Best Small Towns in Michigan
The best small towns in Michigan are Mackinac Island for its car-free streets and fort, Saugatuck for Lake Michigan dunes and galleries, Frankenmuth for its Bavarian main street, Munising for Pictured Rocks and Petoskey for Little Traverse Bay. Mackinac Island has banned cars since 1895. Here are 12 worth the trip, grouped by region.
- Best season: June–September, plus October for color
- Regions: Southwest Michigan, Southeast Michigan, The Thumb, Northern Michigan, Upper Peninsula
- Closest big cities: Detroit, Grand Rapids, Chicago, Toledo, Traverse City
| Town | Region | Best for | Nearest airport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mackinac Island | Northern Michigan | history, biking, couples, family trips, Victorian architecture | Pellston (PLN), about 25 min to the Mackinaw City ferry, then a 16-20 min crossing |
| Saugatuck | Southwest Michigan | beaches, dune hikes, art galleries, boat cruises, summer weekends from Chicago | Grand Rapids (GRR), about 50 min |
| Frankenmuth | The Thumb | holiday shopping, family trips, German food, day trips from Detroit | Flint (FNT), about 30 min |
| Munising | Upper Peninsula | boat tours, waterfalls, hiking, mountain biking, fall color, winter ice curtains | Marquette Sawyer (MQT), about 50 min |
| Petoskey | Northern Michigan | shopping, beaches, rock hunting, biking, summer getaways | Pellston (PLN), about 25 min |
| Frankfort | Northern Michigan | beaches, lighthouses, biking, sunsets, gateway to Sleeping Bear Dunes | Traverse City (TVC), about 1 hr |
| Marshall | Southwest Michigan | historic architecture, museums, walking tours, food, road-trip stops | Kalamazoo (AZO), about 45 min |
| St. Joseph | Southwest Michigan | beaches, families, lighthouses, public art, weekend trips from Chicago | South Bend (SBN), about 45 min |
| Port Austin | The Thumb | kayaking, beaches, stargazing, lighthouses, farmers markets | Saginaw (MBS), about 1 hr 45 min |
| Chelsea | Southeast Michigan | live theatre, hiking and mountain biking, lake days, day trips from Ann Arbor and Detroit | Detroit Metro (DTW), about 45 min |
| Marine City | Southeast Michigan | freighter watching, live theater, maritime history, biking, weekend getaways from Detroit | Detroit Metro (DTW), about 1 hr 15 min |
| Three Oaks | Southwest Michigan | craft spirits, live music, cycling, Lake Michigan beaches, weekend getaways from Chicago | South Bend (SBN), about 40 min |
Northern Michigan
1. Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island is a car-free island city of 583 in the Straits of Mackinac, reached only by ferry. Fort Mackinac, Arch Rock and more than 70 miles of trails sit inside the state park that covers most of the island. The Grand Hotel's long front porch and downtown fudge shops round it out.
Pop. 583 (2020 Census) Mackinac County Founded 1899 (incorporated as a city; village from 1847) Nearest airport: Pellston (PLN), about 25 min to the Mackinaw City ferry, then a 16-20 min crossing Known for: car-free island since 1895, Fort Mackinac, Grand Hotel's front porch, Arch Rock, fudge
- Best for: history, biking, couples, family trips, Victorian architecture
- Don't miss: Fort Mackinac; Arch Rock and Mackinac Island State Park; Biking or walking M-185
- Heads up: No cars on the island; pack light and plan on ferries, bikes, carriages and walking.
2. Petoskey
Petoskey is the Emmet County seat on Little Traverse Bay, across the water from Harbor Springs. Its Gaslight District downtown has more than 170 shops and restaurants above a 25-acre waterfront park. Petoskey State Park, the Bay View Chautauqua and the 26-mile Little Traverse Wheelway are all close by.
Pop. 5,877 (2020 Census) Emmet County Nearest airport: Pellston (PLN), about 25 min Known for: Petoskey stones, Gaslight District, Little Traverse Bay, Bay View, Hemingway
- Best for: shopping, beaches, rock hunting, biking, summer getaways
- Don't miss: Petoskey State Park; Historic Gaslight District; Bayfront Park
- Heads up: Petoskey State Park requires a Recreation Passport, and its day-use lot closes early November to early spring.
3. Frankfort
Frankfort is a Benzie County harbor town where the Betsie River meets Lake Michigan. Point Betsie Lighthouse is just north, and the 1912 pier light frames the sunsets off Frankfort Beach. The Betsie Valley Trail runs from the beach to Crystal Lake and beyond.
