Michigan seasons
The best time to ride a motorcycle in Michigan
The best time to ride a motorcycle in Michigan is June through early October. Southern Lower Michigan opens in April and stays rideable into late October, but the Upper Peninsula runs on a shorter clock, roughly June to September. Fall color is the high point, moving from the UP in late September down to southern Michigan by late October.
- Southern Lower Michigan
- April to October
- Upper Peninsula
- June to September
- Fall color
- Late Sept to late Oct
- Watch for
- Deer, Oct and Nov
The short version
A short season in a long state
Michigan riders get roughly six good months, and where you ride changes which six. Detroit and Grand Rapids warm up weeks before Traverse City, and Traverse City warms up weeks before Marquette or Copper Harbor. A plan that works in May downstate can mean snow in the Keweenaw.
The Great Lakes set the rules. Big, cold water keeps the shore cool in spring and early summer, so a ride along Lake Superior can feel like a different month from the woods a few miles inland. In fall the lakes give back stored heat, which helps stretch the season along the shoreline. Pack a warm layer for any ride near the water, even in July.
That's why most Michigan riders treat the UP as a summer trip and ride the Lower Peninsula from spring to fall. The best motorcycle roads in Michigan guide lists the best season for each road.
Month by month
The best time to ride a motorcycle in Michigan, month by month
| Month | Southern Lower Michigan | Northern Lower Michigan | Upper Peninsula |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Stored. Salt, snow, ice | Stored. Lake effect snow | Stored. Deep snow |
| February | Stored. The odd dry day | Stored | Stored |
| March | Thaw, potholes, salt residue | Winter hangs on | Winter |
| April | Season opens. Cold mornings, sand | Cold, sandy roads | Snow still likely |
| May | Good. Construction starts | Opening up. Cool | Cold, late snow possible |
| June | Prime | Prime | Season opens. Bugs in the woods |
| July | Hot and humid at times | Prime, busiest month | Prime. Fog on Superior |
| August | Prime. Storms | Prime | Prime |
| September | Prime | Prime. Color late month | Color late month, cool nights |
| October | Color mid to late month | Color early to mid month | Cold. Snow possible |
| November | Cold. Deer season | Mostly stored | Stored |
| December | Stored | Stored | Stored |
General patterns, not a forecast. Every year is different, so check the weather and MDOT's Mi Drive map before you ride.
Spring
Spring: potholes, sand and cold lake air
The first warm weekend in April brings every Michigan bike out at once, and the roads aren't ready. Winter leaves potholes deep enough to bend a rim, frost heaves that kick the bike, and sand and salt residue sitting in the corners. Ride the first few weeks at a pace that leaves room for all of it, and wash the salt off the bike after early rides.
Spring is also when orange barrels show up. Michigan's construction season starts in spring and runs through fall, so expect lane shifts and grooved pavement on the big routes north. Mornings stay cold well into May, especially near the lakes, and the UP can still see snow into May.
Summer
Summer: UP season and shoreline crowds
June through August is when the whole state rides. The UP opens up, the Tunnel of Trees and M-22 are at their greenest, and evenings are long, especially in the western part of the state. Four UP counties along the Wisconsin line run on Central time, so check your ride plan times out west.
Summer has its costs. Traverse City is packed during the Cherry Festival in early July, Mackinaw City and the bridge are busy on holiday weekends, and thunderstorms build on hot afternoons downstate. Up north, early summer brings biting bugs in the woods, and Lake Superior can wrap the shore in cold fog on a warm day.
Fall color
Fall color: the best weeks to ride Michigan
Color starts in the UP in late September, reaches northern Lower Michigan in early to mid October, and finishes downstate in mid to late October. That gives you about a month of color if you follow it south. Brockway Mountain Drive and the Porcupine Mountains go first, then the Tunnel of Trees and M-22, then the Irish Hills.
Color weekends draw crowds on the famous roads, so ride weekdays or start early. Mornings can be near freezing, wet leaves are slick in the shade, and days get short fast. Plan to be off rural roads by dusk.
Late season
Deer season and the end of the year
Deer are a hazard in Michigan in every month, but October and November are the worst, when the rut has deer moving and crossing roads at all hours, especially dawn and dusk. Firearm deer season opens November 15, which also puts hunters' trucks on back roads. Many riders call it a season by then.
If you keep riding into November, stick to the middle of the day, slow down near woods and fields, and assume one deer means more are behind it. Cold tires and cold pavement also mean less grip, so ease into the first miles.
By region
Best months to ride, by Michigan region
The Michigan overview covers each region in more detail.
| Region | Best months | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit, Ann Arbor, Lansing | May to October | Spring potholes, summer storms |
| Grand Rapids and the west shore | May to October | Lake wind, summer beach traffic |
| The Thumb | June to September | Crosswinds, deer |
| Traverse City and Leelanau | June to mid October | July crowds, color weekends |
| Northeast and Lake Huron shore | June to September | Deer, long gaps between towns |
| Eastern and central UP | June to September | Bugs early, fog on Superior |
| Keweenaw and western UP | Late June to late September | Cold any month, early snow |
Winter
Storing your bike for a Michigan winter
From November to March most Michigan bikes sit. A little prep in the fall means an easy first ride in April.
- Wash off road salt and grime before it sits on the bike all winter.
- Fill the tank and add fuel stabilizer, then run the engine so it reaches the carb or injectors.
- Put the battery on a maintainer, or pull it and store it somewhere it won't freeze.
- Change the oil before storage so old, dirty oil isn't sitting in the engine.
- Set tire pressure and get the weight off the tires with stands if you can.
- Cover it, and block off the exhaust and intake from mice.
- In spring, check tires, brakes, fluids and lights before the first ride.
Plan it
Plan your Michigan season with Rippin'
- Weather and road alertsRippin' sends weather alerts before you ride, and riders flag hazards like potholes and gravel on the map. See road and weather alerts.
- A UP trip planThe AI ride planner builds day trips and multi-day runs with stops and pacing. Free has limits, Plus is unlimited.
- Passport stampsEvery Michigan town you ride through earns a passport stamp, from Port Austin to Copper Harbor, and stamps pay points.
- Ride plansShare a ride card with the departure time, route, stops and RSVPs, so the crew meets at the bridge on time.
FAQ
Questions riders ask.
When does motorcycle season start in Michigan?
Downstate, usually April, with cold mornings and sandy roads at first. Northern Lower Michigan follows in May, and the UP is reliably open by June.
When is the best time to ride the Upper Peninsula?
June through September. Late September brings fall color, but also cold mornings, and snow can come back in October.
When is peak fall color for riding in Michigan?
Late September in the UP, early to mid October in northern Lower Michigan, and mid to late October downstate. Exact timing changes every year.
Can you ride a motorcycle in Michigan in winter?
A few dry, salt-free days happen, but most riders store their bikes from November to March because of snow, ice and road salt.
When are deer most dangerous for Michigan riders?
October and November, during the rut, and always at dawn and dusk. Slow down near woods and fields and expect more than one.
Is July too hot to ride in Michigan?
Not usually. Downstate can be hot and humid with afternoon storms, but the north and the Lake Superior shore stay cool. Pack a layer for the lake.
Make Michigan's short season count.
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