We know it can get a little boring heading to the same spots in your hometown, especially towards the end of summer break. It’s time to shake it up and head out on a little drive to find new and exciting places. There’s so much to explore without having to travel very far away from home if you live in and around Detroit. We’ve compiled a list of 100 day trips within about two hours (or less) driving radius of Detroit. Bookmark this one and use it all summer long!
Be sure to check out the interactive map at the end to help plan your day trips!
30 MINUTES to 1 HOUR
Ann Arbor
- Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum: there’s so much to learn about and explore for every age inside each exhibit.
- Domino’s Petting Farm: tons of farm animals to meet, from alpacas to rabbits.
- Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum: you’ll love strolling through thematic trails and fields and learning all about the plants that surround you.
- University of Michigan campus: there are so many cool buildings to explore and a lot of history ingrained into the campus.
- University of Michigan Natural History Museum: learn about the Earth’s billion-year history.
Auburn Hills
- Legoland: from rides to building areas, Legoland has everything your family needs for a fun day together.
- Sealife Aquarium: watch the sea turtles eat their breakfast and get up close and personal with sea life in the touch pool.
- Top Golf: with games set up for every level, you’ll have a blast teeing off and scoring points.
Birmingham
- Shain Park: in the middle of the city; a great place to take some time to play. Your kids will love the play area, or come later in the evening for a concert in the park.
- Woodward Dream Cruise: the weekend of August 15. Stop and watch along Woodward Avenue or bring your own classic car for a cruise.
Chelsea
- Chelsea Sculpture Walk: new art comes in each summer, so don’t miss the chance to see the new pieces before they’re gone.
- Downtown Chelsea: great businesses and restaurants. There are also several options for walking tours downtown.
- Local breweries and distilleries: Chelsea is being hailed as one of the most up-and-coming cities for this!
Dearborn
- Ford Rouge Factory Tour: you’ll see the history of car manufacturing all the way through the future of technology in driving.
- Greenfield Village: there are seven different time periods to explore and tons of fun things to see like a working printing press and glassblowing demonstrations.
- The Henry Ford Museum: from trains to planes and cars, you’ll be mesmerized by how much there is to see.
Detroit
- Belle Isle: spend the day relaxing or playing. Whether you enjoy sitting on the beach or learning at the Nature Center, there’s something to keep everyone entertained.
- Campus Martius Park: lounge around at the beach! You’ll also love wandering around in the green spaces or grabbing something to eat from one of the local restaurants.
- City Institute: if you’re not quite sure where to start exploring in downtown Detroit, hop on a tour. They have a tour for every interest from architecture to history.
- Comerica Park: watch a Detroit Tigers game. Don’t forget to have a hot dog!
- Dequindre Cut: bring your bike and pedal down the two-mile stretch.
- Detroit Institute of Arts: there’s always something new to see. Check out the different art exhibitions or try one of their self-guided scavenger hunts.
- Detroit Riverwalk: take a stroll and enjoy the parks and views of the Detroit River.
- Eastern Market: shop at the Saturday market or stroll around and visit the area businesses and restaurants.
Downriver
- Lamarand Splash Pad: found at Heritage Park in Taylor; a baseball-themed splash park with a playground!
- Sterling State Park: the only state park located on Lake Erie. Bring a bike, kayak, or a picnic and enjoy the lakeside view.
- Taylor Conservatory & Botanical Gardens: see the beautiful flowers in bloom. They offer a variety of unique classes and events such as live music, planting classes, and cocktail hours.
Fenton
- Supe’s Exotic Jungle: an interactive zoo that lets you get up close with the animals. Experiences include petting a shark and hand-feeding a lemur.
Grosse Ile
- Centennial Farms: playgrounds, a walking trail, and a farm.
- Gibraltar Bay Alpaca Farm: a great place to see and learn all about alpacas. Not only can you pet the alpacas, but you can also purchase goods from their store!
Harsens Island
- Freighter watching: grab a bite to eat and watch the freighters go by all day long!
- Harsens Island Historical Society: check out the island’s history.
- Kayaking: paddle down the Middle Channel to explore the marsh. The calm waterways make for a relaxing day of kayaking.
- Sans Souci area: great restaurants and shopping areas.