Pop. 1,252 (2020 Census) Benzie County Founded 1885 (village); city 1935 Nearest airport: Traverse City (TVC), about 1 hr Known for: Point Betsie Lighthouse, Frankfort North Breakwater Light, Betsie Valley Trail, gateway to Sleeping Bear Dunes
- Best for: beaches, lighthouses, biking, sunsets, gateway to Sleeping Bear Dunes
- Don't miss: Point Betsie Lighthouse; Frankfort Beach and the North Breakwater Light; Betsie Valley Trail
- Heads up: The pier lighthouse is under phased restoration, and the pierhead can close during work; check first.
Southwest Michigan
4. Saugatuck
Saugatuck is a small Allegan County city on the Kalamazoo River, just in from Lake Michigan. It grew from a lumber port into an art colony with neighboring Douglas. Today people come for Oval Beach, the 303 steps up Mount Baldhead and the country's last hand-cranked chain ferry.
Pop. 865 (2020 Census) Allegan County Founded 1868 (incorporated as a village) Nearest airport: Grand Rapids (GRR), about 50 min Known for: Oval Beach, Mount Baldhead, hand-cranked chain ferry, art colony and galleries
- Best for: beaches, dune hikes, art galleries, boat cruises, summer weekends from Chicago
- Don't miss: Oval Beach; Mount Baldhead Park; Saugatuck Chain Ferry
- Heads up: Beach parking fills on peak summer days; use the ferry, walk or call the Interurban bus.
5. Marshall
Marshall is the Calhoun County seat, with more than 850 buildings in its National Historic Landmark District. The 1860 Honolulu House and the American Museum of Magic are the headline stops, and Schuler's has served dinner since 1909.
Pop. 6,822 (2020 Census) Calhoun County Founded 1830 Nearest airport: Kalamazoo (AZO), about 45 min Known for: National Historic Landmark District, Honolulu House, American Museum of Magic, Schuler's
- Best for: historic architecture, museums, walking tours, food, road-trip stops
- Don't miss: Honolulu House Museum; American Museum of Magic; Marshall's National Historic Landmark District
- Heads up: Several museums open only by appointment or on limited days; call ahead.
6. St. Joseph
St. Joseph is the Berrien County seat, at the mouth of the St. Joseph River about 90 miles from Chicago. Silver Beach, the hand-carved Silver Beach Carousel and the 1907 North Pier lighthouses sit just below a walkable bluff-top downtown.
Pop. 7,856 (2020 Census) Berrien County Founded 1834 (village); city 1891 Nearest airport: South Bend (SBN), about 45 min Known for: Silver Beach, Silver Beach Carousel, North Pier lighthouses and catwalk, Krasl Art Center, Whirlpool's hometown
- Best for: beaches, families, lighthouses, public art, weekend trips from Chicago
- Don't miss: Silver Beach County Park; Silver Beach Carousel; St. Joseph North Pier Lighthouses
- Heads up: Beach parking is paid from May through September and fills early on summer weekends.
7. Three Oaks
Three Oaks is a Berrien County village of about 1,400 people in Harbor Country, 5 miles from Lake Michigan. Journeyman Distillery and the Acorn fill its old Featherbone Factory, and 16 bike loops start downtown. Warren Woods and Warren Dunes state parks are minutes away.
Pop. 1,370 (2020 Census) Berrien County Founded 1867 (incorporated as a village); settled 1850 Nearest airport: South Bend (SBN), about 40 min Known for: Journeyman Distillery, the Acorn, the Featherbone Factory, Apple Cider Century bike ride
- Best for: craft spirits, live music, cycling, Lake Michigan beaches, weekend getaways from Chicago
- Don't miss: Journeyman Distillery; The Acorn; Backroads Bikeway and the Apple Cider Century
- Heads up: Three Oaks is on Eastern time, an hour ahead of Chicago; book distillery tours ahead.
The Thumb
8. Frankenmuth
Frankenmuth is a Saginaw County town on the Cass River, settled by Franconian Lutherans in 1845. It's home to Bronner's, the self-billed world's largest Christmas store, and to Zehnder's and the Bavarian Inn, famous for family-style chicken dinners. A 239-foot covered bridge and a paddlewheel riverboat round out a day.
Pop. 4,987 (2020 Census) Saginaw County Founded 1845 (settled) Nearest airport: Flint (FNT), about 30 min Known for: Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland, family-style chicken dinners, Bavarian architecture, Holz-Brücke covered bridge
- Best for: holiday shopping, family trips, German food, day trips from Detroit
- Don't miss: Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland; Zehnder's of Frankenmuth; Holz-Brücke Covered Bridge
- Heads up: Weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas are packed; come on a weekday if you can.
9. Port Austin
Port Austin is a Huron County village at the tip of Michigan's Thumb, where you can watch the sun rise and set over Lake Huron. Kayakers paddle out to Turnip Rock, and nearby Port Crescent State Park is a dark sky preserve with 3 miles of beach.
