Best Michigan Fall Stops: Color Drives, Orchards, and Haunted Fun Up North
Best Michigan Fall Stops: Color Drives, Orchards, and Haunted Fun Up North
Fall in Michigan has a way of slowing you down. The first cool mornings, the smell of cider, and a sky full of fiery maples remind you to breathe a little deeper and savor the season. Up here in Northern Michigan, autumn isn’t just a time of year… it’s an experience worth chasing. Whether you’re packing up the car for a color tour, grabbing cider and donuts at a local orchard, or braving a haunted attraction, there are endless ways to celebrate fall in the Mitten.
Scenic Fall Color Drives
Few places do fall color like Northern Michigan. Crisp air, winding roads, and glowing canopies make for unforgettable drives.
M-22: Consistently ranked one of the most scenic drives in the country, this route hugs Lake Michigan, winding through Sleeping Bear Dunes, Glen Arbor, and up to Northport. Expect postcard-worthy views at every turn.
Tunnel of Trees (M-119): Stretching from Harbor Springs to Cross Village, this iconic drive feels like rolling straight into autumn itself. The twisting road, lake views, and small-town stops make it a fall favorite.
Old Mission Peninsula: Just outside Traverse City, the rolling vineyards and farm stands make this route extra charming. Catch a sunset at the lighthouse for a perfect end to the day.
Orchards & Cider Mills
Michigan apples taste best right where they’re picked. Northern Michigan’s orchards double as destinations for cider, donuts, and family fun.
Jacobs Corn Maze (Traverse City): More than just an orchard, Jacobs has a pumpkin patch, corn maze, and wagon rides. A fall tradition for families.
King Orchards (Central Lake & Kewadin): A family-run orchard known for u-pick apples, cherries, and fresh cider. Their farm market is a must-stop in the fall.
Gallagher’s Farm Market (Traverse City): Fresh donuts, pumpkins, and a rustic market just outside of town. A great spot to grab local produce and seasonal treats.
Pond Hill Farm (Harbor Springs): A Northern Michigan favorite with hayrides, a pumpkin patch, a winery, and a café. A true fall experience all in one place.
Blake’s Orchard & Cider Mill (Armada): A bit farther south, but a Michigan legend when it comes to fall celebrations. Hard cider lovers, this one’s for you.
Haunted Fun
Michigan fall wouldn’t be complete without a little spooky thrill. From ghost ships to haunted cornfields, Northern Michigan brings on the chills.
Manistee Ghost Ship: A retired freighter transformed into a haunted house on water. Creepy, eerie, and a local legend.
Ghost Farm of Kingsley (Kingsley, Northern Michigan): A local favorite featuring haunted trails, dusk walks, and plenty of fresh scares from live actors. Perfect if you want spooky fun without heading too far south.
Niles Scream Park (Niles, MI): One of the largest in the state, covering 44 acres with multiple attractions rebuilt every year. Big, intense, and known for drawing horror fans from across the Midwest.
Erebus Haunted Attraction (Pontiac, MI): A four-story haunted house with immersive effects and elaborate sets. Consistently ranked among the scariest haunts in the U.S.
Hush Haunted Attraction (Westland, MI – Detroit area): Multiple themed haunted houses under one roof, plus secret bars and a festival-style atmosphere.
Rotten Manor Haunted Attraction (Holly, MI): A huge haunt featuring The Manor, a haunted forest and asylum, hayrides, and even a “Rotten Theater.”
Past Tense After Dark (Lapeer, MI): Known for its dark, immersive approach to fear. Smaller than some of the mega-haunts, but it packs a punch.
The Decaying Swamp (Wolverine, MI): A haunted trail through spooky woods that brings you face-to-face with monsters and eerie sounds in the dark.
Screams in the Dark (Kalkaska, MI): Northern Michigan’s largest haunted event; multiple attractions like Blackwood Manor, Trail of the Lost, “Pandemonium – The Midnight Carnival,” a spooky midway with food trucks, photo ops, souvenir store, etc.
Cozy Weekend Getaways
Fall is also about slowing down, wrapping up in a blanket, and watching the leaves fall outside your window. Some of the coziest Northern Michigan towns make for dreamy autumn escapes.
Petoskey & Harbor Springs: Small shops, historic charm, and sweeping views of Little Traverse Bay.
Empire & Glen Arbor: Perfect base for exploring Sleeping Bear Dunes while enjoying local wineries.
Charlevoix: Famous for its stone “mushroom houses” and lakefront beauty.
Wherever you head, pack a sweater, grab apple cider, and let the season work its magic.
Wrapping Up
Michigan fall is about more than the changing leaves, it’s about the traditions we share: long drives, sweet cider, a little fright, and plenty of cozy weekends. However you choose to spend the season, take time to soak in the colors, the flavors, and the crisp air that make this time of year unforgettable.
And if you’d like to carry a piece of Michigan fall with you? Our Northern Nail Polish shades Autumn Up North, It’s Freaking Bats, and Howl at the Moon are inspired by the very colors and feelings of autumn in the Mitten. A little reminder that fall doesn’t just live outside… it can live at your fingertips, too.