Driving time: 10 hours, 44 minutes
Distance: 645 miles
Route: Detroit – Dearborn – Ann Arbor – East Lansing – Lansing – Kalamazoo – Grand Rapids – Mackinac City – Mackinac Island – Marquette
Celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with a presidential tour of the Mitten State. On this unique road trip, you’ll visit several locations where past presidents have made visits, as well as get a better understanding of each location’s historical significance and current attractions.
Stop #1: Detroit
Detroit was established as a city on July 24, 1701, but it took until 1817 for a U.S. president to visit the Michigan Territory and take an inspection tour of what would one day become the Motor City. Back then, this was a frontier town, a military outpost, and a fur trading center. It was also a hotbed for conflicts with British and Native American forces. Michigan became a part of the Union two decades after this presidential visit, in 1837.
Detroit has been a favorite destination for several presidents either on the campaign trail or as part of a wider outreach, including Franklin D Roosevelt, who visited the Chrysler Tank Arsenal during WWII, and Ronald Regan, who was named the GOP candidate for the 40th president of the U.S. at the 1980 Republican National Convention that took place in Detroit that year.
The Riverwalk is a favorite strolling destination, and there are several historical sights and museums related to the city’s car-making past. Eastern Market is where you can find anything you need for cooking fresh food at the campsite, too.
Nearby campgrounds… Riverstone Communities
Stop #2: Dearborn
Not far to the west of Detroit is the suburban area of Dearborn, home to the Henry Ford Museum. Though not a location visited by presidents, the museum houses a lot of important and historic presidential memorabilia that is worth seeing in person: the chair in which Abraham Lincoln was shot, a camp bed and chest used by George Washington, a horse drawn carriage used by Theodore Roosevelt, and various styles of limos that carried Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Eisenhower, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and JFK. Plan to spend three to four hours in this museum as well as visiting the neighboring Greenfield Village, a way to time travel and immerse yourself in various time periods across U.S. history.
Stop #3: Ann Arbor
The University of Michigan, established in 1817 in Detroit (the same year President James Monroe took a tour of the city), moved to its current location in Ann Arbor the year Michigan became a state. Back then it was a preparatory school, with higher education being offered starting in 1841. The campus has several historic portions, eye-catching gothic architecture, and well-thought-out green spaces, mingled with the modern football stadium and professional buildings. The university has a longstanding tradition of excellence, and many U.S. presidents have visited here. Most famously, a young and handsome John F. Kennedy proposed the Peace Corps at the University of Michigan on the steps of the Student Union in 1960. A mere four years later, Lyndon B. Johnson attended U of M’s commencement and gave the “Great Society” speech. One U.S. president also graduated from this institution: Gerald Ford, in 1935. He would go on to be the 38th president more than 40 years later, and he never forgot his Michigan roots. Besides walking around the beautiful campus, there are museums to visit, concerts you can attend, and football games during the fall. Make sure to visit The Arb, a 1.3-mile walk around the botanical gardens that feature over 400 species of plants and trees.
Nearby campgrounds… Sun Outdoors Kensington Valley, Hidden Lakes RV Resort, Indian Creek Camp, Holiday RV Campground
Stop #4: East Lansing
The University of Michigan’s biggest rival is in East Lansing, so it makes sense to make it the next stop on this tour. Teddy Roosevelt visited when Michigan State College (now known as Michigan State University, MSU) celebrated its 50th anniversary. While you’re on campus, visit the university museum, the botanical gardens, and the art museum. Two famous and iconic images at which to take your Instagram shot is at Beaumont Tower and in front of the bronze Sparty statue located at the intersection of Kalamazoo St, Red Cedar Rd & Chestnut. The original statue was made of terracotta and is now kept indoors on permanent display to keep it safe from the elements. An agricultural college, don’t miss a stop at the Dairy Store, a shop that opened in 1958 and utilizes the adjacent dairy plant (which is open for a self-guided tour). A couple signature ice cream flavors are Izzo’s Malted Madness and Buckeye Blitz, and there is a lunch menu as well.
