An Insider’s Guide to The Very Best Day Trips From Detroit

Want to stick close to home? That’s okay! There are many places to visit within the metro Detroit area where you could easily spend a full day – which means maximizing your enjoyment time while minimizing your driving time.

Belle Isle State Park

Driving time: 12 minutes

Located in the Detroit River with views of both downtown Detroit and Ontario, Canada is the beautiful Belle Isle. At 982 acres there is a lot to discover here (from aquariums to conservatories to sunset views) and you could easily spend a half or full day driving or walking around.

Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation

Driving time: 20 minutes

The Henry Ford is a must-visit in Dearborn, in the Detroit metro area. Start off at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation before heading to Greenfield Village (a historic village where you can ride in a real Model T car, or visit farm animals). The Ford Rouge Factory Tour takes you to a real operating truck plant.

In total, the museum complex covers 250 acres so it will definitely take a day (or more) to experience fully.

St Clair Shores

Driving time: 20 minutes

St Clair Shores is one of the nearby suburbs of Detroit, located along the large Lake St Clair. This is a great spring or summer day trip from Detroit, particularly for their Memorial Day Parade or an afternoon dining and shopping the Nautical Mile (or renting a boat for a day!).

Royal Oak

Driving time: 20 minutes

Royal Oak is another suburb worth visiting, not far from downtown Detroit. Some ways to spend your day include a family-friendly visit to the Detroit Zoo, catching a show at the popular Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle, or exploring the historic weekend farmer’s market or antique market.

Ford House

Driving time: 25 minutes

Over in Grosse Pointe Shores, you will find the iconic Ford House, the former home and estate of Eleanor and Edsel Ford. You can certainly spend a day touring the house, walking the grounds, and eating at the restaurant.

IKEA

Driving time: 30 minutes

Did you know that metro Detroit is home to the only IKEA in Michigan? That’s right, you can find the Scandinavian budget furniture store in Canton, which is just 30 miles from downtown Detroit. You could easily spend a full day exploring the furniture displays (and eating Swedish meatballs at their restaurant) but there are also other things to do in Canton, too.

Bloomfield Hills

Driving time: 30 minutes

Bloomfield Hills, a neighborhood in metro Detroit, is another place you could spend a half or full day. In particular, pay a visit to the famous Cranbrook Campus – home to not only a prestigious boarding school but also the 40-acre Cranbrook House and Gardens, a contemporary art museum, and institute of science.

Detroit is Michigan’s biggest city, but there are many other places in Michigan worth a visit. Below are some Michigan day trip options from Detroit.

Ann Arbor

Driving time: 45 minutes

Ann Arbor is one of Michigan’s most-loved cities (particularly if you are a University of Michigan football fan). There is so much to experience in this eclectic city from its farmers markets to quaint downtown shopping and restaurants, as well as museums and cultural events. It’s also relatively close to downtown Detroit and only takes about 45 minutes to drive from one downtown to the other.

Lexington

Driving time: 1 hour 25 minutes

Lexington, north of Detroit, is a village located along Lake Huron. It makes for a perfect escape from the city to surround yourself with some small-town charm. Rent a boat and spend a day on the lake, spend a day biking or hiking on local paths, or dine at the downtown restaurants.

Lansing

Driving time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Lansing is Michigan’s capital city and well worth a visit whether you’re a local Michigander or a visitor to the state. There are many ways to spend a day in Lansing: take a free tour of the Michigan State Capitol building, catch a Lansing Lugnuts baseball game, explore the Michigan State University campus, visit Potter Park Zoo, or try any of the local restaurants and coffee shops during your visit.

Frankenmuth

Driving time: 1 hour 25 minutes

Want a taste of Europe in the Midwest? Frankenmuth is known as Michigan’s “German city.” There are many fun ways to spend a day in Frankenmuth. Here, you’ll find lots of Bavarian-style architecture, as well as German-inspired restaurants, a Bavarian riverboat cruise, and of course the famous Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland (the self-proclaimed world’s largest Christmas store).

Grand Rapids

Driving time: 2 hours 30 minutes

On the west side of Michigan, you’ll find Grand Rapids, the second-largest city in the state after Detroit. The drive is a bit longer, but it’s still manageable as a day trip. Come here for world-class craft breweries, the famous annual ArtPrize festival, Meijer Gardens, and more.

And Beyond!

Why limit yourself to just Michigan? Due to Detroit’s location along the Canadian border, as well as in southwest Michigan with easy access to Ohio, there are plenty of other places to explore that are possible on a day trip.

Windsor, Ontario

Driving time: 20 minutes

Let’s take things international. You get a great view of Windsor, Ontario across the Detroit River from downtown. So, why not visit? Windsor is just a short drive over the bridge or tunnel, but be sure to bring your passport. While there, you can do some duty-free shopping, take your chances at the Caesars Windsor casino, visit Museum Windsor, or just stroll along the waterfront for a different view of Detroit.

Point Pelee National Park, Ontario

Driving time: 1 hour

Point Pelee National Park is a great place to immerse yourself in nature, not far from Detroit. It’s located in Ontario, Canada (you’ll pass through Windsor) so you will have to cross the international border – but that’s easy since it’s so close! The park is located at the southernmost tip of Canada and is a wonderful place for birding and hiking. It’s also worth paying a visit to Pelee Island Winery on your day trip, to bring home a couple of bottles.

Put-In-Bay, Ohio

Driving time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Looking for some island time? Pay a visit to Put-In-Bay, an island in Lake Erie (and, technically, Ohio). The journey here from Detroit involves a drive south into Ohio, and then a short ferry across to the island, but it’s still possible as a day trip. Spend some time at South Bass Island State Park, take a tour on the hour-long train ride, and perhaps rent a boat for the day in the summer.

Cleveland, Ohio

Driving time: 2 hours 40 minutes

Cleveland is a city in northern Ohio, along Lake Erie, that is possible to visit on a day trip from Detroit. The drive time is a bit longer than other locations on this list of day trips from Detroit, but it’s certainly doable if you leave early. Check out the internationally renowned Cleveland Museum of Art, or catch a Cleveland Guardians baseball game at Progressive Field (perhaps a Detroit Tigers away game?).