With the weather warming up, it is natural to want to leave your house and explore. If you are able to get away for a day or a weekend, there are several destinations within driving distance of Ann Arbor that can make for a exciting summer trip.
Toledo Zoo, Toledo, OH- 1hr
The Toledo Zoo offers attractions and experiences for visitors of all ages. The Reptile House recently reopened, featuring a reimagined space with bigger exhibits, a dedicated event space and more. The zoo also features a variety of dining options throughout the park, including Grill on the Main and Beastro Beer & Wine Garden.
Along with its animal exhibits, guests can explore beautiful gardens, tackle the Aerial Adventure Course or enjoy an up-close experience at the giraffe feeding deck. Visitors can also take part in workshops and guided tours that offer a deeper look at the zoo’s animals, gardens and conservation efforts.
Point Pelee National Park, ON, CA – 1hr, 40min
For a trip full of outdoor adventures, visit Point Pelee in southwestern Ontario! This Canadian National Park is only an hour and forty minute drive from Ann Arbor, and offers a range of outdoor activities, making for a great day trip. Visitors can walk the Marsh Boardwalk (pictured), kayak or canoe through Point Pelee’s marshes and wetlands, and explore the Botham Tree Trail. As Point Pelee is Canada’s most biodiverse national park, visitors can expect to see a wide variety of native plant and animal life as they walk, bike and swim. The area is specifically known to be one of the best locations for observing spring bird migration, with nearly four hundred species of birds recorded in the Point Pelee Birding Area. For anyone looking for a longer weekend trip, Point Pelee also offers discounted summer overnight camping at Camp Henry, a campground with twenty-four sites nestled right in the heart of the park!
Saugatuck, MI – 2hr, 30min
Known as one-third of the “Art Coast of Michigan,” Saugatuck is a great option for a weekend getaway. Saugatuck and the two adjacent towns of Douglas and Fennville are home to a thriving arts scene, with endless galleries, shops and boutiques to stroll through and studios where you can see artists in action. Visitors can also take art classes and workshops at the Ox-Bow School of Art and the Saugatuck Center for the Arts in order to enhance their own skills. Saugatuck is a two-and-a-half hour drive from Ann Arbor, so it certainly can be a single day trip, but you’ll want the whole weekend to explore everything the “Art Coast” has to offer! On top of the fine art showcases, Saugatuck is known for its local talents in live music, stand-up comedy, cabaret performances and more.
Frankenmuth, MI – 1hr, 10min
Just over an hour north of Ann Arbor, the tiny town of Frankenmuth, Michigan allows you to step into a different world for a day. Known as “Little Bavaria,” Frankenmuth is famous for its beautiful, historic Bavarian-style architecture and a year-round calendar of festivals and events.
Summer highlights include “Balloons over Bavarian Inn” in late May, the Frankenmuth Bavarian Festival in June, and various antique and auto shows throughout the season. The “FunTown ChowDown,” Frankenmuth’s food truck festival, takes place every second Thursday during the summer months. The food trucks feature unique menu offerings and entertainment from all across Michigan. For a more drink-focused alternative, grab the Bavarian Bierpass – an interactive “passport” that leads visitors through a tour of breweries and other establishments in Frankenmuth. With each drink purchase, visitors will collect stamps in their passport, which can be turned in at the end of their stay in exchange for a Frankenmuth souvenir. Prost!
Hidden Lake Gardens, Tipton, MI – 1hr
The Hidden Lake Gardens are a 755-acre botanical garden and arboretum located just under an hour away from Ann Arbor, making it the perfect way to spend a day in nature. The “Reach for the Sky Canopy Walk,” pictured below, provides visitors with a one-of-a-kind opportunity to walk at tree top level through the forest! There are also twelve total miles of walking and hiking trails through the gardens, with different trails of varying lengths showing various plant species. Pick your favorite and walk the Pine Tree Trail, Sassafras Trail, or White Tail Way – or, if you choose, travel six miles of paved, one-way roads and enjoy the nature from your vehicle. For a break from outdoor activities, Hidden Lake Gardens has also recently partnered with the Adrian Center for the Arts to create a rotation of indoor art exhibits, which have pieces on display Tuesday-Sunday throughout 2026.
Pittsburgh, PA – 4hr, 20min
For a weekend-long vacation, make the trip to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a four and a half hour drive from Ann Arbor. As the home to multiple prominent universities, Pittsburgh has an amazing art, science, and museum scene! Visit the Andy Warhol Museum to explore the iconic artist’s work; the Heinz History Center to learn more about Pittsburgh’s history, including how it came to be known as the “Steel City”; and the Carnegie Museum of Art and Natural History for world-class exhibits spanning everything from Renaissance paintings to dinosaur bones. If you’re in search of more quirky, unique exhibits, you can visit Randyland, a surreal exhibit continuously updated by local artist Randy Gilson since the 90s. There’s also Bike Heaven, the Roberto Clemente Museum, the Photo Antiquities Museum, and many more – take your pick, and explore! Pittsburgh’s popular Strip District is also a must-visit, especially for foodies. The Strip is full of global produce grocers, local distilleries, and sizzling street food stands, not to mention souvenir vendors. Finally, catch a game at the PNC Park baseball stadium to watch the Pittsburgh Pirates play and to enjoy a dazzling view of the downtown skyline.
