Northern Michigan Lighthouses: A Coastal Road Trip

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Michigan lighthouses line more miles of freshwater coastline than any other state — over 150 beacons once guided freighters and passenger steamers through treacherous passages on the Great Lakes. Northern Michigan alone clusters some of the most striking: brick towers perched on sand bluffs, painted white against blue water, many open to climb for views that stretch to the horizon. This road trip strings together five road-accessible lighthouses, from the Lake Michigan shore near Ludington north to the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula, with a stop at Traverse City's own lighthouse tucked into Grand Traverse Bay.

The route runs roughly 160 miles and pairs well with a week's stay in the region. Pack comfortable shoes — some of these require a walk through the dunes to reach — and plan to arrive early in summer when crowds thin before noon.

The Route: Six Lighthouses Worth Stopping For

The five lighthouses below are ordered south to north, making a natural loop from the Silver Lake area up to Traverse City. You can drive all five in two long days, or spread them across a week if you want time to climb towers, picnic in the state parks, and poke around the small towns in between.

A note on access: Michigan's lighthouse park sites charge standard state park day-use fees — a Recreation Passport ($42/year for Michigan residents) covers most of them and pays for itself in a single trip. Tower-climbing fees, where charged, are separate.

Big Sable Point Lighthouse

The most dramatic approach on the route is Big Sable Point, reached by a 1.5-mile hike along Lake Michigan's beach inside Ludington State Park. The tower — built in 1867 from cream-colored brick and later sheathed in steel plate — rises 112 feet above the waterline, its white-and-black banding visible from miles offshore. Volunteer keepers staff the structure from May through early November, running tours and maintaining the gift shop. Climb the tower on a clear day and you'll understand immediately why ships needed it: the view is nothing but open water in three directions.

Point Betsie Lighthouse

Point Betsie stands north of Frankfort at the southern entrance to the Manitou Passage — the shipping channel between Lake Michigan and the Manitou Islands — and it is routinely listed as one of the most photographed lighthouses in Michigan. First lit in 1858, the squat white tower sits almost at the waterline, framed by dune grass and the big lake behind it, making for a clean composition that photographers circle back to at golden hour. The surrounding grounds are open year-round; the interior and gift shop operate seasonally. Benzie County manages the site since its transfer under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act, and ongoing restoration work has stabilized the keeper's dwelling.

Grand Traverse Lighthouse

The northernmost stop on the route sits at the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula inside Leelanau State Park, eight miles north of Northport. The current structure dates to 1858, a Flemish revival dwelling with a nine-sided tower that marks the Manitou Passage from its northern end. Today it operates as a museum with restored exhibits on area lighthouses, foghorns, and historic shipwrecks. Climb the tower for views across Grand Traverse Bay and, on a clear day, the Manitou Islands. The lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 and is a worthwhile 45-minute stop for anyone who has driven to Leelanau. Plan on paying the state park day-use fee plus a separate tower admission.

Grand Traverse Lighthouse sits about 40 miles from downtown Traverse City, making it a comfortable half-day excursion for guests staying in the area.

Old Mission Point Lighthouse

Old Mission Point Lighthouse is the most accessible on the route — it sits 17 miles north of downtown Traverse City at the very tip of the Old Mission Peninsula, inside a small township park open free of charge. Built in 1870, the red-roofed white clapboard structure draws roughly 100,000 visitors a year, drawn as much by the panoramic Grand Traverse Bay views as the lighthouse itself. The 45th parallel north runs just south of the structure, marked with signs noting the halfway point between the equator and the North Pole. The lighthouse has operated as a keeper-staffed museum since 2008, open May through October. The surrounding park has beach access and picnic tables — a natural stopping point on any Old Mission Peninsula winery tour.

Little Sable Point Lighthouse

The southernmost stop on the coastal route, Little Sable Point sits ten miles south of Pentwater inside Silver Lake State Park — the same park known for its off-road vehicle dunes. The tower dates to 1874 and rises 107 feet, its red brick unmarked by any keeper's house (an unusual design that gives it a clean, elegant silhouette). The lighthouse closed to the public for over 50 years before reopening in June 2006; visitors can now climb 139 steps to view the original Third Order Fresnel lens still in place. The seasonal schedule runs from early June through the end of September. A state park Recreation Passport covers vehicle entry; tower climbing costs a small additional fee.

The Silver Lake area makes a natural base for this southern cluster — properties there put you within fifteen minutes of both Little Sable Point and the Lake Michigan dunes.

Planning Your Road Trip

Getting there: All five sites are within a roughly 160-mile loop starting and ending in Traverse City. US-31 south from TC picks up the Silver Lake and Ludington area lighthouses; M-22 north back through Leelanau catches Point Betsie, Grand Traverse, and Old Mission on the return. The full loop takes two days at a relaxed pace — one day south, one day north.

Where to Stay Along the Route

Traverse City works as a central base for the northern half of the loop — Grand Traverse Lighthouse and Old Mission Point are both day trips from town, and the drive south to Big Sable Point and Point Betsie makes a natural full day. The lake-country towns of Suttons Bay, Leland, and Glen Arbor are easy diversions on the Leelanau leg. For the southern cluster, a cabin near the western shore puts you within reach of both Little Sable Point and Point Betsie.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best lighthouse to visit in Michigan?

For scenery, Big Sable Point Lighthouse in Ludington State Park is hard to beat — the 1.5-mile beach approach and 112-foot tower make it a memorable stop. Point Betsie near Frankfort is the most photographed, with its low-slung white tower sitting nearly at the waterline against open Lake Michigan.

How many lighthouses are in Michigan?

Michigan has more than 150 past and present lighthouses — more than any other U.S. state. The state's 3,288 miles of Great Lakes shoreline (also the longest of any state) created demand for navigational aids from the early 1800s onward.

How many lighthouses are on Lake Michigan?

There are 48 lighthouses in the Lake Michigan category, ranging from the Illinois and Wisconsin shores to Michigan's west coast and the Upper Peninsula's southern edge.

What is the oldest lighthouse in Michigan?

Fort Gratiot Light in Port Huron, built in 1825 and rebuilt in 1829, is Michigan's oldest surviving lighthouse and still an active navigational aid. It's located on Lake Huron at the southern end of the state's Thumb region, about four hours from Northern Michigan.

Which Michigan lighthouse is most photographed?

Point Betsie Lighthouse, north of Frankfort in Benzie County, is widely considered Michigan's most photographed lighthouse and the most-visited attraction in Benzie County. Its low profile at the water's edge, surrounded by Lake Michigan, makes it unusually photogenic from multiple angles.

• Michigan DNR — Ludington State Park: michigan.gov/recsearch/parks/ludington
• NPS Sleeping Bear Dunes — Lighthouse History: nps.gov/slbe
• Wikipedia — Big Sable Point Light: en.wikipedia.org
• Wikipedia — Point Betsie Light: en.wikipedia.org
• Wikipedia — Grand Traverse Lighthouse: en.wikipedia.org
• Wikipedia — Old Mission Point Lighthouse: en.wikipedia.org
• Wikipedia — Little Sable Point Light: en.wikipedia.org