Driving Trips Around the Midwest
Summer is officially here! Now is the time for a Great American Road Trip around our beloved Midwest. We've compiled seven TripTik® routings you can share with friends and family to take in the sights around the Midwest, from East, North, West, and South, we have you covered.
After you click on a TripTik route, you can customize the route by adding or removing stops and save it to your TripTiks!
Road Trips Up North
State Parks of the North Shore
Estimated Drive Time: 10 hrs, 45 mins
Even if you've been lucky enough to experience the rare beauty of our beloved North Shore, there is always plenty more to explore. This route includes 9 State Parks with tons to experience and take in, from the beautiful Lake Superior shoreline, waterfalls, vistas, historic landmarks, and teeming with wildlife. This is one trip you can take over and over again.
Natural Wonder Lake of the Woods
Estimated Drive Time: 12 hrs, 28 mins
The Lake of the Woods is a destination in itself. The walleye capital of the world boasts excellent fishing, fossil hunting, and exploration of nature. But this drive also features some spectacular stops along the way, which, for many, are their final destination. Lake Itasca and the impressive Big Bog State Park boardwalk make this an iconic drive that you won't soon forget.
Lake of the Woods, MN TripTik Route
Road Trips Out East
Northern Wisconsin & the Apostle Islands
Estimated Drive Time: 7 hrs, 52 mins
The idyllic resort town of Bayfield, Wisconsin, is located on the northern tip of Wisconsin along the shores of Lake Superior and is considered the primary access point to the impressive Apostle Islands. While many Minnesotans are familiar with Duluth on the other side of the lakeshore, northern Wisconsin also offers beautiful vistas, camping, and hiking and is a lovely, picturesque drive from the Twin Cities.
Northern Wisconsin TripTik Route
Door County: The Cape Cod of the Midwest
Estimated Drive Time: 14 hrs, 39 mins
Many people refer to Door County, Wisconsin, as the Cape Cod of the Midwest, with its coastal charm and quaint small-town feel along 300 impressive miles of waterfront. Located on a peninsula, it is home to 11 historic lighthouses, five state parks, vineyards, breweries, calm-watered beaches, and more. Make the most of your summer here!
Waterfalls of Mackinac & the Upper Peninsula
Estimated Drive Time: 20 hrs, 53 mins
When it comes to waterfalls, it doesn't get much better in the Midwest than the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Boasting over 300 waterfalls, this route includes some of the most popular, including Miners Falls, in some of the most picturesque settings, like the breathtaking Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Mackinac & Upper Peninsula, MI TripTik Route
Road Trips South
History of the Iowan Amana Colonies
Estimated Drive Time: 11 hrs, 47 mins
This one is for the history buffs. The Amana Colonies comprise seven villages across east-central Iowa, and this route highlights the best of them, including classic quintessential covered bridges, Living Farms open-air museum, and the John Wayne Birthplace Museum. It doesn't get much more Americana.
Museums & Monuments of Missouri
Estimated Drive Time: 19 hrs, 7 mins
This trip has a little something for everyone. With St. Louis as the final destination, this route has something special and memorable for every member of the family, including the St. Louis Zoo, the Arch, the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum, Budweiser or Anheuser-Busch Brewery, and even Mark Twain's boyhood home.
Road Trips to the West
The Best Faces and Places of South Dakota
Estimated Drive Time: 22 hrs, 5 mins
Our neighbor to the West has plenty to offer when it comes to a classic Great American Road Trip, and this route features all the goods. From the Corn Palace to the Black Hills, with some hidden gems along the way. This is the perfect summer to cross Mount Rushmore off your list!
North Dakota: The Great American West
Estimated Drive Time: 28 hrs, 16 mins
It doesn't get much more quintessentially American than this Great American West road trip through North Dakota. With 13 impressive stops from Theodore Roosevelt National Park to Minot Air Force Base, the Garrison Dam, and the International Peace Garden, this epic trip is the Midwestern bucket trip of a lifetime with something for everyone in the family.
History & Parks of Nebraska
Estimated Drive Time: 31 hrs, 30 mins
This trip is perfect for nature lovers who like to explore - and have a little dash of history mixed in. Marvel at the impressive toadstool-shaped rock formations at Toadstool Geological Park, wave to a bison from your vehicle at Wildlife Safari Park or lose yourself in a maze of 6,000 feet of honeycomb taverns at Happy Jack Peak & Chalk Mine.