Want to Stay Overnight in a Michigan Lighthouse?
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Michigan residents and visitors alike who are looking for their next great adventure would be hard-pressed to find something more unique than staying overnight in a Michigan lighthouse.
From bed and breakfasts and inns in historic lighthouses to vacation rentals and volunteer keeper programs, more than a dozen Michigan lighthouses provide a wide and unique range of experiences. These experiences range from luxurious stays with incredible views to rustic, service-oriented opportunities in the middle of the Great Lakes.
Big Bay Point Lighthouse B&B | Big Bay
This bed and breakfast offers seven guest rooms on the shore of Lake Superior for a unique and historic experience. The lighthouse was built in 1896 and served as a functioning lighthouse until 1961.
Situated on the shores of Lake Superior, the lighthouse offers breathtaking views of the lake and surrounding landscape. Guests can enjoy stunning sunsets and outdoor activities while enjoying comfortable guest rooms. Guests can expect warm hospitality and personalized service from the innkeepers.
Whether you’re seeking adventure or relaxation, you’re sure to find it at this historic lakeside retreat.
Sand Hills Lighthouse Inn | Ahmeek
Editor’s Note: Sand Hills Lighthouse is currently closed for renovations.
An inn with Victorian decor on the northern shore of the Keweenaw Peninsula, Sand Hills Lighthouse Inn offers a chance to unplug and get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
The Sand Hills Lighthouse was built in 1917 and operated as an active aid to navigation until 1944. It has since been lovingly restored and converted into a cozy bed and breakfast, offering guests a glimpse into its rich maritime history. Some rooms even retain elements of the lighthouse’s original architecture.
Eagle River Lighthouse | Mohawk
This vacation rental is located at the mouth of the Eagle River on the Keweenaw Peninsula and is run by the family of Edward “Bud” Cole.
Staying at the Eagle River offers a captivating blend of history and natural beauty. Built in 1855 and fully restored, the lighthouse serves as a unique bed and breakfast, providing comfortable accommodations with a touch of maritime charm.
With stunning views of the lake and easy access to outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, and beachcombing, the Eagle River Lighthouse provides an ideal escape for those seeking relaxation and adventure in Michigan’s picturesque Upper Peninsula.
Point Betsie Lighthouse | Frankfort
On the shores of Lake Michigan, visitors can stay where waves crash against the shore, the sun sets, and the winds whip across the water.
Rentals at Point Betsie are offered during peak tourism season for a week. Daily rentals are available also, but only in the shoulder season of May, September, and October.
The lighthouse provides serenity and incredible views of the lake, Sleeping Bear Dunes, and the Manitou Islands. The keeper’s quarters sleeps up to six and additional amenities include a bathroom and a fully-supplied kitchen.
McGulpin Point Lighthouse | Mackinaw City
Just minutes from downtown Mackinaw City and the Headlands Dark Sky Park, travelers looking for unique lodging can stay in a secluded apartment right next to the McGulpin Lighthouse.
The apartment sleeps four and includes a bedroom with a queen bed, a kitchen and dining area, parking, onsite laundry, and a living area with a pull-out couch.
A minimum two-night stay is required and prices vary depending on whether visitors are staying during the peak season or the off-season.
Crisp Point Lighthouse | Newberry
Whether they want to help for a day, a week, or even longer, volunteer keepers at this eastern U.P. lighthouse work hard to maintain and restore the lighthouse.
Crisp Point is a “Leave No Trace” location, so keepers must bring their own food and supplies to sustain themselves in this rustic locale. While natural beauty can be seen for miles from this Lake Superior lighthouse, keepers are expected to main high standards of maintenance during their stay.
Duties may include cleaning the acrylic lens for the lighthouse, sweeping, greeting guests, and restocking merchandise.
Mission Point Lighthouse | Traverse City
The Old Mission Peninsula near Traverse City is renowned for its famous vineyards and a secret garden at Brys Estate.
But the peninsula is also home to a volunteer lighthouse keeper program that presents a unique opportunity for friends and family. Working the gift shop and leading tours, volunteers can meet visitors from all over the world and help them learn about an important piece of Michigan maritime history.
