Lake Michigan Boating Guide
Last Updated on August 23, 2024 by Boatsetter Team
With over 1,600 miles of coastline to explore, Lake Michigan can’t be beat for gunkholing, cruising, and sailboat racing. One of the five Great Lakes, this giant body of water is over 300 miles long, has more than 22,000 square miles of surface area, and borders four sates so there’s always somewhere to go and somewhere to rent a boat with a sharing service like Boatsetter. From Indiana to Chicago and Milwaukee to Mackinac, there are dozens of secluded anchorages, state parks, and charming waterfront towns to visit.
Where to Go
You could spend years of summers exploring all that Lake Michigan offers but if you have just a few days of boat rental each season, consider checking out some of these destinations.
Grand Traverse Bay is well-protected and generally calm even if Lake Michigan itself is less so. Learn about Ernest Hemmingway who was from the area or explore the town of Charlevoix that is split in two by a canal which leads to Round Pond and Lake Charlevoix. Bring or rent bikes and ride the 26-mile Little Traverse Wheelway for some exercise.
Visit scenic Door County in Wisconsin on the lake’s western shore. The Door County Lighthouse Festival is popular as are July 4th fireworks in Egg Harbor. And you don’t want to miss the Sturgeon Bay Harvest Festival in late September. Harbor hopping in this area can’t be beat.
Up north is Mackinac Island where cars aren’t allowed but that doesn’t stop the tourists from coming. If you bring a boat here, make marina reservations well in advance and then stroll historic Main Street or hike up to Fort Mackinac that dates back to the Revolutionary War.
Beaver Island is the opposite of busy Mackinac. This remote island is 35 miles from Charlevoix on the mainland and tends to be a quiet respite with an unpretentious municipal dock and fun toy museum. The beaches are pristine and you won’t want to miss the Whiskey Point Lighthouse and the Beaver Head Lighthouse for their spectacular views. Check the weather before crossing from the mainland so you don’t get caught in 30-mile winds which are not uncommon here.
Activities & Highlights
Whether you’re in Milwaukee, Chicago, or Door County, there’s much to do during the summer including live music, wine tastings and art festivals. One big draw is the Chicago Air & Water Show that takes place in August and on a boat, you’ll have front row seats to the action. Another can’t miss event is the Playpen boat party which is like a giant tailgate party for boaters that draws in excess of 800 boats in late July.
There are also sailing regattas like the famous “Mac” race that runs from the Chicago Yacht Club to Mackinac Island. This race takes place in July, is over 300 miles long, and over 125 years old. Join the sailboat send off in Chicago or welcome them at the finish line at the island and partake of all the activities and celebrations on both sides of this classic event.
Tips
Lake Michigan is long and it can build up seriously large waves when a northerly wind runs along its entire length. Always check the weather before departing, especially if you’ll be boating farther south around Chicago where the weather and sea state can get gnarly. Freshwater forms steeper waves than saltwater because it’s less dense and running into a wall of square waves is no fun.
It can also get very cold in winter with temps below freezing in January near the Windy City. Target to rent a boat in the area from May to October but be ready to change course or cruising plans, especially in spring and fall when the weather may be iffy. Dress appropriately, bring lots of layers, pack flashlights in case you’re caught out after dark, and don’t forget some extra food and water.
Rules & Regulations
There are a few things to know before you untie the dock lines. Like in most other states, the Coast Guard requires all children under 13 to wear a lifejacket when aboard a vessel under way, and there must be a sufficient number of PFDs for the rest of the people aboard as well. You as the operator, cannot bring the boat within 150 feet of a person in the water for safety reasons – unless you’re participating in watersports.
Also, Lake Michigan is located in its entirety within the United States which means there are no check-in requirements for Canadian immigration or customs. You’ll have a bureaucracy-free run of the whole lake.
Serious Boating
Just because it’s called a lake doesn’t mean you should take it less seriously than coastal boating on the ocean. The Great Lakes are massive bodies of water and Lake Michigan can be nearly 200 miles across so it will take some time to traverse. Be boating savvy and prepared. All this said, there are great anchorages, wonderful beaches, and much to do on its shores so book a boat and have fun all summer long
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Zuzana Prochazka is an award-winning freelance journalist and photographer with regular contributions to more than a dozen sailing and powerboating magazines and online publications including Southern Boating, SEA, Latitudes & Attitudes and SAIL. She is SAIL magazines Charter Editor and the Executive Director of Boating Writers International. Zuzana serves as judge for SAIL’s Best Boats awards and for Europe’s Best of Boats in Berlin.
A USCG 100 Ton Master, Zuzana founded and manages a flotilla charter organization called Zescapes that takes guests adventure sailing at destinations worldwide.
Zuzana has lived in Europe, Africa and the United States and has traveled extensively in South America, the islands of the South Pacific and Mexico.
