61 days in Midwest Itinerary

Visiting Gooseberry Falls State Park and Minnesota's North Shore Scenic Drive will get you outdoors. You'll explore the less-touristy side of things at North American Bear Center and Split Rock Lighthouse State Park. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Duluth: World's Largest Authentic Hockey Stick (in Eveleth), Soudan Underground Mine (in Soudan) and Copper Falls State Park (in Mellen). The adventure continues: snap pictures at Aerial Lift Bridge, don't miss a visit to Split Rock Lighthouse, stroll through Enger Park, and appreciate the extensive heritage of Lakewalk.

For photos, traveler tips, maps, and tourist information, use the Duluth day trip tool.

Zurich, Switzerland to Duluth is an approximately 15.5-hour flight. Due to the time zone difference, you'll gain 7 hours traveling from Zurich to Duluth. In October, daily temperatures in Duluth can reach 15°C, while at night they dip to 6°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 7th (Sat) so you can fly to Badlands National Park.

Take a break from the city and head to Loop Road and Notch Trail. Step off the beaten path and head to Badlands National Park and Roberts Prairie Dog Town. There's still lots to do: take in the dramatic natural features at Big Badlands Overlook, explore the striking landscape of Panorama Point Overlook, and hike along Door Trail.

For other places to visit, maps, photos, and more tourist information, read Badlands National Park online visit planner.

Traveling by flight from Duluth to Badlands National Park takes 5.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of bus and taxi. Traveling from Duluth to Badlands National Park, you'll gain 1 hour due to the time zone difference. While traveling from Duluth, expect somewhat warmer days and little chillier nights in Badlands National Park, ranging from highs of 21°C to lows of 2°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 10th (Tue) to allow time to drive to Custer.

Discover out-of-the-way places like Sylvan Lake and Needles Eye Tunnel. Escape the urban bustle at Iron Mountain Road and Needles Highway. Explore Custer's surroundings by going to The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs (in Hot Springs) and Big Thunder Gold Mine (in Keystone). There's much more to do: explore the striking landscape of Wind Cave National Park, trek along Presidential Trail, look for all kinds of wild species at Black Hills National Forest, and take in the awesome beauty at Black Elk Peak.

For reviews, photos, ratings, and more tourist information, use the Custer holiday planner.

Getting from Badlands National Park to Custer by car takes about 2 hours. Other options: do a combination of taxi and bus. While traveling from Badlands National Park, expect a bit cooler days and about the same nights in Custer, ranging from highs of 16°C to lows of 1°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 15th (Sun) so you can fly to Branson.

You'll explore the less-touristy side of things at Dogwood Canyon Nature Park and Lost Canyon Cave and Nature Trail. Step out of the city life by going to Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery and Ha Ha Tonka State Park. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Branson: Camden County Museum (in Linn Creek), Smallin Civil War Cave (in Ozark) and Springfield (Fantastic Caverns & Room Escape Games). There's still lots to do: see what you can catch with a fishing tour, take an in-depth tour of Veterans Memorial Museum, get in on the family fun at Runaway Mountain Coaster, and explore the fascinating underground world of Talking Rocks Cavern.

For photos, more things to do, and other tourist information, refer to the Branson trip itinerary planning tool.

Getting from Custer to Branson by flight takes about 6.5 hours. Other options: drive; or do a combination of taxi and bus. Due to the time zone difference, you'll lose 1 hour traveling from Custer to Branson. Traveling from Custer in October, things will get a bit warmer in Branson: highs are around 25°C and lows about 11°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 23rd (Mon) early enough to fly to Galena.

You'll explore the less-touristy side of things at Ulysses S. Grant Home and Pikes Peak State Park. Take a break from the city and head to Thunder Bay Falls and Spook Cave. Get out of town with these interesting Galena side-trips: Historic Auto Attractions (in Roscoe), Fur Trade Museum (in Prairie du Chien) and Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens (in Dubuque).

To see traveler tips, other places to visit, and tourist information, refer to the Galena trip website.