Keepers work in pairs and are responsible for maintenance, retail stocking, encouraging visitation records, and more. Two-week stays are encouraged, and the lighthouse is maintained by repeat keepers for nearly half the year.
Some hours are available during the off-season as well when contractors aren’t working on the lighthouse.
Tawas Point Lighthouse | Tawas
The volunteer program at Tawas Point Lighthouse offers the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in history. Lighthouse keepers help greet visitors, lead tours, provide information, and assist with facility maintenance — about 35 hours a week for two weeks.
The program is offered every two weeks from mid-May through mid-October. Keepers apply in groups of four, and members of the team have to be at least 18 and able to climb 85 steps.
The cost is $250 per person and the schedule is designed to give teams a chance to volunteer while also enjoying local recreational activities in East Tawas and within Tawas Point State Park.
Cheboygan River Front Range Light | Cheboygan
Those that have ever wondered what it’s like to be a lighthouse keeper, don’t have to wonder anymore!
Volunteers in groups of two work seasonally on weekends from Thursday to Sunday from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend and Saturdays and Sundays until the first weekend in October.
Keepers can swap between gift shop duties and tour duties and will be responsible for basic upkeep and possibly some special projects. It offers a unique chance to stay in a historic lighthouse in downtown Cheboygan.
St. Helena Island Lighthouse | Mackinac County
Volunteers can experience the “Miracle of the Straits” as an assistant lighthouse keeper anywhere from three days to two months, watching over the lighthouse.
An experienced keeper is on hand for guidance and volunteers spend the entirety of their stay on St. Helena Island. Duties range from serving as a tour guide to basic maintenance to kitchen duties.
Positions are open to individuals, couples, and families, though housing options vary depending on the size of the group.
Grand Traverse Lighthouse | Northport
The Grand Traverse Lighthouse offers lighthouse enthusiasts a unique seasonal opportunity. From April through December, volunteers can spend a week as a lighthouse keeper, where they’ll greet customers, help in the gift shop, provide historical information to visitors, and help with upkeep.
Complete training is provided for aspiring lighthouse keepers and volunteers stay in the former assistant keeper’s quarters. The quarters include a kitchen, a living room, two bedrooms with two twin beds each, and one and a half baths.
Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse | Near Port Hope
Pointe aux Barques offers a seasonal Assistant Keeper Program. Groups of 2-4 adults can spend a week or more overlooking the shores of Lake Huron and stay in the assistant keeper’s house.
The cost to participate in the program is $100 per person per week and an agreement to provide volunteer services.
The program is available from July through September. Applications and more information on the program are available on the lighthouse website.
Fort Gratiot Lighthouse | Port Huron
Michigan’s oldest lighthouse offers a fantastic opportunity to tour and stay in this historic landmark. The Overnight at the Light program offers groups of 20 or more a chance to spend the night, bunk room style.
The special event includes a tour of the grounds and the buildings on the lighthouse campus, including climbing the lighthouse tower. A program about the lighthouse is presented, a snack is given, and then it’s off to bed.
The cost for the event is $25 per person and groups must make reservations and make a down payment before the night of the event. It’s perfect for birthday parties, family reunions, and scout troops (and the lighthouse even offers the Heart of Michigan badge).
Big Sable Point Lighthouse | Ludington
Seasonal volunteer lighthouse-keeping opportunities are a popular activity at Big Sable Point. Volunteering is a two-week commitment and visitors stay in the original keeper’s quarters attached to the classic black and white lighthouse.
Other Ludington-area lighthouses also have volunteering opportunities. Volunteers at Ludington North Breakwater Lighthouse and Little Sable Point stay at either Ludington State Park or Silver Lake State Park, allowing them to enjoy the beauty of the Lake Michigan shoreline.
Volunteers can also spend a week at White River Light Station. A cozy apartment houses up to two volunteers in a channel between Lake Michigan and White Lake.
DeTour Reef Light | DeTour
For less than $100 per night, visitors who want to stay in a lighthouse can visit this 83-foot-tall tower in the eastern Upper Peninsula on the Lake Huron shore.
