Road Trip Planning| Miles Kms | Item | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 0.0 0.0 |
Welcome to Michigan |
Junction of Interstate Highway #75 North to Rudyard and Dafter; to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Access to Highway #2 West to communities of Brevort, Gulliver and Manistique. |
| 0.0 0.0 |
View from highway |
View from highway approaching the Mackinac bridge. |
| 0.0 0.0 |
View from highway |
View from highway driving on the Mackinac bridge. |
| 0.0 0.0 |
View from highway |
View from highway looking at Fort Michilimackinac. In 1770, Michilimackinac was the first stop for voyagers, and still is. This complete working colonial village is less than a mile from Mackinaw City. A fiddler leads you on a tour of the grounds. Excavations are ongoing within the stockade, as archaeologists uncover artifacts from the original trading hub. Interpreters serve as guides for this 1700's reconstructed fur-trading village and military outpost. |
| 0.0 0.0 |
View from highway |
Photo of the Mackinac toll booth over the Straits of Mackinac. |
| 0.0 0.0 |
View from highway |
Photo of the Mackinac bridge. |
| 0.0 0.0 |
Access to Mackinac Island |
Mackinac Island. Horses, History & Hospitality Because we are first and foremost a horse town, we prohibit personal automobiles to ensure the health and safety of our horses. Enjoy leisurely carriage tours and trail riding or our alternative modes of transportation: biking hiking, sailing, kayaking or simply strolling your way around the Island. For those traveling from points south, follow I-75 north to Mackinac City or St. Ignace and watch for the well-marked exits to your boat dock of choice. |
| 4.3 7.0 |
Mackinaw City |
Experience 4 National Historic Sites: Colonial Michilimackinac, Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, Historic Mill Creek, & Fort Mackinac. Colonial Michilimackinac is a reconstructed 1715 French fur-trading village and military outpost, later occupied by British military and traders. Today the fort features re-enactments from the British 1770s occupation/American Revolution era. Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse constructed in 1892, this was initially built to increase the range lights in the area, since navigators approaching from the east could not see Mc Gulpin's Point light, but was no longer needed with the opening of the Big Mackinac Bridge, in 1960 it was converted into a Maritime Museum. Fort Makinac, Michigan's oldest buildings, a 200 year old fortress. |
| 4.3 7.0 |
Mackinaw City |
Exit 339. Access to Highway #23 East to city of Cheboygan. Access to the Cheboygan State Park and the P.H. Hoeft State Park - East of the highway. Cheboygan State Park provides a variety of activities year-round. Scenic Lake Huron vistas, lake shore species, and glimpses of rare wildflowers can be accessed by way of a system of well-marked trails. The park has rustic cabins, tents, modern camping sites, and tents. Little Billy Elliot Creek, which is known for its trout, flows through the park. Duncan Bay provides plentiful fishing opportunities. Plentiful fishing in Duncan Bay. Hoeft State Park is a heavily wooded 300-acre park with a mile of sandy, Lake Huron shoreline. Hoeft State Park has 144 camp sites.
|
| 4.5 7.3 |
Services at the highway |
West side of the highway. |
| 4.9 7.9 |
View from highway |
Exit 338. Access to Mill Creek Historic State Park - East side of the highway. Access to Michigan State Visitor Information Center. Historic Mill Creek, the Straits of Mackinac's first industrial complex, Mill Creek provided sawn lumber for the settlement of Mackinac Island in the 1790s. |
| 6.0 9.7 |
Cheboygan County |
Northern boundary. |
| 8.1 13.0 |
View from highway |
Exit 336. I-75 continues South to Bay City.Note: This is the actual start of Highway #31. Also called the 'Michigan Circle Tour Route.'The Great Lakes Circle Tour is a designated, scenic road system connecting all of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. The Circle Tour is over 6,500 miles or 10,500 kilometers long. It encompasses individual lake Circle Tours including New York State's Seaway Trail system. The road route, marked by distinctive green and white signs, is usually the closest major road or highway to the water. |
| 8.5 13.7 |
Entering Mackinaw State Forest |
Northern boundary. |
| 9.8 15.8 |
View from highway |
View from highway driving South. |
| 11.7 18.8 |
Gill Road |
Community of Carp Lake. Access to Wilderness State Park - West side of the highway. |
| 11.9 19.2 |
Access to Paradise Lake |
East side of the highway. The lake is approximately 2000 acres and is excellent for fishing Northern and Bass as well as Walleye and Perch. |
| 15.8 25.5 |
Community of Levering |
Junction of County Roadway #66 West to community of Cross Village. |
| 16.1 25.9 |
Junction of County Roadway #66 |
East access to city of Cheboygan. Services and gas - West side of the highway. The city of Cheboygan is located on the shoreline of Lake Huron and the banks of the Cheboygan River. |
| 18.8 30.2 |
Services, gas and diesel available |
|
| 18.9 30.4 |
Access to lodging |
East side of the highway. |
| 20.4 32.8 |
Access to Pellston Regional Airport |
Services available at the highway. |
| 21.5 34.6 |
Community of Pellston |
Access to the business section. |
| 21.7 34.9 |
Junction of County Roadway #C44 |
|
| 21.7 35.0 |
Services, gas and diesel |
North side of the highway.
