Summer is winding down, Fall is almost here and with that comes one of our favorite things – pumpkin picking, apple picking and of course seeing the beautiful colors of fall foliage. Fall Travel in the U.S. is a special thing. “Where is the best place to see the fall leaves this year?” is a question always asked.

Just where is the best fall foliage in the U.S.?

If you’re looking for the best fall-foliage destinations in the U.S., these are our top 10, I like to think some of our overseas visitors who were enthralled with the FIFA World Cup and our American life, food and way, would come back and enjoy our Fall Colors. It’s a treat.

• 🍁 Stowe, Vermont — Classic New England scenery, covered bridges, mountains, and brilliant maple colors.
  
• 🏔️ White Mountains, New Hampshire — Particularly spectacular along the Kancamagus Highway.
  
• 🌲 Bar Harbor & Acadia National Park, Maine — Fall foliage combined with dramatic coastlines and mountain views.
  
  
  
  The Berkshires, MA
  
• 🍂 The Berkshires, Massachusetts — Scenic country roads, charming towns, and excellent October color.
  
• 🏞️ Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee/North Carolina — One of the longest foliage seasons in the country, with elevations producing different peak periods.
  
• 🌄 Shenandoah National Park, Virginia — Excellent foliage along Skyline Drive, with frequent mountain overlooks.
  
• 🏔️ Aspen, Colorado — Extraordinary golden aspen groves against the Rockies; especially beautiful in late September.
  
• 🍁 Upper Peninsula, Michigan — Huge expanses of hardwood forest and comparatively fewer crowds.
  
• 🌳 Door County, Wisconsin — Vibrant foliage, scenic Lake Michigan shoreline, and picturesque small towns.
  
• 🏕️ Columbia River Gorge, Oregon — A different style of fall scenery, combining colorful foliage with waterfalls and dramatic Pacific Northwest landscapes.

🏆 Our picks by experience

• Best overall: Vermont
  
• Best road trip: New Hampshire’s Kancamagus Highway
  
• Best mountains + ocean: Acadia, Maine
  
• Best national park: Great Smoky Mountains
  
• Best golden aspens: Aspen, Colorado
  
• Best for fewer crowds: Upper Peninsula, Michigan
  
• Best from Florida: Great Smoky Mountains or Shenandoah

Best timing: In general, foliage progresses north to south and higher elevations to lower elevations—roughly late September through early November. Exact peak color varies substantially by year.

Check out some of the great deals for this year’s Fall-Foliage travel at our sponsor Hotels.com


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