Southern Michigan has its own version of fall worth seeing. Lake country, farm roads, and tree lines that light up just as much as anything up north, just a little later in the season.

We filmed this aerial drone video driving through the Hillsdale area of southern Michigan in early fall. Lake country, winding farm roads, and the kind of color you find when you just pick a direction and drive. Watch it first and then keep reading for our complete guide to where to go and when to go across the whole state.

Whether you are planning a quick day trip from Chicago, a weekend in northern Michigan, or a full fall road trip across the state, this guide covers everything you need to know about Michigan fall foliage from south to north.

When Do Michigan Fall Colors Peak?

Michigan is a big state and fall color does not hit all at once. It moves from north to south over the course of several weeks, which actually works in your favor, if you time it right you can chase the color across the state and catch it at its best in multiple places.

Here is the general timing by region:

Upper Peninsula: Peak color arrives first, typically the first week of October. The UP is consistently one of the best places in the entire country to see fall foliage. USA Today ranked it the best in the nation, citing its 7 million acres of forest.

Northern Lower Michigan (Gaylord, Traverse City, Petoskey area): Peak color follows shortly after, typically early to mid-October. This is the sweet spot for most Michigan fall trips, the color is spectacular and the infrastructure for visitors is much better than the UP.

West Michigan (Holland, Saugatuck, Grand Rapids area): Mid to late October. Lake Michigan shoreline towns hold onto their color longer than inland areas, which is a bonus.

Southern Michigan (Hillsdale, Jackson, Ann Arbor area): Late October through early November. Southern Michigan is the last to peak but the colors are still worth seeing, especially along the lake roads and farm country. It is also the easiest for day trippers from Chicago and northern Indiana.

The best resource for tracking real-time fall color in Michigan is explorefall.com which updates regularly with reports from across the state. Check it before you leave so you know exactly where the color is right now.

Southern Michigan Fall Colors — Hillsdale and Lake Country

This is our home turf. We grew up in the Hillsdale area and when we come back to visit family in the fall, we always take a drive through the lake and farm country around town. It is the kind of fall color that does not make the travel magazines but absolutely should.

Southern Michigan is a patchwork of small lakes, working farms, and country roads lined with oak and maple trees. When the color turns in late October it hits all at once and the combination of red and orange tree lines reflecting off the lakes is hard to beat. The best way to see it is to just drive. Pick a county road heading north or east out of Hillsdale and see where it takes you. Lake Lavine, Baw Beese Lake, and the roads around Camden and Montgomery are particularly good for color and very few people make the trip specifically for fall foliage down here.

If you are coming from Chicago, Hillsdale is about three and a half hours east. Pair a fall color drive with a Saturday morning at the Hillsdale Auction and you have a full day worth making the drive for.

Best time to visit: Late October to early November
Drive time from Chicago: About 3.5 hours
What to look for: Farm roads, lake reflections, small town downtowns

Ann Arbor and Southeast Michigan Fall Colors

Ann Arbor and the surrounding Washtenaw County area have some underrated fall color drives that not many people talk about. Huron River Drive between Mast Road and US-23 is one of the best color drives in southeast Michigan, a winding road that follows the river through dense forest and turns into something special in mid to late October. North Territorial Road between US-23 and M-52 is another one worth putting in your maps.

The Nichols Arboretum on the University of Michigan campus is also a great spot for fall color in the city itself, free to visit and beautiful for a walk when the leaves are at peak.

Best time to visit: Mid to late October
Drive time from Chicago: About 4 hours
What to look for: River drives, university town atmosphere, arboretum walks

West Michigan Fall Colors — Holland, Saugatuck, and the Lakeshore

West Michigan is one of the most underrated fall color destinations in the entire Midwest. The combination of Lake Michigan dunes, small harbor towns, and dense hardwood forests makes for a fall road trip that looks nothing like anywhere else.

Holland State Park and the Lake Macatawa shoreline are particularly good spots for fall color in mid-October. The dunes at Saugatuck overlook Lake Michigan with fall foliage surrounding them on both sides. It is genuinely one of the most photogenic fall scenes in the state. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore further north has Pierce Stocking Drive, a 7.4-mile scenic loop that is a must-do fall color route with sweeping views of Lake Michigan surrounded by color.

