Lake Michigan Beach Towns in Michigan That are Perfect for Your Fall Roadtrip
Summertime on Lake Michigan is hard to beat,
especially as a kid growing up in a Lake Michigan beach town. Summer means no school, hanging out with friends, stopping by the beach every day at least once a day, and the occasional aloe gel treatment because you got another sunburn.
The east coast of Lake Michigan runs along the western side of the state of Michigan, and if you ask me, this is one of the most beautiful slices of the entire world.
Now as an adult that’s moved to the Detroit metro area, spring and summer always find me achingly nostalgic for those days on Lake Michigan, when my life was relatively easy and I had unlimited access to one of the most beautiful natural resources in the country.
I always knew that if I had a baby, I’d want to share my love for Lake Michigan (and this particular section of the state of Michigan) with them as soon as possible.
That dream is finally being realized now that our baby is over a year old, can walk, sing, dance, and run, and loves to explore everything around them at all times.
What’s so great about fall?
As I said, when I was a kid I absolutely LOVED living in a touristy beach town in the summer. It was exciting to head downtown for big events like the Gus Macker basketball tournament, to meet up with friends to watch the parades, and of course to see if there were any cute out-of-town boys we should be getting to know.
As I’ve gotten older and less fond of big crowds, I’m pleasantly reminded that fall along Lake Michigan is also an absolutely dreamy time of year.
After Labor Day weekend, the massive crowds of tourists are pretty much gone, with parents heading back home for work and kids getting ready to start the new school year.
Hellooooo again to those prime beach locations, the best restaurants without a huge wait, and no lines in the shops along the main streets - and the weather is still gorgeous.
Lake Michigan spends all summer heating up, which means that by the time fall rolls around she’s about as warm as she’ll get all year before she starts cooling down again over the winter (which is what keeps our Lake Michigan beach towns cooler over the hot summers).
What’s the best way to get there?
If you’re able to, it’s a relatively easy drive. When it was just me, I could make the drive from my new home in metro Detroit to my hometown of Ludington, Michigan in about 3 and a half hours.
Now with a kiddo that needs breaks to eat, stretch out, and get a fresh diaper, it’s usually safe to count on a 5 hour journey.
I really recommend checking your map to see what the best route west is, even if you know the way by heart (like me) because traffic can really pile up on a bad day and add hours to your drive.
If you’re flying in, you’ll want to look at Grand Rapids (GRR), Muskegon (MKG), or Traverse City (TVC). There are also many options for small local airports you can fly into all along the coast!
Where should we go?
Ideally, you’ll head north to start this beautiful fall roadtrip so you can catch the leaves changing color and then work your way down the coast from there.
Some towns are small and can be done in a day, but you might find one or two that you’ll want to stay in for a few days, or longer!
I’ve lived in Michigan all my life, and these are my favorite Lake Michigan beach towns that I am planning to share with our baby in the coming years (these cities run from the northern tip of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan along the west side of the state down to the border with Indiana)
Harbor Springs
Petosky
Charlevoix
Leland
Suttons Bay
Torch Lake
Empire
Traverse City
Arcadia
Manistee
Ludington
Pentwater
Grand Haven
Holland
Saugatuck
South Haven
St. Joe/Benton Harbor
New Buffalo
Enjoy your fall roadtrip!
I’m Erin, your travel bestie. Based in Michigan with plans to see the entire globe, I am passionate about empowering my travel clients to create and experience your very best adventure. After studying abroad in Rome during college, marrying the love of my life in 2020 (COVID wedding!), and becoming a mom, I know that we all want to spend less time stressing on the internet and more time enjoying the people we love. Let me help you achieve this by taking on the work of your next vacation so you can spend more time enjoying your people.
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