Travel, lodging, what to bring
Getting here
Brimley is a long drive from almost everywhere. Plan on a weekend plus the drive for a Field Day. Most people come by car.
Drive times
| From | Time | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Sault Ste. Marie, MI | 20 min | I-75 south to M-28 west, then north into Brimley |
| Marquette | 2 hrs | M-28 east |
| Traverse City | 3 hrs | US-31 north to I-75, over the Mackinac Bridge, then M-28 west |
| Detroit | 5–6 hrs | I-75 north the whole way, over the Mackinac Bridge, then M-28 west |
| Grand Rapids | 5–6 hrs | US-131 north to I-75, over the Mackinac Bridge, then M-28 west |
| Chicago | about 7 hrs | Through Michigan via I-94, I-196, US-131, and I-75; or through Wisconsin and across the UP on US-2 and M-28 |
| Toronto | about 7 hrs | Hwy 400 and Hwy 69 north to Sudbury, Hwy 17 west to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, then across the International Bridge |
Exact directions to the gate are emailed to registered participants. Don’t rely on your phone for the last few miles.
The Mackinac Bridge charges a toll and occasionally closes or escorts high-profile vehicles in strong wind. Check conditions if you’re pulling a trailer.
From Canada
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario is directly across the International Bridge, about 30 minutes from the property. Bring a passport or other accepted travel document, expect a bridge toll, and allow for a wait at the border on summer weekends.
Flying
Most people drive. If you fly, you will still need a rental car.
- Chippewa County International (CIU), Kincheloe, MI. The closest airport, with a small number of flights.
- Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario (YAM). Across the border.
- Pellston Regional (PLN). South of the Mackinac Bridge, a bit over an hour away.
Schedules are thin and change seasonally. Check them before you plan around them.
Lodging for Field Days
Field Days are non-residential. Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan has the most options: chain motels, independent motels, and hotels, 20 minutes from the property. Brimley and Bay Mills are closer, with fewer rooms, and Brimley State Park has campsites. Summer weekends fill early. Book your room when you book your seat.
A specific lodging list is sent with your booking confirmation.
What to bring
We supply every tool and all safety equipment. You bring what you wear.
- Sturdy boots, broken in. Leather, over the ankle. No sneakers on a build site.
- Work gloves that fit you.
- Long pants you can kneel in. Long sleeves for evenings.
- Rain jacket and rain pants. Sessions run rain or shine.
- A warm layer. Nights near Lake Superior are cool in July.
- Hat, sunscreen, insect repellent.
- Water bottle.
- Prescription safety glasses if you wear glasses and have them. Otherwise we supply over-glasses.
- A notebook and pencil. Bring the numbers for your own project: roof dimensions, a utility bill, a site sketch, photos.
Session-specific additions are sent before each date.
Cell coverage
Assume it is poor. Coverage in the rural eastern UP is uneven and depends on your carrier, and phones near the border sometimes roam onto Canadian towers. Download your maps before you leave the interstate, tell people at home you’ll be hard to reach during the day, and see the FAQ for wifi.