|
| 21.8 35.1 |
Point of Information |
Crossing Maple River. |
| 22.5 36.2 |
Community of Brutus |
Brutus Road - access to Burt Lake Stat Park. Services and gas - East side at the highway. Access to Burt Lake - East of the highway. |
| 28.7 46.2 |
Community of Alanson |
|
| 29.4 47.3 |
Junction of Highway #68 East |
Access to communities of Afton, Tower and Onaway. Services and gas - West side of the highway. |
| 31.4 50.5 |
Community of Oden |
|
| 32.9 53.0 |
Access to Michigan Fisheries Visitor Information Center |
North side of the highway. |
| 33.7 54.3 |
Access to Oden State Fish Hatchery |
West side of the highway. This facility is the brown and rainbow trout broodstock station and is a major rearing facility for those two species. |
| 33.9 54.6 |
Community of Conway |
|
| 35.5 57.2 |
Services, gas and diesel |
West side of the highway. |
| 36.1 58.1 |
Access to campgrounds |
East side of the highway. |
| 36.7 59.0 |
Pickeral Road |
Access to Crooked Lake - East side of the highway. |
| 37.2 59.9 |
Junction of Highway #119 |
North acces to communities of Harbor Spring and Good Hart. Access to state police - North of the highway. |
| 37.7 60.7 |
Services and fuel at the highway |
|
| 37.9 61.0 |
Junction of County Roadway #81 |
East access to community of Clarion. |
| 38.8 62.4 |
Community of Petoskey |
Northern limits. Petoskey is a year-round resort community nestled on the shores of Lake Michigan's Little Traverse Bay |
| 39.5 63.5 |
 |
Roadside turnout - paved with scenic viewpoint - West side of the highway. 'Little Traverse Bay - For centuries this region has been the home of Ottawa Indians, whose warriors and orators fought bravely to retain their land. Around 1700 a mission was built by French Jesuits at the famous L'Arbre Croche villages which stretched from Cross Village to Harbor Springs. Petoskey, named for Chief Pe-to-se-ga of the Bear River Band, was first settled in 1852 by Andrew Porter, a Presbytarian missionary. With the coming of the railroad in 1873 it changed rapidly from primitive settlement to one of America's leading summer resort cities. Bay View, the adjoining summer colony, was established in 1875. |
| 39.5 63.5 |
 |
Photo view from roadside turnout of Little Traverse Bay. |
| 39.8 64.0 |
View from highway |
View from highway driving South. |
| 40.2 64.7 |
Services and gas |
West side at the highway. |
| 40.3 64.9 |
Services and gas |
East side at the highway. |
| 40.6 65.4 |
Junction of Highway #131 |
South access to Boyne Falls, Cadillac and Grand Rapids. |
| 43.2 69.6 |
Community of Bay Harbor |
Situated on five miles of Lake Michigan shoreline between Petoskey and Charlevoix Bay |
| 43.3 69.7 |
Gas and diesel |
West side at the highway. |
| 46.8 75.3 |
Community of Bayshore |
|
| 47.0 75.7 |
Services, gas and diesel |
Available at the highway. |
| 48.8 78.6 |
View from highway |
View from highway driving South. |
| 48.9 78.7 |
Roadside turnout |
With scenic view point. |
| 51.3 82.5 |
Roadside turnout |
Access to rest area, picnic tables, toilets, viewpoint. |
| 54.4 87.6 |
Junction of County Roadway #C56 |
East to community of Horton Bay; to Young State Park. Access to Susan Lake. Young State Park is located at the east end of beautiful Lake Charlevoix. The park spans over 560 acres in Charlevoix County. Lake Charlevoix is stocked annually with rainbow, brown, and lake trout. Mirror Pond provides a good fishing site for children. The pond is stocked with sunfish and rock bass.
