14 Fall Road Trips for Stunning Scenery Around the U.S.
Looking for the perfect fall drive to see the changing leaves? These road trips offer colorful foliage and incredible views.
Take full advantage of autumn's cooler temperatures and beautiful foliage by planning a fall road trip through the most scenic regions of the United States. The prettiest state to visit in the fall depends on your road trip goals, naturally: Cruise the Northeast see the colorful changing leaves on a journey through mountain landscapes, or head south to the Gulf Coast, where you'll find foliage with a side of warmer weather and ocean views.
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Take the Russell Brasstown Scenic Byway to fully experience the beauty of Georgia's Blue Ridge Mountains.
Behold some of the best foliage in America as you drive through the Green Mountains in Vermont.
Head to New York's Finger Lakes Region via Pennsylvania for beautiful fall colors and some excellent wine.
Cruise the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire not only for beautiful mountain views, but for picture-perfect covered bridges.
Ride along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina to pass old farmsteads, mountain meadows, and scenic overlooks.
Browse these 14 routes through the most picturesque states across America and you're bound to find a perfect road trip with stunning fall foliage.
Blue Ridge Mountains, Georgia
When you think of places to see fall foliage, New England destinations probably come to mind. But the southern parts of the country have beautiful colors, too. A road trip through Georgia's Blue Ridge Mountains offers stunning foliage without the cold weather you'd find up north.
Start at the Russell Brasstown Scenic Byway in the northern part of the state, which takes you through the Blue Ridge Mountains along the Chattahoochee River. Stop in Helen, a mountain town modeled after a quaint Bavarian village, and at Brasstown Bald, the highest point in Georgia and the ultimate foliage viewing vantage point. Clayton, an old mountain town with antique shops, galleries, and restaurants, is also worth a visit. Take a hike in the nearby Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, then head east to the Tallulah Gorge State Park, where you can explore a 1,000-foot chasm carved over millions of years by the Tallulah River.
Green Mountains, Vermont
If New England's foliage is on your bucket list, make a beeline for Vermont, where the Green Mountains erupt in colors that are anything but in autumn. Some of the most picturesque views can be glimpsed from the Green Mountain Byway, which weaves through Waterbury and Stowe before circling the mountains to frame picture-perfect vistas. You'll pass by wide-open farmland, historic homes, and rolling hills interrupted by church steeples. Make it a point to stop at the Alchemist brewery in Stowe for a pint of the legendary Heady Topper, and at the Ben & Jerry's factory for a tour in Waterbury.
Finger Lakes Region, New York
Not far from the Big Apple, the Finger Lakes region is an oasis of fall foliage and quiet country scenery. Leaving from New York City, head west through New Jersey and Pennsylvania and stop at Gouldsboro or Tobyhanna State Park along the way. Make a detour to see Jim Thorpe, a borough in Pennsylvania with lovely mountain scenery and architecture. While in town, go on a hike in Lehigh Valley or visit the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway. Then head to the Finger Lakes to sample some of the region's best wines along Cayuga Lake. Stay nearby at the historic Inns of Aurora, hike at Taughannock Falls State Park, and spend a day in Ithaca to wet your whistle at Ithaca Beer Co.
Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire
There's a lot to see and do in New Hampshire's White Mountains, but the Kancamagus Highway, known fondly as "The Kanc," rises to the top of the list in the fall. This twisty, turny road captures the best of the state's foliage and mountain views, and it offers some top-notch photo opps. Stop at the circa 1858 Albany Covered Bridge for some serious New England charm, then make your way to Conway to give someone else a turn at the wheel. You can ride the Conway Scenic Railroad for even more leafy views.
Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia and North Carolina
This winding road covers almost 470 miles to connect the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina to the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. While you drive, you'll pass split-rail fences, old farmsteads, mountain meadows, and scenic overlooks. Stop along the way at one of the many hiking trails in either national park, or visit a local farm to grab some autumnal produce.
Route 6, Pennsylvania
Take a trip along the historic Route 6 in northern Pennsylvania for views of color-shifting forests, mountains, and other peaceful scenery. Visit the decades-old St. Marys institution Straub Brewery while you're in the area. You can also travel along the Elk Scenic Drive, a 127-mile route that crosses through the Pennsylvania Wilds — often past large elk herds. Finally, stop at the Worlds End State Park for camping, cabins, and hiking on the Loyalsock Trail to immerse yourself in the fall foliage.
