Michigan Ranks In Top 5 Best States To Visit For Fall

Having lived in Michigan my entire life, I've been incredibly biased in saying that Michigan is the best state for fall activities. We have corn fields and apple orchards abound, the weather is still warm but has a nice coolness to it, and don't even get me started on the beauty of the leaves.

So when a national ranking gives Michigan a ranking of 5th in the entire country for the best places to visit during fall, my assessment of Michigan's autumns feels pretty validated. Here's what makes a Michigan fall so great.

What Makes A Michigan Fall So Great?

Lawnstarter, a website designed to connect homeowners to lawncare professionals around the US, publishes various studies about outdoor activities. Their most recent study was on 2024's Best States To Visit This Fall. The top five are as follows: California (1), Washington (2), Oregon (3), Vermont (4), and Michigan (5). 

What factors went into these rankings? Michigan's score was based on:

• Projected Number of Weeks With Fall Foliage: 12 weeks | Rank: 1
• Portion of State Covered by National and State Parks: 2.24% | Rank: 9
• Camping-Friendliness: 7 | Rank: 7
• Pumpkin Patches per 100,000 Residents: 1.7 | Rank: 6
• Maple Farms per 100,000 Residents: 9.4 | Rank: 6

Michigan ranks first out of every state for the length of fall foliage, and I couldn't be happier considering that's many Michigander's favorite part of the season. If you're looking for a unique way to witness these leaves, check out these scenic chairlifts.