Pop. 622 (2020 Census) Huron County Nearest airport: Saginaw (MBS), about 1 hr 45 min Known for: Turnip Rock, Port Crescent State Park dark sky preserve, farmers market, tip of the Thumb
- Best for: kayaking, beaches, stargazing, lighthouses, farmers markets
- Don't miss: Turnip Rock by kayak; Port Crescent State Park; Port Austin Farmers Market
- Heads up: Turnip Rock is water-access only; paddle only in calm conditions and check the marine forecast.
Upper Peninsula
10. Munising
Munising is the Alger County seat, on Munising Bay across from Grand Island. It's the western gateway to Pictured Rocks, America's first national lakeshore, and boat tours to the cliffs leave from its city dock. Waterfalls, shipwreck tours and Grand Island's trails are all close by.
Pop. 1,986 (2020 Census) Alger County Nearest airport: Marquette Sawyer (MQT), about 50 min Known for: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Grand Island, waterfalls, shipwreck tours
- Best for: boat tours, waterfalls, hiking, mountain biking, fall color, winter ice curtains
- Don't miss: Pictured Rocks Cruises; Miners Castle; Grand Island National Recreation Area
- Heads up: A park pass is required for Pictured Rocks visitors 16 and older; boat tours run mid-May to mid-October.
Southeast Michigan
11. Chelsea
Chelsea is a Washtenaw County city of about 5,500 people, 15 miles west of Ann Arbor. It's home to Jiffy mix and Jeff Daniels' Purple Rose Theatre, with a National Register downtown. Waterloo and Pinckney recreation areas put lakes and long trails right outside town.
Pop. 5,467 (2020 Census) Washtenaw County Founded 1850 (platted and named); village 1889, city 2004 Nearest airport: Detroit Metro (DTW), about 45 min Known for: Jiffy mix, Jeff Daniels' Purple Rose Theatre, Waterloo Recreation Area
- Best for: live theatre, hiking and mountain biking, lake days, day trips from Ann Arbor and Detroit
- Don't miss: The Purple Rose Theatre Company; Waterloo Recreation Area; Pinckney Recreation Area
- Heads up: The Jiffy mill no longer offers public tours; Waterloo and Pinckney need a Michigan Recreation Passport.
12. Marine City
Marine City sits on the St. Clair River in St. Clair County, across from Ontario. It was a wooden shipbuilding center in the 1800s and later home to Great Lakes freighter captains. Today it's known for freighter watching from the Nautical Mile, a riverfront beach and professional theater in an old bank.
Pop. 4,079 (2020 Census) St. Clair County Founded 1865 (incorporated as a village); platted as Newport 1835-37 Nearest airport: Detroit Metro (DTW), about 1 hr 15 min Known for: Freighter watching on the St. Clair River, 19th-century shipbuilding, Riverbank Theatre
- Best for: freighter watching, live theater, maritime history, biking, weekend getaways from Detroit
- Don't miss: The Nautical Mile and freighter watching; Riverbank Theatre; Pride & Heritage Museum
- Heads up: The Bluewater Ferry to Sombra, Ontario, no longer runs; the river current at the city beach is strong.
- June–August: Beach season on Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, and the busiest months on Mackinac Island. Pictured Rocks boat tours out of Munising run in the warm months. Port Austin’s Port Crescent State Park is a designated dark sky preserve.
- October: Fall color peaks first in the Upper Peninsula and moves south. It’s a good month for Petoskey, Frankfort and Marshall, whose landmark district has more than 850 buildings. Point Betsie Light, north of Frankfort, has guided ships since 1859.
- Winter: Most beach towns go quiet. Frankenmuth is busiest around the holidays, and Bronner’s Christmas store is open year-round.
- Small towns near Detroit
- Small towns near Grand Rapids
- Small towns near Chicago
- Small towns near Toledo
- Best small towns in the Upper Peninsula
What is the prettiest small town in Michigan?
Mackinac Island has no cars, just bikes, horses and carriages. Saugatuck has Oval Beach and a 250-foot dune across the river. Petoskey looks out over Little Traverse Bay.
What small towns in Michigan are best for a weekend?
From Detroit, Frankenmuth and Marshall are easy drives. From Chicago, pair St. Joseph with Three Oaks, or head up to Saugatuck.
What is the smallest town in Michigan worth visiting?
Mackinac Island had 583 residents in 2020. Port Austin, with about 620, sits at the tip of the Thumb near Port Crescent State Park. Saugatuck had 865 residents and a gallery scene that grew from its art-colony years.
What is the best small town in the Upper Peninsula?
Munising is the gateway to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, whose sandstone cliffs rise up to 200 feet above Lake Superior. See our Upper Peninsula small towns for more. Grand Island sits just offshore from Munising.