One of the first trips I took post-grad after starting my first “real” job out of school was to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with friends.
I was living in the Detroit area at the time, so a week-long UP road trip was our way of inaugurating ourselves into the Yooper/Michigander culture. I was surprised at how beautiful and quaint this area is!
There are a ton of unique places to visit in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Since it is so remote and far from anyone who doesn’t live in Michigan, Wisconsin, or Minnesota, the UP typically gets overshadowed as a fun summer road trip destination.
There are plenty of great hikes, scenic views over the Great Lakes, local breweries and restaurants, and unique experiences to be had in the UP.
This post is all about the best places to visit in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I’ll list the best things to do, where to stay, a sample road trip itinerary, and more!
The Best Time to Visit the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
The best time to visit the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is in the late summer or early fall.
The bugs in the summer in the UP are absolutely WILD, so going in late August/early September is a good way to avoid those resilient mosquitoes and still have warm weather.
Fall colors in the UP are absolutely gorgeous, so October can be a great time to visit as well. The temperatures can get a little cold for camping, though!
Winters are very harsh in the UP, but there are plenty of skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling opportunities. In fact, much of the UP is only accessible by snowmobile in the winter!
How to Get to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is a peninsula that actually spurs off of the northeast side of Wisconsin and is bordered by 3 of the Great Lakes. It’s situated along the south shore of Lake Superior, the north shore of Lake Michigan, and stretches into Lake Huron on the east.
If you’re coming from Michigan, I-75 across the Mackinac Bridge is your gateway to the UP. The main highways coming from the Wisconsin side are US-2, US-51, US-45, and US-41.
Related: How to Spend 1, 2, or 3 Days in New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia
Helpful Tips for Visiting the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is very remote, wooded, and sparsely populated.
You likely won’t have cell signal when driving between towns, and you may end up connecting to a Canadian tower when you do have signal. Check with your provider to make sure you won’t incur any surprise fees in case this happens!
There are black bears in the Upper Peninsula. Make sure you are bear aware and store your food properly when backpacking or camping!
If you plan to visit the UP in the summer, be prepared for lots of bugs and mosquitoes. You would think that the harsh winters would annihilate those pesky things, but I actually think it makes them more resilient.
There are also a handful of biting fly species that inhabit the shores of the UP. Bug spray unfortunately DOES NOT work on these guys, so you’ll want to be prepared with loose-fitting, long pants and sleeves.
More information on insects can be found on the NPS website here.
We visited in early July and didn’t have a horrible time with biting flies, but the mosquitoes were brutal!
Related: The Ultimate 7-Day West Virginia Road Trip Itinerary (Full of Hiking and History)
10 Best Places to Visit in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island isn’t technically in the Upper Peninsula, but if you are traveling to the UP from Michigan, it is worth a stop on your way!
Accessible only by ferry and known for not having any vehicle traffic on the island, Mackinac Island makes for a fun and unique day trip. The entire island has a perimeter of just over 8 miles, so it’s popular for biking, walking, and running.
Horse-drawn carriage rides are also really popular on the island.
Mackinac Island is also a great place to admire how huge Lake Huron is. It literally feels like you’re looking at the ocean from Mackinac Island!
It’s also the fudge capital of the world, and there is an annual Fudge Festival every August! We actually ate only fudge for lunch when we visited (although I don’t know if I would recommend that!).
How to Get There: Take Shepler’s Ferry or the Mackinac Island Ferry from either St. Ignace or Mackinaw City
Top Experiences: Eat fudge, rent bikes and bike around the island, take a horse-drawn carriage ride, explore the Grand Hotel
Where to Stay: If you’re looking for a splurge, stay at the Grand Hotel or another bed and breakfast on the island, or in St. Ignace or Mackinaw City
Cost: Roughly $34/person for the ferry, $10 to enter the Grand Hotel, bike rental and carriage rides vary
Sault Ste. Marie
Sault Ste. Marie is located on the St. Mary’s River, which flows between Lake Superior and Lake Huron. This river also forms part of the US-Canada border.
