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Photo by Todd and Brad Reed Photography

M-22 Manistee County

The Pure Michigan M-22 Byway begins in Manistee County!

M-22 Map

M-22 begins in Manistee County, an area of small, charming towns and incredible natural beauty. The Manistee National Forest, which reaches all the way down to Muskegon County, stands in the southeastern corner of Manistee County with a network of trails, camp sites and land preserved for recreational use. Several inland lakes and rivers have made the county a top destination for fishing. Sandy shoreline stretches up the majority of the county’s Lake Michigan coast.

Visit Manistee County Communities Along M-22

Included as part of the Lake Michigan Circle Tour, the scenic M-22 highway meanders through three counties and many towns which will surely capture your heart. With light traffic and breathtaking views, you’ll treasure every minute of your M-22 journey.

Manistee

Manistee is a charming Victorian port city, best known for the historic Ramsdell Theater, the 1.5 mile Riverwalk, gorgeous beaches and golf courses, and the popular Little River Casino. Read more about Manistee here.

Onekama

After visiting the city of Manistee, follow the winding M-22 up to the village of Onekama, just 20 minutes north of Manistee. Onekama is commonly know as the “Two Lake Town,” offering the combination of Lake Michigan shoreline and peaceful Portage Lake. Read more about Onekama here.

Arcadia

Less than 15 minutes north of Onekama, and you’ll come across the small town of Arcadia, home of Arcadia Daze in July and Arcadia Bluffs Golf Course. Read more about Arcadia here.

Throughout Manistee County

Traveling inland, you’ll quickly find yourself engulfed in miles and miles of undeveloped land. Forests stand tall and full of life. The Hodenpyl Dam and the Little Mac Suspended Bridge are lovely sites along the Big Manistee River, with a great view on the walk across the bridge. Kayaking and canoeing are very popular activities on the Big and Little Manistee Rivers. Bear Lake, on US-31, offers speciality shopping and fresh produce during the summer. Kaleva has a wonderful art walk park as well as the famous Kaleva Meats store, with the freshest cuts around. Iron Fish Distillery, Michigan’s only craft spirits farm distillery, is located in Thompsonville and has award winning gin, vodka and whiskey.

M-22 Sign
Whatever adventure you are looking for, you will find it on M-22. Eat at restaurants where service is characterized by smiles and locally grown food. Drink and be merry at one of several breweries and wineries. Fish in mighty Lake Michigan, or one of the many lakes and rivers along the way. Shop in unique boutiques crafted with flair and small-town friendliness. Enjoy world-class golf, hiking, artists, water recreation and much, much more.

It's well worth the trip when you travel on M-22 in Northwest Michigan. The scenery will amaze you … and the towns will welcome you!

Lake Michigan Circle Tour

If you like traveling on M-22, then you will love the Lake Michigan Circle Tour! Dozens of articles for travel destinations around the Lake Michigan Circle Tour can be found in the Lake Michigan Circle Tour website. Enjoy reading and then plan your getaway!

Scroll below for more articles about the Manistee area.
 

Experience the Manistee Area

Manistee National Forest

Manistee National Forest together with the Huron National Forest occupies almost a million acres of land in Michigan’s lower peninsula.

Manistee Fall Color Tour

Beautiful color emerges come Fall. Take it all in with an afternoon drive, or stroll, through the many forests of West Michigan.

Fishing in Manistee

Manistee offers a variety of fishing opportunities! Cast your own line into one of the many lakes or streams — or hop aboard a charter boat!

M-22 Scenic Drive

Take one of the most scenic drives in the nation as you travel across M-22 in West Michigan. A long winding road of adventure awaits!