Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Plan a trip to see some incredible fall foliage: 7 stellar spots across the U.S.

The fall colors will be gorgeous in these travel destinations

A pop of fall color in Oak Glen, California (in the San Bernardino Mountains).
Don Graham / Flickr

The weather is cooler. The nights are longer. The tree leaves are starting to change colors. Finally, fall is here. And now, we have to think about where to go to find the best fall foliage.

Whether you need a quick weekend getaway, a nice change of scenery as you “work from home”, or another good reason to travel for great fall foliage, we have you covered. As we enter into a new season, let’s discover some new ideas for fall travel. Come for the colorful fall foliage, and stay for the stunning mountain views, the friendly locals, various pleasant surprises, and a whole lot of good vibes. 

A sunset over the Laurel Highlands in Farmington, Pennsylvania.
Andrew Davey / The Manual

It’s OK to not want to chase the “endless summer”

Summer may finally be over, but some of our friends still don’t seem ready yet to ditch the board shorts, Hawaiian shirts, and hot beach vacations. If that’s what they need to feel better, more power to them. But for us, we’re ready to change it up. We’re ready to embrace the crisper days, the cooler nights, the warmer sweaters and jackets, and the beautiful fall foliage outside.

So where are the best places to visit in fall where you can experience all autumn has to offer? While you can find plenty of gorgeous fall foliage across the U.S., we’ve put together this shortlist of our favorite mountain destinations with phenomenal fall foliage. And to make your trip planning even easier, we’re also cluing you in on the best time to catch peak fall foliage — or when you can find the most vibrant leaf colors before these leaves fall off the trees.

A glimpse of fall foliage in Richmond, Massachusetts (The Berkshires).
Ogden Gigli / Berkshires Visitors Bureau

The Berkshires, Massachusetts

Forecast peak fall foliage: First week of October

Though other parts of New England may garner more attention for their fall foliage, it’s a huge mistake to sleep on the Berkshires. No matter how you prefer to experience it — while hiking, canoeing, ziplining, or simply driving — the Berkshires offer plenty of opportunities for you to enjoy the best of autumn.

For great hiking, try the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail — a former set of train tracks that got converted into a ten-foot-wide trail — for a scenic 12.7-mile journey through the towns of Chesire, Lanesborough, and Adams. If you prefer to paddle your way to beautiful fall colors, check with Berkshire Canoe Tours and Onota Boat Livery on boat rentals

Learn More

A view of the Laurel Highlands from Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, Pennsylvania.
Andrew Davey / The Manual

Laurel Highlands, Pennsylvania

Forecast peak fall foliage: Fourth week of October

While this chunk of the Appalachians may feel so far removed from big city life, Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands are surprisingly easy to reach from New York City, Washington D.C., and other major Northeastern urban regions. Even better, the Laurel Highlands has an abundant wealth of natural beauty for you to take in. From the spectacular waterfalls at Ohiopyle State Park to the simple serenity at Beam Rocks in Forbes State Forest, you should have no trouble finding amazing fall foliage to share with your friends on Instagram and TikTok … Or enjoy all by yourself.

While the Laurel Highlands has a wide variety of accommodations to suit all tastes, we particularly enjoy the whimsical elegance of Nemacolin in Farmington. This resort is close to many of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s top attractions, yet it has so much to offer on its resort grounds that it’s very easy to spend an entire weekend relaxing on-premises.

Learn More

A view of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Blowing Rock, North Carolina.
Theodore Braun / Wikimedia

Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina/Georgia

Forecast peak fall foliage: First to third weeks of October (depending on elevation)

Heading down south, it’s hard to talk about fall foliage without mentioning the Blue Ridge Mountains — or the southern stretch of the Appalachians. If you’re coming up from Charlotte, Asheville, and Boone make for great basecamps to drive the famed Blue Ridge Parkway and discover an abundance of hiking trails to get up close and personal with some amazing autumn scenery. If you’re coming up from Atlanta, Fannin County (Georgia) offers 300 miles of hiking trails, 100 miles of trout streams, and plenty of great lodging options for you to choose from.