The main attraction here are the Soo Locks, a set of locks that raise and lower ships in the canal through a series of gates to match the water level of the lake they’re traveling to. Since there is a 21-foot elevation change between Lake Superior and Lake Huron, the Locks allow ships to travel between Lake Superior and the other Great Lakes.
The US Army Corps of Engineers operates the Soo Locks Visitor’s Center. There is a viewing deck where you can sit and watch the locks in action!
Additionally, Sault Ste. Marie is home to Lake Superior State University and the Museum Ship Valley Camp where you can explore a Great Lakes Freighter!
Related: 16 Fun, Historic Things to Do in Paducah, Kentucky
How to Get There: Sault Ste. Marie is the last stop on I-75 heading north
Top Experiences: Watch the Soo Locks, grab a beer at Soo Brewing Company, visit the Museum Ship Valley Camp (only open between May and October)
Where to Stay: Stay in downtown Sault Ste. Marie
Cost: $16.50/person for the Museum Ship Valley Camp and the Soo Locks are free!
Whitefish Point
Whitefish Point is a cape along the Lake Superior shoreline. It’s home to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum and is a popular area for birdwatching.
Whitefish Point also has a bit of a dark past. Of the 550 known shipwrecks laying at the bottom of Lake Superior, over 200 of them happened in the Whitefish Point area. The infamous Edmund Fitzgerald shipwreck lies just 15 miles northwest of Whitefish Point.
The Whitefish Point Lighthouse is also the oldest operating lighthouse on Lake Superior. It’s located right next to the Shipwreck Museum and you can go up in it on the tour!
Whitefish Point is also a natural bird migration corridor, bringing thousands of birds through the area every spring and fall.
How to Get There: Take M-123 north to Whitefish Point Road and drive until you reach Whitefish Point
Top Experiences: Visit the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum (only open May – October), tour the Whitefish Point Lighthouse, go birdwatching at the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory
Where to Stay: Stay in Paradise, just 11 miles south of Whitefish Point
Cost: $15 for admission to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum and the Whitefish Point Lighthouse, the bird observatory is free
Tahquamenon Falls State Park
Tahquamenon Falls (rhymes with “phenomenon”) State Park encompasses nearly 50,000 acres along the Tahquamenon River in the Upper Peninsula. The amber color in the water comes from tannic acid found in the cedar, spruce, and hemlock tree needles.
There are multiple waterfalls in this state park, but the crown jewel is the Upper Falls. This waterfall is one of the largest east of the Mississippi River, standing 47 feet tall and over 200 feet wide!
Just 4 miles downstream are the Lower Falls, which consist of 5 smaller falls surrounding an island in the river. You can even rent rowboats and paddle to the island in the lower falls!
You can visit each set of falls by driving and doing the short, easy hikes, or combine both falls into one 10-mile hike.
And there is also an on-site restaurant with a brewery attached! Who doesn’t love a local beer after a day of hiking?
How to Get There: Access to both the Lower and Upper Falls is located off of M-123
Top Experiences: Hike to the Upper and Lower Falls, rent a rowboat at the Lower Falls, eat at the Tahquamenon Falls Brewery & Pub
Where to Stay: There are multiple campgrounds at Tahquamenon Falls State Park or stay in Paradise
Cost: $10 to enter Tahquamenon Falls for a non-Michigan resident, recreation passport required for a Michigan resident
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Pictured Rocks is a gorgeous 42-mile lakeshore along Lake Superior between Grand Marais and Munising.
There are some great hikes, beaches, and lighthouses to explore on the shore, but the best thing to do here is kayak or take a boat tour to admire the colorful rocks from Lake Superior.
The colors come from various minerals in the water streaking the rocks. The unique rock formations tower 50 – 200 feet above Lake Superior!
We loved the sunset boat tour and how the sun lit up the rocks as we cruised!
