12 days in Midwest Itinerary

Madison might be the capital of Wisconsin, but students rather than politicians give the city its identity.

Start off your visit on the 13th (Fri): identify plant and animal life at Aldo Leopold Nature Center, then admire the natural beauty at Olbrich Botanical Gardens, and then look for all kinds of wild species at Owens Conservation Park.

To see traveler tips, other places to visit, ratings, and tourist information, you can read our Madison road trip planner.

Philadelphia to Madison is an approximately 6-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a bus. The time zone difference moving from Eastern Standard Time to Central Standard Time is minus 1 hour. Prepare for slightly colder weather when traveling from Philadelphia in August: high temperatures in Madison hover around 80°F and lows are around 60°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 13th (Fri) so you can go by car to Chicago.

A huge and vibrant city, Chicago is home to top-notch theaters, shops, museums, galleries, and restaurants.

Get in touch with nature at Boat Tours & Water Sports and Rosewood Beach. There's lots more to do: explore the world behind art at The Art Institute of Chicago, enjoy breathtaking views from 360 Chicago Observation Deck, admire the local landmark of Buckingham Fountain, and make a trip to Skydeck Chicago - Willis Tower.

To see ratings and more tourist information, go to the Chicago trip itinerary maker tool.

Traveling by car from Madison to Chicago takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or fly. Traveling from Madison in August, Chicago is a bit warmer at night with lows of 67°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 16th (Mon) early enough to drive to Hart.

Hart is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. Kick off your visit on the 17th (Tue): admire the majestic nature at Silver Lake State Park, then stroll around Silver Lake State Park Pedestrian Dune Access, and then explore by horseback at Rainbow Ranch is now Stony Lake Stables.

To see reviews, ratings, more things to do, and other tourist information, use the Hart travel route planner.

Getting from Chicago to Hart by car takes about 4 hours. The time zone difference moving from Central Standard Time to Eastern Standard Time is 1 hour. Traveling from Chicago in August, expect Hart to be a bit cooler, temps between 76°F and 57°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 17th (Tue) so you can travel to Traverse City.

Traverse City might be well known for its huge cherry industry, but its position along Grand Traverse Bay in Lake Michigan endows it with fine scenery and a wealth of outdoor attractions.

Start off your visit on the 18th (Wed): enjoy the sand and surf at Lake Michigan Beach Park and then grab your bike and head to Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation Trails. Here are some ideas for day two: explore the striking landscape of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

For where to stay, maps, other places to visit, and tourist information, refer to the Traverse City trip planner.

You can drive from Hart to Traverse City in 2.5 hours. In August, daytime highs in Traverse City are 79°F, while nighttime lows are 60°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 19th (Thu) to allow enough time to travel to Mackinac Island.

Mackinac Island is a city in Mackinac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Start off your visit on the 20th (Fri): take in the dramatic natural features at Arch Rock, then look for all kinds of wild species at The Original Mackinac Island Butterfly House & Insect World, and then identify plant and animal life at Great Turtle Kayak Tours.

To find reviews, where to stay, ratings, and other tourist information, use the Mackinac Island online attractions planner.

Getting from Traverse City to Mackinac Island by combination of bus and ferry takes about 5 hours. While traveling from Traverse City, expect a bit cooler days and about the same nights in Mackinac Island, ranging from highs of 72°F to lows of 59°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 20th (Fri) early enough to travel to Munising.

Munising is a city on the southern shore of Lake Superior on the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. On the 21st (Sat), look for all kinds of wild species at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and then admire the sheer force of Spray Falls. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 22nd (Sun): take a tour by water with Boat Tours & Water Sports, kick back and relax at Miner's Beach, and then explore the striking landscape at Miners Castle Rock.

To see traveler tips, maps, where to stay, and tourist information, refer to the Munising trip planner.

Traveling by combination of ferry, bus, and car from Mackinac Island to Munising takes 7 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of ferry, bus, and taxi. In August, daily temperatures in Munising can reach 74°F, while at night they dip to 57°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 22nd (Sun) early enough to travel to Keystone.

Fewer than 400 people call Keystone home year-round, but the population explodes in summer when crowds flock to nearby Mount Rushmore.

Kick off your visit on the 23rd (Mon): explore the striking landscape of Mount Rushmore National Memorial, then admire all the interesting features of Iron Mountain Road, then immerse yourself in nature at Custer State Park, and finally take in the dramatic natural features at Needles Eye Tunnel.

To find maps, more things to do, photos, and more tourist information, refer to the Keystone day trip planning site.

You can do a combination of taxi and flight from Munising to Keystone in 8.5 hours. Other options are to drive; or do a combination of car, bus, and taxi. Due to the time zone difference, you'll gain 2 hours traveling from Munising to Keystone. Expect slightly colder evenings in Keystone when traveling from Munising in August, with lows around 51°F. On the 24th (Tue), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can travel back home.