📷 Photo by Jake Kling on UnsplashMarquette to Copper Harbor on the Keweenaw
Lake Superior cliffs, copper mines and ghost towns, and the highest drive in the Midwest at the tip of the Keweenaw.
- Distance
- 229 km (143 mi)
- Driving
- 2 h 33 min
- Suggested days
- 4
- Stops
- 8
- States
- MI
- Updated
- April 26, 2026
At a glance: 4-day road trip of about 229 km (143 mi) with 8 stops, from Marquette to Fort Wilkins Historic State Park. About 2 h 33 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Michigan
Route description
Marquette, the largest town in the Upper Peninsula, has a huge ore dock, a lighthouse and Presque Isle Park, where locals jump off the Black Rocks into Lake Superior. Drive west on US-41 through the forests of the Huron Mountains, past Lake Michigamme to L’Anse on Keweenaw Bay.
Continue to the twin towns of Houghton and Hancock, linked by a lift bridge. Quincy Mine, above Hancock, has a huge steam hoist and underground tours; wear warm clothes, as it is chilly in the mine all year.
Calumet, once one of the richest towns in the country, has a sandstone downtown, an opera house and the headquarters of Keweenaw National Historical Park. Continue north on US-41 through the forest, or take the lakeside State Road 26 via Eagle River and Eagle Harbor.
Copper Harbor, at the tip of the peninsula, is where US-41 ends. Drive the Brockway Mountain Drive for views over Lake Superior, and camp or walk at Fort Wilkins. Late September to early October brings spectacular color; winter here is long and snowy.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Marquette
MI - 26 km
Presque Isle Park
NatureMarquette, MIA wooded peninsula with a one-way loop drive, red sandstone cliffs and Black Rocks, where locals jump into Lake Superior.
- 3130 km
Houghton
MI - 42 km
Quincy Mine
HistoryHancock, MIA copper mine with a huge steam hoist; tours ride a cog tram down to an underground adit. Part of Keweenaw National Historical Park.
- 518 km
Calumet
MI - 659 km
Copper Harbor
MI - 76 km
Brockway Mountain Drive
ViewsCopper Harbor, MIThe highest road between the Rockies and the Alleghenies, a ridge drive with views over Lake Superior. Hawks migrate past in spring.
- 88 km
Fort Wilkins Historic State Park
HistoryCopper Harbor, MIA restored 1844 army post on Lake Fanny Hooe, near the tip of the Keweenaw, with a campground and a short walk to the harbor.
Suggested stages and overnight stops
4 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Marquette → Presque Isle Park · 4 mi · 0 h 04 minOvernight nearby, for example: Kona Hills Campground (6 mi); Brasswire Campground (14 mi).
- Day 2: Presque Isle Park → Houghton · 81 mi · 1 h 26 minOvernight nearby, for example: City of Houghton RV Park (1 mi); Lake Linden Campground (9 mi).
- Day 3: Houghton → Calumet · 13 mi · 0 h 14 minOn the way: Quincy Mine.Overnight nearby, for example: City of Houghton RV Park (11 mi); Lake Linden Campground (5 mi).
- Day 4: Calumet → Fort Wilkins Historic State Park · 46 mi · 0 h 49 minOn the way: Copper Harbor, Brockway Mountain Drive.Overnight nearby, for example: Lake Fanny Hooe Resort RV Park (1 mi); Fort Wilkins State Park - West Campground (< 1 km).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually June and August–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and July. Cold, short days in November–March. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is Marquette to Copper Harbor on the Keweenaw?
4-day road trip of about 229 km (143 mi) with 8 stops, from Marquette to Fort Wilkins Historic State Park. About 2 h 33 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Marquette to Copper Harbor on the Keweenaw?
We suggest 4 days: about 2 h 33 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Marquette to Copper Harbor on the Keweenaw start and end?
It starts in Marquette and ends in Fort Wilkins Historic State Park.
Which states does Marquette to Copper Harbor on the Keweenaw pass through?
Michigan.
Where can you camp along Marquette to Copper Harbor on the Keweenaw?
OpenStreetMap lists 28 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Kona Hills Campground, Lake Fanny Hooe Resort RV Park and Brasswire Campground.
When is the best time for Marquette to Copper Harbor on the Keweenaw?
The most pleasant months are usually June and August–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and July. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
