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    22 Activities

    Sea and the City: From the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore to Chicago

    Sea and the City: From the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore to Chicago
    Starts from

    Detroit

    Transportation

    By Car

    Guidance

    Self-Guided

    Activities

    22

    Duration

    3 days

    Length

    351 mi

    Guide details

    Starts from

    Detroit

    Transportation

    By Car

    Guidance

    Self-Guided

    Duration

    3 days

    Length

    351 mi

    History and CultureNatural AttractionsUnusual Locations
    Map preview
    Alana Valko

    Alana Valko

    Travel Expert

    • Explore the dunes and shoreline on Lake Michigan.
    • Visit museums containing renowned collections and history.
    • Learn about Chicago's architecture on a riverboat tour.
    For Detroiters, Chicago is one of the most accessible nearby big cities that also makes for a gorgeous road trip, offering the perfect balance of nature and culture on its route. On this trip, you'll pass through the small Lake Michigan town of St. Joseph, known for its century-old double lighthouses and freshwater beaches. You'll make your way to Michigan City and the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, which offers sights of stunning towering sand dunes and sandy shores. Stay the night near the shore and explore the maritime museums in the morning. Then you are just an hour away from Chicago, where you will end your route exploring some of the best views, food, and culture that the Windy City has to offer.

    Categories

    For Detroiters, Chicago is one of the most accessible nearby big cities that also makes for a gorgeous road trip, offering the perfect balance of nature and culture on its route. On this trip, you'll pass through the small Lake Michigan town of St. Joseph, known for its century-old double lighthouses and freshwater beaches. You'll make your way to Michigan City and the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, which offers sights of stunning towering sand dunes and sandy shores. Stay the night near the shore and explore the maritime museums in the morning. Then you are just an hour away from Chicago, where you will end your route exploring some of the best views, food, and culture that the Windy City has to offer.
    Alana Valko

    Alana Valko

    Travel Expert

    • Explore the dunes and shoreline on Lake Michigan.
    • Visit museums containing renowned collections and history.
    • Learn about Chicago's architecture on a riverboat tour.

    Travel itinerary

    Road to Southern Lake Michigan’s Beaches and Dunes
    8 Activities

    Day 1

    286 mi

    Road to Southern Lake Michigan’s Beaches and Dunes

    Venture across iconic beach towns on the southern Lake Michigan shoreline, explore or hike at Indiana Dunes National Park, and end the day watching the sunset that captures a not-too-distant skyline.
    00:00
    Drive the Coast Into Chicago
    8 Activities

    Day 2

    64 mi2 mi5 mi

    Drive the Coast Into Chicago

    Spend the morning finishing up exploring the history of Michigan City, then make your way toward Chicago where you'll spend the afternoon cruising the river and catching the best sights around Millennium Park.
    13:15
    Exploring Chicago's Culture
    6 Activities

    Day 3

    1 mi0.1 mi15 mi

    Exploring Chicago's Culture

    Spend your last day appreciating one of Chicago's famed museums, attending a world-famous Cubs game, and catching the spectacular views of the Chicago skyline before making your way back home.

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