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    11 Activities

    ⚡ Day Trip to Michigan's Little Bavaria

    ⚡ Day Trip to Michigan's Little Bavaria
    Starts from

    Detroit

    Transportation

    Electric Car

    CO2 Savings

    112 lb

    Guidance

    Self-Guided

    Activities

    11

    Duration

    15 hours

    Length

    213 mi

    Guide details

    Starts from

    Detroit

    Transportation

    Electric Car

    CO2 Savings

    112 lb

    Guidance

    Self-Guided

    Duration

    15 hours

    Length

    213 mi

    History and CultureGastronomy⚡ Electric Routes
    Map preview
    Laura Brown

    Laura Brown

    Travel Expert

    • You'll find the Christmas shop delightful and wacky.
    • Don't forget to try some fudge as you explore the town.
    • Catch the feeling like you're in Bavaria for the afternoon.
    This route includes Tesla Superchargers. For CCS charging stations, follow this link.
    Frankenmuth is known as Michigan's Little Bavaria for how heavily the town, established in 1845, leans into its German heritage. You'll find a wide variety of activities and shopping, including a river boat tour, and a stroll through the World's Largest Christmas store. Have lunch at America's oldest microbrewery, and finish your evening with fried chicken.
    Make sure to fully charge your car before going on a road trip.

    Categories

    This route includes Tesla Superchargers. For CCS charging stations, follow this link.
    Frankenmuth is known as Michigan's Little Bavaria for how heavily the town, established in 1845, leans into its German heritage. You'll find a wide variety of activities and shopping, including a river boat tour, and a stroll through the World's Largest Christmas store. Have lunch at America's oldest microbrewery, and finish your evening with fried chicken.
    Make sure to fully charge your car before going on a road trip.
    Laura Brown

    Laura Brown

    Travel Expert

    • You'll find the Christmas shop delightful and wacky.
    • Don't forget to try some fudge as you explore the town.
    • Catch the feeling like you're in Bavaria for the afternoon.

    Day Itinerary

    11 Activities
    Map preview

    Day 1

    213 mi1 mi

    Day of Strolls and Shopping in Little Bavaria

    You'll spend the day exploring Frankenmuth, a charming small town featuring Bavarian architecture and culture, and a real love of Christmas. You'll have lunch and a beer tasting at the oldest microbrewery in America, spend some time shopping, going on a riverboat tour, and try some famous fried chicken.
    This route one-way is plenty capable of being done in one charge.
    08:00

    Detroit

    59.3 mi
    1 hr 10 min
    The Laundry
    09:1545 min

    The Laundry

    Restaurant
    Open Details
    Stop for coffee and brunch at a hidden gem in Felton, Michigan. Which has a great brunch and dinner 6 days a week (closed Tuesdays), and the baked goods are legendary. You'll want to be caffeinated and well nourished for the rest of your day!
    20.5 mi
    25 min
    10:3045 min

    Tesla

    Open Details
    At this car parking, you can charge up your vehicle. By the way, it is located near the large shopping mall. So, here you can have a stroll, while your EV is charging up.
    Type: Tesla Supercharger 10 Plugs Power: 120 kW
    32.7 mi
    40 min
    12:00

    Frankenmuth

    Spend 5-10 minutes driving through downtown Frankenmuth to get your bearings, see the full thing, and find a charging station.
    1.4 mi
    5 min
    Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland
    12:2045 min

    Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland

    Open Details
    Your first introduction to Frankenmuth should always be Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland, America's biggest Christmas store. Imagine it like Costco for Christmas decorations! Admire the spectacle and feel a little Christmas joy (no matter the time of year) before heading into downtown Frankenmuth, a town that leans heavily into its Bavarian theme.
    Have a look at the official website to know about some special events.
    1.4 mi
    5 min
    Frankenmuth Brewery
    13:151 hr 30 min

    Frankenmuth Brewery

    Bar
    Open Details
    Stop for lunch and a beer tasting at America's oldest microbrewery, open since 1862. The brewery has a wide-ranging food menu (with a German twist) and a minimum of 15 different beers on tap to try. You'll love trying the flight of their best ales!
    You can check the official website to explore the menu.
    Note that the place is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
    0.6 mi
    15 min
    Frankenmuth River Place Shops
    15:151 hr 30 min

    Frankenmuth River Place Shops

    Shopping Mall
    Open Details
    Take a leisurely stroll down S Main Street and explore downtown Frankenmuth, which has a great shopping district. You'll end at the River Place Shops. Some shops waiting to be discovered on your route: The Cheese Haus, Doll Shop, Chocolate Shop (seriously: you won't want to miss a chance to try the fudge).
    0.1 mi
    5 min
    Bavarian Belle Riverboat
    16:501 hr 30 min

    Bavarian Belle Riverboat

    Landmark
    Open Details
    You're aiming for the evening sailing of the Bavarian Belle Riverboat. This tour will take you on a historical riverboat for a 1-hour history tour, rated the best thing to do in Frankenmuth.
    Open May-October. Schedules can be checked here.
    0.3 mi
    10 min
    Bavarian Inn Restaurant
    18:301 hr

    Bavarian Inn Restaurant

    Restaurant
    Open Details
    End your day in Frankenmuth at the Bavarian Inn Restaurant. You'll be treated to southern classics, include a famous fried chicken. Make sure you try the home-brewed root beer (maybe with ice cream?).
    You can reserve the table or order a take-out on the official website.
    39 mi
    1 hr
    Rowden Park
    20:3030 min

    Rowden Park

    Park
    Open Details
    Since you have a pretty long day, you may need to stretch your leg and have a stroll. The beautiful Rowden park is located on the coast of the small local lake, so there you can see a mesmerizing view of the sunset rays reflecting on the surface of the water. The trail here is not very long, so it won't take much time to see all the beauties.
    59.4 mi
    1 hr 20 min
    22:30

    Detroit

    That is the end of your road trip to Little Bavaria! Have a good evening!
    Map preview
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