|
| 55.1 88.6 |
Services and gas |
West side at the highway. |
| 55.3 89.0 |
City of Charlevoix |
The city of Charlevoix is perched on an isthmus between Lake Michigan and Round Lake, spreading out onto the shores of Lake Charlevoix. |
| 56.7 91.3 |
Junction of Highway #M66 |
South to communities of East Jordan and Mancelona. Access to the business district of Charlevoix. |
| 58.9 94.8 |
Access to Fisherman Island State Park |
West side of the highway. The sites are divided into two locations. Fisherman's Island State Park is a 2,678-acre park in Charlevoix County that features a park road that travels for two and a half miles along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Away from the shoreline, the park's terrain consists of rolling dunes, covered with maple, birch and aspen broken up by bogs of cedar and black spruce.
31 in the north campground and 50 in the south campground |
| 62.0 99.7 |
View from highway |
View from highway driving South. |
| 65.2 104.9 |
Access to community of Norwood |
West side of the highway. |
| 66.7 107.3 |
Antrim County |
Northern boundary. In 1863 the Legislature organized Antrim County, attaching the unorganized counties of Kalkaska, Crawford and Ostego; at the same time the name of the town of Meguzee was changed to Elk Rapids, the county seat.
|
| 68.8 110.7 |
Junction of County Roadway #C48 |
East access to communities of Ellsworth and East Jordan. Access to campgrounds, RV park - East side of the highway. |
| 68.8 110.7 |
Community of Atwood |
Services and gas - West side at the highway. |
| 73.2 117.8 |
Community of Eastport |
Services, gas and diesel - at the highway. |
| 73.3 118.0 |
Junction of Highway #M88 |
East access to communities of Central Lake, Belaire and Mancelona. Access to Shanty Creek Ski Area - East of the highway. Shanty Creek Resort & Club is a four-season resort comprised of three unique villages. Summit, Schuss and Cedar River Village. |
| 75.7 121.8 |
Community of Torch Lake |
Torch Lake, at 18 miles long , is Michigan's longest lake. Fish species: Lake trout, rock bass, yellow perch, small mouth bass, muskellunge, ciscoes, brown trout, rainbow trout, whitefish.
|
| 75.9 122.2 |
Access to Torch Lake Township Park |
East side of the highway. |
| 81.3 130.9 |
Point of Information |
45th Parallel. |
| 82.6 133.0 |
Cairn Highway |
|
| 85.1 137.0 |
Access to community of Birch Lake |
East of the highway. |
| 85.5 137.6 |
Roadside turnout |
Rest area with picnic tables, toilets and a scenic view area of Birch Lake - East side of the highway. |
| 86.3 138.8 |
Williams Drive |
Community of Kewadin. |
| 88.5 142.5 |
 |
Community of Elk Rapids. Elk Rapids was platted in 1852 and originally named Stevens, Michigan later to be changed in 1858 to its present name - of Elk Rapids coming from a set of elk horns found in the Meguzee River Rapids. The town of Stevens, and both Meguzee River & Meguzee Lake were renamed to Elk in honor of the elk horns. |
| 88.7 142.8 |
View from highway |
View from highway driving South. |
| 89.2 143.6 |
Services and gas |
Available at the highway. |
| 89.5 144.0 |
Access to White Water State Park |
Access to campgrounds - East side of the highway. |
| 91.7 147.6 |
Grand Traverse County |
Northern boundary. The name Grand Traverse comes from the French in the early fur trading days who describe the nine-mile voyager trail along the shore across the foot of Grand Traverse Bay, as Le Grand Traverse or 'the long crossing.' Originally, it was named Omeena, with the probable meaning, 'the point beyond.' The County was a part of Mackinaw, but was organized by act approved April 7, 1851, as Grand Traverse County. |
| 94.2 151.6 |
Community of Yuba |
|
| 95.6 153.8 |
View from highway |
View from highway driving South. |
| 97.5 156.9 |
Access to campgrounds |
East side of the highway. |
| 98.4 158.4 |
Community of Acme |
|
| 98.6 158.7 |
Junction of Highway #M72 |
East to communities of Kalkaska, Grayling and Mio. Note: Highway #M72 overlaps Highway #31 at this point. |
| 98.7 158.8 |
Services and diesel |
West side at the highway. |
| 98.8 159.0 |
Access to tourist information center |
East side of the highway. |
| 99.5 160.1 |
Access to Michigan State Park |
With hiking trails - West side of the highway. |
| 99.8 160.6 |
View from highway |
View from highway driving South. |
| 102.2 164.5 |
Access to the Traverse City State Park |
With campgrounds - East side of the highway. The 47-acre Traverse City State Park is a completely developed urban park with 1/4-mile of beautiful beach on the East Arm of the Grand Traverse Bay. 343 campsites are located in a wooded mix of hard and soft wood trees in the park. Major area attractions like The Grand Traverse Resort, Sleeping Bear Dunes, several first-rate golf course, and casinos are within a short drive from the park.
