Cheap summer getaways in Michigan
On the Upper Peninsula and Lake Michigan shores, vacation for as little as $100.
© Beth Gauper
With shoreline on three Great Lakes, Michigan is a popular destination in summer.
But it's still one of the best places to go for a budget beach vacation, thanks to the state parks.
They offer a huge array of cabins and lodges as well as campsites, though you have to reserve far in advance for a place in Lower Michigan parks.
It's much easier to find a last-minute campsite on the Upper Peninsula. Its lakeshores are lined by state, county and municipal parks, and its interior is mostly national forest.
Its relative remoteness — Detroit is closer to Washington, D.C., than Ironwood — not only keeps crowds away but gives the area an old-fashioned atmosphere that many find appealing. You can dine cheaply at pasty shops and mom-and-pop drive-ins, instead of cookie-cutter franchises.
Here are some of the best budget vacations in western Michigan and the U.P.
For travel in neighboring states, see Cheap summer getaways in Wisconsin, Cheap summer getaways in Minnesota and Cheap summer getaways in Iowa and Illinois.
Becoming an Outdoors Woman
Women who want to learn outdoors skills - fishing, hunting, canoeing, backpacking — can join one of the Michigan DNR's inexpensive Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshops, with such activities as kayaking and fishing.
Often, there's a Summer Workshop at Big Bay Health Camp in Big Bay on Lake Superior, west of Marquette. Cost of $200 includes lodging, meals and gear.
They fill quickly, so reserve as soon as possible.
Roots music on the lake
Between Harbor Springs and Cross Village, where the Legs Inn is a popular stop on the Circle Tour of Lake Michigan, the next Blissfest will be July 8-10 in 2022.
© Beth Gauper
This family-friendly folk and roots festival on a farm includes reggae, country, zydeco, jazz and Celtic music on three stages and four workshop areas. There's also a juried arts and crafts fair.
Adult tickets for all three days is $193, $70 for teens, and they include rustic camping.
Blues in Marquette
The annual Labor Day weekend Marquette Area Blues Fest brings blues musicians to Mattson Lower Harbor Park over Labor Day weekend.
Weekend passes are $50, $30 daily, and daily passes for young adults ages 15 to 23 are $10. They include free workshops.
There's no camping on-site, but you could camp at the municipal Tourist Park on the north edge of town or stay in one of six rustic cabins $70, in Little Presque Isle State Forest, six miles north of town along Lake Superior.
Lake Michigan beach cabins
Michigan state parks have hundreds of mini-cabins, rustic cabins, camper cabins and even yurts, $45-$80. Many are in prime locations on Lake Superior or in Lake Michigan beach parks.
For summer weekends, reserve far in advance. For more, see Michigan's great lake cabins.
Tubing on a river
On the Paw Paw River in southwest Michigan, Paw Paw River Campground & Canoes offers all-day tubing for $15. Campsites are $20-$30.
You can also tube on the Big Sable River in resort-like Ludington State Park, staying either in a tent or one of the park's three mini-cabins.
© Beth Gauper
Family bicycling tours
Michigan has more miles of rail trails than any other state and an active bicycling culture, with many organized bicycle tours.
That's a great way to see the countryside and make a lot of friends, too. Many of the best are fund-raising rides, and if you raise the minimum, you pay only the registration fee.
On June 18-24 in 2022, the annual PALM, Pedal Across Lower Michigan tour starts on Lake Michigan and heads east to Lake Huron.
Cost for six nights is $140, $80 for youths 11-17 and $70 for children 10 and under. It includes camping, baggage transport, entertainment, maps, a T-shirt and a box lunch the last day.
© Torsten Muller
For more, see Bicycling in western Michigan.
Dorm rooms in Traverse City
This fun beach town fills up in summer, especially during National Cherry Festival.
To stay on budget, reserve a room at Northwestern Michigan College. Single rooms are $55, and two-room family suites are $90, and use of bicycles is complimentary.
For more, see The good life in Traverse City.
There's also a mini-cabin in busy Traverse City State Park, across from the East Arm of Grand Traverse Bay.
© David Kenyon/DNR
Living in a lighthouse
Many lighthouses on Lake Michigan and Lake Superior give free housing to volunteer keepers in return for help with tours and light maintenance.
At Au Sable Light in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on the Upper Peninsula and Big Sable Light near Ludington, volunteers stay at former keepers' quarters. Others stay in former state-park manager houses or in cabins.
For more, see Living in a lighthouse.
Yurts on the Upper Peninsula
Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park rents four comfortable yurtsthat sleep four in bunk beds, $68. Two are on Lake Superior's Union Bay. The park also has rustic cabins that sleep eight, also $68.
For more, see Afoot in the Porkies.
There's also a yurt on Teddy Lake in Craig Lake State Park, west of Marquette.
Stays in a tepee
Like yurts, tepees, or tipis, are made of canvas, and they sleep four in bunk beds or cots. Cost is $37, and there are two at Cheboygan State Park on Lake Huron, near Mackinaw City.
Cabins in Copper Harbor
At the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula, you can stay inexpensively while waiting for the Isle Royale ferry, sea kayaking or mountain biking on nearby trails.
In Fort Wilkins Historic State Park, stay on the shore of Lake Fanny Hooe in a two-bedroom cabin, $74.
© Beth Gauper
There are also several mom-and-pop resorts in town, including the Bella Vista Motel on the harbor waterfront and Minnetonka Resort on the main street.
Outdoors in Ironwood
In winter, this Upper Peninsula town is a mecca for skiing and snowmobiling. In the summer, you can hike to the waterfalls along the Black River and on the North Country National Scenic Trail, or take an elevator to the top of Copper Peak Flying Hill.
Join an outdoors club
Traveling with an outdoors club is one of the best deals you can get. You need to be a member to go on overnight trips, but you don't need to live in the town where the club is based; you can meet the group at the destination.
In the southwest part of the state, the Great Lakes Adventure Club plans biking, hiking, paddling and backpacking trips.
In the northwest part of the state, the Traverse Area Paddle Club plans trips for members, camping or staying in cabins. The Grand Traverse Hiking Club plans trips on 100 miles of the North Country National Scenic Trail, and the Cherry Capital Cycling Club plans bicycling trips.
For more about traveling with outdoors clubs, see Join the club.
Budget trips year-round
If you like to plan ahead, see Cheap fall getaways, Cheap winter getaways and Cheap spring getaways.