Things to Do in the Midwest: 4 Best Midwest Road Trip Ideas

Fun Midwestern Road Trips

Looking for some fun things to do in the Midwest?

We’ve got you covered in this week’s USA road trip series! Fellow travel bloggers bring you some of their favorite places to visit in the Midwest.

From popular Midwest tourist attractions like Mount Rushmore and The Bean to more unique destinations like the House on the Rock, these road trip ideas in the Midwest USA are perfect for family travel, a couples vacation, or even a solo trip!

I just love a road trip! You have so much flexibility to go at your own pace and stop and see what interests YOU the most! We recently completed a super fun road trip from Chicago to Madison, Kohler, and Green Bay Wisconsin and back! We love to travel for sporting events and these Midwest road trip destinations checked off some of my husband’s bucket list items!

In this post you will find some of the best Midwest USA road trip ideas:

1. Minnesota to South Dakota Family Road Trip
2. Southwest Michigan Road Trip
3. Ohio Family Road Trip
4. Ohio to Illinois to Wisconsin Road Trip

Planning a road trip? Grab my free road trip essentials printable and vacation planning worksheet now!

Minnesota to South Dakota/Black Hills Family Road Trip from Travel with a Plan

A good old-fashioned family road trip is an absolute ‘must do’ when raising kids.  Not only are you able to spend quality time together, but you are able to see the beautiful countryside in ways that we often overlook nowadays.  Tuck away the technology, arm yourselves with these essential family road trip tips, and settle in for the ride!

An area so jam-packed of exciting family travel opportunities, visitors can spend up to 10 days in the Black Hills and not run out of things to see. We truly believe this is one of the best Midwest vacations out there! Must-do’s include visiting world renown Mount Rushmore National Memorial, awe-inspiring Custer State Park and Needles Highway, and sightseeing throughout Badlands National Park.  

Here is a look at our recent 4-day road trip itinerary from our home state of Minnesota through one of the most scenic regions in our country…the mountainous Black Hills of South Dakota.

Are we there yet? Check out our epic list of 250 road trip questions to keep everyone entertained along the way!

Day 1: Rapid City, South Dakota
Day 2: Mount Rushmore & Custer State Park
Day 3: Black Hills, South Dakota
Day 4: Badlands National Park

Day 1:  Arrive in Rapid, City SD.  Visit the many free family attractions located throughout the city.  South Dakota Air and Space Museum, Storybook Island, and Dinosaur Park will keep your kids entertained for hours.  Finish off the day by visiting either Bear Country U.S.A., a drive-thru wildlife park, or Reptile Gardens, the world’s largest reptile zoo.

Day 2:  Spend the first 2 hours of the morning visiting Mount Rushmore National Memorial in Keystone, SD.  After experiencing the 60-foot high faces of four U.S. presidents intricately carved out of the granite mountainside, spend the rest of the day exploring the wilderness.  Drive through Custer State Park and explore Wildlife Loop Road and Needles Highway.  Be sure to stop at a variety of scenic overlooks and take plenty of iconic photographs.  Watch out for a “buffalo jam” that may be clogging the roadway.

Day 3:  Visit the more ‘quirky’ attractions in the Black Hills that include Cosmos Mystery Area and Historic Deadwood.  Next, take a cave tour at Wind Cave National Park and experience an active fossil dig site at Mammoth Site Museum. This is a good day to further customize your road trip by doing any other fun things that you’ve seen along the way.

Day 4:  Experience Badlands National Park and Spearfish Canyon, two amazingly beautiful examples of Mother Nature at her finest.  Between experiencing the rugged beauty of the Badlands and the majestic waterfalls of Spearfish Canyon you will create family memories to last a lifetime.

We loved this Midwest road trip itinerary because there was literally so much to see and do!  It is no wonder why the Black Hills has served as an unforgettable destination for generations of families as atmosphere and attractions appeal to all different ages.  With several area attractions being free or of minimal cost, a Black Hills road trip provides an affordable alternative for family vacationing. 

Southwest Michigan Road Trip from The Fearless Foreigner

Looking for Midwest road trip ideas? Southwest Michigan is the perfect region for outdoor adventures, inside cultural activities and some great eats. I loved this summer road-trip because there is a huge variety of activities to do, without needing to drive long distances in between each town or city.

Day 1: Saugatauk, Michigan
Day 2: Saugatauk, Michigan
Day 3: Holland, Michigan
Day 4: Dewitt & Laingsburg, Michigan
Day 5: Lansing, Michigan

Days 1 & 2: Saugatuck, Michigan– Make your first stop Saugatuck Dunes State Park. Several wooded paths take you to the beachfront. Be warned the water is pretty cold, even in the hottest part of the summer. Before going in the water, you will need to work up a sweat by climbing up the sand dunes. Do not underestimate how hard it is to climb a sand dune!

If you are ready for another hike you must visit Mount Baldhead Park where you can hike and climb up a huge set of stairs to a look-out point. For those of you interested in the history of the area, the Saugatuck Pump House Museum is right next to the park.

You can also wander around Saugatuck. With expensive yachts lining the boardwalk and local shops filling the streets, Saugatuck is the perfect mix of a resort town and quaint Midwest town. Don’t forget to visit one of the chocolate and ice cream shops!

Day 3: Holland, Michigan– Only a short drive away from Saugatuck is Holland. This Dutch themed town includes several Dutch attractions. Nelis’ Dutch Village, Windmill Island Gardens and the De Klomp Wooden Shoe & Delfware Factory are some of the best places to explore in Holland.

