Crawford district, Michigan, United States

Places to visit near Grayling

Grayling is a town in Crawford district, Michigan, United States, home to about 1,844 people. Within 50 km by road there are 228 places to visit — 146 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 45 hill stations & viewpoints, 29 wildlife, forests & gardens and 5 beaches & coast. The must-see places are Lake Margrethe (8 km), Hartwick Pines State Park (12 km) and North Higgins Lake State Park (21 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Grayling on the map

Grayling, Michigan
Grayling, Crawford district, Michigan, United States. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Grayling at a glance

Location
Crawford district, Michigan, United States
Population
about 1,844
Coordinates
44.6614° N, 84.7147° W
Places within 50 km
228 (18 must-see)
Best time to visit
August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints

Top places to visit near Grayling

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Grayling: 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 Grayling

Things to see near Grayling, by type

Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Grayling

172 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Grayling. The closest is Simpson Lakes (3 km); the best-known is Lake Margrethe (8 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

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Hill stations & viewpoints near Grayling

45 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Grayling. The closest is Guyton Hill (4 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

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Wildlife, forests & gardens near Grayling

35 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Grayling. The closest is Hartwick Pines State Park (12 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

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Beaches & coast near Grayling

6 beaches & coast within 100 km of Grayling. The closest is Big Bear Point (8 km). Best time: october to march.

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Parks near Grayling

5 parks within 100 km of Grayling. The closest is Roscommon Zoo (31 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

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Museums near Grayling

2 museums within 100 km of Grayling. The closest is Edward E. Hartwick Memorial Building (13 km). Best time: year-round.

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A one-day trip from Grayling

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 98 km on the road.

  1. Start in Grayling
  2. 3 km Simpson Lakes · lake, Crawford
  3. 18 km North Higgins Lake State Park · lake, Crawford
  4. 19 km Lake Margrethe · lake, Crawford
  5. 19 km Bear Lake · lake, Kalkaska
  6. 27 km Hartwick Pines State Park · nature spot, Crawford
  7. 12 km Back to Grayling

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

How to reach Grayling

    All places near Grayling by distance

    Within 15 km of Grayling

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type

    Places near Grayling by type
    TypePlacesNearest
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs172Simpson Lakes (3 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints45Guyton Hill (4 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens35Hartwick Pines State Park (12 km)
    Beaches & coast6Big Bear Point (8 km)
    Parks5Roscommon Zoo (31 km)
    Museums2Edward E. Hartwick Memorial Building (13 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves1Flynn Island (25 km)
    Churches1Saint Mary Cathedral (52 km)
    Forts & heritage1Skegemog Point Site (66 km)
    Treks1Boardman/Ottaway River Trail (81 km)

    Grayling: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Grayling?

    Lake Margrethe (lake, about 8 km), Hartwick Pines State Park (nature spot, about 12 km), North Higgins Lake State Park (lake, about 21 km), Simpson Lakes (lake, about 3 km), Bear Lake (lake, about 24 km), Lake Shellenbarger (lake, about 4 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Grayling?

    228 places on Spotwander: 146 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 45 hill stations & viewpoints, 29 wildlife, forests & gardens, 5 beaches & coast, 1 park.

    Which is the nearest lake to Grayling?

    Simpson Lakes, about 3 km by road; Lake Shellenbarger (4 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Grayling?

    Guyton Hill, about 4 km by road; Mount Franklin (6 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest sanctuary to Grayling?

    Hartwick Pines State Park, about 12 km by road; Bear Swamp (14 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Grayling?

    Start in Grayling, visit Simpson Lakes, then North Higgins Lake State Park, then Lake Margrethe, then Bear Lake, then Hartwick Pines State Park, and drive back — about 98 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Grayling?

    August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints.

    Towns near Grayling

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