The Best Cottages to Rent in Michigan

Old Pike Cottages provides an unbeatable lakefront location | Courtesy of Old Pike Cottages / Expedia

22 December 2021

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Snow-capped mountains, vast lakes, huge skies: in Michigan you’re guaranteed a breath of fresh air. The midwestern state is also home to cities including Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Flint and Kalamazoo, where you’ll find leading galleries, museums, restaurants and shopping. It’s a combination that makes the Great Lakes state a surefire crowd-pleaser, ideal for group breaks. But where to stay? From city townhouses to riverside cabins, we’ve got the inside scoop on the best cottages to rent in Michigan, all bookable with Culture Trip.

The Cottages at Bay Harbor, for a crowd-pleaser in Petoskey

The Cottages at Bay Harbor view from terrace of sea and gardens

Courtesy of The Cottages at Bay Harbor / Expedia

Your dad wants to play golf. Your brother wants to snowboard. Mum wants to ski. Bag one of these self-catering cottages, located between the Boyne Highlands and Boyne Mountain resorts in beautiful Little Traverse Bay, and everyone gets their way. Choose from an elegant gabled cottage facing Lake Michigan or one near the resort’s golf course – either way, you’re only a short walk from the restaurant and spa and a free shuttle ride away from the Victorian spires of Petoskey.

The Pentwater House, for culture and nature in Pentwater

The Pentwater House exterior amid forest and grass

Courtesy of The Pentwater House / Expedia

Spend your days browsing the art galleries and antique stores of pretty Pentwater and your evenings barbecuing freshly-caught fish in the picnic area outside this sweet, two-bed home. Overlooking Pentwater Lake, the house is ideally placed for exploring the area, and offers free private parking. Huron-Manistee National Forest, Lake Michigan and Charles Mears State Park are only a few miles away, while an art trail and buggy tours of the Silver Lake Sand Dunes mean you’ll never be short of something to do.

On Pointe Lakefront Resort, for a private beach in Coldwater

On Pointe Lakefront Resort exterior with water and trees

Courtesy of On Pointe Lakefront Resort / Expedia

Unwind on your own private beach when you book one of the spacious bungalows at this resort in Coldwater, southern Michigan. Suitable for six-to-eight people, two of the properties offer views over North Lake and all three include parking spaces, outdoor areas and free wifi. Coldwater Golf Club is almost on the doorstep, while there’s a drive-in theater, opera house and heritage park a few miles away in the city of Coldwater.

Beautiful Royal Oak Townhouse, for chic suburban living in Oakland County

Beautiful Royal Oak Townhouse room with striped beset, flatscreen and wooden floor

Courtesy of Beautiful Royal Oak Townhouse / Expedia

Head out of central Detroit on Interstate 75 and you’ll hit the desirable suburb of Royal Oak, with its numerous parks, coffee shops and theaters, all easily explored on foot. This chic, modern, three-bed vacation rental is right at the heart of things on 4th Street – home to the Royal Oak Music Theater and the renowned Comedy Castle, where everyone from Jay Leno to Jim Carrey has performed. Kids will love the nearby Detroit Zoo, where you can see one of the largest artificial polar bear habitats in the world.

Hampton House, for cozy home comforts in Mount Clemens

Hampton House lounge with fireplace, ornaments and cozy sofas

Courtesy of Hampton House / Expedia

From the welcoming brick fireplace to the patchwork eiderdowns on the beds, this cozy homestay makes you feel at ease. Located on quiet but central Hampton Road in the riverside city of Mount Clemens, Macomb County, the house features two guest rooms with queen beds and smart TVs. Communal areas include a kitchen, living room and three-tiered backyard deck with a barbecue and hot tub. Downtown is just a 2mi (3.2km) drive from the property.

Old Pike Cottages, for lakeside living in Saugatuck

Old Pike Cottages exterior with lawns and seating with fire pit

Courtesy of Old Pike Cottages / Expedia

Whether you’re booking a break with friends, family or your significant other, this collection of holiday homes has you covered. Located downtown in the Allegan County city of Saugatuck – a hive of restaurants, galleries and beaches – each of the eight stylishly-decorated properties is kitted out for comfort, with heated floors, screened-in patios and views of Lake Kalamazoo. You’ll also have access to a communal heated pool, hot tub, grilling area and guest docks.

Betsie Riverside Resort, for chilling on the river in Benzonia

Betsie Riverside Resort exterior with seating, grass and trees

Courtesy of Betsie Riverside Resort / Expedia

Wake up to the sounds of water flowing and wind rustling in the trees at these cabins on the bank of the Betsie River, Benzie County. Outdoorsy-types will love hopping out of bed and straight into a kayak, before unwinding in the resort’s indoor pool and hot tub. Take a shower back at base, then toast marshmallows over the community fire pits. Cabins sleep from two-to-five adults each – larger groups can book adjacent accommodation connected by a privacy door.

Nola’s Onekama Hideout, for outdoor adventures in Onekama

Nola’s Onekama Hideout pool with decking and seats with parasol

Courtesy of Nola’s Onekama Hideout / Hotels.com

Feel like a local when you stay at this sprawling Victorian guesthouse, just one block from Portage Lake, in the village of Onekama. Hosted by owner Nola (who also offers reiki and reflexology treatments) rooms and suites sleep from one-to-six people and have access to a private pool. It’s an ideal base for outdoor adventures – Lake Bluff Bird Sanctuary, North Country Trail and the Sleeping Bear Dunes are all within driving distance, while the Crystal Mountain resort offers skiing, snowboarding and golf less than 20mi (32km) away.

Michillinda Lodge, for vacationing by Lake Michigan in Whitehall

Michillinda Lodge exterior with foliage and sea view

Courtesy of Michillinda Lodge / Expedia

Built as a country estate at the end of the nineteenth century, this woodland resort overlooking Lake Michigan is a place people return to again and again. Its nine buildings contain 26 holiday rental units ranging from large lakeside studios to hillside suites to A-frame chalets – there’s something for couples, families and even wedding parties. Swim at two heated outdoor pools or get stuck into a game of tennis, basketball, or shuffleboard before watching the sun go down from a deckchair on the lawn.

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