8 Affordable Destinations In the Great Lakes For Budget Travelers
The Great Lakes, an unprecedented North American freshwater body system, captures the summer spirit of the Midwest's vacations with a variety of affordable towns. Each offers free or budget adventures and attractions, plus affordable stays steps from the clear water of one of the five Great Lakes: Michigan, Erie, Superior, Huron, and Ontario. Two Rivers, a Lake Michigan gem in Wisconsin, is the birthplace of the ice cream sundae at the gateway to Woodland Dunes State Natural Area.
Chesterton, a foodie's paradise in Indiana, grants doorstep access to the Indiana Dunes, with sandy Lake Michigan beaches, grasslands, woodlands, and prairies spliced with trails. The Apostle Islands, one of the most unique sites to explore in anyone's lifetime, is visible from your bayfront inn in Bayfield, Wisconsin. Find the most affordable destinations in the Great Lakes region for budget travelers without sacrificing that luxurious and relaxing getaway.
Bayfield, Wisconsin
Between Frog Bay Tribal National Park to the north and Houghton Falls State Natural Area south, Bayfield is 20 minutes to the lakeshore's Mainland Sea Caves and Maritime Cliffs State Natural Area across the peninsular knob west. Waking up for a stroll, you will be tempted to set up an easel or a photoshoot right along the rugged, rocky shores in town, against the largest of the Great Lakes, Superior. Set your sights further—on the nearby island adventures. The 21-island archipelago just offshore beckons with jewels like Big Bay State Park on Madeline Island or the Raspberry Island Lighthouse. It is a heaven for paddlers, sailing, and scuba diving in the abandoned quarries.
Bayfield remains blissfully crowdless, affordable, and tourist-friendly to bite out of the area's wonders via hiking trails or kayaking for miles through sea caves with waterfalls. Visitors can enjoy camping on 18 of the 21 islands at around $15.00 a night, perfect to introduce your kids to the beauty of the state. Find eight historic towers on six of the islands and over 50 miles of maintained trails to explore, with over 240 migrating birds and other species annually to the archipelago. Bayfield Inn overlooks the Great Lake from your room at about $100 per room that sleeps four. There are also cheap snacks and free entertainment under the 900-seat canvas tent at Big Top Chautauqua.
Chesterton, Indiana
This small Lake Michigan town grants you access to the Indiana Dunes. The surrounding Indiana Dunes State Park draws visitors with sandy beaches and unique nature trails through prairies, woodlands, and wetlands. Next door in Porter, stop by the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center with displays, videos, and brochures before exploring the expansive dunes. Minutes west, the 276-acre Portage Imagination Glen Park features a nature preserve, plus athletic fields, a BMX track, playgrounds, and a picnic area. Play with your pet at the central Chesterton Park, next to the beautiful Westchester Public Library-Township History Museum. Staying serene through the high season, Boaters Beach is surrounded by lakeside amenities, vacation rentals, and the affordable Best Western Indian Oak.
Chesterton's tempting dining options include Lucrezia Café for classic northern Italian dishes, martinis, and wine in a Victorian mansion, next to Running Vines Winery—all you need to be a happy camper. Just south, Sand Creek Campground is next to the dog-friendly Coffee Creek Preserve, with hiking trails from your doorstep, plus multiple little bridges, a pond, and even an amphitheater. The Red Cup Cafe & Deli will keep you full and happy with homemade baked items, sandwiches, and soups. Chesterton's European Market won't drain your wallet, but its 150 vendors sure tempt you with fresh produce, plants, and artisanal bread on Saturdays from May through October. Buy a little something from Chesterton Art Center with works by local artists to decorate your home with a memory.
Manistique, Michigan
Looking for a cost-effective small-town experience by the Great Lakes? Manistique is magnifique at the mouth of the Manistique River on Lake Michigan and affordable—that's why its 3,000 residents love living in a lavish feel, much thanks to the natural wonders around. Bordering the tremendous Hiawatha National Forest, of some 900,000 acres, pure wilderness spans between Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, with plenty of room to roam right from your campsite. Take a stroll along the scenic boardwalk to Manistique East Breakwater Lighthouse, a striking red beacon stark against the blue sea, Lake Michigan, with Manistique Lakeshore Campground right on the "bleachers" for first-row views on a budget.
