Wanting to go to Michigan/Wisconsin/Minnesota at some point and time need suggestions for time of year. Not into winter camping but do not want hot either and have heard the horror stories of skeeters and other nasty bugs. What time of year would we see cool not cold weather an no bugs?

I'm guessing July. We did Michigan in July and it was warm but not hot. Now when we got to the upper peninsula it was darn right chilly. Near or on lake superior you needed a sweatshirt. No bugs that we saw.

Having lived in the U.P. I'd be more inclined to go in late August to mid-September. I've seen it snow in the western U.P. in mid-September. You can go later than that, but if you want decent weather go earlier than mid-September. Also, the campgrounds won't be crowded in late August, although there will be more campers Labor Day weekend, but not to the point you can't find a campsite.

Parrothead Mike wrote:Having lived in the U.P. I'd be more inclined to go in late August to mid-September. I've seen it snow in the western U.P. in mid-September. You can go later than that, but if you want decent weather go earlier than mid-September. Also, the campgrounds won't be crowded in late August, although there will be more campers Labor Day weekend, but not to the point you can't find a campsite.Good point. We were in the UP this year for the second week in July. It was 38* at night, we had our furnace on and wore gloves until it was too cold to sit by the fire. During the day, we encountered swarms of mosquitoes, more than I've ever seen in my life. Meh.Bring warm clothes, late August-September should be a beautiful time to visit.

Michigan/Wisconsin/Minnesota best time | Good Sam Community

dalenoel
Explorer II
Nov 10, 2014
Forgot to add one thing. My son is from Gilbert area and usually runs 6 miles a day. While visiting he could not even run 2 due to the higher humidity that HE THOUGHT was very HOT. It was more humid than hot so tatest is right, it is more important what you are used to than the actual temperature.

I'm going disc golfing right now and I consider the temp alright, 40 degrees is not unbearable. My son would not like it.
reinita
Explorer
Nov 11, 2014
To the OP, do you know what part of Michigan? As someone pointed out, Michigan is huge and the weather varies greatly. The Upper Peninsula is beyond awesome. We've camped at Muskallonge Lake State Park on July 4 week for the past five or six summers. Windy, so bugs haven't been a problem. Temps have varied from the 60s to 80s during the day ... On the same week.
This past summer was the first time we saw black flies and it was only when we were on Lake Superior across the street and only when the wind died down.
Hope you have an awesome trip!
rr2254545
Explorer
Nov 11, 2014
LOL not today lots of snow and very cold 23 right now outside
Windwalker55
Explorer
Nov 11, 2014
michigansandzilla wrote:
September

I agree, school is started so less crowds, bugs are less of a problem, especially mosquitoes, and it is just a pretty time of year, yet still warm enough to enjoy.
TyroneandGladys
Explorer
Nov 11, 2014
Thinking of starting in upper Minnesota working over and down Michigan then midway up Wisconsin then heading west across Wisconsin then heading South.
garmp
Explorer II
Nov 11, 2014
TyroneandGladys wrote:
Thinking of starting in upper Minnesota working over and down Michigan then midway up Wisconsin then heading west across Wisconsin then heading South.

Like the OP we are also thinking about such a trip. Being from St. Louis, we'd like to travel up thru Wisconsin, the Straights and down thru Michigan taking many stops, before returning to StL. We were looking at a 2+/- week trip about mid to late May. But as many, not fond of bugs nor cold. With all these crazy weather patterns it is a******shoot, but generally this does sound workable? Drove thru the Straights in 1969 upon my return home from the service with my fiancee (DW now) and would like to revisit and explore some on Michigan's, and especially the UP, State/COE Parks. Are reservations recommended for the state/COE parks that time of the year? (these are our preferences). And is fresh fish seasonal or readily available? One park better than another?
Sorry to hijack a post, but really interested and didn't want to double post.
thanks
dalenoel
Explorer II
Nov 12, 2014
State parks in MI should not need reservations in May. Same for private parks. Some of the UP may not open until mid May so watch for that. Get to the Memorial Day weekend and most of the parks will fill for the weekend and then empty on Tuesday.
garmp
Explorer II
Nov 13, 2014
How are the WI SPs on the way to the UP that time of the year? Open on the same time frame? And are the crowd about the same?

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