Illinois/Wisconsin or Indiana/Michigan - UP Trip

[WrightOn]

We are leaving soon from 60 miles south of Chicago to land in Tahquamenon Falls, Mackinac, and Sleeping Bear Dunes for our vacation. The options are to travel through Chicago, Milwaulkee, and Green Bay to get to the UP or hug the lake in Indiana to Grand Rapids to I-75 in central Michigan to the UP. The Wisconsin option is 30 min longer (and includes Chicago but I'm not afraid of that).
Any roads under heavy construction on either side of the lake that would cause me to take one route more than the other?
Thanks for your help. We're looking forward to a great time in cooler temps.
Brian

[Hammerboy]

I know what you mean about the rain. We were at the Straits area Friday thru Sunday morning and it was decent weather, we drove thru a ton of rain on Sunday to get to Munising/pictured rocks and they said it rained 3 days straight. A good number of campsites were underwater but thank goodness ours were high and dry. Although it is still cool today it turn out to be a beautiful day. Did the pictured rock boat tour today too.

BTW Taquanem Falls is one of our favorite parks

Dan

[WrightOn]

Update to this point in the trip: We took 94-196-131-75 to the UP. Tahquamenon Falls Rivermouth CG sites 71 and 72 were paved and "attached." I didn't realize we were entering the non-so tropical rain forest of the United States! It rained every day we were there and had before we arrived as well. The greatest population of wildlife we saw were mosquitos. They are no where near the endangered list! The afternoon spent at the falls was fantastic. We walked around the lower falls island in the water. The water table is very high causing a great current in places. This has been the highlight thus far.

We are now at Mill Creek Campground in lake front sights facing the bridge and Mackinac Island. The weather is cool (60s) and windy. You can't beat the view for the midwest. Off to Sleeping Bear (Indigo) on Thursday.

[Parrothead_Mike]

Being from the west side of Michigan I'm quite partial to the Lake Michigan shoreline. The west coast of Michigan has dunes (ck Silver Lake sand dunes north of Muskegon a ways & Sleeping Bear). Wisconsin and Michigan's Lake Huron shoreline do not have them due to the prevailing winds.

If you don't want to camp in Sault Ste Marie check out Brimley State Park about 15 miles west of the Soo. Very grassy with a nice beach.

There's a nice county campground in the lower peninsula south of Petoskey and the north end of Torch Lake in Eastport. Antrim County's Barns Park Campground. Electric only, but nice place and beach.

Indigo Bluff's RV Park west of Traverse City not far from Empire and Sleeping Bear Dunes is a nice private park. They have some FHU sites, but not many. It's a good place to visit the area from. Nice beach in Empire too. Check out Glen Arbor on Glen Lake and further north of that is Leland. Many wineries in this area, the Leelanau Peninsula. This area is my favorite part of the lower peninsula.

South of Empire just east of Frankfort is a fairly new FHU campground called Frankfort Crystal Lake RV Resort. A little plain now, but they've got paved sites. Again, another park from where you can visit the surrounding area.

Also, there is a very nice RV park at the Little River Casino just north of Manistee. It right where M-22 & US-131 meet north of Manistee. The rates are very reasonable for FHUs or Water & electric sites.

[Matt_Colie]

Brian,

Your plan is good, and while I like Wisconsin, all the remarks so far are accurate. There is the Manitowac Maritime Museum, The EAA Museum in OshKosh (of course they are on opposite sides of lake Winnebago) but look up Peshtigo. There is a museum there with everything that survive a fire far larger than the Chicago fire. Same dates, but the telegraph went down and nobody heard about it for three days. Almost nothing survived.

When you get to Michigan, things get very pleasant. Lots to see. When you get to Tahquamemon, if you need a place to dry camp, there is a snowmobile area parking lot just west of Paradise that is little used in the summer. It is quiet and nice, but light is the only thing provided. It is a great stop on the way to the museum at Whitefish Point. My wife thought a lot of it, but I could not stay. (I lost friends on the Fitz.)

When you get down to Sault Saint Marie, find one of the two campgrounds on the river (neither is FHU). Then get to the visitor center to find out when they next plan to flush a ship through. There is a peanut gallery. Both the River of History Mueseum and the Valley Camp are good. (Some of VC was a problem for me - Still. You think I would get over it) but both are good. The Tower is not all that good.

Consider your timing here. The ferry from St. Ignace to Machinac Is. is usually less crowded (I was told), but shop both Star Line and Sheplers as schedules and prices vary. I have not been to the island by ferry in many years.

Now you are ready for the lower peninsula. Mackinaw City is a tourist trap. The west side of the state is beautiful. There is a Dark Sky Park just west of the bridge and a friend takes his 10" reflector there several times a year.

I am out of time for now, but if you come back with questions, I will try to field them.

Matt

[dewey02]

rexlion wrote:

dewey02 wrote:


However, unless the earth has shifted gears...the West side of Lake Michigan is the Wisconsin side, not the Michigan side. There is actually plenty of sand on both the east and west shores of Lake Michigan (and the south shore too, for that matter), but the statement bolded above has its directions reversed, as far as I can tell.

Well, I think it's all a matter of perspective. To my way of thinking, the Lake Michigan side of MI is the state's western shore... and in WI the lake forms their eastern shoreline. But if you want to talk about the lake itself, you're absolutely correct. 🙂

An excellent point! 😉

[STBRetired]

Did the loop around Lake Michigan last year. The Michigan side was much nicer than the Wisconsin side. 31/131is a great road. We did enjoy Door County, especially the wineries, but Milwaukee and Green Bay were a bit of a hassle to drive through. There were some pretty rough roads between Mackinac and Traverse City, but the state was working on them so maybe they are better now.

