Huron district, Michigan, United States

Places to visit near Bad Axe

Bad Axe is a town in Huron district, Michigan, United States, home to about 3,011 people. Within 50 km by road there are 48 places to visit — 5 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 17 parks, 4 wildlife, forests & gardens and 7 forts & heritage. The must-see places are Sanilac Petroglyphs State Park (21 km), Port Crescent State Park (29 km) and Rush Lake State Game Area (29 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Bad Axe on the map

Bad Axe, Michigan
Bad Axe, Huron district, Michigan, United States. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Bad Axe at a glance

Location
Huron district, Michigan, United States
Population
about 3,011
Coordinates
43.8020° N, 83.0008° W
Places within 50 km
48 (8 must-see)
Best time to visit
August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens; year-round for parks

Top places to visit near Bad Axe

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Bad Axe: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Bad Axe

Things to see near Bad Axe, by type

Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Bad Axe

72 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Bad Axe. The closest is Mud Lake (27 km); the best-known is Rush Lake State Game Area (29 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Michigan →

Parks near Bad Axe

46 parks within 100 km of Bad Axe. The closest is Bad Axe City Park (1 km); the best-known is Sanilac Petroglyphs State Park (21 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

All parks in Michigan →

Wildlife, forests & gardens near Bad Axe

21 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Bad Axe. The closest is Thumb Area Underwater Preserve (34 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

All wildlife, forests & gardens in Michigan →

Forts & heritage near Bad Axe

10 forts & heritage within 100 km of Bad Axe. The closest is W. R. Stafford Planing Mill Site (35 km); the best-known is Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse (37 km). Best time: october to february.

All forts & heritage in Michigan →

Beaches & coast near Bad Axe

10 beaches & coast within 100 km of Bad Axe. The closest is Hat Point (30 km); the best-known is Harbor Beach Light (38 km). Best time: october to march.

All beaches & coast in Michigan →

Rivers, islands & mangroves near Bad Axe

10 rivers, islands & mangroves within 100 km of Bad Axe. The closest is Middle Grounds Island (43 km). Best time: september to february.

All rivers, islands & mangroves in Michigan →

A one-day trip from Bad Axe

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 108 km on the road.

  1. Start in Bad Axe
  2. 1 km Wilcox Park · park, Huron
  3. 28 km Port Crescent State Park · park, Huron
  4. 13 km Rush Lake State Game Area · lake, Huron
  5. 45 km Sanilac Petroglyphs State Park · park, Sanilac
  6. 20 km Bad Axe City Park · park, Huron
  7. 1 km Back to Bad Axe

Plan a longer trip from Bad Axe — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Bad Axe

No traveller has reported from around Bad Axe yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

Post an update from the map →

How to reach Bad Axe

    All places near Bad Axe by distance

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Bad Axe by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs572Mud Lake (27 km)
    Parks1746Bad Axe City Park (1 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens421Thumb Area Underwater Preserve (34 km)
    Forts & heritage710W. R. Stafford Planing Mill Site (35 km)
    Beaches & coast610Hat Point (30 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves610Middle Grounds Island (43 km)
    Other attractions22Caseville Harbor Commission (33 km)
    Museums12Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse Museum (37 km)
    Waterfalls01Mill Creek Falls (95 km)

    Bad Axe: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Bad Axe?

    Sanilac Petroglyphs State Park (park, about 21 km), Bad Axe City Park (park, about 1 km), Wilcox Park (park, about 1 km), Port Crescent State Park (park, about 29 km), Rush Lake State Game Area (lake, about 29 km), Albert E Sleeper State Park (park, about 32 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Bad Axe?

    48 places on Spotwander: 5 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 17 parks, 4 wildlife, forests & gardens, 7 forts & heritage, 6 beaches & coast.

    Which is the nearest lake to Bad Axe?

    Mud Lake, about 27 km by road; Rush Lake State Game Area (29 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest park to Bad Axe?

    Bad Axe City Park, about 1 km by road; Wilcox Park (1 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest sanctuary to Bad Axe?

    Thumb Area Underwater Preserve, about 34 km by road; Wild Fowl Bay State Wildlife Area (44 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Bad Axe?

    Start in Bad Axe, visit Wilcox Park, then Port Crescent State Park, then Rush Lake State Game Area, then Sanilac Petroglyphs State Park, then Bad Axe City Park, and drive back — about 108 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Bad Axe?

    August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens; year-round for parks.

    Towns near Bad Axe

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Bad Axe’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Bad Axe on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.