Leave Grove City, OH around 7:00 AM and take I-70 W → I-75 N → US-31 N toward Holland, MI. With one longer lunch stop, you’re looking at about 6.5–7.5 hours on the road, so it’s a very doable first day if you keep the pace steady and don’t try to pack in too much. For a family with a 2-year-old, the sweet spot is one solid break around the halfway point for food and a playground or grassy stretch; once you get north of Grand Rapids, traffic usually eases up and the last leg into Holland feels pleasantly low-stress. Hotel parking in Holland is generally easy, especially on the east or south side of downtown, and most lots are simple pull-in, no-fuss parking.
After you arrive and settle in, head to Windmill Island Gardens, one of Holland’s best “we just got here and everyone needs to move” stops. The paths are stroller-friendly, there’s lots of open space for the kids to burn off road-trip energy, and the big draw is De Zwaan, the working Dutch windmill that gives the whole place its charm. It’s usually a 1 to 1.5 hour visit for families, and admission is typically a modest fee per person; check ahead for seasonal hours, because summer tends to have the most relaxed timing and full garden displays. If you’re arriving a little tired, don’t rush it—this is the kind of stop where it’s fine to wander, take photos, and let the kids lead the pace.
From there, it’s an easy hop into Downtown Holland and the 8th Street corridor, which is the most walkable part of town and the best place for a low-key first night. Park once and spend the late afternoon strolling in and out of shops, grabbing ice cream, and enjoying the pedestrian-friendly feel; in summer, this area has a nice vacation-town energy without feeling chaotic. If the kids need a treat, you’ll find plenty of casual dessert stops along 8th Street, and the benches and side streets make it easy to take breaks without committing to a big outing. Keep your expectations loose here—this is more about easing into the trip than checking boxes.
For dinner, settle in at New Holland Brewing – The Pub on 8th. It’s a good family-friendly choice with pizzas, burgers, mac and cheese, and enough variety to keep everyone happy after a long drive, while adults can sample local beer if they want. Plan on about $15–25 per person depending on what everyone orders, a little more if you add drinks or shared appetizers. It can get busy on summer evenings, so going a bit earlier is smart; if there’s a wait, the downtown block is easy to wander while you wait. After dinner, you can head straight back to your hotel and call it an early night so everyone is rested for the drive north tomorrow.
Start early at Holland State Park so you can beat the parking crunch and catch the best lake light—this is one of those west-Michigan mornings that feels bigger than the map. Plan on a $11–$13 daily pass if you don’t already have the Michigan recreation sticker, and aim for the beach or the pierheads first; the kids will love watching the boats come and go, and the 2-year-old can burn off energy on the sand. From there, it’s a smooth jump up US-31 N toward Grand Haven, and on a summer weekday you’ll want to leave with enough buffer for beach traffic and a quick bathroom stop.
At Grand Haven State Park, keep it simple: a shoreline walk, a little beach time, and a look at the lighthouse from the pier. It’s easy for the whole family, and the flat stretch of sand is great for little legs. If you want a calmer setup with less gear hauling, park once and let everyone wander the lakefront for about an hour or so before heading downtown. Lunch at The Toasted Pickle is a smart road-trip reset—casual, fast enough for kids, and the sandwiches and salads are solid. Expect roughly $12–$20 per person depending on what everyone orders, and downtown parking is usually easier on the side streets than right on the main drag.
After lunch, continue north to Fishtown in Leland, which is one of the prettiest low-effort stops on the route: weathered shanties, harbor views, and just enough to explore without wearing everyone out. Give yourselves a little time to wander the boardwalk and poke around the small shops; it’s a good place for an ice cream or snack if anyone needs a reset before the last leg. By evening, roll into Traverse City and head to The Filling Station Microbrewery on the west side for an easy dinner of pizza and house drinks. It’s a family-friendly kind of place, and after a long day with kids, that relaxed atmosphere is exactly what you want—arrive before the dinner rush if possible, then call it a night and get everyone ready for an early start tomorrow.
