Community Forums

rrtribble · 08-07-2018, 12:08 PM

Planning UP trip from Springfield, IL beginning of September (after Labor Day)

Looking to leave Springfield, IL up through Rockford, IL West of Milwaukee before heading to the coast of Lake MI and heading North then Rte 2 thru UP and down West side of MI before heading home.

Looking for info on road conditions, campgrounds, boondocking, etc.

Thanks in advance - Richard

momdoc · 08-07-2018, 03:01 PM

You may find some of the campgrounds maybe closed and plan on driving in some snow as well.

Pirate · 08-07-2018, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by momdoc

You may find some of the campgrounds maybe closed and plan on driving in some snow as well.

He said September.

BillJinOR · 08-07-2018, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by momdoc

You may find some of the campgrounds maybe closed and plan on driving in some snow as well.

Wow , my group of RV friends are doing the UP leaving From Spokane sept 17.. until Oct 1 the group leader had no problem getting reservations anywhere. Cool weather sure but snow? Guess anything is possible.

Props2 · 08-07-2018, 08:49 PM

Rt 39 north to Rockford,piece of cake. Assuming your taking I-43 just north of Beloit. Lots of road construction right there in that area. Rt-43 north towards Milwaukee is a washboard ( but little traffic) till you get east of Rt 12 (Elkhorn),Then excellent road to Milwaukee. Take 894 bypass to Rt43 north thru downtown. You do not want to take 41 north thru Milwaukee, major road work going on and a pita.43 just north of Milwaukee is not a good road for about 15 miles, gets better going north. Get thru Milwaukee during the day and it should be fine. I dont have any info north of Green Bay. Enjoy your trip.

RV735 · 08-08-2018, 05:11 AM

As you start your trip on RT-2 after exiting I-75 and turn West be sure to stop at Timmy Lee's Pub. It is 2 miles west of the I-75 exit. They have some of the best fresh lake fish anywhere. Excellent White Fish sandwiches. A classic tavern with comfort food. Fisherman are welcome. Visited by Mike Rowe.

Safe Travels and THE JOY IS IN THE RIDE

Jake21 · 08-08-2018, 08:43 AM

Wagon Trail campground up near Ellison Bay in Door county is a very nice place. Full hook ups are limited so book early. Great cycling area.

jimcumminsw · 08-09-2018, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pirate

He said September.

Several years ago my wife and I along with our children spent the middle of July camping at Baraga St Park, Keweenaw Bay of Lake Superior. The first night we camped there the night time temps drop to 31F they had frost. Freeze warnings where posted for the area. Anything is possible in the "UPPER" area.

Big Dude · 08-09-2018, 09:55 AM

We are going the opposite direction now and have come up the MI west coast to Mackinaw City. We came up US-31 and it was very good from Holland to Ludington but except for a few short places of newer surface the remainder was not so good with the paved over concrete joint cracks. Unfortunately, if you want to be near the coast, there aren't many options.

Blondiega1 · 08-09-2018, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillJinOR

Wow , my group of RV friends are doing the UP leaving From Spokane sept 17.. until Oct 1 the group leader had no problem getting reservations anywhere. Cool weather sure but snow? Guess anything is possible.

We're going up to the UP from Georgia, Sept 13 -31.

HighDesert · 08-09-2018, 11:30 AM

I had the pleasure if being stationed at Sault Ste Marie, Mi, on the UP one winter. Got there is September and never saw the ground again until I left in May and there was 15 feet of snow on the ground. Be prepared for any kind of weather and cold, as it happens fast. I have been is snowstorms in July in Colorado, so anything is possible.

twogypsies · 08-09-2018, 12:15 PM

As soon as you enter the UP stop at the first visitor center & pick up the waterfall map. The western area of the UP has many beauties and most are very easy to get to.

Fort Wilkins State Park at Copper Harbor, MI is very interesting. Munising, MI is near Pictured Rocks Nat'l Lakeshore. Stay at Taquamenon Falls State Park and do the short drive up to the Great Lakes Shipping Museum. Naturally, there's Mackinac Island to explore. From Mackinaw City (yes, two different spellings) take 31 to Petoskey and down to Traverse City.... a beautiful drive.

Be sure to include Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore just west of Traverse City, MI. Platte River campground in the park is awesome but it's now so popular that reservations are needed. We've volunteered there. That whole peninsula and the quaint little towns are beautiful in Fall.

Enjoy your trip!

DA_BUS · 08-12-2018, 07:00 PM

Copper Harbor has a great german restaurant

Harbor Haus Restaurant - Copper Harbor, Michigan

Done the whole area...western Michigan has a hidden gem called Fish Town.

Fishtown : Leland

Lots of good stuff to check out.

doug121041 · 08-13-2018, 09:20 AM

If you stop in St. Ignace, plan to stay at Tiki RV Park. Nice park, reasonable rates and friendly staff (it's a Passport America park). Plan to take the boat ride over to Mackinac Island (shuttle from the boat docks will pick you up at Tiki).

Other favorite spots to visit in the UP of Michigan include the locks at Sault Ste Marie, Tahquamenon Falls, Picture Rocks and sunken ship tours in Munising and the copper country - - visit the Keweenaw National Park headquarters and exhibits in Calumet, north of Houghton. We've staid at the Lake Linden Village Campground when in the Keneenaw area & the City of Munising RV Park when in Munising.

In the Western UP are the Porcupine Mountains and many waterfalls along the Black & Presque Isle Rivers as they flow north into Lake Superior.