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Michigan's Upper Peninsula: Route Guide

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Pictured Rocks kayak — Michigan's Upper Peninsula
Photo: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Superior's south shore keeps the Midwest's best-kept secret: Pictured Rocks' mineral-streaked cliffs: ochre, green, blue: rising straight from clearest freshwater, best met by kayak. Tahquamenon's root-beer falls pour nearby, pasties fuel the trails, and Marquette rounds it out with harbor-town ease. Yooper pace: unhurried, unbothered, unmissable.

Michigan's Upper Peninsula is a 220 km one-way journey (self-drive). It works best as 3–5 days; the plan below is the 4-day version for July, built from 79 verified places, with real road-routed transit times, opening hours and daylight checked.

3–5
days
220km
distance
3
Stops
79
curated stops

Plan your own version → 3-day plan · 4-day plan · 5-day plan · best time to go

The route

St. Ignace→ 150 kmMunising & Pictured Rocks→ 70 kmMarquette

What you'll see

The Museum of Ojibwa Culture
Explore the rich heritage of the Ojibwa people and early French contact.
St. Ignace
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
You will see colorful, naturally sculpted rock formations and waterfalls along the rugged coastline of Lake Superior.
Munising & Pictured Rocks
Upper Peninsula Luge Club
Try natural track luge on an icy forest road with friendly coaching.
Marquette
Mackinac Bridge
You'll see sweeping views of the Straits of Mackinac and the surrounding landscapes from this iconic suspension bridge.
St. Ignace
Art in the Alley
Stroll through vibrant art installations showcasing local talent in a charming alley setting.
Munising & Pictured Rocks
Presque Isle Park
Relax in a spacious park with trails, picnic areas, and beautiful waterfront views.
Marquette
Straits State Park
Here you can walk along the northern shores of the Straits of Mackinac with views of the water and surrounding landscape.
St. Ignace
Grand Island National Recreation Area
Explore rugged shorelines, dense forests, and diverse wildlife on scenic trails through this protected island landscape.
Munising & Pictured Rocks

Choose your length

3-day plan15 stops · 5.7 h transit5 stops/day · 1.9 h transit/daySee the full plan →4-day plan18 stops · 7.0 h transit4.5 stops/day · 1.8 h transit/daySee the full plan →5-day plan23 stops · 7.6 h transit4.6 stops/day · 1.5 h transit/daySee the full plan →

When to go

Best months: June, July, August, September

Kayaks and cruise boats run beneath Pictured Rocks' painted cliffs, Superior warms to swimmable in shallow bays, and pasty shops fuel it all.

See the month-by-month breakdown →

Similar journeys

Plan your own version →