Northeast Wisconsin is noted for its spectacular scenery along the Lake Michigan shoreline and has many curved roads and rocky coastlines.
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Photos by Todd and Brad Reed Photography
The Lake Michigan Circle Tour is one of the most scenic routes in the United States. As the name implies, the tour follows state highways around Lake Michigan, through Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The entire tour is an ambitious undertaking, so for planning purposes, and ease of travel, we are dividing the Lake Michigan Circle Tour into nine regions (details below), with links to the specific Lake Michigan destinations within each region.
Did you know? Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake with the entire lakeshore located in the United States. The other four Great Lakes (Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, and Lake Erie) share a shoreline with Canada.
How big is Lake Michigan? Lake Michigan has a surface area of 22,404 square miles, and it’s the 5th largest lake in the world! Lake Michigan is so big, we divided it into nine travel regions, as shown below. Each region is uniquely different, though all have amazing beauty and some very cool attractions.
Northeast Wisconsin is noted for its spectacular scenery along the Lake Michigan shoreline and has many curved roads and rocky coastlines.
Northwest Michigan is all about small towns, big dunes, beautiful lakes, and the most scenic roads in between.
Southeast Wisconsin segment of the Lake Michigan Circle Tour includes the counties of Kenosha, Racine, Ozaukee, and Sheboygan.
Southwest Michigan boasts the Silver Beach County Park with an historic merry-go-round along with the St. Joseph North Pier Lighthouse.
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has shoreline along Lake Michigan and Lake Superior and is one of the most beautiful areas in the state.
The Illinois lakeshore is the most densely populated region around Lake Michigan, because it is home to the city of Chicago and its suburbs.
Northern Michigan is a very popular destination and includes attractions like the Tunnel of Trees from Harbor Springs to Cross Village.
The northwest area of Indiana has miles of beautiful Lake Michigan beachfront perfect for swimming, sunning, boating, and relaxing.
The Central West Michigan lakeshore includes Grand Haven, Holland, and Muskegon. Smaller destinations include Pentwater and Silver Lake.
Big Sable Lighthouse in the Ludington State Park
photo by Todd and Brad Reed Photography
Lake Michigan has over 100 lighthouses, so it’s easy to see why travelers interested in visiting lighthouses will love to explore the entire shoreline of Lake Michigan. The historical significance of lighthouses, as well as their various shapes and colors, make this a fascinating tour. From St. Joseph’s North Pier Light in southwestern Michigan all the way north to McGulpin Point Lighthouse at the Straits of Mackinac….the western coast of Michigan alone has about 35 lighthouses. The Wisconsin coast of Lake Michigan boasts about the same number, including a wonderful cluster of lighthouses in Door County, Wisconsin.
Click the button above for a list of all the lighthouses around Lake Michigan, organized into the nine travel regions. We hope this helps you plan your Lighthouse Lovers Itinerary.
Browse our Featured Lighthouses by selecting a lighthouse article from the carousel below.
Built in 1875, the White River Light Station is located in Whitehall, Michigan, and situated between Lake Michigan and White Lake.
Visit the Pentwater Pierhead Lights at the Charles Mears State Park in the charming village of Pentwater, Michigan.
First lit in 1869, the McGulpin Point Lighthouse was a pivotal navigational tool for ships on Lake Michigan.
In Northern Michigan, you'll find working lighthouses that assist boaters and historic lighthouses that are open to visitors.
The Big Sable Point Lighthouse is a black-and-white striped, 112 foot lighthouse in the Ludington State Park.
The Kewaunee Pierhead Lighthouse is one of only 6 in Wisconsin where a fifth-order Fresnel lens is still in use.
The northeastern shoreline of Wisconsin is home to many magnificent Lake Michigan Lighthouses.
The Little Traverse Lighthouse, also called the Harbor Springs Lighthouse or Harbor Point Lighthouse, was first lit in 1884.
The Grand Traverse Lighthouse is situated at the end of the Leelanau Peninsula within the Leelanau State Park.
Built in 1918, the Manitowoc Breakwater Light has undergone multiple upgrades. The lighthouse is still operational today.
Little Sable Point Lighthouse is a 107′ brick structure, constructed in 1874. It's one of the tallest lighthouses in Michigan.
The Grand Haven Lighthouse has two lights on the south pier, both painted red, that are connected by a lighted catwalk.
Standing tall and proud along the shores of Lake Michigan, Point Betsie marks the southern entrance to the Manitou Passage.
The Algoma Light, is a red, steel structure overlooking Lake Michigan. In 1932, the lighthouse that is in place today was relocated to Algoma.
The majestic Straits of Mackinac and the Mackinac Bridge are the backdrop for the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse in Mackinaw City, Michigan.
Ludington's North Breakwater Lighthouse is Ludington's focal point and The Weather Channel ranks it in the top 10 lighthouses in the U.S.
The North Pierhead Lighthouse in Manistee was first built in 1869. Then it burned in the Great Fire and a new one was constructed in 1872.
The Sand Dunes of Lake Michigan
photo by Todd and Brad Reed Photography
You’ve probably hear of the world famous Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes National Lakeshore, and there are many more dunes and beaches to discover around Lake Michigan.
Whitefish Dunes State Park, on the eastern shore of Door Peninsula, in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, is set upon 865 acres along Lake Michigan.
Hamlin Lake, just north of Ludington, has sand dunes that people love to visit. It's a popular spot for boating, jet skiing, and more.
Along the Lake Michigan shoreline between Ludington and Manistee, you’ll find a quiet area in all its natural splendor, the Nordhouse Dunes.
Lake Michigan boasts an abundance of beautiful dunes, thanks to the westerly winds that take the sand and blow it into dune formations.
Piping Plovers scamper across the sand at the edge of Lake Michigan and are a sign of summer for locals and visitors to the area.
35 miles along Lake Michigan, with two islands and 21 inland lakes, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a hot tourist destination.
Silver Lake Sand Dunes offers sand dune adventures and much more! Ride the dunes, splash in Silver Lake, and enjoy the expansive dune views!
The S.S. Badger car ferry arriving in Port Ludington, Michigan
photo by Todd and Brad Reed Photography
A trip into Lake Michigan, or a cruise across the lake should be on your bucket list! Cross lake car ferries will take you and your vehicle between Manitowoc, Wisconsin and Ludington, Michigan, or from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Muskegon, Michigan. Shorter ferry trips will take you to Mackinac Island, Beaver Island, Washington Island, and other destinations.
Here are suggested Circle Tour routes which utilize one of Lake Michigan’s ferry services to take a short cut across the lake.
Lake Michigan is rich with car ferry history, and the SS Badger car ferry is the most storied of the car ferry fleet.
The Highway US-10 continuance crosses Lake Michigan between Manitowoc, Wisconsin and Ludington, Michigan via the SS Badger car ferry.
Cross Lake Michigan between Manitowoc, Wisconsin and Ludington, Michigan on the SS Badger car ferry. Save the driving and enjoy a cruise!
Do you want to travel between Traverse City, Michigan and Green Bay, Wisconsin? Take a short cut across Lake Michigan on the car ferry.
There are two car ferries operating on Lake Michigan, offering cross-lake service for vehicles and passengers between Michigan and Wisconsin.
The Port of Manitowoc is a deep water draft commercial harbor on Lake Michigan, and the Wisconsin port for the SS Badger car ferry.
Manitowoc is the Wisconsin port for the S.S. Badger Car Ferry which sails across Lake Michigan to Ludington.
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