Stop #5: Lansing
Once you’ve had your fill of Green and White, continue west in the steps of Teddy Roosevelt toward the city of Lansing, Michigan’s capital city. Here, President Roosevelt addresses the state legislature, met with the governor, took a ride in an REO Motor Car Company vehicle with Ransom E. Olds, and toured car factories. There are guided tours of the state capital on business days at the top of every hour as well as certain times the first Saturday of the month. Walk through Capital Square, admire the ornate beauty of the capital dome, and immerse yourself in Michigan’s past. There are plenty of diversions in Lansing, including several museums and scenic trails along the Grand River.
Stop #6: Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo is a very accessible town (check out this driving and walking tour), and a very famous president once visited. Who is it? None other than Abraham Lincoln, who visited in 1856 to support John Fremont, the first Republication presidential nominee. He gave a rally in Bronson Park, which today has a status of him in honor of this historic event. The park itself is the city’s oldest park and is a great place to relax. It’s also important to note the President Lincoln, though not from Michigan himself, had a high regard for our fair state. The 24th Michigan Volunteer Infantry, part of the Iron Brigade during the Civil War, was present at his funeral in 1865.
Nearby campgrounds… Klines Resort, Camp Turkeyville Resort
Stop #7: Grand Rapids
Now, we will drive northwest toward the bustling town of Grand Rapids, where Gerald Ford grew up. Today, it’s also his burial place, located on the premises of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum on Pearl Street. The museum itself has permanent exhibits regarding the Fords and their time in office as well as temporary exhibits. There is an admission fee to the museum, but not the library. The library holds 19,000 artifacts from the life of Gerald Ford, including several pieces of memorabilia. It’s open to research as well. Grand Rapids is also known as Beer City USA, so if you fancy a craft beverage, take your pick of breweries along the Ale Trail. And if you have time outside the museum and the pub, visit some other sights around the area.
Nearby campgrounds… Woodchip Campground, Double R Ranch Resort, Indian Valley Campground and Canoe Livery
Stop #8: Mackinac City
George H.W. Bush in 1992 led the Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walk, speaking to the record crowd of 85,000 walkers prior to setting the pace across the bridge. He’s the only sitting president to have done so. Mackinaw City is where the walk ended, and we chose this as our next destination because of its view of the Straits and overall charming character. It’s where to can easily catch a ferry to Mackinac Island for some more presidential history (and a little fudge).
Nearby campgrounds… Tee Pee Campground, Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping
Stop #9: Mackinac Island
You’ll need to leave the vehicle or RV behind for this next stop. Take a ferry ride across Lake Huron to Mackinac Island, which is steeped in beauty and history. In fact, it was a stronghold for military groups at certain times of US history. James Monroe, though he didn’t visit when it was in the territory in 1817, did incorporate the Borough of Michilimackinac during his administration. Ulysses S. Grant, according to the family who owned Mission House, visited the island shortly after the end of the Civil War. A decade later, as president, he signed Mackinac National Park into law. Then, of course there is our favorite Michigan-grown president, Gerald Ford, who served in the Governor’s Honor Guard at Fort Mackinac in 1929 when he was an Eagle Scout. There is much to see and do on this charming island, where everything has a magical quality to it. This walking tour will give you an idea.
Stop #10: Marquette
Return to the mainland, then cross the Mighty Mac, an experience in itself! Your final destination is Marquette. This walking tour will take you to some of the most historic and beautiful parts of the largest city in the Upper Peninsula, including the Father Marquette statue, churches, the lighthouse, the ore docks, and the infamous Donckers, where President Barack Obama enjoyed lunch with the city’s mayor back in 2012. Obama was visiting the campus of Northern Michigan University and spoke about high-speed wireless internet access.
Nearby campgrounds… Kona Hills Campground, Rippling River Resort