While there are plenty of cities and towns for you to stop and recharge after a long day of exploring, it’s hard not to love the quirky charm of Asheville. With some of the East Coast’s tallest mountains nearby, Asheville offers stunning fall colors alongside prime opportunities to spot Monarch Butterflies as they migrate to Mexico, pick the freshest apples, and explore the city’s vibrant downtown.

Learn More

A red mill by the river in the Wisconsin Dells.
Carol M. Highsmith / Library of Congress

Wisconsin Dells

Forecast peak fall foliage: Second week of October

This may not be a mountain area, but we’re including it here because it’s a great spot for maximum autumnal beauty. Less than 60 miles north of Madison, the Wisconsin Dells are a long-time favorite destination for “in the know” travelers who love the surprising beauty of the glacial-formed gorge with sandstone rock formations dotted along the banks of the Wisconsin River. Though “The Dells” tend to attract the most visitors during summer, it’s never a mistake to visit during autumn, when the fall foliage truly dazzles.

For some of the best fall foliage views, try Mirror Lake State Park for the remarkable combination of sandstone bluffs, tranquil waters, and vibrant fall colors. If you prefer to stay in town, the Wisconsin Dells Scenic River Walk offers prime views of the Wisconsin River, the bluffs, and plenty of deciduous trees experiencing their seasonal metamorphosis. 

Learn More

An adobe house at Taos Pueblo, Taos, New Mexico.
John Mackenzie Burke / Wikimedia

Taos, New Mexico

Forecast peak fall foliage: First week of October

While Taos feels like the ultimate escape into the southern Rocky Mountains, Taos Air now offers nonstop public charter flights from Dallas, Austin, Los Angeles, and Carlsbad/San Diego, which makes getting here easier than ever before. Upon arrival, take your pick of three amazing routes — the High Road to Taos Scenic Byway, the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, and U.S. Highway 64 between Taos the village of Chama — to discover the Land of Enchantment’s finest fall foliage.

If you want to stay in the epicenter of New Mexico’s fall foliage action, you might want to check out the inns and lodges near the Red River Ski Area. If you have more time to explore the region, take a ride on the Cumbres % Toltec Scenic Railroad from Chama to Southern Colorado for the ultimate explosion of high-altitude fall colors. 

Learn More

A picture-perfect autumn day in the Columbia River Gorge.
Bonnie Moreland / Flickr

Columbia River Gorge, Washington/Oregon

Forecast peak fall foliage: Second week of October

Starting just 30 miles east of Portland, the Columbia River Gorge offers some remarkably scenic fall foliage in true Pacific Northwest style. If you like waterfalls with your autumnal colors, you will be delighted by the Gorge’s many waterfalls, such as Multnomah Falls and Beacon Rock (Washington) State Park. In addition, you can discover some amazing Native American pictographs and petroglyphs at Columbia Hills (Washington) State Park, and the Hood River Fruit Loop for tasty farm-fresh treats and jaw-dropping views of Mount Hood. 

If you’re in need of rest and refreshment after a long day of exploring, pop over to the town of Hood River for some award-winning wines at Cathedral Ridge Winery, fantastic restaurants like Pine Street Bakery, Celilo, and The Ruins, and comfortably posh accommodations at Columbia Gorge Hotel and Spa. If you’re still in need of more thrills (and fall foliage), Portland’s always a short drive away.

Learn More

A stormy fall day in Oak Glen, California (in the San Bernardino Mountains).
Don Graham / Flickr

San Bernardino Mountains, California

Forecast peak fall foliage: Third and fourth weeks of October (depending on elevation)

Amazing fall foliage … in Southern California?! Yes, it actually happens every autumn. While the low deserts and coastal areas usually have to wait until November for peak fall foliage, those who want the full palette of autumn sooner can head up to the mountains for autumn’s full send up to a month early. While SoCal has multiple options for mountaintop fall foliage, we’re particularly partial to the amazing sights of the San Bernardino Mountains

Higher up, you can spot some gorgeous trees and scenery near Big Bear Lake along the Pine Knot Trail, the Castle Rock Trail, and the Aspen Grove Trail. If you want to time your trip closer to Halloween, you probably stand a better chance of finding peak fall foliage at the somewhat lower-elevation Lake Arrowhead and Lake Gregory. If you want to stay close to all this majestic fall foliage, the towns of Crestline, Lake Arrowhead, and Big Bear Lake tend to have the most lodging options. 