Litchfield Hills, Connecticut
Take your time exploring the Litchfield Hills in the northwest corner of Connecticut. Pass through the Falls Village in Canaan, where the churches, streets, houses, and the railroad depot still look as they did in the 1800s. The Appalachian Trail runs right through town, so you can follow the white trail markers for a day hike. Pass through the West Cornwall Covered Bridge, which extends 242 feet across the Housatonic River, visit Lake Waramaug State Park for hiking and fall foliage, and then head to Litchfield to marvel at the gardens at White Flower Farm.
Southern Pacific Coast, California
You might think a drive up the California coast is best done in the summer, but it's also beautiful in the fall — and the weather is more comfortable. Start outside Los Angeles with an oceanside hike in Point Mugu State Park. Then hop in a convertible, preferably, and trace the coast on Highway 101 to Santa Barbara. Spend a night there and stroll down State Street to check out the shops and restaurants. Make a side trip to nearby Solvang, which is modeled after an old Danish town, with a windmill, plus wineries and beautiful scenery. If you have the time, continue northwest for ocean views at Jalama Beach County Park.
The Olympic Peninsula, Washington
Make your way through the rugged coast of Washington for mountain views and lush forest drives. You can start in Seattle and loop around Puget Sound, stopping for ferry boat detours to Vashon Island or Whidbey Island. On Vashon, stroll along the beaches or visit Point Robinson Lighthouse for a taste of Pacific Northwest island life. Back on the mainland, hike or camp in Olympic National Park, and then carry on to historic Port Townsend, where you can wander among the old waterfront neighborhoods and Victorian houses.
Gulf Coast, Florida
There are two main advantages of a fall Florida road trip: you'll enjoy warmer temperatures than you'd get in the north while avoiding the unbearable heat and humidity of the summer. Travel along the Gulf of Mexico, and feel free to extend it further. On South Walton's beaches, the sands are sugar-white thanks to their pure quartz crystal makeup. You can also check out the rare coastal dune lakes that exist in only a handful of places in the world. For a different kind of food truck experience, stop in the town of Seaside, where Airstream Row is a street lined with aluminum trailers serving up tasty dishes.
Northern Pacific Coast, Oregon
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The Oregon coast has stunning coastal scenery fringed by forests. Start in Astoria, then head south. Along the way, you can hike at Lewis And Clark National Historical Park or Ecola State Park. Stay in Cannon Beach to see Haystack Rock and wander among those large beach boulders so characteristic of the Pacific Northwest. Also, locals will tell you a stop at the Tillamook Creamery for sweet frozen treats is obligatory. You can travel all the way down the coast and top off your trip with a visit to the redwood forests near the town of Brookings.
The Great Lakes, Michigan
Skirt the country's northern edge by driving along the Great Lakes. Start at the southern edge of Lake Huron and watch the tall ship schooners or shop in the downtown antiques center in Bay City. After that, head north along the lake to hike one of the state parks near Alpena. Then, drive two hours up the shore to Mackinaw City, where you can catch the ferry to the famously car-free Mackinac Island. This 3.8-square-mile National Historic Landmark is easily explored by bike or horse and buggy.
Route 66, Illinois to California
Though the iconic and historic highway has been chopped up and partially abandoned since its glory days, Route 66 has been immortalized through pop culture — you've heard about it in songs and seen it in movies. Though only parts of it remain intact and drivable today, it's worth exploring, even if you don't make it the whole way.
The best place to start a Route 66 adventure is perhaps at its eastern terminus, Chicago. Stop along the way for memorable sights, including the Polk-a-Dot Drive In in Braidwood, Illinois, the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum, the 80-foot Blue Whale of Catoosa, and Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas. Complete your journey out west at California's Santa Monica Pier.
Great River Road, Minnesota to Louisiana
Enjoy the Mississippi River by following the Great River Road, which runs 3,000 miles from Minnesota all the way down to Louisiana. Stop along the way to explore Saint Paul, Minnesota, Chicago, and Madison, Wisconsin, and consider detours to Nashville and Jackson, Mississippi.
Highlights along the route include the Effigy Mounds National Monument in Iowa, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, and the Poverty Point UNESCO World Heritage Site in Pioneer, Louisiana. There are also plenty of hiking opportunities, especially at Mississippi Palisades State Park.
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