head just a little out of the park exit to Nibbles Ice Cream Store for Michigan-made ice creams and desserts. For over sixty years, Nibbles has served as the go-to ice cream stop for the community and incoming happy campers. Favorite flavors that keep customers coming back include Mackinac Island Fudge, classic Michigan Blue Moon, and Deer Traxx. 🗓️ Check the opening hours before your visit.
After spending time at the lakes, head just a little out of the park exit to Nibbles Ice Cream Store for Michigan-made ice creams and desserts. For over sixty years, Nibbles has served as the go-to ice cream stop for the community and incoming happy campers. Favorite flavors that keep customers coming back include Mackinac Island Fudge, classic Michigan Blue Moon, and Deer Traxx. 🗓️ Check the opening hours before your visit.
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104.3 mi
1 hr 40 min
15:3015 min
Mackinac Bridge
A five-mile-long suspension bridge connecting Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas, renowned for its engineering to withstand extreme conditions and known as the “Mighty Mac”.
Head out of the Higgins and Houghton Lake regions to continue your trek north until you reach the Mackinac Bridge, the iconic border crossing between the lower and upper peninsula. The length of the bridge will surprise you and offer stunning panoramic views—at over five miles in length, the Mackinac Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere. While crossing the bridge, you will ride over the straits of Mackinac, which serve as the dividing line between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.
Head out of the Higgins and Houghton Lake regions to continue your trek north until you reach the Mackinac Bridge, the iconic border crossing between the lower and upper peninsula. The length of the bridge will surprise you and offer stunning panoramic views—at over five miles in length, the Mackinac Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere. While crossing the bridge, you will ride over the straits of Mackinac, which serve as the dividing line between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.
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4.6 mi
10 min
16:0015 min
St. Anthony's Rock
A geological limestone sea stack, formed by glacial and post-glacial erosion, and now a tourist attraction, similar to Mackinac Island's Arch Rock and Sugar Loaf.
This rock sitting in the middle of a parking lot is an easy sight to pass, but it's a fascinating example of a geological limestone sea stack formed 350 million years ago when the roofs of deep caves collapsed, creating these stacks of fragmented rock. This is just one sea stack of the many that exist in the area—on your next stop, you'll get to climb one of the stacks! 🅿️ Parking lots are available nearby.
This rock sitting in the middle of a parking lot is an easy sight to pass, but it's a fascinating example of a geological limestone sea stack formed 350 million years ago when the roofs of deep caves collapsed, creating these stacks of fragmented rock. This is just one sea stack of the many that exist in the area—on your next stop, you'll get to climb one of the stacks! 🅿️ Parking lots are available nearby.
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3.7 mi
10 min
16:3045 min
Castle Rock
A 200-foot-high lookout with stunning views of Mackinac Island and Lake Huron, featuring a unique gift shop and photo opportunities with Paul Bunyan and Babe, his blue ox.
On your next stop, make the climb up to Castle Rock, a 195-foot-tall limestone rock that rises above a 360-degree view of Lake Huron, Mackinac Island, and downtown St. Ignace, Michigan. The rock was once referred to as "Pontiac's Lookout" by the Ojibwe Tribe who inhabited the region. Since 1929, the rock has served as a roadside tourist attraction, complete with a classic eclectic gift shop. 🗓️ Check the opening hours before your visit. 🅿️ On-site parking is available.
On your next stop, make the climb up to Castle Rock, a 195-foot-tall limestone rock that rises above a 360-degree view of Lake Huron, Mackinac Island, and downtown St. Ignace, Michigan. The rock was once referred to as "Pontiac's Lookout" by the Ojibwe Tribe who inhabited the region. Since 1929, the rock has served as a roadside tourist attraction, complete with a classic eclectic gift shop. 🗓️ Check the opening hours before your visit. 🅿️ On-site parking is available.
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3.8 mi
10 min
17:301 hr 30 min
The Gangplank
A downtown pub and restaurant overlooking the marina and Mackinac Island, offering American and seafood cuisine, daily specials, and a variety of drinks.
Grab a bite at the Gangplank for dinner. The restaurant has open-air and outdoor seating and serves up burgers, fish sandwiches, and seafood options. Kick back and enjoy some fresh homemade food with a view of the marina and Lake Huron. 🗓️ Check the opening hours before your visit. 🅿️ Parking lots are available nearby.
Grab a bite at the Gangplank for dinner. The restaurant has open-air and outdoor seating and serves up burgers, fish sandwiches, and seafood options. Kick back and enjoy some fresh homemade food with a view of the marina and Lake Huron. 🗓️ Check the opening hours before your visit. 🅿️ Parking lots are available nearby.
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1.3 mi
5 min
19:1512 hrs
Best Western Harbour Pointe Lakefront
A resort-style hotel with 800 feet (0.24 kilometers) of Straits of Mackinac shoreline, offering two heated pools, a free hot breakfast, and convenient access to Mackinac Island ferries and local attractions.
Stay the night at Best Western Harbour Pointe Lakefront, which has its own lakeshore and hosts a bonfire with s'mores for guests on summer nights. If you'd like, you can pay a little extra for a lakeside bedroom, which walks out right onto the beach. The hotel also offers breakfast in the morning and a shuttle to help bring guests throughout the property. 🅿️ On-site parking is available.
Stay the night at Best Western Harbour Pointe Lakefront, which has its own lakeshore and hosts a bonfire with s'mores for guests on summer nights. If you'd like, you can pay a little extra for a lakeside bedroom, which walks out right onto the beach. The hotel also offers breakfast in the morning and a shuttle to help bring guests throughout the property. 🅿️ On-site parking is available.
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