15 days in Great Lakes USA Itinerary

Sandusky positively bustles in the summertime due to its famed amusement park.

Start off your visit on the 1st (Thu): steep yourself in history at Eleutheros Cooke House and Garden and then cool off at Cedar Point.

To see where to stay and other tourist information, use the Sandusky journey planner.

Washington DC to Sandusky is an approximately 6-hour flight. You can also drive; or do a combination of bus and train. Prepare for a bit cooler weather when traveling from Washington DC in July: high temperatures in Sandusky hover around 82°F and lows are around 66°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 1st (Thu) early enough to go by car to Ludington.

Ludington is a city in the state of Michigan. Start off your visit on the 2nd (Fri): see Off-Road Tours, then stroll through Rainbow Ranch is now Stony Lake Stables, and then kick back and relax at Silver Lake State Park Pedestrian Dune Access. On the 3rd (Sat), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: walk around Ludington State Park, then walk around Ludington Waterfront Park, and then kick back and relax at Stearns Park.

To see traveler tips, where to stay, ratings, and more tourist information, go to the Ludington trip builder app.

Drive from Sandusky to Ludington in 6 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of flight and car; or do a combination of bus and taxi. Plan for slightly colder temperatures traveling from Sandusky in July, with highs in Ludington at 76°F and lows at 57°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 3rd (Sat) to allow enough time to drive to Empire.

Empire is a village in Leelanau County in the U.S. On the 4th (Sun), explore the wealth of natural beauty at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. On the 5th (Mon), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: explore and take pictures at Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, hike along Empire Bluff Trail, and then hike along Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail.

For more things to do, maps, traveler tips, and other tourist information, refer to the Empire online road trip planner.

You can drive from Ludington to Empire in 2 hours. In July, daily temperatures in Empire can reach 75°F, while at night they dip to 57°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 5th (Mon) to allow enough time to travel to Mackinac Island.

Mackinac Island is a city in Mackinac County in the U.S. On the 6th (Tue), see some colorful creatures with Great Turtle Kayak Tours, take in the local highlights with Fort Mackinac, and then explore the striking landscape at Arch Rock.

To find reviews, ratings, and more tourist information, you can read our Mackinac Island tour planning tool.

You can do a combination of taxi, bus, and ferry from Empire to Mackinac Island in 5.5 hours. Expect a daytime high around 73°F in July, and nighttime lows around 58°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 6th (Tue) 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. Venture out of the city with trips to Manistique (Kitch-Iti-Kipi (The Big Spring) & Palms Book State Park). And it doesn't end there: walk around Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, take in the dramatic natural features at Miners Castle Rock, admire the sheer force of Spray Falls, and enjoy the sand and surf at Sand Point Beach.

For where to stay, photos, other places to visit, and more tourist information, refer to the Munising sightseeing site.

Getting from Mackinac Island to Munising by combination of ferry, bus, and car takes about 7 hours. Other options: do a combination of ferry, bus, and taxi. In July in Munising, expect temperatures between 74°F during the day and 56°F at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 9th (Fri) to allow enough time to travel to Ontonagon.

Start off your visit on the 10th (Sat): take a peaceful walk through Porcupine Mountains State Park, admire the sheer force of Bond Falls, and then go deep underground at Adventure Mining Company.

To find reviews, ratings, other places to visit, and more tourist information, read our Ontonagon trip planning website.

Getting from Munising to Ontonagon by car takes about 3 hours. In July in Ontonagon, expect temperatures between 75°F during the day and 55°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 10th (Sat) early enough to travel to Wisconsin Dells.

Named after a nearby scenic gorge famous for its steep sandstone formations, Wisconsin Dells features more than 20 water parks, making it one of the most popular vacation areas in this region.

Kick off your visit on the 11th (Sun): have some family-friendly fun at Capones Old Time Pic. Studio, tee off at Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf, then whizz through the canopy at some of the top local zipline courses and adventure parks, and finally race across the water with a speed boat tour.

To find more things to do, ratings, other places to visit, and tourist information, go to the Wisconsin Dells trip planner.

Traveling by car from Ontonagon to Wisconsin Dells takes 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of car and flight. You'll gain 1 hour traveling from Ontonagon to Wisconsin Dells due to the time zone difference. In July, daily temperatures in Wisconsin Dells can reach 80°F, while at night they dip to 59°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 11th (Sun) to allow enough time to drive to Chicago.

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

Chicago is known for museums, parks, and nightlife. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: explore the world behind art at The Art Institute of Chicago, walk around Millennium Park, get to know the resident critters at Lincoln Park Zoo, and get up close and personal with brilliant marine life at Shedd Aquarium.

For ratings, maps, and more tourist information, read Chicago trip planner.

Drive from Wisconsin Dells to Chicago in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or do a combination of train and flight. Expect somewhat warmer evenings in Chicago when traveling from Wisconsin Dells in July, with lows around 67°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 15th (Thu) to allow time to travel back home.