South Carolina to UP of Michigan trip this Sept/Oct

Timing might be late for colors

Couple years ago we did similar trip, didn't go into Canada, started Sept 17 ending on Oct 6. Saw some color, but mostly I think we were about a week too early. Also didn't make any reservations and had no problem finding campgrounds.
Many things to do, don't know how to send you my iternery that I saved.

attractions: Elkhart-RV Hall of Fame
went up west side of MI-South Haven, Silver Lake Dunes, Sleeping Bear Dunes Nat Lakeshore
over to Mackinaw City-Mackinac Island
to Sault Ste Marie-watching boats/ships on Lake Michigan/Lake Huron, Soo Locks
west to Tahquaminon Falls, Shipwreck Museum, Lake Superior, Pictured Rock Nat Lakeshore, Porcupine Mtns
south to Door Peninsular, Wisconsin Dells, Duck boatride
to Springfield-Lincoln Museum

Peak color ranges from the last week of September to the first two weeks of October - depending on the weather. If Fall is rainy then the leaves will fall fast. Regardless, it will be a very nice trip! The state parks are great but check their closing times. There are also nice forest service campgrounds.

Did that area for a couple weeks last year. Not much issue finding places to stop, but many campgrounds close 9/30. Some of the UP area attractions close after Labor Day. Check with places you want to see if they could possibly close. Side benefit for visiting that time of year? Not many mosquitos!

We like the Auen-Osborn campground in St Ste Marie on the Michigan side. Right on the water.

Plan on nasty weather! We left the UP after Labor Day (Spent the entire summer there) and by that time the North wind was brisk and very chilly!

Check out this thread - lots of good suggestions:
Link here

LynnandCarol wrote:
Plan on nasty weather! We left the UP after Labor Day (Spent the entire summer there) and by that time the North wind was brisk and very chilly!

Oh my! :) Not every year is the same. It can be absolutely beautiful.

2gypsies wrote:

LynnandCarol wrote:
Plan on nasty weather! We left the UP after Labor Day (Spent the entire summer there) and by that time the North wind was brisk and very chilly!

Oh my! :) Not every year is the same. It can be absolutely beautiful.

X2. I used to live there and there were beautiful days after Labor Day.
In Escanaba - average high in Sept. 67 F. Average low in Sept. 49 F.
That sounds like good camping weather to me. Yes, there can be days that are cold and nights with frost, but that is true in many states in September. Fall is a great time to experience the U.P. Brilliant fall colors and bugs are long gone. If you camp right on Lake Superior with no trees between you and the lake and the wind is from the north, you can expect strong winds and colder temps, but camp a few miles inland and you will be just fine.

Escanaba MI averages: (near Lake Michigan/southern UP)
Sep 1 - Avg. Low is 53° Average High is 71°
Sep 15- Avg. Low is 49° Average High is 67°
Sep 30- Avg. Low is 44° Average High is 61°

Marquette, MI averages: (near Lake Superior/northern UP)
Sept 1 - Avg Low is 48 Average High is 68
Sept 15 -Avg Low is 44 Average High is 63
Sept 30 -Avg Low is 39 Average High is 58

More info here at the source of these weather records:
link here

The NW lower peninsula of Michigan is interesting too. Along with the Sleeping Bear Dunes as has been already mentioned, the entire Lelanau Peninsula is beautiful and worth exploring. The Mission Peninsula north of Traverse City is wine country. Fishermans Island SP is a favorite of ours and nearby Charlevoix is a neat stop. An interesting stop in the UP that was not mentioned is Fayette SP, a restored ghost town, and nearby Kitchitikipi (sp) spring. Trivia: The Big Spring was the destination via steamship and stagecoach, of my maternal grandparents for their honeymoon in 1900.