The small towns along the lakeshore, Saugatuck, Douglas, South Haven, Holland, are all worth stopping in. Good food, independent shops, and the lake right there. Lake Michigan shoreline towns also tend to hold their color longer than inland areas thanks to the moderating effect of the lake on temperatures.

Best time to visit: Mid to late October
Drive time from Chicago: About 2.5 to 3 hours
What to look for: Dune overlooks, lakeshore drives, harbor towns

Northern Lower Michigan Fall Colors — Traverse City, Petoskey, and Gaylord

This is where most people think of when they think Michigan fall color and for good reason. Northern Lower Michigan hits peak color in early to mid-October and the combination of inland lakes, hardwood forests, and Great Lakes shoreline makes it one of the best fall road trip destinations in the country.

The Tunnel of Trees along M-119 between Harbor Springs and Cross Village is 22 miles of some of the most famous fall color in Michigan. The road is narrow and winding, the tree canopy closes overhead, and in early October the whole thing turns gold and red. Go on a weekday if you can because it gets crowded on fall weekends.

Traverse City is a great base for a fall weekend. The Leelanau Peninsula and Old Mission Peninsula both offer excellent fall color drives with the bonus of winery stops along the way. Sleeping Bear Dunes is about 45 minutes from Traverse City and worth the trip for the combination of dune views and fall foliage.

Gaylord is the geographic center of the northern Lower Peninsula and sits right in the heart of some of the best hardwood forest in the state. The drives in any direction from Gaylord in early October are worth it on their own.

Best time to visit: Early to mid-October
Drive time from Chicago: About 4.5 to 5 hours
What to look for: Tunnel of Trees, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Leelanau Peninsula, winery stops

Upper Peninsula Fall Colors — The Best in the State

If you have the time and the drive does not scare you, the Upper Peninsula in early October is worth it. The UP has more forest than any other region of Michigan and the fall color is on a completely different scale than anything in the Lower Peninsula.

Tahquamenon Falls surrounded by fall foliage is one of those places that stops you in your tracks. The Porcupine Mountains in the western UP offer sweeping overlooks of Lake of the Clouds with the full color change visible across the entire basin, one of the most photographed fall scenes in the Midwest. Ocqueoc Falls in the northeastern Lower Peninsula, just south of the UP, is the largest waterfall in the Lower Peninsula and completely off the radar for most visitors.

The UP peaks the first week of October so you need to plan ahead. It is a long drive from Chicago, about 6 to 7 hours to Tahquamenon depending on your route, but the people who make it never say it was not worth it.

Best time to visit: First two weeks of October
Drive time from Chicago: 6 to 7 hours
What to look for: Tahquamenon Falls, Porcupine Mountains, Lake of the Clouds overlook

Tips for Your Michigan Fall Color Trip

Go on weekdays if you can. Fall weekends in northern Michigan especially are crowded. The Tunnel of Trees and Sleeping Bear Dunes in particular get very busy on October weekends. A Tuesday or Wednesday visit in peak color week will be a totally different experience.

Track the color before you go. Check explorefall.com or the Michigan DNR fall color report before you leave. Color timing varies by a week or two depending on the year and knowing where the color is right now saves you from arriving a week early or a week late.

Book accommodations early. Northern Michigan in October is popular. If you are planning a weekend trip in early to mid-October, book your hotel or Airbnb at least a month in advance. Places fill up fast.

Bring a camera and get up early. The best fall color light is in the morning when the sun is low. If you are driving for photos, aim to be on the road by 7 or 8 am. The color looks completely different than it does at midday.

Use Roadtrippers to find stops along the way. We use the Roadtrippers app on every road trip we take. It is great for finding scenic overlooks, historic stops, and interesting places you would never think to look for on your own. Try it here and use code BTR5QTP for five dollars off the premium subscription.

Southern Michigan is underrated. If you are coming from Chicago and cannot make the full drive north, southern Michigan farm and lake country in late October has its own version of fall worth seeing. It is quieter, less crowded, and a much easier day trip. Drive through the Hillsdale area on a late October Saturday and you will not be disappointed.

Michigan has some of the best fall scenery in the country. Browse our full Michigan travel guides for more destinations across the state.

A fall color drive through Michigan is one of the best Midwest road trips you can plan — windows down, leaves turning, no itinerary required.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is peak fall color in Michigan?

