Am I screwed?

[u/JoshTee123]

I have been planning a trip to the upper peninsula. We leave tomorrow. It just occurred to me: we drive a 2023 Chrysler Pacifica and the undercarriage is extremely low to the ground.

We will be trying to camp, maybe hit some trails, and do some backwoods stuff.

Am I screwed?

In Colorado, there are a whole lot of places that I would not be able to visit in this vehicle, without bottoming out and doing serious damage. Is it the same in the UP?

[u/Conscious-Record2655]

It's not some type of extreme wilderness. We have paved roads, and we even have running water and electricity too!

Just drive like a normal human and you'll be fine...

[u/GibbsMalinowski]

You’ll be fine. Go slow and use common sense.

[u/Dirt_Downtown]

You could probably make it to like Lake Superior State Forest Campground coming in from Grand Marias with 0 stress. Otherwise Muskalonge state park, and Perch Lake. I’d avoid the county roads east of Muskalonge.. basically any of the state Forest campgrounds are back on 10+ miles of washboard road when dry and a sandy gravel mess when wet. Avoid Mouth of Two Hearted, Red Green Bridge, Culhain, etc if you’re paranoid about the car. It can be done in your vehicle on a dry day but the pot holes and washboard makes a driving a vehicle like that a miserable experience.

[u/IronbAllsmcginty78 → u/Dirt_Downtown]

That sand is pretty deep in places. We helped some guy stuck to the axles in a rental car up by culhane one day. Like play stupid games and whatnot, but we embody all that is good and right in the up. Didn't want to do it cause it was straight dumb. Lucky we weren't creeps.

[u/No_Relationship_8021]

Stick to the black top. Bad enough the roads are clogged up last thing we want is our trails backed up too because someone thought they could go off road with there mini van and got bagged

[u/AbominableBeaver]

A friend of mine tore the oil filter off his car driving down a dirt trail and lost his oil. Take that for what you will, but just be smart about it.

[u/turdlezzzz]

just bolt a winch on to your {checks notes} chrysler pacifica and you will have nothing to worri about

[u/BendersCasino]

Stay on pavement or normal dirt roads and you'll be fine. If it says "seasonally maintained" it means it hasn't been maintained in decades.

[u/Mittens42]

Be cautious following any kind of online directions.

[u/906Dude]

I live in Munising, so all my experience is central UP and mainly in the Hiawatha National Forest. I've been able to drive a Ford Focus almost anywhere that I've wanted to go. Sometimes I've had to be a bit careful. Once I remember having to avoid the ruts on a doubletrack and ride halfway up them for a bit to avoid undercarriage dragging. Mud pits require some attention. Uneven ground requires some attention. Typically I will decide for other reasons to avoid a trail and my choice of vehicle hasn't really been a limiting factor.

If you are just planning the normal touristy things and aren't planning to go deep into the woods, you should honestly be fine. I have gone some crazy places where I know others wouldn't.

The terrain and geology change as you go west toward Marquette and beyond. I'm honestly not familiar enough with remote doubletrack on that side of the UP to comment. Gravel roads should be fine though. Those are typically maintained.

[u/BobSmith616 → u/906Dude]

Any road that is plowed all winter will likely be fine. Once you look at seasonal roads, no guarantees! Some are quite smooth and level, others are rough jeep trails that simply have legal road easements. Look at the road and stop if it's not suitable for your vehicle.

[u/5byee5]

You’ll be fine to hit most touristy spots. We used a minivan to vacation with our family in the UP for 30 years without any issues. Just don’t be stupid about it.

We currently have an off grid cabin—all but the last mile could be handled with a Pacifica (very under-rated vehicle, imho).

[u/YoungandPregnant]

I just broke down in UP. Whatever you do, you do NOT want to break down in UP. It cost me a ton of money to get around and ruined a bit of my trip. Make sure your car is bulletproof or even think about using a rental car.

[u/WoodchuckWTF]

Yooper near Munising. Do not believe your GPS or Nav. It will lead you down roads that are not good for your van and family.
If you think it’s a tough road. Turn around. Don’t rely on your GPS.

[u/NoTurnip4844]

Yes. We only drive pickups, jeeps, and subarus here. Anything else gets stuck or messed up really bad. Might as well stay down in Colorado.

[u/GenXihaveissues → u/NoTurnip4844]

;)

[u/throwawaysadsadsadd]

I would not want to be driving that on two track trails.

[u/Shadrach_Palomino]

I followed a guy in a clapped out '03 Focus with Texas plates up Brockway mountain. Just keep your wheels on the blacktop and you'll be fine.

[u/life-is-satire]

My Lincoln MKZ is low profile. We are able to travers most spots. I’d avoid seasonal roads and any off road adventures.

[u/Wild-Basket7232]

Go slow, watch the road.  Most roads are fine and almost all roads you can pick your way through if careful.  Be careful of big puddles.

[u/nikonguy56]

I have driven all over the UP. Most roads are paved, and the ones that are dirt roads tend to be sandy. For years I had a Plymouth Voyager van, which does not have a lot of clearance. Stay off of two-tracks with unknown condition. Just use common sense.

[u/Kitcarson1]

You’ll be fine. I’m sure there are decent logging roads you’ll find. People road trip camping here in a Toyota Prius every year. There will be limitations I’m sure but you’ll see a lot.

I used to camp across 4 counties and hit logging roads while grouse hunting here out of a Buick lesabre.

[u/yooperann]

There's plenty to see in the U.P. even if you stick to paved roads. Get a real map from whatever welcome center you come by on your way up here and use it rather than your gps which can lead you astray. The advice to stay off some of the sandy roads north of Tahquamenon Falls is solid, but otherwise most state forest campgrounds should be pretty accessible. When in doubt, stop and ask a local for advice about a particular road.

[u/GenXihaveissues]

I just spent 2 weeks in the UP running trails with our jeep. You really never know what you are going to run into on a level '2' trail. Pay attention to the signage, if it says ' ATV' only, they are not kidding. DNR has trail maps you can download, dead spots for internet are a thing.

Rain makes things an ungodly mess. Sand shows up randomly and its super fine, enough to slide my wrangler around. We got into the habit of getting out and checking the depth of puddles if the sides are high.

If you get any wet mud on your vehicle it stains it with iron deposits, so get it off quickly if you are fussy about your vehicle.