The lighthouse’s keeper program offers a chance to experience what life is really like inside a lighthouse. As an offshore lighthouse, it can only be accessed by boat, but its location means it offers incredible sunrises and sunsets, scenic views of chugging freighters, and plenty of tranquility.
Guests must be able to climb up and down ladders, be in good physical condition, and able to perform basic cleaning duties. The lighthouse has space for up to six guests (with a minimum of two per night). Amenities include two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a TV.
40 Mile Point Lighthouse | Presque Isle
Located just north of Rogers City, 40 Mile Point offers one of the few lighthouse keeper programs offering an onsite RV campsite. This offers the best of both worlds: a chance to work at a lighthouse and the chance to stay in your own living quarters.
Guest keepers help out with a variety of duties including being stationed in the gift shop, pilothouse, tower, or inside the lighthouse. Duties as a housekeeper range from 2-4 weeks.
The lighthouse attractions are open seasonally and keepers typically work 20-26 hours per week depending on the number of volunteers on site at a particular time.
Charity Island Lighthouse | Near Au Gres
One of the most unique lighthouse stays in Michigan is Charity Island Lighthouse off the coast of Au Gres in Lake Huron.
The lighthouse is 10 miles from the mainland and an ideal venue for those looking for a quiet experience. The lighthouse and keeper’s quarters are on the northern tip of Charity Island in the middle of Saginaw Bay.
The home is wind- and solar-powered and features four bedrooms and a full bath upstairs. A downstairs master bedroom has a 3/4 bath and an additional half bath is off the living room.
The home has modern conveniences and a wrap-around deck, treating visitors to panoramic views of the lake. Outside the home, visitors can keep an eye out for bald eagles, songbirds, plenty of wildlife, and colorful wildflowers.
White Shoal Lighthouse | Emmet County
Limited overnight stays are available at this lighthouse in the northern waters of Lake Michigan for those who don’t mind getting their hands dirty.
The structure is amazing and hard to access, so anyone who stays here is treated to incredible views of the lake and this 121-foot engineering marvel.
The primary reason visitors stay is to support the maintenance and restoration of the lighthouse. Their contributions are vital to the ongoing upkeep and preservation of this historic Michigan landmark.
Located 20 miles west of the Mackinac Bridge, a stay at White Shoal isn’t for the faint of heart. Storms, wind, and mountainous waves can whip up at a moment’s notice.
South Fox Island Lighthouse | Northport
The South Fox Island light is one of Lake Michigan’s most intact light stations and volunteers can sign up to contribute to maintenance and preservation efforts.
As with other island lights, the location and work aren’t for the faint of heart. Housing conditions are rustic and weather conditions can delay trips to the island, but the experience can be very rewarding for those looking to help preserve history.
Lighthouse Bluff | Near Saugatuck
Nestled on the Lake Michigan shoreline near Saugatuck and South Haven, Lighthouse Bluff offers visitors a unique stay, even if it’s not technically in a lighthouse.
Located on a low bluff that includes more than 200 feet of Lake Michigan beachfront, the home gets its name from the five-story high staircase that affords a once-in-a-lifetime view of the lake and surrounding area for miles. Each room in the house was specifically designed to offer a scenic experience, from watching crashing waves to soaking in an unforgettable sunset.
The home is big enough for up to 20 guests and amenities include a Finnish sauna and an in-ground hot tub. With South Haven and Saugatuck within quick driving distance, guests can have the best of both worlds: A quiet lakeside getaway and access to restaurants, shops, and charm of small towns.
Make Plans to Spend the Night in a Michigan Lighthouse
Whether you’re looking to break free from hotels and motels for a truly unique overnight stay or want to donate your time to maintain Michigan’s history, Michigan lighthouses offer an exciting array of opportunities.
An overnight stay at a lighthouse bed and breakfast can give you a new appreciation for the Great Lakes as you gaze from the top of a lighthouse tower. Likewise, a week or even a few days volunteering at a Michigan lighthouse offers a break from modern life and the chance to experience a unique slice of life in Michigan.