Learn More

Yellow fall leaves.
jolier / Pixabay

Other areas in the U.S. to check out the fall foliage

In addition to the locations above, there are several more places throughout the U.S. that offer wonderful fall foliage to experience. Here’s a list broken down by the area of the U.S.

New England

  • Acadia National Park, Maine
  • Stowe, Vermont
  • White Mountains, New Hampshire

Mid-Atlantic

  • Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
  • Catskills Mountains, New York
  • Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania

Midwest

  • Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan
  • Lake Superior North Shore, Minnesota
  • Door County, Wisconsin

Rocky Mountains

  • Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
  • Aspen, Colorado
  • Jackson Hole, Wyoming

These are just a few of the many great places to visit in the fall for the foliage in different parts of the country. With a little planning, you can find the perfect place to enjoy the changing leaves and all that autumn has to offer.

A full display of autumn colors in Hood River, Oregon.
Jay Huang / Flickr

Some closing thoughts

At first, the arrival of autumn might feel like a bummer because summer’s over, deciduous trees’ leaves start to fall off, and the weather starts to turn cold. But when we think about it, we need autumn. We need the old leaves to go in order for new leaves to grow next spring. We need the fall harvest season to gather all the ripened produce and grains. And really, we need to cool off after the hot summer and enjoy all the crisp shades of yellow, gold, orange, and red outside. 

We hope you’ve appreciated our journey together, and we hope you now feel better about planning some awesome trips this fall. If you can use some more help in developing your travel plans, check out our handy list of top U.S. road trip destinations, our Las Vegas travel guide, our Iceland travel guide, and the eight best neighborhoods to stay in Barcelona. Now that we talked about all of this, it’s time to head out and get back to traveling. 

Editors' Recommendations

Andrew Davey
Andrew Davey is a writer who has spent a long time in "hard news" journalism, but who has also pursued interests in food and…
You still have time to plan a Labor Day weekend trip: 10 fantastic spots
Make Labor Day travel fun with these stellar destinations
The beach at Pismo Beach, California.

It’s wild to think of how quickly summer flies by every year. Yet while the summer travel season starts to wind down and we wonder where the summer went, we still have Labor Day Weekend to plan one more exciting and refreshing summer trip. We know that making summer vacation plans isn't everyone's cup of tea, so we’re going out of our way to point out the destinations where you can escape the most maddening Labor Day weekend crowds without completely breaking the bank.

Now that summer is about to come to a close, here are some great ideas on where you can go to enjoy one last gasp of summer warmth. Here's your last chance to discover your new favorite beaches, explore some great outdoor markets, sport your warm-weather hiking attire, find your perfect spot on the lake, and simply soak up the extra hours of sunshine.

Read more
Report: These are the best stargazing spots in the U.S.
Where should you go to stargaze this summer? Here's the list!
A man stargazing.

If you're eager to witness the beauty of the night sky, this summer is the perfect time to go on a stargazing adventure. However, choosing the right stargazing spot can make or break your experience. If you're sick of searching for "best places to stargaze near me," check out this list by HomeToGo, a vacation rental booking site. These experts have analyzed a bunch of data to help uncover the best places to stay and stargaze this summer.

From cloud cover, solitude, and accommodation availability and price, here are the top five stargazing locations in America, according to HomeToGo.
Westcliffe & Silver Cliff, Colorado
Clear skies: 8.40

Read more
This U.S. attraction is TripAdvisor’s top travel experience in the world
If you love experiences over things, TripAdvisor wants you to check out this U.S. attraction
Buddhist Temple in Hawaii.

We love to know about a new place to visit, but it's even better when it's a whole experience. TripAdvisor released its list of the best things to do, and a U.S. attraction landed at number one. If you want to see where people say is the top place to visit and what to do there, here's where to book your next stay.
How the places made the rankings

Calculated over an entire year
Standards ranged from safety to trustworthy
A mix of opinions and customer reviews
Not even one percent of the listings make the cut

Read more