October is Michigan at its best with fall foliage, harvest festivals, college football weekends and long-overdue visits with the people you've been meaning to see. Now there's one more reason to go. Save 15% on Indian Trails fares for any trip taken in October. Book online by September 30 using promo codeOCTOBERTRAVEL15. Valid for adult fares only. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts.
There's a reason leaf peeping is an annual ritual for so many Michiganders and visitors alike. When the season turns and the colors change, it gives us a way
to observe the beauty of nature at its most spectacular. But fall isn't just about the foliage. Across Indian Trails' network of destination cities, the season brings festivals, automotive spectacles, world-class art and small-town celebrations that are worth planning a trip around. Here's what's on the calendar this fall.
Grand Rapids – ArtPrize
Every fall, nearly a million people descend on downtown Grand Rapids for ArtPrize, the world's most attended public art event, running Sept. 18 - Oct. 3. More than 1,000 works by artists from across the country and around the world fill 180+ venues across 4.5 square miles of the city, including parks, restaurants, bridges, parking lots, museums and anywhere else an artist can claim a space. Sculptures, paintings, installations, fiber art, photography, performance — it's all there, and it's all free to see.
Pontiac – American Speed Festival
From Oct. 2-4, M1 Concourse in Pontiac transforms into one of the country's premier motorsports destinations. Historic race cars, modern prototypes and everything in between take to the 1.5-mile M1 Circuit for exhibition and competition laps — plus garage reveals, gourmet food, live entertainment and a Master of Motorsports ceremony honoring Chip Ganassi this year. If you have any love for cars, this one is hard to skip.
Mackinaw City – Mackinac Island Fall Fudge Festival
Mackinac Island in fall is genuinely something else, quieter than summer, but with all the charm intact. The Fall Fudge Festival runs Oct. 2-3, filling the island's streets with fall decor, scenic bike rides through peak foliage and plenty of the fudge that makes Mackinac famous. Indian Trails serves Mackinaw City directly and from there, a short ferry ride puts you on the island.
Charlevoix – Apple Fest
The 47th Annual Charlevoix Apple Fest takes over East Park on the Round Lake waterfront Oct. 9-11, and it's exactly what fall in northern Michigan feels like. Experience more than 30 varieties of locally grown apples, a farmers market stocked with cider, baked goods and seasonal produce, an arts and crafts show with 125 exhibitors and live music across the weekend, all within walking distance of the festival site.
For more details about these and other fall festivals across Michigan, visit Pure Michigan.
Destination Cities
Discover the locations you can visit on an Indian Trails deluxe motorcoach!
Destination Spotlight: Oscoda
Where the River Meets the Sunrise Coast
Oscoda sits quietly on Lake Huron at the mouth of the AuSable River, and it has a way of revealing itself slowly to people who take the time to find it. In fall, the River Road Scenic Byway winds through some of Michigan's finest leaf peeping country right in Oscoda's backyard, a route that follows the AuSable River through the Huron National Forest and puts on a show every October. Some places are best discovered for yourself.
Planning a fall getaway is easier than you think, especially with the Indian Trails Bus app in the palm of your hand. Download it on the Apple App Store or Google Play and purchase tickets, track your bus in real time, manage your booking and check your Let's Go! Rewards points balance, all without having to make a phone call.
Speaking of rewards, every eligible Indian Trails ticket purchase earns you points toward future ticket purchases. If you already have an Indian Trails account, you're already enrolled. Just make sure you're logged in when you make a purchase. Don't have an account yet? Create one and start earning.
Staying Updated on Weather Alerts
Fall weather in Michigan can shift quickly, and the closer we get to October, the more unpredictable it becomes. Before any trip, it's worth checking for service alerts, especially if you're heading north.
If you have a trip booked:
You'll receive notifications to the mobile number and email on your reservation.
If a trip is cancelled or modified, we will contact you directly and discuss your next steps.
You can also check service alerts at indiantrails.com before you leave home.
Since joining Indian Trails last October, Brittaney has immersed herself in the full scope of her role as Interline Manager and what it takes to keep passengers moving. What does that include?
She manages 27-plus routes and 85-plus stops across Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, and has had to learn the industry-specific language that comes with coordinating regional bus service and connections to carriers nationwide. She credits Vice President of Business Brenda Cheney for helping her find her footing. "There are so many moving parts to this job," Brittaney said. "I just try to soak up everything she has to teach me."
“Working here is like a breath of fresh air ... We all have the same goal: serving the public.”
Day to day, Brittaney keeps routes running smoothly, visits agents across the state and monitors conditions that could affect service, like highway closures to decisions about the Mackinac Bridge. She’s also a “team captain” who makes sure that when a passenger sends in a compliment, the team member hears about it.
Attending industry conferences has added another dimension. "There are so many women who work in transportation," she says. She came away with a piece of advice she hasn't forgotten: "Once you get in, you're hooked. It's all about community and public service."
Next Stop – Your Career
Indian Trails is hiring motorcoach operators, and the application window is open now through Sept. 25. This is a real career with steady work, a CDL you earn through paid training and a team that's been doing this for over a century. If hired, your training class begins Oct. 26.
Not ready to apply just yet? Read through our comprehensive guidebook first. It walks you through everything from licensing and training to what life on the road looks like day to day.
This service offers 14 daily trips between East Lansing, Whitmore Lake, Ann Arbor and the Detroit Metro Airport. To get schedule details or to book a bus ticket, visit MichiganFlyer.com.
D2A2
The D2A2 bus service provides frequent and affordable transportation between Detroit and Ann Arbor. Fares are as low as $2 with a frequent rider passbook. For more information, go to D2A2.com.
DAX
The Detroit Air Xpress (DAX) bus connects downtown Detroit to DTW airport. DAX runs nonstop from 3:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. One-way tickets are $6 in advance. For more information, visit DAX-bus.com.
Indian Trails, LLC, 109 E. Comstock St., Owosso, MI 48867, United States, 989-725-5105