Day 4: Dewitt & Laingsburg, Michigan– Before making your way to Sleepy Hollow State Park in Laingsburg, make a stop at Sweetie-Licious Bakery Cafe in Dewitt. You won’t regret a stop at this award-winning bakery.

Day 5: Lansing, Michigan– There are a ton of fun things to do in Lansing. Rent a kayak right in the center of the city and be transported to nature as you kayak along the Grand River. For your cultural fix spend a few hours at the Michigan History Museum. I was really impressed with the exhibits and the way the museum was designed.

What are you waiting for? Plan your Midwest road trip to Southwest Michigan today!

Ohio Family Road Trip: One of the Best Midwest Family Vacations from Mommy Baby Life

Day 1: Columbus, Ohio
Day 2: Columbus, Ohio
Day 3: Sandusky, Ohio
Day 4: Kelley’s Island, Ohio

Day 1– When you arrive in Columbus, head over to Easton Town Center.  It’s only 15 minutes from the Columbus International Airport and would be great for a laid-back travel day.  It’s an outdoor shopping center with so much to do and the area is still expanding. Depending on the weather, you can explore Legoland or the American Girl Doll Store, catch a movie or let the kids play in a splash area.  Restaurants are all on site as well. My personal favorite, Brio, has wonderful Italian food and a beautiful outside patio. If you have more time on your first day in town, check out these other awesome things to do in Columbus, Ohio.

Day 2– The next day, you can head to the Columbus Zoo.  It’s a very large place so be sure to pack a cooler for lunch and try to see as much as you can!  There are plenty of interactive experiences for the kids as well as Zoombezi Bay Waterpark during the summer months.

Day 3– On the third day, take a 2-hour drive north to Sandusky.  Home of Cedar Point, this coastal town has plenty to offer.  Cedar Point is not just for thrill seekers, they have several areas for kids and a petting zoo.  Downtown Sandusky has many great restaurants to offer including Small City Taphouse for Sushi and Barra for mexican.  If you get away from the kids, grab a drink at Mosley’s rooftop bar for an incredible view.

Day 4– Kelleys Island is a family-friendly island that is only a ferry ride away.  Take the Jet Express passenger ferry out of downtown Sandusky and enjoy boating on Lake Erie!  Rent a golf cart on the island to easily get around. Visit the famous Glacial Grooves or sandy public beach on the north side of the island.  For a more laid-back afternoon, head to the Kelleys Island Winery where there are kids play structures and horseshoes among a shady picnic table area.  Get panoramic views of the lake eating at either The Casino, (not actually a casino,) or Dockers restaurant on the water.

Our family loves a road trip. We also love to save money! If you’re planning a Midwest family road trip, check out these six ways to save money for your next family vacation!

Ohio to Chicago to Wisconsin Road Trip from Travel After Five

Day 1: Chicago, Illinois
Day 2: Madison, Wisconsin
Day 3: Spring Green, Wisconsin
Day 4: Columbus, Ohio

When your best friend comes to visit, what better way to spend time together than a good old fashioned girls trip! She has always has a fascination with weird houses, and one item on her bucket list was to visit the House on the Rock in Spring Green, Wisconsin. We decided to road trip from Columbus, Ohio to see the house! This Midwestern road trip took us four days.

Day 1: Leaving Columbus, Ohio, drive through Indianapolis, and stay the night in Chicago. The first day in Chicago, we saw the Chicago billboard, did a birthday lunch cruise on the lake, and walked around to see different Chicago sites. On the top of our list was to see The Bean. If you have time be sure to check out these things to do in The Gold Coast neighborhood like the Navy Pier, Magnificent Mile, and go to the top of the John Hancock Building!

Day 2: Road trip from Chicago and drive to Madison, WI. While you are in Wisconsin, one must buy cheese! We ended up stopping at the Arena Cheese factory, where we were able to sample and buy some cheese to take home. The House on the Rock itself was a wild experience, and we spent hours just walking around the incredibly creative house.

Day 3: Visit the House on the Rock, then spend the night back in Chicago.

Day 4: Drive back to Columbus. On our way home back to Columbus we ended up stopping at the Albanese gummy factory and watched gummies being made. Overall, we had a wild Midwest road trip, and I would absolutely go again. 

If you have more than four days, here are some more awesome ideas for getaway destinations near Chicago that you could easily tack onto this Midwest USA road trip!

Midwestern Travel Ideas & Road Trip Ideas!

Did you have any idea there were so many fun things to do in the Midwest? We believe these are some of the best Midwest vacation ideas out there!

If you’ve been wondering what to do in the Midwest and have already checked all these ideas off your bucket list, then consider some of these super fun attractions in the Midwest:

• Mackinac Island, Michigan – I haven’t been yet, but it’s high on my list to visit when we make it to Michigan!
• Indianapolis, Indiana – a super family friendly destination with the world’s largest children’s museum. Plus who can resist a visit to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home to the famous Indy 500!
• Minneapolis Minnesota’s Mall of America…I mean come on…there’s an indoor theme park!! Pretty cool!
• Indiana Dunes National Park – our family loves anything involving water and their 15 miles of shoreline along Lake Michigan looks amazing!
• Visit the famous Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri!

Have you taken a Midwestern road trip?

I hope you’re enjoying our USA road trip ideas series. If you’re looking for road trip ideas in other parts of the USA, check out these road trip itineraries:

1. 5 Fabulous Southeast USA road trip ideas
2. Road trip from Salt Lake City Utah to Yellowstone National Park
3. New England Road Trip from Boston
4. Ultimate 10 Day California Road Trip Itinerary

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