5 stunning fall foliage road trips in the Midwest

11.09.2024 - 13:40 / thepointsguy.com

From fiery birch, elm and sugar maple in the Great Lakes to sunset-hued beech and oak in the southern Appalachians to glowing sumac and cottonwoods along the Mississippi, the forests of the Midwest flaunt some of the most vivid fall colors in the United States.

Here is a guide to five Midwest road trips to regions known for dramatic fall foliage displays and seasonal activities, like cider tasting and pumpkin picking.

The historic West Michigan Pike route, now 1-196 and U.S. 31, connects several beach towns from the southern state line to Mackinaw City near the Canadian border. Start your journey down south in St. Joseph/Benton Harbor, where vineyards terrace the hills in burgundy and Champagne gold, and beaches like Jean Klock Park and Silver Beach offer perfect spots to picnic. In South Haven, visit the Michigan Maritime Museum and soak up the waning rays of autumn at one of the town's 12 beaches.

With their turreted mansions, walkable downtowns and eclectic array of restaurants helmed by big-city-trained chefs, the twin towns of Saugatuck and Douglas make a well-provisioned home base to explore the region. Established as an art colony as early as the 1880s through the presence of the renowned Ox-Bow summer art school, Saugatuck-Douglas retains a flourishing art scene that has expanded to the surrounding area, now referred to as the Art Coast of Michigan. The legacy of this bohemian culture also made Saugatuck-Douglas a welcoming destination for LGBTQ+ travelers and residents, a tradition that was celebrated in the exhibit A Century of Progress at the Saugatuck-Douglas History Center, housed in a Civil War-era schoolhouse. While you're in town, order hot dogs and ice cream from the Douglas Root Beer Barrel, an oversized root beer barrel that's a vestige of 1950s roadside Americana.

View hills blanketed in red and gold from atop Mount Baldhead, reached via a climb featuring 320 stairs, then watch the sunset from Oval Beach or stroll through Saugatuck Dunes State Park. There is no better time than apple season to tour Virtue Cider Works, 15 minutes southeast of town, or take a guided tasting in the flower-filled garden. While Saugatuck is best known for its historic hotels, budget travelers will appreciate the availability of the Best Western Plaza Hotel Saugatuck (rates from $107, or 20,000 Best Western Rewards points per night).

After a stop in aptly named Holland to see its authentic Dutch windmill, head for Grand Haven, where the harbor's history dates back 300 years and a long waterfront promenade extends out to a highly photogenic lighthouse.

You couldn't find a better way to kick off a road trip than to seek out the headwaters of the Mississippi, located in Itasca State Park. After rock-hopping