How to Get There: M-77 leads to Grand Marais on the east side of Pictured Rocks and M-28 and M-94 lead to Munising on the west
Top Experiences: Take a sunset Pictured Rocks boat cruise, hike to the Au Sable Lighthouse and Log Slide Overlook, take a cold plunge in Lake Superior
Where to Stay: Camp at one of the 3 rustic campgrounds in Pictured Rocks, or stay in Grand Marais or Munising. All of the kayak and boat tours depart from Munising.
Cost: $44 – $52 for the Pictured Rocks boat tour, kayak rental prices vary
Marquette
Marquette is the largest town in the UP with a population of just over 20,000 full-time residents. It is a major iron ore shipping port along Lake Superior and a popular place for tourism and hiking as well.
There are a lot of great restaurants and breweries with a great view of Lake Superior and the ore docks.
Presque Isle Park is located on a peninsula on the north side of down and sits on top of sandstone cliffs with an amazing view of Lake Superior. The Black Rocks area of the park is great for jumping into the water, swimming, and hiking.
Another popular place in Marquette is the Sugarloaf Mountain Overlook. This is a 470-foot peak of granite that overlooks Marquette and Lake Superior. There is a short but steep hike up to the top, located right off of Big Bay Road.
How to Get There: Take US-41 until you reach Marquette
Top Experiences: explore downtown, grab drinks at Ore Dock Brewing, walk up to the Sugarloaf Mountain Observation Deck, swim and/or explore Presque Isle Park
Where to Stay: Stay in downtown Marquette
Cost: Presque Isle Park and the Sugarloaf Mountain Overlook are both free!
Keweenaw Peninsula
The Keweenaw Peninsula stretches from Houghton all the way to Copper Harbor. The Keweenaw Peninsula is also the northernmost point of the Upper Peninsula (besides Isle Royale National Park, but it’s not technically a part of the UP!)
This area has a rich mineral history dating back to the copper boom in the late 1800s and early 1900’s. There are a handful of nearby copper mines that you can tour here as well!
Houghton is home to Michigan Tech University and sits at the base of the Keweenaw Peninsula.
Houghton makes a great home base while exploring the rugged peninsula. There is a cool downtown with some fun breweries to visit after a day of hiking and exploring.
How to Get There: Take US-41 north until you reach Houghton and Copper Harbor
Top Experiences: drive the Brockway Mountain Drive, admire the red beaches at Hunter’s Point Park, visit the Mineral Museum at Michigan Tech, do a longer day hike in the Keweenaw Peninsula, eat at Harbor Haus in Copper Harbor (only open spring – fall), tour a Copper Mine, grab a beer at the Keweenaw Brewing Tap Room
Where to Stay: Stay in downtown Houghton
Cost: $8/person for the Mineral Museum, copper mine tour prices vary
Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park
The Porcupine Mountains (or commonly referred to as the “Porkies”) are a small mountain range in the northwest part of the UP.
It is the largest state park in Michigan and is a popular place for hiking, camping, fishing, and skiing in the winter.
Another quirky attraction here is the Copper Peak Adventure Ride in Ironwood. It’s the 6th highest ski-flying hill in the world at 180 meters. You can ride the chair lift up and get a fantastic view over the Upper Peninsula and Canada from the top!
We also loved hiking the Escarpment Trail to the Lake of the Clouds Overlook and camping along Lake Superior!
How to Get There: M-64, M-28, and US-2 are the main highways that surround the Porcupine Mountains area
Top Experiences: Hike the Escarpment Trail (you can also walk along the road on the way back to make the hike quicker and easier), visit the Lake of the Clouds Overlook, ride the Copper Peak Adventure Ride, take in the view from the Summit Peak Observation Tower, visit the Presque Isle River waterfalls
Where to Stay: Camp at one of the many campsites inside the park, stay in Ironwood or Ontonagon, or book a cabin in one of the other surrounding small towns
Cost: $10 to enter Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park for a non-Michigan resident, recreation passport required for a Michigan resident, $25/person for the Copper Peak Adventure Ride (spring – fall only)
Palms Book State Park & Kitch-iti-kipi
Kitch-iti-kipi “The Big Spring,” is Michigan’s largest freshwater spring. It is 40 feet deep and 200 feet across. The water is a beautiful crystal-clear blue!
