Lake Michigan Circle Tour
A counter-clockwise loop from Chicago featuring Indiana Dunes, Mackinac Island, Pictured Rocks, and Door County.
Connect the sand dunes of Lake Michigan's eastern shore, Mackinac Island, the Pictured Rocks of the Upper Peninsula, and Wisconsin's Door County in one epic road trip. While most guides suggest 7 to 14 days, this 11-day itinerary keeps daily driving times to around 4 hours by skipping stops at every single lakeside town. It is perfect for road trippers who want to experience the Great Lakes in their entirety.
Fall foliage peaks from late September to mid-October; island services and ferry schedules are reduced after October
Day by day
Day 1 · Chicago to Indiana Dunes
Chicago（Indiana Dunes National Park）
Pick up your car and drive east along the lake for about 1 hour to Indiana Dunes National Park, then continue for about 1.5 hours to St. Joseph.
Parking at Indiana Dunes can be tight on weekends and during peak summer; arrive early.
Stay: St. Joseph, Michigan
Day 2 · South Haven to Holland Coast
Saugatuck & Holland（South Haven South Pier Lighthouse、Downtown Saugatuck、Oval Beach、Holland State Park & Big Red Lighthouse）
Drive north along the Blue Star Highway from South Haven to Holland (approx. 1.5 hours total), stopping at beach towns and scenic shores along the way.
Stay: Downtown Holland
Day 3 · North to Sleeping Bear Dunes
Saugatuck & Holland（Grand Haven State Park & Lighthouse） → Traverse City（Point Betsie Lighthouse）
Drive north from Holland via Muskegon and Ludington along US-31 for about 4.5 hours to Glen Arbor.
This is one of the longer driving days, so avoid lingering too long in the morning.
Stay: Glen Arbor
Day 4 · A Full Day at Sleeping Bear Dunes
Traverse City（Sleeping Bear Dunes Dune Climb、Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive、Glen Haven Historic Village & Maritime Museum）
Spend about 1 hour driving through the park, then take M-72 for about 40 minutes to Traverse City.
The park requires an entrance pass; the scenic drive is closed in winter.
Stay: Downtown Traverse City
Day 5 · North along the Lake to Mackinaw City
Petoskey → Mackinac Island（Old Mackinac Point Light、Colonial Michilimackinac）
Drive via Charlevoix and Petoskey along US-31 for about 2.5 hours to Mackinaw City.
Stay: Mackinaw City
Day 6 · A Day on Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island（Arch Rock、Fort Mackinac、M-185 Lakeshore Loop、Main Street & Fudge Shops）
Take a 20-minute ferry from Mackinaw City to the island. Motor vehicles are banned on the island; explore by bicycle or on foot.
Cars are not allowed on the island; be sure to check the schedule for the last returning ferry.
Stay: Mackinaw City
Day 7 · Across the Bridge to Pictured Rocks
Mackinac Island（Mackinac Bridge） → Munising & Pictured Rocks（Miners Castle & Miners Beach、Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (Cliff Cruise)）
Cross the Mackinac Bridge and take US-2 and M-77 for about 3 hours to Munising.
Book boat tours weeks in advance during peak season; tours may be canceled due to high winds.
Stay: Munising
Day 8 · Kitch-iti-kipi to Door Peninsula
Munising & Pictured Rocks（Kitch-iti-kipi (Big Spring)） → Fayette Historic State Park
Drive south from Munising via Manistique and Escanaba for about 4.5 hours to Sturgeon Bay.
Note the time zone change between Michigan (Eastern Time) and Wisconsin (Central Time).
Stay: Sturgeon Bay
Day 9 · Door County East Coast Lighthouses & Cave Point
Door County（Cave Point County Park、Whitefish Dunes State Park、Cana Island Lighthouse）
Drive between towns on the peninsula (approx. 30 minutes each, 2 hours total for the day), arriving in Fish Creek in the evening.
Cana Island Lighthouse is open seasonally; when water levels are high, you must cross the causeway via a tractor-drawn wagon.
Stay: Fish Creek
Day 10 · Peninsula State Park and South to Milwaukee
Door County（Peninsula State Park、Eagle Bluff Lighthouse） → Milwaukee（Historic Third Ward）
Explore Peninsula State Park in the morning, then drive south for about 3 hours to Milwaukee in the afternoon.
Stay: Historic Third Ward
Day 11 · Milwaukee to Chicago
Milwaukee（Milwaukee Art Museum、Harley-Davidson Museum）
Explore the city in the morning, then take I-94 south for about 2 hours to return to Chicago.
Check the official website for the schedule of the Milwaukee Art Museum's wing-folding ceremony.