Great Lakes road trips: Take the scenic route.
Circle tours and coastal drives with day-by-day stops. Start with a lake, follow the shoreline and leave room for the unplanned stop.
Not sure which route? Build my trip3 routes · Suggested itineraries, not turn-by-turn navigation.
A view of Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan road trip
Lake Michigan Circle Tour
Connect shoreline towns, beaches and cities around Lake Michigan.
Pace7–10 days
Distance~1,100 mi
View the route
Photo: NorbertNagel · CC BY-SA 4.0
Chicago Skyline Sunrise March 15 2026 - 02.jpg by NorbertNagel · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.
A view of Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan road trip
Southern Lake Michigan Dunes Weekend
Chicago, Indiana Dunes and Harbor Country without circling the whole lake.
Pace2-3 days
BestLate spring to early fall
View the route
Photo: NorbertNagel · CC BY-SA 4.0
Chicago Skyline Sunrise March 15 2026 - 02.jpg by NorbertNagel · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.
A view of Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan road trip
Wisconsin Harbor & Lighthouse Trail
A northbound route from Milwaukee through dune country to Door County.
Pace4-6 days
BestLate spring to early fall
View the route
Photo: NorbertNagel · CC BY-SA 4.0
Chicago Skyline Sunrise March 15 2026 - 02.jpg by NorbertNagel · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.
Leave room for ferry schedules, park reservations and border waits. Use the planning guide before turning an idea into an itinerary.