It might be hard to keep your eyes on the road in Northport, Wisconsin – the fall colors are simply spectacular. You’ll want to drive carefully on this scenic highway, though, because this might be the curviest little stretch of road in Wisconsin. (It’s also the best fall drive in Wisconsin.) It’s called Highway 42 and it has to be experienced to be believed. Fill up your tank and hang onto the wheel – here’s what’s waiting down the road.

Highway 42 is one of the state’s great highways for scenic drives. It travels 138 miles from Sheboygan to Northport, never straying far from the shores of Lake Michigan and Green Bay. It’s been used by millions of tourists who are traveling through Door County or taking the Lake Michigan Circle Tour, a scenic driving route that rings the lake.
Travel Wisconsin
While Door County draws throngs of tourists, things get decidedly more tranquil as you drive north, past the villages of Ephraim, Sister Bay, Ellison Bay, and Gills Rock.
Travel Wisconsin
In Door County, you’ll make it to this road if you head to the passenger car ferry that takes visitors and locals to Washington Island. This last stretch of road is where the driving gets really interesting.
Washinton Island Ferry Line/ Facebook

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There are a few theories on why the road is so twisty. Some say the curves were built to accommodate utility poles along the highway. The story could be true, but why aren’t there more curvy roads like this? Utility poles are everywhere!
doorcounty.com
A more accepted story suggests aesthetic reasons – it might have been built to reflect the aesthetic vision of Jens Jensen, a prominent landscape architect.
The Clearing
Jensen designed parks and natural spaces that were built to follow the curves of nature, and he helped found The Clearing Folk School in nearby Ellison Bay. In any case, this drive is spectacular and worth seeking out for its beautiful curves.
The Clearing

If you have a zoom lens, you can get a really interesting photo down the highway. Or you can simply roll along and take in all of the spectacular fall colors – the best colors can be found from late September until early October.

What is your pick for the best fall drive in Wisconsin? The Badger State has tons of gorgeous spots for a fall drive. Here are some more scenic driving routes that are hard to beat.

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More to Explore

Best fall drive in Wisconsin

Sarah M. | August 16, 2022

Where can I see the best fall colors in Wisconsin?

Highway 42, our pick for the best fall drive in Wisconsin, is certainly flush with fall foliage in September and October. But it is just one of many areas in the Badger State wherein one can partake in some epic leaf peeping! Kettle Moraine State Forest, Lake Geneva, Door County, and Great River Road are all absolutely breathtaking in the autumn.

What are some other great scenic drives in Wisconsin to take in the fall?

If you're looking for some scenic drives to tackle in the fall, there's no better state to explore than Wisconsin. The Dairy State has such gorgeous topography and countryside that getting in the car and going for a drive is a delightful prospect any time of the year. But in fall, when the whole state comes alive in a riot of fall colors, it’s especially appealing to hop in the car without a serious destination and go explore.

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Northport, WI 54210, USA