Did you know this scenic waterfront drive on Lake Michigan has some of the best views in the entire Mitten State? We’ll even give you a bonus stop: at the final stop on this scenic Lake Michigan road trip, guests can take a staircase from Bayfront Park to Sunset Park, which happens to be home to one of the best sunset views in the Mitten State!
Starting at Old Mission Point Park in Traverse City and ending at Bayfront Park in Petoskey, this satisfying road trip should take about two hours and cover almost 90 miles of Michigan coastline.
1. Old Mission Point Park - Traverse City
Old Mission Point Park, 4001-4475 Murray Rd, Traverse City, MI 49686, USA
Old Mission Point Park offers well-marked trails that provide visitors with stunning views of both the bay and surrounding woods. Don't miss the log cabin and the Mission Point Lighthouse, both excellent photo ops.
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2. Elk Rapids Day Park - Elk Rapids
Elk Rapids Day Park, 920 S Bay Shore Dr, Elk Rapids, MI 49629, USA
At Elk Rapids Day Park, visitors can experience more than just the wonders of nature. Thanks to local non-profit Art Rapids!, this gorgeous park is also home to the Walk of Art Sculpture Park which features more than 30 outdoor works of art.
The crystal clear waters at William Good Day Park seem almost unreal. This hidden gem on Lake Michigan is wonderful for swimming. Bonus: this park offers ADA-accessible bathrooms.
4. Antrim Creek Natural Area - Ellsworth, MI
Antrim Creek Natural Area, 9890 Old Dixie Hwy, Ellsworth, MI 49729, USA
Up next is Antrim Creek Natural Area, which was rescued from residential development in the 90s and has been managed by Antrim County since 1996. Home to a wide array of landscapes including dunes, wetlands, meadows, swamps, forests, and more, this Northern Michigan park has seemingly endless views.
5. North Point Nature Preserve - Charlevoix
North Point Nature Preserve, Mt McSauba Rd, Charlevoix, MI 49720, USA
Featuring a stretch of untouched nature in a tourist town, North Point Nature Preserve is a perfect choice for a beach stop... or a short hike to stretch your legs.
6. Bayfront Park - Petoskey
Bayfront Park, 101 E Lake St, Petoskey, MI 49770, USA
Your scenic waterfront drive on Lake Michigan comes to an end at Bayfront Park which features a pier, marina, waterfalls, and much more. Pack a cookout to grill at one of the park's cooking areas or...
…Swing by the Petoskey Pretzel Co. for one of the freshest soft pretzels you’ll ever taste! And you can add on another scenic road trip after an overnight stay at this gorgeous rental just minutes from all the action in downtown Petoskey.
Do you know of any other stops we could add to our scenic waterfront drive on Lake Michigan? We’d love to hear about it in the comments!
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