It depends on where in Michigan you are going. The Upper Peninsula peaks first, typically the first week of October. Northern Lower Michigan peaks in early to mid-October. West Michigan and southern Michigan peak in mid to late October and can hold color into early November in good years. Check explorefall.com for real-time tracking before your trip.

Where is the best place to see fall colors in Michigan?

The Tunnel of Trees along M-119 in northern Michigan is one of the most famous fall color drives in the state. Sleeping Bear Dunes, the Porcupine Mountains in the UP, and the Lake Michigan shoreline towns of Saugatuck and Holland are all excellent. For a less crowded option, the lake and farm country around Hillsdale in southern Michigan is worth the drive in late October.

How long does fall color last in Michigan?

The full fall color season in Michigan runs from late September through early November, moving from north to south. Any individual location is typically at peak color for one to two weeks. If you time your visit right you can catch multiple regions at peak by planning a longer road trip from north to south through the season.

Is Michigan good for fall color road trips?

Yes, it is one of the best states in the country for it. The combination of Great Lakes shoreline, dunes, inland lakes, and dense hardwood forest gives you a variety of fall scenery that other states cannot match. The Tunnel of Trees, Sleeping Bear Dunes, and the UP are all legitimate bucket list fall color experiences.

What is the best fall color drive in southern Michigan?

The lake and farm country roads around Hillsdale in late October are consistently beautiful and almost completely off the tourist radar. Drive north or east out of Hillsdale on any county road and you will find it. The combination of lake reflections and tree-lined farm roads makes for a fall drive that feels completely different from anything up north.

Can you see Michigan fall colors as a day trip from Chicago?

Yes. Southern Michigan, the Hillsdale area and the Lake Michigan shoreline towns like Saugatuck and St. Joseph, are all within two and a half to three hours of Chicago. You can easily leave Saturday morning, spend the day driving through fall color, and be home by evening. For northern Michigan destinations you will want a full weekend.

More Michigan Adventures

Michigan has a lot more worth exploring beyond the fall season. We have been to the Hillsdale area many times and always find something new. Check out our guide to the Hillsdale Auction if you want to combine your fall color drive with a Saturday morning worth waking up early for. And if you are looking for more Midwest road trip ideas, check out our full list of best day trips from Chicago.

The post Michigan Fall Colors: Best Drives and When to See Peak Foliage appeared first on Lesser Known Adventures.

Hillsdale, Michigan is the town where we grew up, and the Hillsdale Auction is one of those places we have memories tied to from childhood. Catie’s dad would take her on Saturday mornings, breakfast at Spanglers, a walk through the animals, a wander around the flea market. It was just what you did on a Saturday in Hillsdale.

Now when we visit family, we still stop by. We grab breakfast, walk the grounds, see what is for sale, and catch up with the energy of a place that has been doing the same thing every single Saturday since at least 1913. Some things you just do not mess with.

If you have never been to a real working auction in a small Michigan town, the Hillsdale Auction is the place to go. It is unlike anything else we cover on this site and it is one of those experiences that feels completely removed from the usual tourist trail.

What Is the Hillsdale Auction?

The Hillsdale Auction is a weekly livestock auction and flea market held every Saturday at the Hillsdale County Fairgrounds in Hillsdale, Michigan. It has been running continuously since at least 1913, and some documents suggest it may go back as far as 1905. That makes it over 100 years of the same community gathering in the same place to buy, sell, and trade.

It is known as the Working Person’s Auction and that name fits perfectly. This is not an antique fair or a curated market. It is farmers, local vendors, families, and deal hunters all in one place doing what small town Michigan has always done on a Saturday morning.

Current owners Guy and Deb Russell took over the auction in 2016, having first started working there in 2013. The auction runs multiple rings simultaneously which means on any given Saturday you might have four or five auctioneers calling bids at the same time in different parts of the grounds. It is loud, busy, and worth every minute.

Location and Address

Hillsdale County Fairgrounds 115 S Broad Street Hillsdale, MI 49242

Phone: 517-437-2424

Hillsdale is in southern Michigan near the Indiana and Ohio borders, about two hours southwest of Detroit and roughly three hours from Chicago. It is a genuine small town and the fairgrounds sit right at the heart of it.

