It’s almost Memorial Day and the unofficial official start to summer travel in Michigan.
Going Up North, camping, visiting state parks, the Great Lakes and other Michigan attractions is tradition for many Michiganders. Though Michiganders travel annually, each year is different. Here are five ways tourism and travel in Michigan could change in 2026:
Gas prices
Many have traditions to go Up North on Memorial Day, and this year, the gas required to drive will likely cost more money than in the past.
At some gas stations in Michigan, regular unleaded fuel prices have already topped $5 a gallon and could, petroleum analysts have said, go even higher, depending on how the war with Iran goes and whether the Strait of Hormuz in the Middle East remains closed.
Flooding
On top of the impact of higher fuel costs, tourist destinations like Cadillac, in Wexford County, which were also hit this spring with flooding, may be counting on the summer months to help residents and businesses recover from the damage.
The flooding also swamped some campgrounds, which were expected to reopen by Memorial Day. However, some campsites — like those at Mitchell State Park in Cadillac — might still be underwater and remain closed.
Less spending money
As tourists spend more money on gas, they may have less to spend at eateries, attractions and shops, said Trevor Tkach, the president and CEO of the Traverse City Tourism.
Tkach isn’t worried that tourists won’t come, in part, because the travel business — especially now — can be resilient. And people who can afford to travel are going to, he said, because they value the experience.
Visitors, in his view, are going to “get to where they want to be,” but once they arrive, they may try to make up for the increased costs of getting there by spending less at eateries, attractions and shops.
Rebecca Hall, who runs the family-owned, waterfront restaurant Lakeside Charlies with her husband and in-laws, said the upcoming holiday — and summer — is “always busy for us.”
The eatery on Lake Mitchell in Cadillac, near the state park, offers dine-in and dockside service for boaters, and while the restaurant wasn’t damaged in the flooding, Hall said, its parking lot was — for a few days — under water.
“With gas prices high,” she said, Lakeside Charlie’s sales may be “a little bit down.” But she added that she didn’t anticipate so few diners that it would become a big problem.
Near record number of travelers predicted
Though gas prices are up, the forecasts for Memorial Day weekend, show all that stress also may be increasing the desire for Michiganders to momentarily escape the hustle and bustle of daily life and bad news.
More than 1.3 million Michiganders are planning to travel, a near record, according to AAA. And of those, most — about 1.2 million — will drive to their destination, which the auto club suggested, may mean many are willing to tolerate the higher fuel prices.
Anniversaries
This year is the 250th anniversary of the U.S, the 100th anniversary of the National Cherry Festival, and the 20th anniversary of the Pure Michigan campaign.
Tkach said he’s “extremely optimistic” about travel this year, which he said he believes will be “driven by nostalgia” and milestone anniversaries.
“Travel in Michigan is going to be very high,” Tkach said. “People are going to want to get out to state parks, national parks, and travel in the United States is going to be very, very positive.”
Contact Natalie Davies at ndavies@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 5 reasons your Michigan summer travel plans might feel different in 2026
Reporting by Natalie Davies and Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
