Five days, 1,180 miles, lots of headaches and fun: Driving Michigan in an EV
Bridge Michigan embarked on an 1,180-mile road trip around Lake Michigan last week in a rented EV to test the reliability of the state’s public charging network.
We did a ton of homework, downloaded apps and meticulously planned our route around access to chargers. Even so, we weren’t totally prepared for the mixture of pluck and luck required to drive long distance in an EV in 2024.
Here’s a photo essay recounting the trip.
Day One
Ann Arbor to Muskegon
173 miles
We thought we were renting a “luxury SUV” from Hertz. But our trip came just days after the Crowdstrike outage of Microsoft, which canceled a host of flights and led to a scramble for rental cars.
Related: And they’re off: Bridge begins five-day EV road trip around Lake Michigan
So we took what we could get: a 2023 Chevrolet Bolt, which had to accommodate three people, camping gear, computers, clothes and a week's worth of snacks.
Our first stop was a charger in Zeeland, outside Holland. As we trekked through the construction downtown, we stumbled upon Frank’s – a restaurant and historic landmark celebrating its 100th anniversary next month. The diner is a relic, using the same grill since World War II. Some customers have been frequenting Frank’s for just as long.
Related: EV road trip postcard: A century of history and burgers in Zeeland
Day Two
Muskegon to Boyne Falls
Including stops in Manistee, Glen Haven and Suttons Bay
237 miles
We experienced our first bout of range anxiety on the 55-mile stretch from Manistee to Glen Haven, but were partially rescued by a wall charger at the recently remodeled Sleeping Bear Inn.
Related: EV road trip postcard: Long-vacant Sleeping Bear Inn reopens after $1.7M rehab
Day Three
Boyne Falls to St. Ignace
Including stops in Mackinaw City
81 miles
Waking up with a full battery after plugging into an overnight charger at our lodging meant we could spend the day exploring instead of stressing about chargers. Our first detour was to Lavender Hill Farm in Boyne City.
Our next stop was at the Polish restaurant Legs Inn in Cross Village for dinner, which several Bridge Michigan readers recommended. We admired the wood sculptures and taxidermy inside but opted for a view of Lake Michigan while we ate our dinners of whitefish and pierogies.
We crossed the Mackinac Bridge and camped at Straits State Park in St. Ignace, using an RV electricity pedestal to charge our Chevy Bolt. Pro tip on EVs: Campgrounds are often good places to charge in a pinch (but call ahead to ask if they allow EVs to plug in).
Related: EV road trip postcard: Learning the ABCs of charging in Michigan’s UP
Day Four
St. Ignace to Menominee
Including stops in Naubinway and Manistique
196 miles
Our first adventure in the Upper Peninsula began at the Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum in Naubinway. While the museum showcases almost 200 vintage sleds, it's not stuck in the past: the parking lot boasts a new EV charger.
Related: Michigan history and the EV future collide at a UP snowmobile museum
Marilyn and Charlie Vallier’s snowmobile collection, some of which are on display at the museum, has earned them a spot in the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame.
We took a boat ride across Kitch-iti-Kipi in Schoolcraft County, Michigan’s largest natural freshwater spring.
The raft’s viewing area and the lake’s clear water allowed us to see the water bubbling up through fissures in the earth’s crust.
Day 5
Manitowoc, Wisconsin, to Ludington on the SS Badger
60 miles
Our final leg of the trip was a four-hour ride across Lake Michigan from Manitowoc, Wisconsin to Ludington on the coal-powered steamship SS Badger.
Related: EV road trip postcard: On the ferry back to Michigan
A crew member tends to the burning coal in the SS Badger’s boiler room.
Related: Road trips are key to making EVs work in Michigan. They’re doable now. Barely
Once we landed on solid ground in Ludington, it was home sweet home to Lansing, Ann Arbor and Detroit, proving that a classic Michigan road trip can be done in an EV. (For the most part)
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