Community Forums

Tilted Kilt · 05-18-2023, 06:25 PM

I will be travelling from north Georgia to Michigan's Northern Peninsular. I'm driving a class A motorhome. I'm hoping to get good advice from someone with experience on the best highways to travel or what roads and highways to avoid on this trip.

Thank you in advance:

be-happy · 05-19-2023, 02:51 AM

Which way are you planning on getting to the UP? Through lower Michigan or through WI? Have traveled both ways and really found no roads troublesome. Theres just alot of highway between Georgia and UP.

**hamm2018** · 05-19-2023, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tilted Kilt

I will be travelling from north Georgia to Michigan's Northern Peninsular. I'm driving a class A motorhome. I'm hoping to get good advice from someone with experience on the best highways to travel or what roads and highways to avoid on this trip.

Thank you in advance:

We just went from Fredericksburg, Texas to Yellowstone NP, in 10 days, there was road construction in every state. Last year on I-75 near London, Ky, there was major road construction, but the traffic was not an issue. It seems this is orange barrel season, so take caution.

USS Holland AS-32 Site 1 Holy Loch, Scotland 81-82

OldBaldFat · 05-19-2023, 07:20 AM

Don't go through Chicago

twogypsies · 05-19-2023, 02:52 PM

Do you have any 'must do' stops once you get into Michigan or just high-tailing it to the Upper Peninsula?

There are various way to get through the Lower Peninsula of Michigan depending exactly where you're entering Michigan. We lived in SW Michigan to always took 131 north.

Road conditions? All highways are now in bad condition throughout the country!!

) Just go the way you want to see things.

I hope you have reservations because Michigan is extremely popular in summer.... especially the west side.

Don't pass up Sleeping Bear Dunes Nat'l Lakeshore. Northern Michigan is a favorite of ours. If you want to make a stop at the Mackinac Bridge area crossing into the Upper Peninsula, staying on the Upper Peninsula side might get you easier reservations. Both sides offer the ferry for a day trip to Mackinaw Island... no cars allowed. Have fun!

**pasdad1** · 05-19-2023, 03:08 PM

Do high and long bridges freak you out? The Mackinac bridge is 5 miles long, and can be shutdown temporarily to large vehicles if the winds are too high. Going through Wisconsin avoids the bridge.

I took the bridge going south in my 43 ft DP and went very slow (25mph) it was a little uncomfortable but doable.

twogypsies · 05-19-2023, 06:07 PM

The bridge rarely closes down in tourist season. In 66 years "The bridge has closed at least 21 times total according to MBA records." Winds have to be 65mph to close completely and that rarely happens in Michigan. Otherwise they'd only let you drive the center lanes in winds around 50mph which is also rare. Closure is mainly due to ice falling from the cables & towers during winter/early spring. No one drives fast over it as there's a low speed limit. It's an awesome experience for a beautiful bridge.

If you aren't comfortable driving it there are professional drivers available 24 hr./day who will do it for you for $10.

I sure wouldn't avoid Michigan because of the bridge. That's a focal point for many travelers!!

Tilted Kilt · 05-20-2023, 06:07 AM

We'll be driving north through Kentucky into Ohio: Dayton and Cleveland are two locations we want to stop at to see the US Air Force Museum and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, then up to the UP of Michigan through Ann Arbor. However, any suggestions would be welcomed, I have no experience in this area of the country, we've only travelled 23 states mostly northeast, central, and the south.

Tilted Kilt · 05-20-2023, 06:09 AM

We'll be travelling Wisconsin coming home, I'm actually looking forward to the bridge ride, so I'm hoping it will be open. Thanks for the heads-up.

Tilted Kilt · 05-20-2023, 06:26 AM

This is a great response thank you: We are brave souls and do not have reservations as we don't want to deal with arrival times on our trip. I will study RT 131 hoping it will work for us. Sleeping Bear Dunes Nat'l Lakeshore is now on our list of places to visit, thank you. This is our first trip in this area. We have plenty of time so any recommended stops would be appreciated, I can adjust my route accordingly.

Tilted Kilt · 05-20-2023, 06:28 AM

Thank you! yes, my flak jacket is at the dry cleaners.

AlanTerry · 05-20-2023, 07:00 AM

If you’re going through Michigan you might want to check out the Henry Ford museum and Deerfield village in Dearborn. Also Brooners Christmas Wonderland.

Tilted Kilt · 05-20-2023, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlanTerry

If you’re going through Michigan you might want to check out the Henry Ford museum and Deerfield village in Dearborn. Also Brooners Christmas Wonderland.

Thank you for those suggestions. I will see how they can work into our route.

Tilted Kilt · 05-20-2023, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twogypsies

Do you have any 'must do' stops once you get into Michigan or just high-tailing it to the Upper Peninsula?

There are various way to get through the Lower Peninsula of Michigan depending exactly where you're entering Michigan. We lived in SW Michigan to always took 131 north.

Road conditions? All highways are now in bad condition throughout the country!!

) Just go the way you want to see things.

I hope you have reservations because Michigan is extremely popular in summer.... especially the west side.

Don't pass up Sleeping Bear Dunes Nat'l Lakeshore. Northern Michigan is a favorite of ours. If you want to make a stop at the Mackinac Bridge area crossing into the Upper Peninsula, staying on the Upper Peninsula side might get you easier reservations. Both sides offer the ferry for a day trip to Mackinaw Island... no cars allowed. Have fun!

I will be crossing the bridge. Is there a place to pull over and spend some time there?