Road to Southern Lake Michigan’s Beaches and Dunes

Head out of the Detroit area early to make your way over to the western side of the state, which will bring you on your route alongside the southernmost shores of Lake Michigan, and later into the bustling nearby city of Chicago.

Make a quick roadside stop for morning coffee or smoothies at Bearclaw Coffee Co., a roadside carhop drive-thru that will get you tasty morning juices and goodies efficiently so you can continue on your trip.

Continue west on I-94 until you reach Kalamazoo, where you will stop off at the Crow's Nest to grab to-go bakery goods and food. While you can stop and eat inside, we recommend calling ahead for take-out brunch goods you can munch on in the car to save some time. We recommend the Breakfast BLT or Breakfast Burrito, or one of their delicious sandwiches.

After making the trek over to the west side of the state, drop off at St. Joseph, Michigan, a southern Lake Michigan resort town near the Michigan-Indiana border. Visit the two historic lighthouses on St. Joseph's shoreline which sit alongside each other making for an iconic pair. You can catch the view of the lighthouse up close on the North beach or look up above the bluff for a panoramic-like view.
To venture out to the lighthouses, park at the northern side at Tiscornia Park—there is a small fee but is an easy access point to the lighthouse. If you'd prefer to view from a distance, walk over to the South Pier over the bluff.

Travel from St. Joseph to Michigan City, a town on the south shore of Lake Michigan in Indiana, which attracts people to its proximity to the shoreline and dunes. Stop into a local no-frills restaurant called Chickpea for a quick bite of fresh Mediterranean food to take with you on a picnic near the shore or eat on-site at their outdoor patio. If Chickpea is closed, try Leeds Public House, which is open on Sundays.
Open Hours Monday – Tuesday 11 am to 4 pm Friday – Saturday 11 am to 7 pm Sunday Closed

Make your way west toward the Indiana Dunes National Park and stop in at the visitor center first so that the rangers can help you with maps, safety for the day, and help you tackle the park! You can park your car at the park—if it's a crowded day, Porter Beach has parking as a backup option.
There's so much to do at the park, whether it's hiking the dunes themselves with the 3 Dune Challenge, a rigorous climb up the three tallest sand dunes in the park, or meandering the 50 miles of trails, biking, swimming, or paddle-boarding the southern shore, or scouting for the rare species of birds and wildlife. There are nearly 15,000 acres of natural wonder and shoreline to spark your interest. We recommend setting out for a picnic on the beach for lunch.

For dinner, eat at Shoreline Brewery & Restaurant, a relaxed microbrewery and restaurant that features handcrafted beers on-site, as well as a pub-feel atmosphere, and sometimes, live music. The menu is unique but not too complicated, offering elevated pub food such as beer-infused snacks, stone hearth pizzas, protein-packed sandwiches, and seafood-inspired pasta.

Enjoy an evening beach stay and catch the sunset to unwind from the day. The sunsets on Lake Michigan are remarkable. From this vantage point, and during the right weather conditions, you can also catch the Chicago skyline in the background, which casts a beautiful glow of the cityscape that is to come on your route.

Cool down and unwind for the night at the nearest hotel. We recommend The Hampton Inn as it is to the water and Michigan City, but there are plenty of reasonable hotel options in the area to book.