Roll out of Traverse City after breakfast and take M-72 W to M-22 N into Glen Arbor; in summer this is a very straightforward 40–55 minute drive, but the closer you get to the lakeshore the more traffic and parking bottlenecks you’ll feel, so arriving earlier is always better. If you can get into the park before the mid-morning rush, you’ll have an easier time finding a spot at the big overlooks and you’ll avoid the hottest part of the day on the sand. Start with Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore – Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive first, since it gives you the most “wow” for the least walking: the pullouts, lake views, and forested bends are perfect for a family with mixed ages, and the entrance fee is usually covered by the park pass system or roughly in the low double digits if you’re paying daily.
From there, head to Dune Climb while everyone still has energy. The older kids will probably want to race up higher, but with a 2-year-old it works best if one adult stays low and the other goes as far as feels comfortable, then you swap. In peak summer the sand gets hot fast, so bring water, hats, and shoes you don’t mind filling with grit. After the climb, make the short hop into town for lunch at Art’s Tavern on S Lake St—it’s exactly the kind of no-fuss, family-friendly place that saves a day like this. Burgers, sandwiches, shakes, and fries are the move, and for a family of five you’ll usually land somewhere around $12–22 per person depending on what everyone orders.
After lunch, ease back into the day with the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, using a short, paved stretch near Glen Arbor or toward Empire so the kids can stretch their legs without another big sand workout. If you want to keep it simple, even a 30–45 minute walk is enough to feel like a reset; if you’ve got bikes, this is one of the nicest low-stress rides in the area, with wide views and very little car interaction. Then swing by Cherry Republic in Glen Arbor for samples, cherry soda, chocolate-covered cherries, and a few gifts to take home—this is a great late-afternoon energy booster and usually takes less than an hour. Wrap the day with dinner at Good Harbor Grill, one of the better casual family dinners in town, where you can order without overthinking it and the kids can recover from a full sand-and-sun day. If you’re still up for a quick sunset detour after dinner, the light along M-22 is gorgeous, but honestly this is also a good night to call it early and save the energy for tomorrow.
Leave Glen Arbor after an early breakfast and take M-22 N → US-31 N into the Harbor Springs area; in July this is a scenic but steady drive, usually around 1.75–2.25 hours with a little extra time if you stop for gas or coffee. For a family of five, I’d aim to arrive before 10:00 AM so you can park once and keep the day relaxed. Pond Hill Farm is a very easy first stop with kids: there are animals, open space, and those big northern-Michigan views that make it feel like you’ve already escaped into vacation mode. Plan on about 1.5 hours here, and if you have little ones, bring sunscreen and hand sanitizer — it’s the kind of place where they’ll want to linger.
From Pond Hill Farm, continue south toward Petoskey State Park for a lakeshore break and some serious stone hunting. This is one of the best-known places to look for Petoskey stones, but the trick is to search low and slow near the waterline rather than expecting to find big treasures in the first 5 minutes. A small bucket or zip bag for the kids is handy, and water shoes help if the shore is rocky. After about 2 hours here, head into town for lunch at The Back Lot Beer Garden; it’s an easy family choice with casual counter-service options, picnic tables, and enough variety that nobody has to agree on the same meal. Budget roughly $12–22 per person depending on what everyone orders.
After lunch, keep things mellow with a walk at Bayfront Park. It’s a good reset after the beach: playground time for the younger kid, space for the older ones to roam, and nice harbor views without a lot of effort. From there, stroll or drive into the Gaslight District for Kilwins Petoskey, where the fudge counter and ice cream are basically a required vacation stop. It’s an easy 30–45 minute detour, and if you’re trying to avoid a full sugar crash, split a few treats instead of letting everyone get a giant cone. For dinner, Twisted Olive is a solid sit-down finish to the day with enough menu range to keep both adults and kids happy; expect about $18–35 per person, and in holiday week it’s smart to plan a slightly earlier dinner or check ahead for a wait.