It’s located in Palms Book State Park and there is a free raft you can ride across the spring.
The raft has a glass bottom section so you can admire the water and Lake Trout that live in the spring. In the summer, the line for the raft can get quite long, but it is worth the wait!
Fun fact: Kitch-iti-kipi was nicknamed “The Mirror of Heaven” by the Ojibwe Native American tribe that inhabited the area.
The water is a constant 45 degrees and rarely freezes in the winter. This should go without saying, but no swimming is allowed (you’d get hypothermia real quick!).
How to Get There: Palms Book State Park is 11 miles north of Manistique
Top Experiences: Ride the free raft across the spring, photograph the beautiful waters, enjoy a picnic
Where to Stay: Kitch-iti-kipi makes a quick road trip stop so you might not have to spend the night, but Manistique is the best place to stay nearby
Cost: $10 to enter Palms Book State Park for a non-Michigan resident, recreation passport required for a Michigan resident
Isle Royale National Park
Isle Royale is located on its own island in the northwest part of Lake Superior. You can only access it by ferry or seaplane from Houghton and Copper Harbor in the UP, or from Grand Marais and Grand Portage in Minnesota.
Isle Royale is one of the least-visited National Parks due how remote it is. Besides one very basic lodge and restaurant, there are no facilities on the island. It also closes seasonally from November 1st to April 15th.
If you love backpacking, camping, and getting up close and personal with nature, Isle Royale National Park will be a dream for you! Check out the NPS website for more information to plan your visit.
You can do a day trip to Isle Royale (starting from Houghton only though), but it will take a few hours each way for travel time and doesn’t leave much time for exploring. I’d recommend spending at least one night on the island if you plan to visit.
This destination is still on our list!
How to Get There: Make your way to one of the ferry or seaplane docks (Houghton, Copper Harbor, Grand Marais, or Grand Portage), and book your ferry or plane ride to the island!
Top Experiences: Go backpacking, hiking, or kayaking
Where to Stay: Camp on the island, stay in the Rock Harbor Lodge (the only lodge on the island), or stay in Houghton (if you’re doing a day trip)
Cost: Ferry and seaplane rates vary, $7/person to enter Isle Royale National Park (unless you have the America the Beautiful National Park Pass)
Upper Peninsula Road Trip Itinerary
If you want to explore the entire Upper Peninsula, plan to take at least a week + 2 weekends (9 days total).
If you have less time, you’ll have to drop Sault Ste. Marie, Mackinac Island, and/or the Porcupine Mountains, depending on where you’re coming from. The Upper Peninsula is huge, and it will take you about 5 hours to drive from the east end to the west end!
A lot of the places in the UP don’t require more than a day to visit. Because of this, these road trip itineraries have you spending the night in a new location almost every night.
If lots of driving and moving around isn’t your thing, I’d recommend breaking up your UP visit into multiple small trips instead of one big trip!
This itinerary works best if you’re coming from Michigan (it starts and ends in St. Ignace), but you can start at the Porcupine Mountains and do this itinerary backwards if you’re coming from the Wisconsin/Minnesota direction.
Day 0: Drive to St. Ignace
Your only objective for Day 0 is to get to St. Ignace! If you’re coming from the Detroit area, this drive will take you 4 hours or more.
Day 1: Mackinac Island
Take a day trip to Mackinac Island and spend the day biking, exploring, and eating fudge. Stay on the Island or take the ferry back to St. Ignace and spend another night there.
Day 2: Sault Ste. Marie
Drive to Sault Ste. Marie and watch the Soo Locks, explore downtown, and visit the Museum Ship Valley Camp. Stay in downtown Sault Ste. Marie.
Day 3: Tahquamenon Falls & Whitefish Point
Drive to Whitefish Point and visit the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum. Grab lunch in Paradise afterward and head to Tahquamenon Falls State Park.
Hike to the Upper and Lower Falls and then grab dinner at the Tahquamenon Falls Brewery. Stay in Paradise or camp at Tahquamenon Falls.
