Your Next ItineraryI have been living in Chicago for more than 5 years now and every year during Fall season I am looking for the next new place nearby to see the best fall foliage. Michigan State has been my most favorite, not only for Fall but for any season. I love how beautiful the drive is in some areas, especially besides Lake Michigan like M22 and how pretty the cabins are there. It is so calm and so green that gives you a small town feel but also very close to the Chicago city that we don’t have to think twice to go there.
Below I am sharing my favorite towns near Chicago that I love the most during fall and you can visit them this year if you haven’t planned anything yet. I hope this is helpful to you all.
Cadillac, MI (272 mi, 4h 12mins)
Cadillac has some really great Fall color routes. Check them out at https://cadillacmichigan.com/365-days/fall/
Lake Geneva, WI (80mi, 1.5h)
Walk along Lake Geneva's shore path to enjoy the small town while also experiencing fall colors.
Drive through the Rustic Road 29 (known as Snake road) which is just all about colors with curvy roads.
Holy Hill, WI (122mi, 2h)
Being so close to Chicago, this place has really great spots nearby to enjoy fall folliage. There are multiple scenic routes around the area t
Devil's Lake State Park, WI (192mi, 3h)
Peak Period: 3rd Week of Oct. Follow report at https://www.travelwisconsin.com/fall-color-report (Sauk County)
Just 3 hours from Chicago, Devil's State Park is a great place if you want to do any activities like swimming, hiking, boat rentals. The views are beautiful from the top of the bluffs especially beautiful rock formations and views of the lake.
Traverse City, MI (319 mi, 5h)
While Traverse City itself is so pretty, it has so many areas nearby to observe fall colors from. My top favorites are:
Mission Point Lighthouse
- On the way to Mission Point, you will find a lot of wineries. There are so many of them to enjoy their locally grown wine and enjoy fall colors. Some of the top ones include Chateau Chantal Winery and Inn, Chateau Grand, Brys Estate Vineyard
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
M22 Scenic Drive along Lake Michigan
Crystal Mountain, MI (306mi, 4h 50m)
Distance from Chicago: 306 mi, Time: 4h 50m by road
Crystal Mountain is a family resort which is known for various activities like Mountain Ski, alpine slide, rope and zip line course, climbing wall, mountain biking, tennis courts, disc golf, retail shops and more.
During Fall, you can enjoy fall colors from a top view of the mountain through their Chairlift experience. It is a destination experience, if you get a chance, book their lodge and experience all the amenities. https://www.crystalmountain.com/
Manistee County, MI (263 mi, 4h 15m)
Manistee has “two” fall color seasons that are usually about a week or so apart with the inland terrain peaking prior to the coastline peaking. Explore their inland and coastline routes while also enjoying local wine and food in downtown.
My favorite spot is Tunnel of Trees. Explore more at: https://www.visitmanisteecounty.com/fallcolor
Gobles, MI (139 mi, 2h 15m)
This small town located just 2 hours from Chicago has great cabins (though all private) and have their own private lake.
