Candy Road Trip! 7 Must-Visit Spots for Michigan Candy Fans
Share
Michigan Candy Trail! Road Trips for Chocolate & Gummy Lovers
If you’ve ever wondered how your favorite chocolates, gummies, and lollipops are made—or just want to stock up on factory-fresh sweets—these candy factory tours and outlet stores deliver the ultimate sugar fix.
Some spots let you go behind the scenes to watch chocolatiers in action, while others offer exclusive flavors and discounted treats straight from the production line.
Whether you’re looking for a full factory tour, a behind-the-scenes video experience, or a candy store packed with fresh goodies, these locations across Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio are worth the trip.
Stop 1: Sanders Candy – Clinton Township, MI
📍 23770 Hall Road, Clinton Township, MI 48036
📞 (586) 464-5411
🔗 Visit Website
Sanders is a Detroit classic, and their chocolate and ice cream shop is a must-visit for any serious sweet tooth. The self-guided tour lets you peek inside their chocolate kitchen anytime during store hours if the factory is running.
Stop 2: Kilwins Chocolate Kitchen – Petoskey, MI
📍 316 Howard St, Petoskey, MI 49770
📞 (231) 347-2645
🔗 Visit Website
If you’ve ever had a Kilwins caramel apple, you know they don’t play around when it comes to sweets. While the Chocolate Kitchen tours are on pause for now, you can still swing by their Petoskey store and watch the magic happen. Their kitchen is up and running, so you’ll see fresh caramel apples, handmade chocolates, truffles, brittle, and more being made right in front of you.
Even without a formal tour, this is one of the best places to get a front-row seat to old-school chocolate-making, and of course, you can buy fresh treats straight from the source.
Stop 3: Gilbert Chocolates Factory – Jackson, MI
📍 233 N Jackson Street, Jackson, MI & inside the Jackson Crossing Mall, 1055 Jackson Crossing, Jackson, MI
📞 (517) 788-6060
🔗 Visit Website
Yes, they actually do factory tours! If you’ve ever wanted to watch chocolate artists in action, this is your chance. Every Tuesday at 10 AM, Gilbert Chocolates offers a FREE behind-the-scenes tour that walks you through their chocolate-making process, company history, and production methods. You’ll get an up-close look at the magic that goes into every truffle and treat.
Tours are limited to 30 people, so call ahead to book your spot. If you have a larger group, they’ll work with you to make arrangements.
Stop 4: Spangler Candy – Bryan, OH
📍 400 N Portland St, Bryan, OH 43506
📞 (888) 636-4221
🔗 Visit Website
Dum Dums suckers are the candy of childhood, and Spangler Candy is the brand behind them. While they don’t offer traditional factory tours anymore, they do have a big-screen factory experience that gives you an up-close look at how their famous lollipops and candy canes are made. Bonus:
Their Candy Museum has hands-on activity stations, interactive games, and historical displays that make it more than just a walk-through. Pro tip—check out their Sweethearts Chapel, where you can snap photos and create custom messages on conversation hearts.
Stop 5: Albanese World’s Best – Merrillville, IN
📍 5441 East Lincoln Hwy, Merrillville, IN 46410
📞 (855) 272-3227
🔗 Visit Website
While you won’t be able to take a behind-the-scenes tour at Albanese anymore, their Factory Store is still worth a stop if you’re a gummy fanatic. This spot is the only place in the world where you can see exclusive footage of their gummy and chocolate production while shopping for their big bags of gummy goof-ups or their bulk gummy area where you can mix and match all of your favorite flavors, plus limited-edition products you won’t find in regular stores.
Stop 6: South Bend Chocolate Company – South Bend, IN
📍 3300 W Sample St, South Bend, IN 46619
📞 (800) 301-4961
🔗 Visit Website
With over 500 different chocolate and candy creations, South Bend Chocolate Company is basically a sugar paradise. The tour takes you through the entire process, from cocoa bean to chocolate bar, and ends with—yep—samples.
But the real hidden gem here is their Chocolate Museum, which holds one of the largest collections of chocolate memorabilia in the world. The chocolate museum is a deep dive into chocolate history, featuring a Mayan temple entrance, vintage chocolate tins, and a peek into the art and science of candy-making.
@indianadinomuseum Check out a little sneak peek of the South Bend Chocolate Factory tour! What could be better than dinosaurs, and Chocolate!? #chocolate #factory #tours #southbend #indiana ♬ Morning Happy Background Music – Wavepaper ID
Your chocolate pass also unlocks Continental Divide Park, a 90-acre outdoor space with bison roaming the pastures, trails winding through prairie grass, and sweeping views of Notre Dame’s Golden Dome. Keep an eye out for the resident goats, tortoises, and caiman while you explore.
And, if that’s not enough, the founder of South Bend Chocolate Co. has been digging for dinosaurs and collecting fossils from Montana for over 20 years. In 2024, one of his long-held dreams came true when doors opened at the $15+ million Indiana Dinosaur Museum, located in South Bend.
Stop 7: DeBrand Fine Chocolates – Fort Wayne, IN
📍 10105 Auburn Park Dr, Fort Wayne, IN 46825
📞 (260) 969-8333
🔗 Visit Website
If you’re into fancy chocolate, DeBrand is the place to be. Their tour kicks off with a little chocolate history (don’t worry, it’s the fun kind), followed by a behind-the-scenes look at how they craft high-end truffles, gourmet bars, and hand-dipped delights. And yes, there are samples.
Public tours run Tuesdays at 10:00 am, Thursdays at 1:00 pm, and Saturdays at 10:30 am. Heads up—there’s no production on Saturdays, and weekday production varies, but you’ll still get to watch video presentations and enjoy plenty of chocolate. Tours are $10 per person, and you’ll get $10 off a $20 purchase in the shop. No reservations needed—just show up a little early.
Private tours are also available for groups of 10 or more (or smaller groups for a flat $100 fee). They’re offered Monday through Sunday, but if you want to catch the chocolate-making action, aim for a weekday visit. (Public tours may be canceled around holidays, so call ahead if you’re planning a visit.)
Ready for a Sugar-Fueled Road Trip?
If you’ve ever dreamed of walking through a real-life candy factory, these spots deliver. From gourmet truffles to old-school lollipops, each of these tours brings a little something different to the table—along with plenty of samples. So grab your sweet tooth and hit the road. Just maybe pack a toothbrush, too.
Want more foodie adventures? Stay tuned for more delicious road trip guides!