Enjoy fishing, kayaking, and canoeing on the Manistique River, or dive into the real wilderness culture of the area, from the legendary Kitsch-iti-kipi spring to other clues strewn around by Chippewa Indians. A hop from the town's many charms, the inland Indian Lake is great for boating. Lakeview Park is a scenic beachfront area with plenty of space to share next to the boardwalk, plus a splicing nature trail. Some 50 minutes north, the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, a national park, features dramatic cliffs and wild dunes bordering Lake Superior.
Munising, Michigan
For a cost-effective travel experience in the state, look no further than Munising. It is a ready-made vacation spot that gets you the bang for the buck. Between here and Grand Marais, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore stretches for over 40 miles of bright orange sandstone cliffs streaked by minerals over dunes, beaches, and forested shorelines. The opulent blue-green waters are best taken in on a kayak tour with outfitters like Paddling Michigan, leading you under overhangs past waterfalls. Munising Bay Shipwreck Tours offers one of the coolest views of the lake—the natural beauty of the underwater, with shipwrecks and the lighthouse up above.
You can splurge on a lodge-style stay at a lumber baron's 1896 home, Roam Inn in Munising, with Lake Superior views from 18 guest rooms. But at $25.00, a permit lets you stay at the drive-in campgrounds edging the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, what every outdoor enthusiast dreams of. You will be back times again at Muldoon's Pasties for another regional staple, fresh from the oven goodness with a flaky crust and tender beef with flavorful veggies.
Paradise, Michigan
Who would have thought that a pristine natural paradise escape could be so affordable? Paradise, a Lake Superior gem, feels remotely serene even in the high summer season. Choose among budget-friendly cabin rentals, a top-rated motel, or a suite at an inn. After a morning stroll along Paradise Pathways in town, the family-friendly Fresh Coast Cafe serves cinnamon rolls, cookies, and subs with epic names like "Ship Wreck." Granting you gateway access to the west, the riverfront Tahquamenon Falls State Park draws visitors year-round with thundering cascades, each more scenic than the last, woodland hikes, camping, and other recreational activities. The gorgeous Tahquamenon Upper Falls is the focal point, with stairs and several outlooks, plus a brewery, gift shop, and exhibits on site.
Just 15 minutes to the northern tip of the knob into the lake, Whitefish Point Lighthouse is Lake Superior's oldest. In operation since the 1800s, it offers panoramic views of the coast and is home to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum. In addition, the remote Crisp Point Lighthouse is an early-1900s lighthouse with a gift shop and endless Lake Superior views from the top. Afterward, Wheelhouse Diner & Goatlocker Saloon offers whitefish, pasties, and everything in between, plus lawn games and goats living behind the restaurant. Feed your hunger for adventure, expanding further south to reconnect with Mother Nature at National Hiawatha Forest, while the Magnuson Grand Hotel Lakefront Paradise will tuck your family or three friends in starting at around $200 per night.
Sault Ste Marie, Michigan
It's hard to believe that this town at the aquatic border with Canada is one of the state's most budget-friendly to live in and visit. The small UP city of Sault Ste Marie across the eponymous town in Ontario offers free and budget pursuits like swimming, boating, and fishing Lake Superior’s fresh sparkling waters. First resided by the Native Americans, the charming town is home to the Soo Locks, a canal system with a series of gates and chambers; the first lock was built some 170 years ago. The Soo Locks complex offers insights into the engineering marvel used for raising and lowering vessels six meters between Lake Superior and the lower Lake Huron. After visiting the Museum Ship Valley Camp—a retired shipping freighter with hundreds of nautical exhibits—you can trace the path of cargo-carrying ships aboard a Soo Locks Boat Tours vessel down the river.
