Best Places to Visit in Fall in the USA: 15 Stunning Autumn Destinations
Fall foliage drives, harvest festivals and crisp mountain air. Here are the best places to visit in fall across America, plus tips for timing peak colors.
Fall is one of the best times to travel in America: cooler weather, smaller crowds after summer, harvest festivals and, of course, spectacular fall foliage. Here are 15 of the best places to visit in fall.
New England
- Stowe, Vermont: covered bridges, white steeples and mountains blanketed in red and gold.
- The Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire: roughly 34 miles through the White Mountain National Forest, one of America's classic foliage drives.
- Acadia National Park, Maine: fall colors meet the rocky Atlantic coast.
- The Berkshires, Massachusetts: charming towns, farm stands and scenic hikes.
- Salem, Massachusetts: a month-long Halloween celebration in October, plus deep history. Book early.
Mid-Atlantic and South
- Hudson Valley, New York: apple picking, historic estates and river views.
- Shenandoah National Park, Virginia: drive the 105-mile Skyline Drive along the Blue Ridge.
- Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina and Virginia: 469 miles of overlooks. Colors arrive at higher elevations first.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina: one of the most diverse foliage displays in the country.
Midwest
- Door County, Wisconsin: lighthouses, orchards and fish boils on the Lake Michigan peninsula.
- Michigan's Upper Peninsula: waterfalls, Pictured Rocks and vast forests of color.
- Hocking Hills, Ohio: caves, gorges and waterfalls framed in autumn color.
West
- Aspen, Colorado: golden aspen groves against blue skies, typically peaking in late September.
- Columbia River Gorge, Oregon and Washington: waterfalls and colorful cliffs.
- Sedona, Arizona: red rocks and comfortable hiking temperatures after the summer heat.
Tips for timing fall foliage
- Peak color moves south and downhill. Northern areas and high elevations peak first, often in late September and early October. The South and lower elevations peak later, often in late October and November.
- Check foliage reports. Many state tourism sites publish weekly fall color updates.
- Go midweek to avoid weekend crowds on popular drives.
- Book lodging early. Peak foliage weekends sell out.
Plan your route with our guide to the best scenic drives and road trips in America.
