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Midwest Lake Loop
A relaxed 5-day drive through Chicago, Wisconsin’s lake country, and Michigan’s west coast — very Midwest in the best way: skyline, cheese, dunes, lake sunsets.
5days
20stops
Day 1: Chicago lakefront starter
4 stops
Depart
09:00
Millennium Park
10:00
Art Institute of Chicago
13:00
Navy Pier
17:00
Day 2: Chicago to Milwaukee
4 stops
Depart
09:00
Milwaukee Art Museum
10:30
Historic Third Ward
13:30
Lakefront Brewery
16:30
Day 3: Door County shoreline
4 stops
Depart
09:00
Sturgeon Bay
12:30
Peninsula
14:30
Fish Creek
17:30
Day 4: Across the lake country to Sleeping Bear
4 stops
Depart
08:30
Ludington
12:30
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
15:30
Glen Arbor
17:30
Day 5: Dunes to Chicago return
4 stops
Depart
08:30
Traverse City
10:30
Holland
13:30
Chicago
17:30
Heads Up
- 1. Book popular brewery or museum timed entries when available
- 2. carry a warm layer for lakefront evenings
- 3. expect paid parking in Chicago but much easier parking in the smaller lake towns
- 4. Day 4: 5h 45m driving — plan rest stops
- 5. Day 5: 5h 45m driving — plan rest stops