Stretching along Lake Michigan’s eastern shore, Michigan’s Gold Coast connects a chain of beach towns, harbors, and orchard-covered hills. Summer brings clear water and long daylight for swimming and hiking, while autumn fills the roads with color and fresh fruit stands.
From New Buffalo near the Indiana border to Mackinaw City by the Straits, this drive follows dunes, lighthouses, and small farms. Travelers find easy access to beaches, markets, and local cider stops. The route works in every season, offering lake views, peaceful trails, and welcoming downtowns that keep their local character year-round.
New Buffalo to St. Joseph: Harbor Country Beach Towns
Begin in New Buffalo, the southern gateway to Michigan’s shoreline. Its public beach has soft sand, gentle waves, and a pier that’s perfect for evening walks. Harbor Country’s nearby towns, Grand Beach, Lakeside, Harbert, Sawyer, Union Pier, and Three Oaks—feature small cafés, antique shops, and farm markets.
Inland, apple orchards and cider mills open late in summer and stay active through fall. Along the short drive north to St. Joseph, travelers find quiet overlooks and picnic spots. Silver Beach in St. Joseph is a broad public shore with playgrounds and lifeguards in season.
The downtown area has easy access to restaurants, a carousel, and summer events that keep the waterfront active without losing its relaxed pace.
South Haven: Beaches and Blueberry Farms
South Haven combines wide beaches, a working harbor, and farms known for Michigan’s best blueberries. North and South Beach both have clear swimming areas and gentle surf, with rentals available for kayaks and paddleboards.
Paths connect the waterfront to downtown, where shops and small museums fill historic buildings. A few miles inland, blueberry fields open for visitors to pick their own fruit during midsummer. Local bakeries serve fresh pies and preserves, and festivals highlight the harvest season.
The town’s compact layout makes it easy to move between beach time and farm visits in one day, creating one of the most balanced stops on the Gold Coast.
Saugatuck and Holland: Dunes, Orchards, and the Art Coast
Saugatuck and Holland combine art, agriculture, and nature within a short drive. In Saugatuck, trails at Saugatuck Dunes State Park lead through forested hills to quiet stretches of sand. The town’s riverfront boardwalk and ferry crossings give it an easy pace, while galleries and cafés add year-round energy.
Ten miles north, Holland features a walkable downtown and the famous Big Red Lighthouse at Holland State Park. Inland hills are lined with apple and cherry orchards that supply the local markets and wineries. Visitors can spend a morning walking dunes, then tour nearby farms or enjoy a lakeside picnic before sunset.
Grand Haven and Muskegon: Boardwalks and Beachside Parks
Grand Haven’s riverwalk links its downtown to the lighthouse pier, with boats, ice cream shops, and a nightly musical fountain show in summer. The main city beach is clean and wide, backed by simple lodging and casual restaurants. Fifteen miles north, Muskegon offers larger parks and forested dunes at Pere Marquette and Muskegon State Park.
Biking routes connect the towns, while calm inland lakes provide good conditions for paddling. September brings apple sales and roadside cider stands throughout the countryside. Visitors can also tour maritime museums or take the cross-lake ferry to Wisconsin. Both towns combine active waterfronts with quiet natural areas ideal for day trips or weekend stays.
Silver Lake and Ludington: Sand Dunes and Historic Lighthouses
Silver Lake is best known for its extensive dune system, which features hiking trails and designated driving zones that draw visitors who enjoy open sand and stunning lake views. Small inland lakes nearby are good for swimming and boating, while local farms sell seasonal fruit and honey.
North of Silver Lake, Ludington balances beach recreation with maritime heritage. The Big Sable Point Lighthouse is reached by a scenic trail through the state park, offering views of the shoreline and pine forest. Fishing charters operate from the harbor, and the town’s restaurants serve local whitefish and cider from nearby orchards.
This stretch marks the transition from southern beach towns to more rugged northern coastlines.
Leelanau Peninsula and Sleeping Bear Dunes: Scenic Shores and Cherry Orchards
The Leelanau Peninsula showcases Michigan’s combination of coastal scenery and agriculture. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore protects miles of dunes, forests, and inland lakes.
The Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive provides overlooks that display the vastness of Lake Michigan. Trails vary from easy nature paths to challenging climbs down to the beach. Inland routes lead through cherry orchards and wineries that produce regional ciders and fruit wines.
Villages such as Glen Arbor, Empire, and Leland maintain small harbors, general stores, and simple waterfront dining. This section of the coast feels remote yet accessible, offering both recreation and agricultural tourism in one stop.
Traverse City: Cherry Capital on Grand Traverse Bay
Traverse City anchors northern Michigan’s vacation region with two bays, a lively downtown, and a festival dedicated to cherries each summer. Public beaches line both bays, and biking trails connect neighborhoods to the waterfront. The Old Mission and Leelanau peninsulas extend into the bay, each with farm stands, tasting rooms, and scenic overlooks.
Local markets sell cherry-based sauces, chocolates, and baked goods, keeping the area’s agricultural roots visible year-round. Families can sail, kayak, or visit museums, while fall visitors enjoy cider tastings and color drives through orchard country. Winter brings quiet streets but steady dining and lodging options, making Traverse City enjoyable in every season.
Charlevoix and Petoskey: Little Traverse Bay and Apple Country
Charlevoix’s downtown bridges Round Lake and Lake Michigan, offering close views of the harbor and the drawbridge that opens for passing boats. The beaches are sandy, with calm swimming areas protected by breakwaters. Petoskey, a short drive east, overlooks Little Traverse Bay from parks and paved trails.
Petoskey State Park provides dunes, picnic areas, and beach access. Between the towns, the rolling hills are filled with apple orchards that open for visitors in the fall. Local farms sell cider and baked goods, and roadside markets showcase produce grown nearby. The area also attracts travelers for golf, historic inns, and small-town charm that extends well beyond summer.
Mackinaw City: Gateway to the Straits of Mackinac
Mackinaw City marks the northern end of Michigan’s Gold Coast, where Lake Michigan meets Lake Huron. The Mackinac Bridge connects the Lower Peninsula to St. Ignace and the Upper Peninsula. Ferries run daily to Mackinac Island, where cars are replaced by horses and bicycles.
Onshore, Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse and Colonial Michilimackinac tell the story of early trade and navigation on the Great Lakes. The town’s waterfront parks are ideal for picnics and ship watching, while downtown offers restaurants and small shops open year-round.
Reaching Mackinaw City completes a route that combines beaches, dunes, farms, and lake towns into one of the Midwest’s most scenic drives.
References
- A Sweet and Savory Road Trip in Northern Michigan – nytimes.com
- Michigan’s Gorgeous Gold Coast Beaches, Fresh Orchards, and Wineries Are All Wrapped Into One Scenic Road Trip – islands.com
- Ultimate Michigan Coastal Road Trip Guide: Lighthouses and Legends – middlejourney.com