[rexlion]

dewey02 wrote:

rexlion wrote:
The only good reason I would see (personally) to travel up the WI side would be if you had some specific sights in mind to stop at along the way. For example, if you wanted to stay a night or two in the Door County peninsula.

The western shores tend to be sandy beaches (MI side of L. Mich.) and the eastern shores, I believe, tend to be more stony. Not sure if that will matter to you, just thought I'd mention it.

When at Sleeping Bear area, if you'd like to swim, just north of Empire take Voice Rd west to Bar Lake Rd, and north to the N. Bar Lake. This nice little lake is separated from L. Michigan by a sand bar and is much warmer than the big lake, but you can walk just a little ways (maybe 50 yards?) and be at the big lake too.

In Mackinaw City, at the dead end by the dock entrance, walk north (left) a half-block to the local bakery. Great pecan rolls and the best homestyle cinnamon bread I've eaten (outside of my sister's kitchen). Mackinac Island is a great place to ride a bike all the way around the island (no cars, nice water views), so take bikes if you have 'em or plan to rent some on the island.

If you get as far west as Manistique, the Big Spring at Palms Book SP is worth a visit. Blue-green water so clear you can easily see the fish at the bottom, 40' below. That plus historic Fayette SP would make a nice little day trip.

I agree with those who say the trip through Michigan is the better route with lots of sandy beaches and many many state parks. Nice two lane roads too. I also second the idea of a visit to Kitchi-Ti-Kippi.

However, unless the earth has shifted gears...the West side of Lake Michigan is the Wisconsin side, not the Michigan side. There is actually plenty of sand on both the east and west shores of Lake Michigan (and the south shore too, for that matter), but the statement bolded above has its directions reversed, as far as I can tell.

Well, I think it's all a matter of perspective. To my way of thinking, the Lake Michigan side of MI is the state's western shore... and in WI the lake forms their eastern shoreline. But if you want to talk about the lake itself, you're absolutely correct. 🙂

[Jayco-noslide]

Live in west central Il. and once we get north of Chicago we take the 2-lane closest to the Lake and forget the interstate. Much more interesting.

[dewey02]

rexlion wrote:
The only good reason I would see (personally) to travel up the WI side would be if you had some specific sights in mind to stop at along the way. For example, if you wanted to stay a night or two in the Door County peninsula.

The western shores tend to be sandy beaches (MI side of L. Mich.) and the eastern shores, I believe, tend to be more stony. Not sure if that will matter to you, just thought I'd mention it.

When at Sleeping Bear area, if you'd like to swim, just north of Empire take Voice Rd west to Bar Lake Rd, and north to the N. Bar Lake. This nice little lake is separated from L. Michigan by a sand bar and is much warmer than the big lake, but you can walk just a little ways (maybe 50 yards?) and be at the big lake too.

In Mackinaw City, at the dead end by the dock entrance, walk north (left) a half-block to the local bakery. Great pecan rolls and the best homestyle cinnamon bread I've eaten (outside of my sister's kitchen). Mackinac Island is a great place to ride a bike all the way around the island (no cars, nice water views), so take bikes if you have 'em or plan to rent some on the island.

If you get as far west as Manistique, the Big Spring at Palms Book SP is worth a visit. Blue-green water so clear you can easily see the fish at the bottom, 40' below. That plus historic Fayette SP would make a nice little day trip.

I agree with those who say the trip through Michigan is the better route with lots of sandy beaches and many many state parks. Nice two lane roads too. I also second the idea of a visit to Kitchi-Ti-Kippi.

However, unless the earth has shifted gears...the West side of Lake Michigan is the Wisconsin side, not the Michigan side. There is actually plenty of sand on both the east and west shores of Lake Michigan (and the south shore too, for that matter), but the statement bolded above has its directions reversed, as far as I can tell.

[WrightOn]

Thanks for the extra info, Mike. We stopped at Pictured Rocks in 2003. I'd like to eventually do Porcupine Mountains one day. Ecclesiastes is my summer study. Very rich information to ponder!

[rexlion]

The only good reason I would see (personally) to travel up the WI side would be if you had some specific sights in mind to stop at along the way. For example, if you wanted to stay a night or two in the Door County peninsula.

The western shores tend to be sandy beaches (MI side of L. Mich.) and the eastern shores, I believe, tend to be more stony. Not sure if that will matter to you, just thought I'd mention it.

When at Sleeping Bear area, if you'd like to swim, just north of Empire take Voice Rd west to Bar Lake Rd, and north to the N. Bar Lake. This nice little lake is separated from L. Michigan by a sand bar and is much warmer than the big lake, but you can walk just a little ways (maybe 50 yards?) and be at the big lake too.

In Mackinaw City, at the dead end by the dock entrance, walk north (left) a half-block to the local bakery. Great pecan rolls and the best homestyle cinnamon bread I've eaten (outside of my sister's kitchen). Mackinac Island is a great place to ride a bike all the way around the island (no cars, nice water views), so take bikes if you have 'em or plan to rent some on the island.

If you get as far west as Manistique, the Big Spring at Palms Book SP is worth a visit. Blue-green water so clear you can easily see the fish at the bottom, 40' below. That plus historic Fayette SP would make a nice little day trip.

[sch911]

I'd go up US31, US131, or US127 all in Central/Western Michigan.