If you’re dreaming about taking your family to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, here’s the exact 5‑day Upper Peninsula family road trip itinerary we followed with our 2.5‑year‑old and 6‑year‑old. We camped most nights, kept drives manageable, and built in plenty of kid‑friendly stops.
We booked our campground reservations ahead of time through the state and local park systems, which made it easier to relax and not worry about finding last‑minute sites once we were on the road. The region is full of lakes, forests, and mining history, and it’s a great alternative to more crowded tourist areas.
This post is part of our 5‑Day Family Road Trip Series.
We took our family of four (kids ages 2.5 and 6) on an 800‑mile road trip from southeastern Wisconsin to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, camping most nights and keeping our total cost under $1,000. If you’d like to see the whole picture, check out the other posts in this series:
- Budget Breakdown: How Our Family of Four Took a 5‑Day Road Trip for Under $1,000
- Itinerary: Our Upper Peninsula Family Road Trip Itinerary (5 Days with Kids)
- Kids in the Car: How We Survived Long Car Days with a 2.5‑Year‑Old and a 6‑Year‑Old
- Camping Setup: Our Simple Camping Setup for Family Road Trips (On a Budget)
You’re currently reading: Our Upper Peninsula Family Road Trip Itinerary (5 Days with Kids).
Day 1 / Night 1: Green Bay, Wisconsin
We drove from southeastern Wisconsin to Green Bay (about 2 hours), stayed with good friends, and had pizza for dinner. This first evening was intentionally simple: a shorter drive, familiar faces, and an easy meal.
Day 2 / Night 2: Palms Book State Park and Marquette
We drove about 3 hours to Palms Book State Park to see Kitch‑iti‑kipi, the “Big Spring,” with its glass‑bottom viewing raft. From there, we continued about 2 hours on to Marquette, Michigan. We camped at Tourist Park Campground, where the kids could burn off energy on the playground while we set up camp.
This day blended driving with a memorable natural stop and playground time, which helped keep the kids balanced.
Day 3 / Night 3: Marquette, Ishpeming, and Lake Linden
We spent a slow morning in Marquette watching the ore dock and a ship being loaded with iron ore from the overhead trains. Then we drove about 20 minutes to Ishpeming, Michigan, to tour the Cliffs Mine, giving us all a chance to learn more about the area’s mining history. After the tour, we continued about 2 hours northwest to Lake Linden, just beyond Houghton/Hancock. We camped at Lake Linden Campground.
The mix of industrial scenery, hands‑on learning, and a quieter campground made this day feel full but not frantic.
Day 4 / Night 4: Hancock, Quincy Mine, and Porcupine Mountains
We drove around the Keweenaw Peninsula, visiting an old lake sediment dredge and copper processing site—visual reminders of the region’s mining past. We toured the Quincy Mine, another highlight for both kids and adults. We hadn’t booked our tour in advance and got lucky with availability; for future trips, we’d recommend reserving Quincy Mine tickets ahead of time, especially in busier seasons.
We stopped at Keweenaw Brewing Company for a flight of beers (parents’ treat), then headed about 1.5 hours south to Porcupine Mountains State Park and watched the sunset over Lake Superior after setting up camp.
The sunset at the Porkies was one of the emotional peaks of the trip: simple, beautiful, and shared as a family.
Day 5 / Night 5: Porcupine Mountains, Wakefield, and Council Grounds
We spent the morning exploring the Porcupine Mountains—sights, overlooks, and waterfalls. On our way south, we grabbed pasties in Wakefield, Michigan, a local staple. We drove back into Wisconsin to Council Grounds State Park (about 3 hours away), where we went swimming above the dam in the Wisconsin River.
This was a high‑activity day, heavy on nature and movement, which worked well after several driving days.
Day 6: Stevens Point and Home
We enjoyed a slow morning at Council Grounds State Park. Then we stopped in Stevens Point (about 1 hour away) for a picnic lunch by the water at Iverson Park. Finally, we finished the roughly 2‑hour drive home to southeastern Wisconsin.
Ending with a relaxed morning and a picnic kept the return from feeling abrupt.
Why This Itinerary Worked for Us
- Drives were broken up by playgrounds, parks, and tours, so the kids weren’t stuck in the car all day.
- We alternated high‑activity days (waterfalls, mine tours) with slower ones (scenic viewing, playground time).
- The route offered natural beauty, industrial history, and kid‑friendly stops without expensive theme parks.
- Booking campgrounds ahead of time removed a layer of stress, while leaving some flexibility (like our Quincy Mine visit) for serendipity—though next time, we’d reserve that tour in advance too.
This Upper Peninsula family road trip with kids worked well for our 2.5‑year‑old and 6‑year‑old. Use it as a starting point, and don’t be afraid to swap in your own favorite parks or small towns along the way.
Planning your own version of this trip?
I put together a printable Family Road Trip Planner & Budget Pack with a 5-day itinerary planner, budget worksheet, packing checklist, and meal planner to make the process easier.
You can grab it here for $5.
Have you taken your kids to the Upper Peninsula or somewhere similar? Share your favorite stops—or what you’d add to this route—in the comments.
And if you know a family planning a UP trip, send this itinerary their way!
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