Great Lakes & Mackinac Island: Chicago to Detroit Self-Launched
9 days · Midwest USA (Chicago to Detroit, Michigan)
Collette charges £3,450
No-markup version: ~£1,390 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Collette's 9-day Chicago-to-Detroit coach tour, swapping the tour bus and 4-star hotels for Amtrak trains, regional buses, hostel dorms and budget motels. You'll see Chicago's architecture by river, Grand Rapids' Meijer Gardens, two car-free days on Mackinac Island (with a cheaper island stay than the Grand Hotel), Bay City, Frankenmuth, and the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village in Dearborn. Costs are rough backpacker estimates in GBP — US lodging is expensive, so book early and consider shoulder season (May–June or September) for better rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive Chicago — Loop & Riverwalk orientation
Chicago, IL
Fly into O'Hare or Midway and take the CTA Blue or Orange Line 'L' into the Loop (~$5 / £4). Check into a hostel or budget hotel near the Loop/River North. Spend the late afternoon walking the Riverwalk and the Loop's elevated train tracks, then grab a deep-dish slice or a cheap taqueria dinner in Pilsen or River North. Pick up a Ventra card for the week's transit.
🚌CTA 'L' from airport ~£4
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel near the Loop (e.g. HI Chicago or a River North budget chain), £35–45
- →Walk the Chicago Riverwalk
- →Loop architecture self-walk
- →Ventra transit card
Chicago architecture boat tour & Millennium Park
Chicago, IL
Book a Chicago Architecture Center river cruise (or the cheaper Shoreline Sightseeing version) via GetYourGuide/Klook from ~£30–40 — it replaces the guided coach tour of Michigan Avenue, the Wrigley Building and the Lakefront. In the afternoon wander Millennium Park (Cloud Gate/'The Bean'), the Chicago Cultural Center (free), and stroll Michigan Avenue. Optional museum: the Art Institute (free on some weekday evenings for IL residents only, otherwise ~£20).
🚌Walking + CTA day pass ~£4
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel near the Loop, £35–45
- →Architecture river cruise (GetYourGuide)
- →Millennium Park & Cloud Gate
- →Chicago Cultural Center (free)
- →Michigan Avenue stroll
Chicago to Grand Rapids — Meijer Gardens
Grand Rapids, MI
Take Amtrak's Pere Marquette from Chicago Union Station to Grand Rapids (~4 hrs, from ~£30–40 booked ahead). Check into a budget motel or downtown hostel. In the afternoon take a local bus or rideshare to Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park (~£15 entry) — the sculpture park and Japanese garden are the highlight and easily done independently.
🚌Amtrak Pere Marquette ~£35
🛏Budget motel or hostel in Grand Rapids, £45–55
- →Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park (~£15)
- →Downtown Grand Rapids evening walk
Grand Rapids to Mackinac Island via Mackinaw City
Mackinac Island, MI
Take a morning bus or Greyhound/Indian Trails connection from Grand Rapids to Mackinaw City (~5–6 hrs, ~£40–50; book ahead). From the dock, catch the Shepler's or Star Line ferry to Mackinac Island (~£20 return). The island is car-free — everything is on foot, by bike or by horse. Stay in a guesthouse or B&B (much cheaper than the Grand Hotel, which you can still visit for its famous porch and a drink at the Cupola Bar). Stroll the village and eat fudge.
🚌Indian Trails bus ~£45 + ferry ~£20 return
🛏Island guesthouse or B&B (£70–90; dorms rare — book far ahead)
- →Shepler's/Star Line ferry to Mackinac Island
- →Village stroll & fudge tasting
- →Grand Hotel porch visit (day pass)
- →Mackinac State Park
Mackinac Island by horse-drawn carriage & bike
Mackinac Island, MI
Take the island's own horse-drawn carriage tour (book direct at the dock, ~£25) covering Surrey Hills Carriage Museum and Arch Rock — the same route Collette uses. Alternatively rent a bike (~£12/hour) and ride the 8-mile perimeter road past Arch Rock and the shoreline. Afternoon: relax on the Grand Hotel porch, coffee with the orchestra, then dinner at a casual island spot (Salle à Manger alternatives are cheaper at the village pubs).
🚌Walking / bike rental ~£15
🛏Island guesthouse or B&B, £70–90
- →Horse-drawn carriage tour (~£25)
- →Arch Rock & Surrey Hills Carriage Museum
- →Bike the island perimeter road
- →Grand Hotel porch & Cupola Bar
Mackinac Island to Bay City
Bay City, MI
Morning ferry back to Mackinaw City, then bus south to Bay City (~3–4 hrs, ~£30). Check into a budget motel near the riverfront. Spend the afternoon on the Bay City Riverwalk and downtown — it's a low-key, walkable river town with cheap diner food.
🚌Ferry ~£20 + bus ~£30
🛏Budget motel near the riverfront, £45–55
- →Bay City Riverwalk
- →Downtown Bay City stroll
Bay City to Frankenmuth & Southfield
Southfield, MI
Bus to Frankenmuth (~1 hr, ~£12) — Michigan's 'Little Bavaria'. Wander the Bavarian-style main street, browse Bronner's Christmas Wonderland (free entry, the world's largest Christmas store), and book a direct tour of Alden B. Dow's home and studio (~£25, must pre-book by phone/website). Continue by bus to Detroit/Southfield (~2 hrs, ~£20). Check into a budget hotel or hostel near Southfield/Detroit.
🚌Local buses ~£32
🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Southfield/Detroit, £50–60
- →Frankenmuth Bavarian main street
- →Bronner's Christmas Wonderland
- →Alden B. Dow Home & Studio tour (~£25)
Dearborn — Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village
Dearborn / Southfield, MI
Take the SMART/DDOT bus or a short rideshare to Dearborn (~£5). Spend the day at the Henry Ford complex: a combo ticket for Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village runs ~£50–55 booked online (cheaper than two separate tickets). Greenfield Village has the Wright brothers' cycle shop and Edison's Menlo Park lab. Evening: casual farewell dinner in Dearborn — try a Lebanese spot on Warren Avenue, excellent and cheap.
🚌Bus/rideshare to Dearborn ~£8
🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Southfield/Detroit, £50–60
- →Henry Ford Museum
- →Greenfield Village
- →Dearborn Lebanese dinner
Depart Detroit
Southfield / Detroit, MI
Morning free to explore Detroit's downtown core — the Guardian Building, the RiverWalk, or Eastern Market if it's a Saturday. Return to Detroit Metro Airport by SMART bus or rideshare (~£12). End of trip.
🚌SMART bus to DTW ~£12
🛏—
- →Detroit RiverWalk
- →Guardian Building
- →Eastern Market (weekends)
Self-launched vs. Collette
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Collette | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,390 | £3,450 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,060 per person (60%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Collette-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,390
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Great Lakes & Mackinac Island: Chicago to Detroit Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,390 per person for 9 days in Midwest USA (Chicago to Detroit, Michigan). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Collette?+
Yes — Collette charges around £3,450 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,390 — a saving of roughly £2,060 (60%) per person.
How long is the Midwest USA (Chicago to Detroit, Michigan) trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Midwest USA (Chicago to Detroit, Michigan).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, city-breaks, adventure trip through Midwest USA (Chicago to Detroit, Michigan), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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