Traveling by flight from Branson to Galena takes 6 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. Traveling from Branson in October, things will get little chillier in Galena: highs are around 19°C and lows about 6°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 30th (Mon) early enough to go by car to Wisconsin Dells.

Get outdoors at Devil's Lake State Park and Grandad Bluff. You'll discover tucked-away gems like Cave of the Mounds and Witches Gulch. Change things up with these side-trips from Wisconsin Dells: Minnesota Marine Art Museum (in Winona), La Crosse (Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe & Riverside Park) and Madison (Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Wisconsin State Capitol, &more). There's still lots to do: take a tour by water with Boat Tours & Water Sports, play a few rounds at Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf, test your team's savvy at popular escape rooms, and examine the collection at National Mustard Museum.

To see reviews, more things to do, where to stay, and other tourist information, read Wisconsin Dells attractions planner.

You can drive from Galena to Wisconsin Dells in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi, bus, and train; or do a combination of bus and train. In October, plan for daily highs up to 18°C, and evening lows to 5°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 6th (Mon) early enough to travel to Mackinac Island.

Get outdoors at Mackinac Island State Park and Horseback Riding Tours. Eschew the tourist crowds and head to Fort Mackinac and The Original Mackinac Island Butterfly House & Insect World.

To see ratings, photos, more things to do, and tourist information, read our Mackinac Island trip itinerary maker site.

You can do a combination of flight and ferry from Wisconsin Dells to Mackinac Island in 6 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of train, bus, and ferry; or do a combination of train, bus, and ferry. The time zone difference moving from Central Standard Time (CST) to Eastern Standard Time (EST) is 1 hour. In November in Mackinac Island, expect temperatures between 6°C during the day and 0°C at night. You'll set off for Mackinaw City on the 11th (Sat).

Escape the urban bustle at Tahquamenon Falls State Park and Petoskey State Park. Step off the beaten path and head to Mackinac Bridge and Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse. Explore Mackinaw City's surroundings by going to Petoskey (Historic Gaslight District & Little Traverse Wheelway), Tahquamenon Falls (in Paradise) and Sault Ste. Marie (Soo Locks & Museum Ship Valley Camp). Spend the 15th (Wed) exploring nature at Headlands International Dark Sky Park.

To see photos, where to stay, other places to visit, and tourist information, you can read our Mackinaw City day trip planner.

You can ride a ferry from Mackinac Island to Mackinaw City in an hour. In November, daily temperatures in Mackinaw City can reach 6°C, while at night they dip to 0°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 17th (Fri) so you can go by car to Munising.

Step out of the city life by going to Presque Isle Park and Kitch-Iti-Kipi (The Big Spring). Discover out-of-the-way places like Miners Castle Rock and Munising Falls. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Munising: Sugarloaf Mountain (in Marquette), Garden Bay Winery (in Cooks) and Oswald's Bear Ranch (in Newberry). Spend the 18th (Sat) exploring nature at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

For where to stay, ratings, maps, and other tourist information, read our Munising online driving holiday planner.

Traveling by car from Mackinaw City to Munising takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and taxi. In November, daytime highs in Munising are 7°C, while nighttime lows are -1°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 22nd (Wed) early enough to drive to Traverse City.

Discover out-of-the-way places like Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Ludington State Park. Get in touch with nature at Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive and Traverse City State Park. Change things up with these side-trips from Traverse City: Silver Lake State Park Pedestrian Dune Access (in Hart), Little Sable Point Lighthouse (in Mears) and Empire Bluff Trail (in Empire). The adventure continues: sample some tasty brews at a beer tour and tasting, get a new perspective on things with Boat Tours & Water Sports, contemplate the long history of Fishtown, and enjoy the sea views from Mission Point Lighthouse.

To find where to stay, ratings, other places to visit, and other tourist information, go to the Traverse City road trip planning site.

You can drive from Munising to Traverse City in 5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi and bus. In November, plan for daily highs up to 9°C, and evening lows to 0°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 30th (Thu) early enough to catch the flight back home.