61 days in Midwest Itinerary

Visiting Gooseberry Falls State Park and Copper Falls State Park will get you outdoors. You'll explore the less-touristy side of things at Minnesota's North Shore Scenic Drive and North American Bear Center. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Duluth: World's Largest Authentic Hockey Stick (in Eveleth), Boat Tours & Water Sports (in Bayfield) and Soudan Underground Mine (in Soudan). The adventure continues: admire the majestic nature at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, 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 Badlands Wall. Step off the beaten path and head to Badlands National Park and Notch Trail. There's still lots to do: look for all kinds of wild species at Roberts Prairie Dog Town, take in the dramatic natural features at Panorama Point Overlook, explore the wealth of natural beauty at Burns Basin Overlook, and hike along Door Trail.

To find reviews, more things to do, other places to visit, and other tourist information, you can read our Badlands National Park day trip planning site.

Fly from Duluth to Badlands National Park in 5.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of bus and taxi. The time zone changes from Central Standard Time (CST) to Mountain Standard Time (MST), which is usually a -1 hour difference. Expect a bit warmer weather when traveling from Duluth in October: highs in Badlands National Park hover around 21°C, while lows dip to 2°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 10th (Tue) to allow enough 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 Big Thunder Gold Mine (in Keystone) and The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs (in Hot Springs). There's still lots to do: explore the striking landscape of Black Hills National Forest, trek along Presidential Trail, Head underground at Jewel Cave National Monument, and pause for some photo ops at Bicycle Sculpture.

For other places to visit, maps, where to stay, and tourist information, read Custer online attractions planner.

You can drive from Badlands National Park to Custer in 2 hours. Another option is to do a combination of taxi and bus. While traveling from Badlands National Park, expect slightly colder 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) to allow enough time to fly to Branson.

You'll explore the less-touristy side of things at Dogwood Canyon Nature Park and Fishing Charters & Tours. Step out of the city life by going to Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery and Table Rock State Park. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Branson: Smallin Civil War Cave (in Ozark), Camden County Museum (in Linn Creek) and Springfield (Fantastic Caverns & Room Escape Games). There's much more to do: admire the majestic nature at Ha Ha Tonka State Park, see human ingenuity at work at Table Rock Dam, get a dose of the wild on Lost Canyon Cave and Nature Trail, and look for all kinds of wild species at The Butterfly Palace.

To see reviews, traveler tips, where to stay, and other tourist information, use the Branson holiday maker website.

You can fly from Custer to Branson in 6.5 hours. Other options are to 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. Plan for a bit warmer temperatures traveling from Custer in October, with highs in Branson at 25°C and lows at 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 Historic Auto Attractions. Take a break from the city and head to Pikes Peak State Park and The General at Eagle Ridge. Get out of town with these interesting Galena side-trips: Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens (in Dubuque), Spook Cave (in McGregor) and Fur Trade Museum (in Prairie du Chien).

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 Olbrich Botanical Gardens. Change things up with these side-trips from Wisconsin Dells: La Crosse (Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe & Riverside Park), Madison (Wisconsin State Capitol & Capitol Square) and Minnesota Marine Art Museum (in Winona). Next up on the itinerary: identify plant and animal life at Witches Gulch, test your problem-solving skills at popular escape rooms, do a tasting at Fawn Creek Winery, and take in the pleasant sights at Riverwalk.

To see other places to visit, traveler tips, maps, and tourist information, use the Wisconsin Dells trip itinerary planning tool.

Traveling by car from Galena to Wisconsin Dells takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi, bus, and train; or do a combination of bus and train. Expect a daytime high around 18°C in October, and nighttime lows around 5°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 6th (Mon) early enough to travel to Mackinac Island.

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

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 Tahquamenon Falls. Step off the beaten path and head to Mackinac Bridge and McGulpin Point Lighthouse & Historic Site. Explore Mackinaw City's surroundings by going to Sault Ste. Marie (Soo Locks & Museum Ship Valley Camp) and Petoskey (Historic Gaslight District, Little Traverse Wheelway, &more). 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 Munising Falls. Discover out-of-the-way places like Miners Castle Rock and Miners 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 more things to do, maps, reviews, and more tourist information, read Munising trip planner.

Drive from Mackinaw City to Munising in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and taxi. In November in Munising, expect temperatures between 7°C during the day and -1°C at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 22nd (Wed) early enough to go by car to Traverse City.

Discover out-of-the-way places like Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive. Get in touch with nature at Ludington State Park and Boat Tours & Water Sports. 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). There's still lots to do: sample some tasty brews at a beer tour and tasting, admire the majestic nature at Traverse City State Park, visit a coastal fixture at Big Sable Point Lighthouse, and contemplate the long history of Fishtown.

To see traveler tips, reviews, ratings, and other tourist information, refer to the Traverse City online driving holiday planner.

You can drive from Munising to Traverse City in 5 hours. Another option is to do a combination of taxi and bus. In November, daily temperatures in Traverse City can reach 9°C, while at night they dip to 0°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 30th (Thu) early enough to catch the flight back home.