Holly
- Downtown Holly: a small-town experience. They host summer evening concerts and a farmers market on Sundays.
- Hadley House Museum: this Victorian house is full of information about Holly and the surrounding area.
- Seven Lakes State Park: with so many activities to try, you’ll be coming back time and again.
Monroe
- Charter a boat: head out to catch some fish on Lake Erie.
- River Raisin National Battlefield Park: learn about the history of the War of 1812. The park also offers trails and a visitor center.
Port Huron
- Fort Gratiot Lighthouse: the first and oldest lighthouse in Michigan. Weather permitting, you can climb the steps to the top of the lighthouse.
- Port Huron Museums: learn all about the Port Huron area and its history (if walking inside isn’t your thing, hop on one of the Port Huron Trolley Tours!).
Royal Oak
- Arts, Beats & Eats: September 4-7, 2026; dozens of artists, musicians, and food vendors will be there to entertain you.
- Detroit Zoo: a hometown landmark not to be missed. Be on the lookout for the elusive polar bears or get up close and personal with the giraffes.
- Royal Oak Farmer’s Market: open all year on Saturdays from 7:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. They also host an antique market on Sundays from 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Toledo
- Imagination Station: for tons of hands-on fun! Your kids will love learning and playing in this STEM-inspired wonderland.
- Maumee Bay State Park: the perfect place for families who love the outdoors. Your day trip can be spent fishing, swimming, or walking the storybook trail.
- National Museum of the Great Lakes: tells the history of the Great Lakes, our area’s most precious resource. Spanning hundreds of years, you’ll see artifacts and hands-on exhibits to learn all about these mighty waters.
- Toledo Botanical Gardens: the place to go for a relaxing day, with more than 60 acres of land. Be sure to check their website to see which plants and flowers are in bloom!
- Toledo Museum of Art: enjoy a family art class, watch a demonstration on glassblowing, or take a tour of the sculpture garden outside.
- Toledo Zoo: from penguins to lemurs, the Toledo Zoo has a favorite animal for everyone–get wild and check out over 10,000 animals!
West Bloomfield
- Marshbank Park: perfect for kids to burn off some energy. Grab lunch to go and enjoy it before letting the kids play for a few hours!
- TreeRunner Adventure Park: the place to go for sky-high adventures. There’s something for everyone with multiple levels of difficulty, trails, and challenges.
1 to 2 HOURS
Battle Creek
- Binder Park Zoo: from giraffes to giant tortoises, there’s something for everyone.
- Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary: not far from Battle Creek; home to hundreds of reptiles from adoption, rescue, or other organizations.
- The Leila Arboretum: one of the more unique arboretums in the state. Come see the Fantasy Forest, The Kaleidoscope Garden, the urban farm, or play a round of disc golf–all while enjoying the sights of nature.
Bay City
- Delta College Planetarium and Learning Center: learn about astronomy.
- Guided fishing excursion: charter a boat on the Saginaw Bay. You never know how many fish you’ll catch!
- Riverwalk Trail: a thirteen-mile trail; the scenery is ever-changing and there are plenty of jump-off points throughout the trail to make it as long or as short as you like.
- Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum: tour the USS Edson and learn about the history. For true enthusiasts, you can even book an overnight stay!
- Sunrise Pedal Trolley: a great way to spend time with your closest friends. Hop on board and pedal around Bay City!
Flint
- Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad: 37 different historical buildings and things to explore in a turn-of-the-century working village.
- Flint Children’s Museum: from science to the arts, there’s something for every interest.
- Longway Planetarium: shows about all kinds of things from under the sea to the skies over Michigan.
- The Sloan Museum of Discovery: perfect for kids and adults alike!
Frankenmuth
- Bronner’s: the 2.2-acre store is open 361 days a year and is all Christmas, all the time.
- Frankenmuth River Place Shops: with more than 40 stores, you’re sure to find something for everyone.
- River cruise or carriage ride: learn about the town’s history and see some of the famous landmarks along the way.
- Zehnders Splash Village: two water parks–one indoor and one with a retractable roof–so weather is never in question.
Grand Rapids
- Beer City Ale Trail: with more than 80 breweries, there’s a reason Grand Rapids is called Beer City, USA!
- Blandford Nature Center: a must-visit for animal fans. They work to educate about nature and animals and even have a farm to visit close by.
- Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park: with outdoor and indoor gardens plus 300 sculpture works to see, you’ll keep busy all day.
- Fulton Street Farmers Market: every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday through the end of October. They have wonderful local vendors and a beautiful venue for the market.
- Grand Rapids Art Museum: classes, tours, and exciting art exhibitions. Their ever-rotating exhibitions make for a unique trip each time you visit.
- Grand Rapids Children’s Museum: all about kids getting to play! Their hands-on exhibits will have your kids learning and laughing all day long.
Jackson
- The Cascades: a fireworks show accompanies the illuminated and musical waterfall, running nightly Wednesdays through Sundays.
- Falling Waters Trail: one of the most popular rail trails in Michigan; the ten-and-a-half-mile trail is completely paved and is perfect for walking, running, or biking.
Kalamazoo
- Air Zoo Aerospace and Science Museum: learn about and experience everything flight-related from the Wright Brothers to becoming an astronaut.
- Hop on a beer tour: Kalamazoo is home to some of the nation’s most famous breweries including Bell’s.
- Kalamazoo Institute of Arts: stroll the exhibitions on your own or take one of their interactive tours.
- Kalamazoo Nature Center: explore nature or participate in one of their nature programs.
Lambertville
- Indian Creek Zoo: see more than 400 animals closer than most zoos. You can also book a private encounter with a sloth or giraffe!
Lansing
- Lansing River Trail: bike or walk 13 miles of paved trails that go through parks, Downtown Lansing, and natural areas.
- Michigan Capitol Building: take a tour and learn about the history of our great state! If you’re a native Michigander, chances are you haven’t been here since elementary school.
- Michigan State University campus: don’t forget to see Spartan Stadium and the Sparty Statue while you’re there!
- Michigan Women’s Historical Center & Hall of Fame: learn all about Michigan women who made a difference in the world.
- Old Town: you’re going to love it! This vibrant business community is committed to keeping the history alive while restoring its former glory.
- Potter Park Zoo: not only can you see the animals, but you have the option to do fun things like ride a camel or feed the birds.
- R.E. Olds Transportation Museum: a must for the car history enthusiast. Learn about Lansing’s automotive history and see some really cool cars, too.
- Talbert and Leota Abrams Planetarium: all ages will get excited about astronomy and space. They have a wide variety of shows and talks on different topics.
- The Ledges: just outside of Lansing in Grand Ledge; home to 300 million-year-old rock formations on the shore of the Grand River. The Ledges also has disc golf, canoeing, fishing, and a skate park.
Lexington
- Beach time: Lake Huron beaches can be rocky!
- Croswell Swinging Bridge: just outside of Lexington; a pedestrian suspension bridge that spans 139 feet.
- Downtown area: great stores for shopping and some wonderful local restaurants, too.
Midland
- Chippewa Nature Center: plenty of trails and places to explore the great outdoors. Join in a class or walk out to the river overlook.
- Dahlia Hill: an eight-level terraced hillside where 3,000 dahlias are planted each year. The flowers are in bloom from August to October so don’t miss out!
- Dow Gardens: walk around the gardens to see what’s in bloom, take in a summer evening concert, or be among the trees on the longest canopy walk in the Whiting Forest.
- Farmers Market: open on Wednesdays and Saturdays until the end of October. With plenty of vendors and artisans, this is one of our favorite markets to go to.
- Great Lakes Loons Game at Dow Diamond: this minor league team is a town favorite for family fun.
- The Tridge: one of Midland’s most famous landmarks! This three-footed bridge connects Chippewassee Park, St. Charles Park, and the Farmer’s Market areas by crossing over the Tittabawassee and Chippewa Rivers.
INTERACTIVE MAP: 100 DAY TRIPS
Navigating the map is quite simple. Click on the white outlined rectangle in the upper right corner. A new window will appear and you can scroll through to find the perfect places to stop on your day trip. Once you find a location, click on the marker for more details!
How many day trips do you think you can squeeze in this summer? If you’re looking to make an overnight trip, check out 12 of Michigan’s Best Campgrounds Offering the Full Great Lakes Experience.
*This post was originally written by Katie Purcell and was updated in 2026 by Whitney Cornelli.
