New Buffalo Welcome Center

Every time we stop here when heading home, it really is like a welcome home, almost there, you’re gonna make it sign. Also, in my experience, it has always been well maintained and kept clean. Welcome centers like this one are a great alternative to making a fast food stop, especially if you are not hungry. New Buffalo Welcome Center is located just after crossing the border into Michigan and has an easy off-​easy on access.

We stop by this rest area every time we go to Michigan. Though you are driving through MI for sometime, this is a place that welcomes you to New Buffalo, MI and it’s where the «Pure Michigan» campaign starts. It’s one of the nicest rest areas I’ve seen anywhere… It has a dog park, a park for kids, nice bathrooms, picnic area, vending machines, art sculptures throughout the parks, a pretty looking lighthouse, and inside the building, there are rows and rows of brochures that list every possible city in Michigan and they keep updating them as the seasons change.
Though it’s not a far drive from IL, it’s definitely a great place to stop by to stretch your legs and load up on Michigan facts.

Pretty active rest area on Exit #1 near New Buffalo Mich. Walk your dog, stretch your legs, drop a deuce… you get the idea.

Hubby and I did a road trip — to central Illinois and back — in one day! It was the end of a long day of sitting in the car. We stopped at the Michigan Welcome Center in New Buffalo, MI. It is just upstream of exit 1 on eastbound I-​94. Yes, your read that right — exit ONE.
This is a very, very nice and clean rest stop. It’s a «welcome center,» so there are maps and brochures for things to do in the state of Michigan.
The bathrooms were clean. There is not only a dog run, there is also a jungle gym for the kiddies. The planter boxes were well maintained. The flowers were just starting to bloom, so the place looked especially nice on this day.
After washing up and walking around for a while, we were able to continue on our journey.