RVs make it easy to travel and get away for a time, and it doesn’t need to be over an extended period. Weekend RV trips are ideal for several reasons.
- Simplicity. Time is precious, and although it’s nice to have things to do when you get somewhere, don’t plan out all the time you have. RVing is about relaxation and quieting down, not rushing around to see and do everything. A weekend trip makes planning activities simple, because you do not have time for everything.
- Distance. Quality over quantity certainly applies here. You don’t want to spend a lot of time traveling, otherwise you won’t get as much time to unwind and partake in the activities you love. From your home base, look no further than three hours of driving.
- Variety. Do you feel like seeing some fall colors? Is there an event you’ve been wanting to attend? Do you want to get away and relax by the lake for a couple of days? Weekend trips allow you to broaden your experiences if you’re looking to do something new.
- Familiarity. On the other hand, weekend trips can be the best way to return to a favorite destination or embark on a favorite activity. Familiarity is reassuring and comfortable, and it can be easier to relax because you’ve been there before.
Three Weekend RV Trips from Bay City
Bay City is nestled in the nook of Michigan’s hand along the shores of Saginaw Bay. It’s at an intersection of some major highways that can send you pretty much any direction. For these three weekend RV trips, you won’t drive farther than 100 miles. You can choose to visit in any season of the year, but we’ve selected the destinations based on seasonal interests.
Turnip Rock, Michigan’s Thumb, Port Austin
Beach Life (Summer): Bay City – Port Austin
Distance: 66.5 miles by following the coastal route
Driving Time: 1 hours, 22 minutes
Why it’s the ideal Michigan summer destination: This quaint town has a lot doing for it, with beaches, sand dunes, a dark sky preserve, and vast views of Lake Huron. From the tip of thumb, you can view both sunrises and sunsets over the lake, which is unique to this area.
Make sure to visit: Port Crescent State Park has three miles of sandy shoreline and hiking trails, as well as the area’s dedicated dark sky preserve for stargazing. It also has gorgeous colors in the fall, especially from the scenic overlook.
Rent a kayak or bring your own so that you can travel past Turnip Rock, which is viewable only by a small personal watercraft.
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Leaf Peeping (Fall): Bay City – Oscoda
Distance: 85.5 miles (along the coast)
Driving Time: 1 hour, 31 minutes
Why it’s the ideal Michigan fall destination: The northeast side of Michigan is more remote and less popular than the west coast of the state, allowing RVers to truly escape and unwind in and near small towns that Michigan is known for.
Make sure to visit: Lumberman’s Monument Visitor Center is the only visitor center to be found in the Huron-Manistee National Forest, which is a must-see. The monument depicts three brave loggers and their tools in honor of the area’s logging history, set against beautiful views of Cooke Ponde. It can be a nice place to have a picnic.
Nearby, visit Foote Pond Overlook and Champagne Hill, which offers one of the best scenic overlooks in the state – and magnificent, colorful views for leaf peepers. It’s a peaceful place, and you can even get on the Au Sable river via kayak for a different view of the fall colors. If you feel like a workout, go down the sand hill and climb back up!
MARVAC Campground Members
Snowy Carnival (Winter): Bay City – Houghton Lake
Distance: 83 miles
Driving Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Why it’s the ideal Michigan winter destination: Houghton Lake is known for its vibrant lake life during the summer, as the lake is surrounded by cottages and has some of the best pan fishing around. Winter is much quieter, the ideal headquarters if you’re looking to cross country ski or snowmobile.
Make sure to visit: Houghton Lake is home to the annual Tip Up Town USA festival, Michigan’s largest and longest-running winter festival. There are amusement rides, a petting zoo, live entertainment, a beverage tent, fishing contest, a parade, and lots of family fun. You can also visit the Hanson Hills Winter Sports Park, which has a terrain park, several downhill ski runs, ice skating, tubing, and indoor skate park. Not too far is Hartwick Pines State Park, which has an old-growth pine forest worth seeing.
MARVAC Campground Members (seasonal)