Seven Michigan lighthouses that offer onsite lodging
- With more than 120 lighthouses, Michigan has more than any other state
- A handful of them offer lodging either by renting or volunteering
- Options include a B&B, a lighthouse surrounded by water and rustic camping besides a lighthouse
The number-one item on Bridge’s reader-voted Michigan Dreaming Summer Bucket List was “sleep in a lighthouse.”
In Michigan, with more than 120 lighthouses, we’ve got some options.
Some lighthouses are available to rent, while you can stay in others as a volunteer, though you often still have to pay a modest fee.
The list below features some of the Michigan lighthouses where lodging is an option. Find one that appeals to you, make arrangements early (a lot of them are competitive), and cross sleeping in a lighthouse off your bucket list!
Au Sable Point Lighthouse
The Au Sable Lighthouse is located within the Au Sable Light Station in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Volunteers can expect to give tours and help staff the museum.
Location: On Lake Superior in Burt Township
Volunteer or rent? Volunteer
Cost: Free
Minimum stay: One month
Contact: 906-387-2607, ext. 1208, prio_information@nps.gov
Website: https://nps.gov/piro/learn/historyculture/ausablelightstation.htm
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Big Bay Point Lighthouse Inn
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this lighthouse inn located on cliffs 25 miles north of Marquette is one of the last resident lighthouse inns left in the United States. Your room may have a gas fireplace, soaker tub, or sunset or sunrise views. Breakfast in bed is available, if you so choose.
Location: Big Bay on Lake Superior
Volunteer or rent? Rent
Cost: $219 - $425 per night
Minimum stay: One
Contact: bigbaypointlighthouse@gmail.com
Website: https://bigbaylighthouse.com/
Big Sable Point Lighthouse
Resident keepers stay the night in the original keeper’s quarters, attached to the lighthouse. Applications open in October for the following season.
Location: In Ludington on Lake Michigan
Volunteer or rent? Volunteer
Cost: A membership fee (which starts at $30) plus a Resident Keeper Fee of $30 for one person or $50 for a couple
Minimum stay: One week for resident keepers. Half-day and day shifts are available for keepers who don’t need lodging.
Contact: 231-845-7343
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Crisp Point Lighthouse
Volunteer Lighthouse Keepers camp onsite in this rustic, remote location. Keepers are instructed to bring their own electricity generator, drinking water, food, heating and refrigeration. The only amenity provided is toilets.
Location: In Newberry on Lake Superior
Volunteer or rent? Volunteer
Cost: Free
Minimum stay: No minimum
Contact: 906-658-3600, info@crisppointlighthouse.org
Website: http://www.crisppointlighthouse.org/ and https://www.crisppointlighthouse.org/dutiesandinfo2025.pdf
DeTour Reef Light
Boat transportation to this lighthouse, located in the middle of the water, is provided. The Detour Reef Light Preservation Society claims this is the first offshore volunteer lighthouse keeper program.
Location: In Lake Huron at the mouth of the St. Marys River
Volunteer or rent? Both at the same time. Guests pay a substantial fee but still volunteer their services.
Cost: $1,200 for a weekend, $1,000 for a five-night stay
Minimum stay: Weekend
Contact: 906-493-6609, keepers@drlps.com
Website: https://www.drlps.com/stay-or-visit
Eagle River Lighthouse
This three-bedroom, restored historic lighthouse is available to rent. In addition to a small tower, the structure includes a four seasons sunroom, a deck, a firepit and a nearby beach.
Location: On the Eagle River in Mohawk just around the bend from Lake Superior
Volunteer or rent? Rent
Cost: $500 average per night
Minimum stay: Two nights
Contact: Not listed
Website: Available on VRBO here
Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse
Volunteers stay in the former assistant lighthouse keeper’s quarters a stone’s throw from the tower. Fun fact: The first official head female lighthouse keeper worked here.
Location: On Lake Huron in Port Hope
Volunteer or rent? Volunteer
Cost: $150 per person for a week
Minimum stay: One week
Contact: 989-768-0466, mimiherrington@comcast.net
Website: https://pabmm.org/
To see an expanded list of lighthouses that offer lodgings across the Great Lakes, check out the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association website.
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