3 Michigan Cities Among America’s ‘Best Summer Travel Destinations’

Three Michigan cities have made it on a new list of 2022's Best Summer Travel Destinations. We are the Great Lakes State, after all, so this should come as no surprise. Not only does Michigan have the Great Lakes, but this state also has numerous inland lakes, making it a perfect summer travel destination for people all across America.

WalletHub has put together a new study, featuring 2022's Best Summer Travel Destinations. In it, they mention that the pandemic "put many Americans' summer travel plans on hold during the past two years," adding that "travel is much safer and much more feasible this year due to vaccines and the lack of restrictions." They also state that an impressive 80% of American travelers plan to take a trip in 2022. As for where to go, WalletHub states, "You might have a few destinations already in mind, but your travel budget might not agree, especially after the financial difficulties of the pandemic. Regardless, it's ideal to have fun while keeping your spending in check."

To determine the joyous cities, WalletHub developed a ranking of the least expensive U.S. destinations that are also the easiest to reach. "In total, we analyzed 100 of the largest metro areas across 43 key indicators," they stated. "Our data set ranges from the cost of the cheapest flight to the number of attractions to COVID-19 cases. Compared with other rankings that focus on each destination’s scenic quality, this report focuses primarily on the cost and convenience of traveling to each location as well as its affordability. However, it does take into account the number of attractions and variety of activities in each destination to ensure visitors will stay busy and entertained throughout the trip."

So, which Michigan cities are on top? The Grand Rapids, Kentwood area ranks No. 33 on the tally, making it the best city for summer travel in Michigan. The Detroit, Warren and Dearborn area comes in at No. 60, and Lansing and East Lansing come in at No. 97. Check out the full list here, and find more great Michigan travel destinations below.

Summer is on the way, and that means it's about to be road trip season. I always enjoy driving around during the spring and summer months, discovering new towns around Michigan. Fall is a great time to road trip, too, because of the gorgeous colors. This state has so many beautiful small towns, which make for perfect stops during a long road trip.

So, how small are Michigan's tiniest dwellings? I actually looked up some data from the state of Michigan and discovered that many towns in Michigan have just a few hundred people. That's almost hard to imagine. Some examples are Addison at 597, Akron at 394 and Alba at 295. Now, that's really, really small.

When it comes to Michigan's quaint cities, I always enjoy South Haven. My uncle lives around that area, and I used to go there at lot as a kid. The beach town is right on the eastern shores of Lake Michigan, in the southwest part of the state. Its population is just over 4,000 residents, but it seems way bigger during the summer months, as it's a very popular tourist destination. Just thinking about South Haven's warm, sandy beaches is making me smile. If you head there, don't forget to check out South Haven's trademark red lighthouse.

Of course, South Haven is just the beginning when it comes to great places to visit. Read on for 40 small towns in Michigan that you need to visit this summer for a weekend getaway. You'll also find information on each town below with a link to that town's official website, so you can find more details about the best time to visit and how to get there.

https://www.munising.org/

https://www.travelmarquette.com/

https://www.traversecity.com/

https://www.michigan.org/city/holland

https://saultstemarie.com/

https://www.alpena.mi.us/

https://tawascity.org/

https://www.sjcity.com/

https://www.cityofharborsprings.com/

https://www.escanaba.org/

https://www.frankenmuth.org/

https://www.mackinacisland.org/

https://www.ci.northville.mi.us/

https://villageofontonagon.org/

https://www.michigan.org/city/paradise

https://www.copperharbor.org/

https://www.saugatuck.com/

https://www.southhaven.org/

https://petoskeyarea.com/

https://visitludington.com/

http://www.pentwater.org/

https://www.mytecumseh.org/

http://www.colonmichigan.org/

http://www.cityofboynecity.com/

https://www.michigan.org/city/caseville

https://portaustinarea.com/

https://www.easttawas.com/

https://stignace.com/

https://www.michigan.org/city/suttons-bay

https://www.newberrychamber.net/

http://www.cityofmarshall.com/

https://www.harrisvillemi.org/

https://www.frankfortmich.com/

https://villageofelberta.com/

https://elkrapids.org/

https://www.michigan.org/city/au-gres

https://www.rosecitymich.com/

https://www.gaylordmichigan.net/

https://menominee.us/