It is that time of year again...the sun is setting earlier, the temperatures are cooling off, and the leaves on the trees are changing color. Where are the best roads in West Michigan to see some of nature's beauty?

Again this year, the County Road Association has put together their list of the best roads to take to see fall color around the state of Michigan. They worked with the state’s 83 county road agencies to develop the list.

The prediction for seeing the best color in West Michigan is expected to happen between October 4th and 11th (this coming week!).

Here in West Michigan they offer up the following suggestions:

In Kent County:

  • Honey Creek Avenue from Pettis Avenue to Cannonsburg Road
  • Bailey Drive from Vergennes Street to Lincoln Lake Avenue
  • Fallasburg Park Drive from Lincoln Lake Avenue to Gavin Lake Avenue
  • 5 Mile Road from Lincoln Lake Avenue to Gavin Lake Avenue
  • Gavin Lake Road from 5-mile road to Belding Road
  • Wabasis Avenue from Belding Road to 12 Mile Road
  • Ramsdell Drive from 5 Mile Road to 11 Mile Road

In Muskegon County:

  • Scenic Drive from Memorial Drive to Michillinda Road
  • Along Lake Michigan shoreline and Duck Lake

In Ottawa County:

  • Lakeshore Drive from Grand Haven city limits to Ottawa Beach Road/Holland State Park
  • Hayes Street from M-11 intersection to Berlin Fair Drive/the Berlin Fairgrounds in Marne
  • Leonard Street from intersection on Leonard Street/S. Lake Avenue in Village of Spring Lake to Lamont
  • Mercury Drive/Green Street/N. Cedar Drive from Grand Haven to Riverside County Park

The County Road Association also offers up the best roads in other regions of the state. Be sure to check out their website before you start your color tour to other parts of Michigan to see the recommended roads.

Pure Michigan has a great interactive Fall Color Prediction Map. It will show you just where you can see the most color. I've heard from people in the Upper Peninsula that colors are nearing their peak up there. I was in the northeast portion of the Lower Peninsula last weekend and colors were just starting to change. The prediction map may be about a week off and predicting the best colors -- perhaps a week too early. Here in West Michigan we are predicted to be at peak next week (October 4th-11th), but I'm not see that much color quite yet.

Another popular route in northern Michigan is M-22. Here is a video of that stretch of road so you can take a virtual road trip without having to fill up the gas tank...

 

50 of Michigan's "Must-Drive" Roads

Gas up the car, grab those road munchies and a roadtrip partner that you can trust, and head out on some of Michigan's most unique roads and routes. Make sure you take lots of photos and video!

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