From beaches to parks, climb Point Iroquois Lighthouse’s nearly 20-meter tower for Superior views and Sault Ste., Michigan’s birthplace. Affectionately called “The Soo,” the city on the banks of the mighty St. Marys River, a vital waterway connecting the Great Lakes, features British and French influences, plus ancient pictographs of the First Nation Peoples along Lake Superior's Canadian Shield cliffs. Whether you are in for thrills, culture, leisurely walks, and waterfront relaxation, the award-winning KOA campground a quarter mile from the Trans Canada Highway in Canada starts at $65.00 per night. Or stay on the US side on a budget at Hampton Inn Sault Ste Marie for around $120 per night.
Two Harbors, Minnesota
Some 27 miles northeast of Duluth, this small town is a gateway to epic outdoor exploration of the North Shore, granting you access to superior hiking trails all the way north to the Canadian border. Stop by the Two Harbors Lighthouse Museum, still in operation, with an affordable self-guided tour along the grounds and some of the outbuildings, plus an actual bed and breakfast right inside the lighthouse. The Duluth and Iron Range Depot Museum features exciting trains and a gift shop. Grand Superior Lodge offers rooms, cabins, and lakefront homes for your budget (with rooms under $200) and appeal, plus thrilling opportunities for families like ATV and kayak tours. Venture north along the lake with a stop at Flood Bay State Wayside and Betty's Pies by Kelsey Beach.
This veteran bakery since 1956 is worth the drive alone for a homestyle slice or classic American breakfast and lunch. Cedar Coffee Company serves espresso drinks, and cafés eat on a pet-friendly patio in forest surroundings. Power up with buttery blueberry pancakes for adventures through Gooseberry Falls State Park, 14 miles northeast, with a visitor center and waterfalls, and return for the wild rice fish chowder or pan-fried lake trout. Burlington Bay Campground is popular in the summer next to Lakeview Park Playground on Lake Superior. Across the town to the west, the pet-friendly Paul Van Hoven Park is perfect for getting out and stretching or relaxing on a picnic near the breakwater dock, plus a long walking path along historic tugboats and giant iron ore docks.
Two Rivers, Wisconsin
Between the beachfront Neshotah Park and the Woodland Dunes State Natural Area, this lakeside town is a one-stop shop for budget holidaymakers. Having had its shining moment through most of the 20th century as a fishing and inland shipping hub, you can even "splurge" on a weekend getaway, with small-town prices perfect for families, history lovers, and nature fans alike. Not your typical port town, with two rivers coursing through—the East and West Twin Rivers—welcome to the birthplace of the ice cream sundae. No visit is complete without a stop for dessert at the old-fashioned ice cream saloon in Washington House. You will be back times again in the summer, while design lovers can drool over Frank Lloyd's Schwartz House or even reserve a stay in his masterpiece.
Point Beach State Forest is great for fishing, and if you love stationary, the one-of-a-kind Hamilton Wood Type is dedicated to wood-type printing, with letterpress workshops and other interactive events. From architecture to attractions, stop by London Dairy Alpacas to feed the animals and maybe even score authentic winter gear made of their fur. You can play a round next-door north at Eastwin Valley Golf & FootGolf Course, or stick to a budget adventure at the kid-friendly Woodland Dunes Nature Center & Preserve with a fantastic boardwalk through dense flora for photoshoots. After dinner at the popular Two Rivers Family Restaurant, follow one of the rivers to the lakefront for sunset views behind the striped Two Rivers North Pierhead Light Tower tipping the pier.
The oceanlike lakes sure amaze alone, but with gems like Sault Ste Marie, you can discover great history, shipwrecks, and its relationship with the friendly neighboring country. Munising Bay Shipwreck Tours offers one of the coolest views of the same lake, with shipwrecks and the lighthouse above. Choose a town in your state, a wild card you will love, or head on a great road trip through the region.
Whether you are looking for thrills, culture, or leisurely walks and relaxation waterfront, these eight are affordable, fun, and laidback, with friendly locals who enjoy life along a Great Lake. So head out without fear of breaking the bank, with enough money for gas to cover great distances along their immense shores.
