Plan your Michigan fall color getaway
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School Lake on the Leelanau Peninsula. Photo: Courtesy of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore via Flickr
Look alive, leaf peepers! If you haven't booked your fall foliage travel, now's the time.
Why it matters: Michiganders know autumn is the peak time to enjoy the Mitten State's natural beauty, whether that means a half-day on Belle Isle or a four-hour drive for a weekend getaway.
- You may forget how quickly accommodations fill up in popular destinations like the Leelanau Peninsula or Ohio's Hocking Hills.
State of play: Leaves will begin steadily changing in mid-September in the UP, according to Pure Michigan's fall color map for 2026.
- The northern Lower Peninsula follows in early October, when parts of the UP will begin to hit and pass peak color change.
- Most of the northern Lower Peninsula peaks around Oct. 19-24, while Metro Detroit peaks at the end of the month.
Our ideas for weekend-length autumnal adventures:
Leelanau:
Fighting through the crowds is worth it for the peninsula's sweeping vistas of amber leaves, paired with crystalline waters and endless winery, brewery and distillery options.
- Take one of these Fall for Leelanau driving tours — about 1.5 hours, plus stopping to hike.
- Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is noted for its fall views, too.
🏨 Lodging: Expect to spend $250 or more a night for an Airbnb for two.
- Feeling silly? Stay in a caboose.
- Hotels and bed and breakfasts run $350 a night and up in the likes of Glen Arbor and Leland, but some cheaper out-of-the-way options between towns still have availability.
🍷 Food and drink: Northern Latitudes Distillery, Grocer's Daughter Chocolate, Shipwreck Cafe sandwiches, Bluestone Vineyards and Rove Winery.
Hocking Hills: Get worthwhile views on manageable hikes in this hilly Ohio area with a plethora of cabins to rent. Try the rocky gorge of Conkle's Hollow, or scope out some less-traveled trails.
- When you're ready for a change of pace, go antique shopping or make the drive to gorgeous Le Petit Chevalier Vineyards.
Petoskey: Stay near Petoskey or Harbor Springs and drive M-119 north to experience the scenic, 20-mile Tunnel of Trees drive.
- As well as foliage, find views of Beaver Island, Lake Michigan and lighthouses. It's technically bikeable, but may prove dangerous if busy.
- Note that the tunnel has some detours due to major flooding.
- Pair your drive with a visit to Pond Hill Farm and shop in downtown Harbor Springs.
More options:
- Ontario's Awenda Provincial Park and Georgian Bay, known for itsautumn beauty, offer a less popular change of pace for Metro Detroiters, with dunes, trails and water.
- Manistee County features salmon fishing in the fall, as well as scenic overlooks, trails and Crystal Mountain chairlift rides.
- Or try Alpena for its Island Park Nature Trail along the Thunder Bay River and Rockport State Recreation Area for its limestone cliffs accented by fall colors.
- The more adventurous can make the trek to the UP, using this fall color guide.
Go deeper: Explore Pure Michigan's interactive fall color map