Michigan Fall Colors: Best Drives and When to See Peak Foliage
Michigan is one of the best states in the country for fall color and most people outside the Midwest don’t even realize it. The Upper Peninsula alone has 7 million acres of forest that turns every shade of red, orange, and gold each autumn. But you do not have to drive all the way north to find it.
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.
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.
