Take This Minnesota Drive for the Best Fall Foliage Road Trip

As the summer heat fades and the leaves start turning vivid shades of red, orange, and yellow, it’s almost time to start planning those late-season weekend getaways. If you’re looking for peak autumn views, one famous Minnesota highway is widely recognized as one of the best road trips in the entire country.

Whether you're taking a long weekend to leaf-peep or just want an unforgettable afternoon drive, this route along Lake Superior offers some of the most breathtaking fall scenery in the Midwest.

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The national travel site Travel & Leisure previously highlighted the country’s top scenic drives, and Minnesota's iconic Highway 61 along the North Shore easily earned a spot on the list.

While it's a stunner year-round, autumn is when this stretch truly comes alive.

Beginning in the historic town of Duluth, you can take in the crisp lake air along the shore before heading northeast toward Two Harbors and Grand Marais. To your right, you have the endless, deep blue waters of Lake Superior. To your left, dense forests of birch, aspen, and northern maples explode into a canopy of gold and fiery red.

Key stops along the autumn drive include:

• Duluth: Catch the early fall color in the city's parks and check out the ships moving through the harbor.

• Two Harbors & Split Rock Lighthouse: The contrast between the red brick lighthouse, the blue lake, and the brilliant fall canopy makes this one of the most photographed spots in the state during September and October.

• State Parks Along the Route: Places like Gooseberry Falls and Tettegouche State Park offer easy roadside pull-offs where you can hike through carpeted trails of fallen leaves.

If you're making plans to catch the changing leaves this season, pack a thermos, grab your camera, and take a cruise up Highway 61 for an autumn drive that's hard to beat.