22 days in Great Lakes USA & Erie Itinerary

Kick off your visit on the 12th (Wed): look for all kinds of wild species at Conkles Hollow State Nature Preserve and then get outside with Outdoor Activities.

For ratings, photos, and other tourist information, you can read our Rockbridge tour planner.

Phoenix to Rockbridge is an approximately 5.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or do a combination of bus and taxi. The time zone difference moving from Mountain Standard Time to Eastern Standard Time is 2 hours. Traveling from Phoenix in July, expect Rockbridge to be colder, temps between 82°F and 62°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 12th (Wed) so you can go by car to Erie.

On the 13th (Thu), find something for the whole family at Waldameer & Water World and then pause for some serene contemplation at St. Patrick Church. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: learn about wildlife with up-close encounters at Erie Zoo, cool off at Splash Lagoon Indoor Water Park Resort, and then stroll around Panama Rocks Scenic Park.

For more things to do, reviews, traveler tips, and tourist information, go to the Erie trip planning tool.

You can drive from Rockbridge to Erie in 5 hours. Other options are to fly; or do a combination of taxi, bus, and train. In July, plan for daily highs up to 79°F, and evening lows to 64°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 14th (Fri) to allow enough time to drive to Sandusky.

On the 15th (Sat), make a splash at Castaway Bay Waterpark, make a splash at Cedar Point, and then brush up on your military savvy at Liberty Aviation Museum.

For where to stay, photos, more things to do, and more tourist information, read our Sandusky driving holiday planning tool.

Drive from Erie to Sandusky in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. In July in Sandusky, expect temperatures between 82°F during the day and 66°F at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 15th (Sat) to allow enough time to travel to Mackinac Island.

Start off your visit on the 16th (Sun): steep yourself in history at Fort Holmes, immerse yourself in nature at Mackinac Island State Park, then look for gifts at Little Luxuries of Mackinac Island, and finally see some colorful creatures with Great Turtle Kayak Tours. Here are some ideas for day two: browse the exhibits of Liberty Lego Display, then take in the dramatic natural features at Arch Rock, then steep yourself in history at Fort Mackinac, and finally look for all kinds of wild species at The Original Mackinac Island Butterfly House & Insect World.

To find reviews, traveler tips, and tourist information, read Mackinac Island trip itinerary website.

Do a combination of flight and ferry from Sandusky to Mackinac Island in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of train, bus, and ferry. Traveling from Sandusky in July, expect Mackinac Island to be a bit cooler, temps between 73°F and 58°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 17th (Mon) early enough to travel to Munising.

Start off your visit on the 18th (Tue): stroll through Sand Point Beach, then take in the dramatic scenery at Wagner Falls, then take a tour by water with Boat Tours & Water Sports, and finally take an in-depth tour of Pictured Rocks Interpretive Center. On the next day, admire the sheer force of Munising Falls, then admire the sheer force of Miners Falls, then explore the striking landscape at Miners Castle Rock, and finally admire the sheer force of Bridal Veil Falls.

To see maps, where to stay, traveler tips, and more tourist information, go to the Munising online itinerary planner.

Do a combination of ferry, bus, and car from Mackinac Island to Munising in 6.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of ferry, bus, and taxi. In July, plan for daily highs up to 74°F, and evening lows to 56°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 19th (Wed) early enough to drive to Duluth.

Start off your visit on the 20th (Thu): stroll around Canal Park, grab your bike and head to Gooseberry Falls State Park, and then get to know the fascinating history of Lakewalk. Keep things going the next day: test your team's savvy at popular escape rooms, snap pictures at Aerial Lift Bridge, then examine the collection at The Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, and finally cruise along Minnesota's North Shore Scenic Drive.

To find where to stay, other places to visit, maps, and more tourist information, read Duluth online travel route planner.

Traveling by car from Munising to Duluth takes 7 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi and flight; or do a combination of car and bus. Traveling from Munising to Duluth, you'll gain 1 hour due to the time zone difference. In July in Duluth, expect temperatures between 75°F during the day and 59°F at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 22nd (Sat) early enough to go by car to Wisconsin Dells.

Start off your visit on the 22nd (Sat): look for gifts at Kernel Popcorn's Factory, whizz through the canopy at some of the top local zipline courses and adventure parks, then make a splash at Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park, and finally get some thrills on the water with a speed boat tour. Keep things going the next day: make a splash at Noah's Ark Water Park.

To see traveler tips, reviews, more things to do, and other tourist information, read our Wisconsin Dells trip planner.

Traveling by car from Duluth to Wisconsin Dells takes 5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or do a combination of bus and train. In July, daily temperatures in Wisconsin Dells can reach 80°F, while at night they dip to 59°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 24th (Mon) early enough to travel to Empire.

Change things up with these side-trips from Empire: Fishtown (in Leland) and Blustone Vineyards (in Lake Leelanau). Spend the 25th (Tue) exploring nature at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

To find traveler tips, more things to do, maps, and more tourist information, read our Empire tour itinerary tool.

Traveling by combination of car and flight from Wisconsin Dells to Empire takes 7.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of train, bus, and flight; or do a combination of car and ferry. The time zone difference when traveling from Wisconsin Dells to Empire is 1 hour. Expect slightly colder weather when traveling from Wisconsin Dells in July: highs in Empire hover around 75°F, while lows dip to 57°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 28th (Fri) to allow enough time to fly to Chicago.

Chicago is known for sightseeing, museums, and nightlife. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: explore the world behind art at The Art Institute of Chicago, meet the residents at Lincoln Park Zoo, get up close and personal with brilliant marine life at Shedd Aquarium, and stroll around Millennium Park.

For maps, where to stay, reviews, and more tourist information, use the Chicago trip planner.

You can fly from Empire to Chicago in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of taxi and bus. The time zone changes from Eastern Standard Time (EST) to Central Standard Time (CST), which is usually a -1 hour difference. In July, Chicago is a bit warmer than Empire - with highs of 83°F and lows of 67°F. On the 2nd (Wed), you'll have the morning to explore before heading back home.