If You Visit – Other Pictured Rocks Trip Planner Information
A successful trip requires diligent planning and preparation, due to the unpredictable weather patterns of the area. It is wise to check the current conditions on the National Park Service website for instructions needed on any given day.
Here are a few more topics to complete our Pictured Rocks trip planner, to ensure you have all the information you need.
Eating in and Near Pictured Rocks
Plan for a picnic lunch while visiting the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Picnic tables are available; however, there are no restaurants, vending machines, or grocery stores within the boundaries of the lakeshore. You will need to visit one of the surrounding towns to obtain these services.
Muldoon’s
Located in Munising, Muldoon’s pasties were voted number one in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Pasties are a typical regional dish. A pasty is a hand-held meat pie, although it is often served on a plate with gravy. Muldoon’s pasties are the Cornish meat pasties made with ground beef, potatoes, onion, carrots, and rutabaga, baked in a piecrust. They also have vegetarian and apple versions available.
Iron Bay Restaurant & Drinkery
Located in downtown Marquette on Iron Bay Harbor, Iron Bay Restaurant & Drinkery is comfort food establishment housed in an historic building that originally housed the Iron Bay Foundry. You’ll find local favorites that include Lake Superior whitefish, including Whitefish chowder, Iron Bay Whitefish tacos and Whitefish tater tots.
Where to Stay in and Near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Camping
If you prefer to stay close to the Pictured Rocks attractions, the National Lakeshore’s backcountry has nearly 100 miles of trails within the park. Running adjacent to Lake Superior, the North Country National Scenic Trail passes through the 42-mile long park. If you choose to camp, drive-in camping fees are $20 per night, and backcountry camping fees are $15 per night.
Hotels
Hampton Inn Marquette Waterfront
The driving distance from Marquette, Michigan to Munising, Michigan, where the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is 43 miles away. If you are visiting Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore for a day trip, Marquette is the right spot to overnight. Marquette is the largest city in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. I stayed at the Hampton Inn Marquette Waterfront. This hotel has a beautiful deck and outdoor space overlooking Lake Superior that makes it a great place to enjoy your morning coffee and watch the sunrise. This hotel is also just a short walk from historic downtown Marquette, where you’ll find several quality restaurants.
Holiday Inn Express Munising – Lakeview
If you prefer to stay in Munising, the Holiday Inn Express Munising – Lakeview has terrific views of Lake Superior. The hotel is near the Lake Superior, the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and Hiawatha National Forest. If you are planning to make your trip last several days and don’t want to camp, this hotel is a good alternative.
What to Pack for Visiting Pictured Rocks
Even in summer, a jacket is necessary. Evenings are cool, and temperatures on Lake Superior may be ten to 15 degrees cooler than on land.
Mosquitoes can be heavy near the wetlands, so personal insect repellent is a must if your visit will include evenings within the parklands. If you are planning to camp, you may want a broader area insect repellent for your camp area.
Other things you will need will depend on which things to do in Pictured Rocks your plans include.
Are you Ready to Visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore?
Pictured Rocks is a perfect getaway place in the Midwest, with an intriguing history, stunning scenery, and plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventure. If you only have a short time, you can plan an exciting day or weekend trip, and take in a majority of the Pictured Rocks attractions. If you have more time, there are enough things to do in Pictured Rocks to spend a vacation.
We hope our Pictured Rocks Trip Planner has given you all the information that you need to start planning your visit to Pictured Rocks now!
Hey, PIN it so others can plan their trip too!
Looking for other great outdoor places in the United States where you can cool off a bit during a hot summer, or where you can see some brilliant colors in the fall? You may like:
Amy Piper is a freelance travel writer, photographer, and blogger. She is a native of Michigan USA who has traveled to 41 countries and 42 states, most recently adding New Mexico to the list. Her aspiration is to travel to Antarctica and finally visit all seven continents. She travels frequently with her husband, daughter, and granddaughter. She has been chased by bomb sniffing dogs in the middle of the night in Bogotá (working late), refused boarding for a plane from Buenos Aires to Paraguay (wrong visa), and Federal Marshals once announced her seat number on a plane while looking for a murder suspect. She had traded seats. It is always an adventure!
She is a member of the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), Travel Massive, TravMedia, and the International Travel Writers and Photographers Alliance (ITWPA). You can find Amy on Twitter @amythe piper, and on Facebook at Follow the Piper.
7 thoughts on “Visiting Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore”
ok I have to laugh about the sentence in your bio about the seat change. nice article to read too, I would totally do the excursion where you get dropped off in a kayak. sounds like a real solution for people like me.
This is the first time I have heard about Picture Rocks, so thank you for sharing! For someone that lives out West, what airport would you recommend flying into for the shortest drive to the Lakeshore?