|
| 102.5 165.0 |
Access to Traverse City State Park beach area |
West side of the highway. |
| 103.4 166.4 |
 |
City of Traverse - Northern boundary. Traverse City and many nearby communities have fine historical museums with large collections of items from the pioneer era. Also, some of the area�s most interesting historical sites are outdoors and can be combined with a pleasant walk or a scenic drive. A visit to Traverse City�s splendid opera house, a stroll through the Grand Traverse Commons or a drive to the historic village of Old Mission. |
| 104.3 167.8 |
Access to North Western Michigan College |
West side of the highway. |
| 104.6 168.4 |
Garfield Avenue |
Junction of Highway #M37. Note: Highway #M37 overlaps Highway #31 at this point. |
| 105.4 169.6 |
Access to downtown business area of Traverse City |
|
| 105.6 170.0 |
View from highway |
View from highway driving South. |
| 106.6 171.5 |
View from highway |
Photo view looking at Grand Traverse Bay. |
| 106.7 171.7 |
Junction of Highway #M72 |
West access to community of Empire; to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Junction of Highway #M22 North to Suttons Bay, Lake Leelanau and Northport. Note: Hwy #M72 overlap ends at this point. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore encompasses a 60 km (35 mi.) stretch of Lake Michigan's eastern coastline, as well as North and South Manitou Islands. |
| 107.8 173.4 |
Silver Lake Road |
|
| 109.9 176.8 |
Airport Road |
|
| 113.5 182.6 |
Junction of Highway #M37 |
South to communities of Buckley, Mesick and Yuma. Note: Highway #M37 overlap ends at this point. |
| 114.2 183.7 |
Access to Silver Lake |
West side of the highway. |
| 114.3 184.0 |
Access to campgrounds |
West side of the highway. |
| 115.6 186.0 |
Access to town of Grawn |
|
| 117.8 189.6 |
Access to Ellis Lake |
West side of the highway. |
| 119.1 191.7 |
South Long Lake Road |
Services and fuel at the highway. Access to Interlochen State Park - South of the highway. Interlochen State Park
Has 490 Campsites (60 rustic - remaining are modern). Situated between Duck and Green Lake, adjacent to National Music Camp.
|
| 120.5 193.9 |
Access to forest campgrounds |
West side of the highway. |
| 121.5 195.6 |
Benzie County |
Eastern boundary. |
| 122.5 197.1 |
Access to Lake Ann Village |
West side of the highway. Lake Ann is a small resort town situated in Benzie County. |
| 123.5 198.8 |
Access to Pere Marquette State Forest Campgrounds |
East side of the highway. The Pere Marquette State Forest campgrounds encompass lands in the upper lower peninsula on the western side of the state. Campgrounds include hike in sites, horse campsites and site accessible by water. Biking, hiking and groomed cross-country ski trails. ORV scramble area at Long Lake and Carrieville campgrounds.