Hours and Schedule

The flea market opens at 7 am and runs until 2 pm. The auctions run throughout the morning on a set schedule:

9:00 am — Miscellaneous auction. Up to four or five auctioneers running simultaneously. This is where you find tools, household goods, collectibles, and just about anything else you can imagine.

10:00 am — Small animals. Poultry, rabbits, and more.

11:30 am — Hay and feeder pigs.

1:00 pm — Large animals. Cattle, goats, sheep, horses, and more.

The auction runs 50 weeks a year, rain or shine. The only Saturdays it does not run are the two Saturdays during the Hillsdale County Fair at the end of September. Every other Saturday of the year, it is happening.

What to Expect

The flea market is set up throughout the fairgrounds and changes week to week. Some vendors are regulars, some are one-time sellers clearing out a garage or a barn. You never know what you will find. We have walked through and spotted everything from farm equipment to vintage signs to fresh produce to handmade crafts. Budget time to wander because that is where the fun is.

The animal auctions are a whole experience on their own. If you have never watched a live livestock auction, it is worth seeing at least once. The pace is fast, the auctioneers are good, and the barn fills up with locals who know exactly what they are doing. Even if you are not buying, just watching is interesting.

The atmosphere is what makes this place. People are friendly. You will find yourself in conversations with strangers, hearing stories about farms and families and things for sale. It has the feeling of a community gathering that has been happening so long it is just part of the rhythm of the town.

Breakfast at Spanglers Stock Yard Restaurant

Do not skip breakfast. Spanglers Stock Yard Family Restaurant on the auction grounds has been a Saturday morning tradition for families in Hillsdale for decades.

Home cooked meals, local crowd, exactly the kind of breakfast spot that does not exist in cities anymore. Catie has been going since she was a kid and it has not changed.

Get there early because it fills up fast on Saturday mornings.

Tips Before You Go

Bring cash. Most vendors and the auction itself operate on cash. There may be card options available but do not count on it.

Go early. The flea market opens at 7 am and the best stuff goes fast. If you want to browse before the crowds show up, aim to be there by 8.

Wear comfortable shoes. The fairgrounds are spread out and you will be on your feet for a while, including some unpaved areas.

Check Facebook first. The Hillsdale Auction posts pictures on Fridays showing items coming in for Saturday’s sale. It is a good way to see what is going to be there before you make the drive.

If you want to sell, flea market spots can be purchased at the auction office starting at 7 am on the day of the auction. No advance reservation needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does the Hillsdale Auction start? The flea market opens at 7 am. The miscellaneous auction starts at 9 am, small animals at 10 am, hay and feeder pigs at 11:30 am, and large animals at 1 pm. Plan to be there early if you want the full experience.

Is the Hillsdale Auction open year round? Yes, with two exceptions. The auction runs every Saturday of the year except for the two Saturdays during the Hillsdale County Fair at the end of September. That is 50 Saturdays a year, rain or shine.

Is there food at the Hillsdale Auction? Yes. Spanglers Stock Yard Family Restaurant is on the grounds and serves breakfast on Saturday mornings. It is a local institution and gets busy. Go early.

How much does it cost to get in? Getting in to browse the flea market and watch the auctions is free. You only pay if you buy something or want to set up as a vendor.

Can you sell at the Hillsdale Auction? Yes. Flea market vendor spots can be purchased at the auction office starting at 7 am on Saturday morning. For consigning animals or other items in the formal auction, call the office at 517-437-2424 in advance.

Where is the Hillsdale Auction located? At the Hillsdale County Fairgrounds, 115 S Broad Street, Hillsdale, MI 49242. Phone: 517-437-2424.

More Michigan Adventures

If you are making the drive to Hillsdale, it is worth looking at what else is nearby. Hillsdale College is a well known institution right in town and the downtown area has some good spots to walk around. Michigan has a lot of underrated small towns and Hillsdale is one of them.

If you’re in the area in the fall, you should take a few drives around and take in the fall colors.

For more Midwest hidden gems worth the drive, check out our full adventures archive or browse our Michigan guides for more ideas.

References:

http://www.hillsdaleauction.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Hillsdale-Auction-160827797601990/

https://www.hillsdalecountyfair.org/saturday-auction

https://www.spanglerfamilyrestaurants.com/

The post Hillsdale Auction Michigan: A Saturday Morning Tradition appeared first on Lesser Known Adventures.