Day 4: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Drive to Munising and hike to the Au Sable Lighthouse and Log Slide Overlook. I would also recommend driving road H-58 between Munising to Grand Marais for a pretty, twisty, scenic drive!
Do a sunset Pictured Rocks boat cruise in the evening. Camp along Lake Superior or stay in Munising.
Day 5: Marquette & Houghton
Set out for Houghton but make a stop at Marquette along the way. Take in the views of Lake Superior at Presque Isle State Park, walk up to the Sugarloaf Mountain Overlook, and grab lunch downtown.
Continue on to Houghton, explore downtown, and spend the night.
Day 6: Keweenaw Peninsula
Spend the day exploring the Keweenaw Peninsula. I recommend choosing a day hike, driving the Brockway Mountain Scenic Drive, and visiting the red beaches at Hunter’s Point Park. If you still have time, check out the Mineral Museum on the Montana Tech Campus!
Stay another night at your accommodations in Houghton.
Day 7: Porcupine Mountains
Get an early start and head out for the Porcupine Mountains. Check out the Lake of the Clouds Overlook (you can either drive here or hike the 8.4-mile Escarpment Trail– we enjoyed hiking!).
Grab lunch, visit the Summit Peak Observation Tower, and then head out for the Copper Peak Adventure Ride if you’re still doing well on time. Spend the night in Ironwood or camp in the Porkies.
Day 8: Drive to St. Ignace
Head back to St. Ignace on the US-2 route. Make a quick stop at Kitch-iti-kipi near Manistique on your way back. Grab a pasty for lunch at Jack’s Fresh Market in Manistique to conclude your trip!
Congrats, you finished your Upper Peninsula Road Trip!
If You Have More Time
If you have more time to spend in the UP, you can tack on a visit to Isle Royale National Park or spend another day or two hiking in the Porcupine Mountains or Keweenaw Peninsula.
If you want to do Isle Royale, I’d recommend squeezing it in after Houghton since there are seaplane/ferry options located in Houghton and Copper Harbor.
What to Pack for a Trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
Bug Spray: You will need this for the mosquitoes
Mosquito Head Net: Optional, but highly recommended if you plan to do a lot of hiking or camping
Long Hiking Pants: For the biting flies
Loose-Fitting, Long Sleeve Tops: You will want these for the biting flies and the cool evenings!
Sunscreen: It’s a must, especially if you visit in the summer!
Athleta Elation Leggings: I love hiking in leggings. These leggings from Athleta don’t fall down and have just a little bit of compression to hold you in without being uncomfortable.
Athleta Conscious Crop Tank Top: These are my favorite tops to work out in, hike in, and do pretty much everything in. Great coverage, easy to layer, and they’re the perfect length to wear with high-waisted leggings or bike shorts.
Nalgene 32-oz Water Bottles: Cheap, lightweight, easy to clean, and hold a ton of water. I seriously never leave my house without one! You won’t find me carrying a heavy, overpriced, stainless steel cup or a fancy water bottle with a mouthpiece that’s impossible to clean.
Merrell Moab 3 Hiking Shoes: I have had these shoes for over 4 years and I love them! They have great traction and are comfortable for long hikes at an affordable price point. Good shoes make a huge difference when you’re hiking, especially on muddy or rocky trails. I sized down half a size from my normal size in these and still have plenty of room for good hiking socks. You will need good shoes for the hikes listed in this itinerary!
Smartwool Hiking Socks: I know these are pricey, but they are key to avoiding blisters when hiking. Wool is naturally sweat and odor resistant so these socks will keep your feet dry the whole hike!
Hiking Day Pack: I have had this North Face Jester Backpack literally since high school. I did upgrade to a larger one for college, but this one is the perfect size for carrying all your day hiking essentials and is the perfect “personal item” size when flying. There are tons of colors and patterns, plus they also have a men’s version!
I hope this post helped you plan an awesome trip to the UP! Let me know in the comments if you have any questions about the best places to visit in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan!
-Megan