Pull out of Petoskey after an early breakfast and head north on US-31 N to I-75 N; with bridge traffic and a few summer slowdowns, the run into St. Ignace is usually about 1 to 1.25 hours, so getting on the road by 8:00 AM keeps the day relaxed and leaves you plenty of buffer for parking and photo stops. Your first stop is Castle Rock, which is exactly the kind of quick, high-payoff break kids remember: a short climb, big roadside energy, and the classic Upper Peninsula photo op. Expect a small admission fee for the tower area, and bring a couple of bucks in case the snack counter or gift shop is open; the lot is easy in and out, which matters when you’ve got a 2-year-old in tow.
From Castle Rock, continue a few minutes into town for the Mackinac Straits Waterfront / St. Ignace Boardwalk area. This is where the day slows down a little in the best way: wide-open views of the water, boats coming and going, and that constant look-back at the bridge that never really gets old. The boardwalk area is easy for strollers, and there are benches and grassy spots where the kids can run a bit without you needing to commit to a full hike. For lunch, The Driftwood is a good call because it keeps you near the water and doesn’t require any planning gymnastics; go for straightforward family favorites, expect about $15–25 per person, and if it’s a nice day ask for a patio or window table so you can keep the bridge view going.
After lunch, make a short drive over to Fort de Buade Museum for a one-hour history stop that balances out the scenic part of the day. It’s small enough that it won’t drain everyone, but it gives the kids something different to look at and adds some local context to the Straits area; check hours before you go, since small museums can be more limited than the big attractions. Then head down to Wawatam Lighthouse in the harbor for a quick late-afternoon photo stop — it’s best treated as a 20–30 minute pause rather than an “activity,” which is perfect for a family day that already has enough moving parts. Wrap up with an easy dinner at Driftwood Restaurant and Sports Bar; it’s reliable, casual, and a smart choice when you want a no-stress meal before settling in for the night. If everyone still has energy after dinner, you can do one more slow loop along the waterfront, then keep the evening simple and early.
Start early from St. Ignace so you can enjoy two quick, scenic stops before the long southbound haul. Moran Bay State Park is best first thing, when the light is soft over the water and the kids can get a little energy out on the shoreline paths and overlooks. Plan on about 45–60 minutes here; it’s more of a peaceful stretch-your-legs stop than a full hike, and there’s usually room to breathe even in July if you arrive before the day gets hot. After that, swing over to Bridge View Park for one last classic Mackinac Bridge photo and a proper goodbye to the Upper Peninsula. It’s a simple, family-friendly stop with lots of open space, and it’s the kind of place where the kids can run a bit while you take in the views.
For breakfast, Java Joe’s Cafe is the practical pick: quick service, coffee that gets you moving, and enough of a menu to keep everyone happy without slowing the day down. Expect around $8–15 per person depending on what you order, and try to be there early so you’re not waiting behind other road-trippers. Once you’re fueled up, get back on the road with the goal of making Frankenmuth your midday reset rather than trying to push straight through.
In Frankenmuth, head to Frankenmuth River Place Shops first. It’s the easiest way to break up the drive: restrooms, snack options, a little browsing, and enough walking to make the car feel less like a trap for the 12-, 10-, and 2-year-old crew. Even if you only stay an hour or so, it’s a good pressure valve for the day. If you’re timing it well, Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth works beautifully as either a late lunch or early dinner. It’s classic Midwest comfort food, very family-friendly, and a good place to sit down without having to plan too much; budget roughly $18–35 per person depending on how hearty everyone’s feeling.
From there, it’s a straightforward final leg to Holland. If you leave Frankenmuth after an early dinner, you’ll still have a manageable evening arrival; if you want the simplest possible version of the day, keep the stop shorter and aim to roll into town with enough light left for a quiet walk or an early night. If you’re extra hungry for one last look around, Holland is easy to settle into with parking that’s far less stressful than the bigger tourist stops, and it makes a sensible launch point for the final drive home.
For the return to Grove City, OH, plan on an early start from Holland the next morning if you’re sleeping there, or leave after a long lunch if you decide to stretch the day out. The most practical route is I-94 E → I-80/90 E → I-75 S, with about 6.5–7.5 hours of driving plus breaks. If you want the trip to feel easier on everyone, don’t push the whole thing in one shot—build in food and bathroom stops, and keep the last hour flexible in case the kids need one more break.