|
| 125.5 202.0 |
View from highway |
View from highway driving South. |
| 127.4 205.1 |
Access to community of Thompsonville |
South side of the highway. |
| 127.9 205.8 |
Access to state forest campgrounds |
East side of the highway. |
| 131.0 210.8 |
Community of Honor |
|
| 131.2 211.2 |
Access to County Roadway #677 |
|
| 131.6 211.8 |
Services and gas |
Available at the highway. |
| 131.7 212.0 |
Access to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore |
West of the highway. |
| 131.8 212.1 |
View from highway |
Photo view of the Honor business district. |
| 132.4 213.1 |
Point of Information |
Crossing the Platte River. The Platte River is a small to medium size tributary to Lake Michigan run with both steelhead and salmon. It is also a fine trout fishery with good hatches of mayflies, caddis, and stoneflies. |
| 132.9 213.9 |
Platte Road |
Public access to Platte Lake. |
| 135.0 217.3 |
Access to lodging |
West side of the highway. |
| 136.3 219.4 |
 |
Welcome to community of Beulah. |
| 137.5 221.3 |
 |
Welcome to the community of Benzonia. |
| 138.0 222.1 |
Junctioin of Highway #M115 |
West access to community of Frankfort. Services, gas and diesel - at the highway. Access to Betsie River, and campgrounds. |
| 138.7 223.2 |
Access to lodging |
West side of the highway. |
| 139.0 223.7 |
Access to campgrounds |
West side of the highway. |
| 139.1 223.9 |
Point of Information |
Crossing the Betsie River. |
| 140.1 225.4 |
Junction of Highway #M115 |
East access to communities of Copemish, Cadillac and Farewell. |
| 142.5 229.3 |
View from highway |
View from highway driving South. |
| 143.6 231.1 |
Access to roadside turnout |
State rest area with picnic area, BBQ's and washrooms. |
| 145.2 233.7 |
Manistee County |
Northern boundary. Coastline villages include Onekama, Arcadia and Bear Lake. Inland communities near smaller Inland Lakes, include Copemish, Kaleva, Brethren and Wellston.Manistee, the Victorian Port City, with it's many Victorian buildings and homes called 'Painted Ladies' is located on Lake Michigan, Manistee Lake, and the winding Manistee River. |
| 146.8 236.3 |
Access to town of Arcadia |
West side of the highway. |
| 147.3 237.0 |
Access to RV park campground |
West side of the highway. |
| 149.4 240.5 |
Access to rv park campground |
West side of the highway. |
| 149.9 241.3 |
View from highway |
View from highway driving South. |
| 151.1 243.2 |
Services and fuel |
East side of the highway. |
| 151.6 243.9 |
 |
Community of Bear Lake. Access to community of Wildwood and Pierport - West of the highway. Bear Lake a quiet community surrounds the 1,800 acre lake where fishing, swimming, sailing, and boating are enjoyed.
|
| 152.2 245.0 |
Services, gas and diesel |
West side of the highway. |
| 152.3 245.1 |
Access to lodging |
East side of the highway. |
| 153.9 247.6 |
Services, gas and diesel |
East side of the highway. |
| 156.8 252.4 |
Access to community of Onekama |
West side of the highway. |
| 157.8 254.0 |
Access to community of Norwalk |
East of the highway. |
| 159.4 256.5 |
View from highway |
View from highway driving South. |
| 160.9 259.0 |
Access to community of Brethren |
East of the highway. |
| 161.4 259.8 |
View from highway |
View from highway driving South. |
| 163.6 263.2 |
Junction of Highway #M22 |
North to communitites of Elberta, Empire and Glen Arbor. Access to the Homestead Ski Area - North of the highway. |
| 165.7 266.7 |
Services, gas and diesel |
Available at the highway. |
| 166.5 268.0 |
City of Parkdale |
Junction of Highway #55 South to East Lake and Lake City. Access to Orchad Beach State Park - West of the highway. Access to Roadway #110 North to community of Bar Lake. Highway #31 continues South to city of Manistee. Orchard Beach State Park Camping: 167 campsites, one mini cabin, two paved handicap sites and two rest room and shower buildings. |
| 166.5 268.0 |
Start / Finish of Highway Travel Guide - S&e |
For continuation of this highway visit MilebyMile.com, Michigan US Highway 31, Section 2. City of Manistee (Junction of Highway #55) to Michigan/Indiana State Line. |