Things to See on I-75 From Michigan to Florida

Interstate 75 is one of the United States' major thoroughfares, connecting the Canadian border in the Great Lakes of Michigan to the southern end of Florida, just north of Miami. As you drive along I-75, home to nearly 1,800 miles of continuous roadway, stop off to experience more of what makes America unique. From Michigan to Ohio to Georgia, the interstate brings travelers to all kinds of fascinating destinations and worthwhile stops along the way, including the World of Coca-Cola and the Henry Ford Museum.

Start your Interstate 75 journey at the Mackinac Bridge, the third longest suspension bridge in the world. The bridge connects the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to the Lower. Stop at the Mackinac Bridge Museum in Mackinaw City to learn about the history of the bridge and see artifacts from its construction, including spinning wheels for carrying cables, diving suits, photographs, and a range of tools and equipment.

Further your exploration of America’s industrial heritage at the Henry Ford Museum and the Automotive Museum, both in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn. The Henry Ford Museum is a large indoor and outdoor complex, featuring not only automotive exhibits, but also famous homes, Abraham Lincoln's chair from Ford's Theatre, Thomas Edison's laboratory, the Wright Brothers' bicycle shop and other historical Americana.

Cedar Point near Sandusky, Ohio, is the second-oldest amusement park in the United States, and with 16 roller coasters is tied for Canada’s Wonderland for second-most coasters in the world.

Lima, Ohio, is home to the Allen Museum, where oddities such as John Dillinger’s jail cell, a display of unusual items swallowed by people and a mechanical Noah’s Ark reside.

More traditional museums along I-75 in Ohio include the Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Wapakoneta, and the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force on Wright Patterson Air Force Base.

Stop in Corbin, Kentucky, and visit the site of the original Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant at the Harland Sanders Cafe and Museum. This is where Harland Sanders opened his first fried-chicken restaurant, and his office and kitchen where he developed the secret formula are open to the public.

Tennessee is home to beautiful natural wonders along I-75. Ruby Falls on Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga is a spectacular waterfall located inside an underground cavern. The Lost Sea is an underground lake and maze of caverns in Sweetwater. Miles of hiking trails, waterfalls and overlooks are just off I-75 in the scenic Smoky Mountains near Knoxville. Stop in Knoxville to visit the Sunsphere, an 80-foot-high gold-covered glass sphere built for the 1984 World’s Fair.

Just over the border from Tennessee is Rock City on the Georgia side of the Lookout Mountains, where massive ancient rock outcroppings create panoramic views of Tennessee and Georgia. A trail leads to sites including the 1,000-ton Balanced Rock and Fat Man’s Squeeze, a narrow passageway formed by rock walls. Two caves have been outfitted with blacklight art to create the Fairyland Caverns and Mother Goose Village.

In Atlanta, take a tour of the World of Coca-Cola, a museum and exhibit space displaying memorabilia and history of the soft-drink giant. The roughly 90-minute tour includes a bottling factory demonstration, artwork featuring Coca-Cola, a tasting room, and a gift shop for purchasing Coke souvenirs.

Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park is a National Natural Landmark near Gainesville at Florida's northern border. The park actually is a 120-foot-deep sinkhole carved into the limestone, where vegetation grows in a rainforest-like environment. Cool even in the Florida heat, the sinkhole features fossilized remains of sharks, marine animals and extinct land animals amid the streams that trickle down the walls. Visitors can picnic in the park and explore the sinkhole by a boardwalk.

Farther down I-75, 18 miles south of Fort Lauderdale, lies the Everglades Wonder Garden in Bonita Springs. Meander the walkways of the botanical garden, feed the alligators from the swinging bridge, explore the butterfly garden and enjoy the pink flamingos among cypress, Cuban laurel and monkey puzzle trees.