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In my humble opinion, Fall is one of the very best times to travel! With the leaves changing colors, the weather shifting and the crowds lessening, it can be one of the best time to take a road trip.

Over the last few years I have tried my best to visit a new area of the United States for Fall, now I want to share those locations with you!

Below you will find my top 7 best Fall road trips in the US! From the quaint towns of New England to the National Parks of the west you will find an option here for every type of traveler!

 Table of Contents:

1. New England Fall Road Trip

2. Colorado Fall Road Trip

3. Glacier National Park Fall Road Trip

4. Grand Tetons & Yellowstone Fall Road Trip

5. Washington Fall Road Trip

6. Idaho Fall Road Trip

7. Utah Fall Road Trip

8. More Info On The Best Fall Road Trips

9. What To Pack For A Fall Road Trip

Disclaimer: This blog post does have affiliate links in it- if you buy through any of the links I get a little kickback- at no extra cost to you!

The Best Fall Road Trips In The US

1. New England Fall Road Trip

When: Last week of September & first week of October

Where: New England: Boston, New York, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire

What: Red & Gold Rolling Hills, Festive New England Towns, and Beautiful Fall Hikes.

When you think of Fall, most people think of New England. New England is the quintessential fall road trip, and one that I think everyone in the US should do once in their lives.

This road trip can take you through stunning skittle colored hills, into festive little towns and even to the coast of Maine. You can find  yourself picking apples at an orchard, canoeing on a crisp lake and bundling up to enjoy a brisk walk in Stowe Vermont.

Road tripping New England is a beautiful experience and one that can be done at any age! You can find my top Fall activities and locations in the blog post linked below!

2. Colorado Fall Road Trip

When: Mid September- Mid October

Where: Aspen, Colorado, Telluride Colorado, Crested Butte and Ouray, Colorado

What: Golden Aspen Trees, Unreal Mountain Views, Beautiful Scenic Drives and Cute Ski Towns.

If you love the Fall, then a Fall road trip through Colorado should be at the very top of your bucket list!

With Aspens covering the mountains here, you will find golden views at every turn! There is truly nothing like Colorado in the Fall.

A wonderful road trip starts in Denver, Colorado and then heads to Aspen where you can experience a beautiful ski town and gorgeous colors. From here you can check out Montrose, Crested Butte, Telluride and Ouray for gorgeous colors!

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3. Glacier National Park Fall Road Trip

When: Mid- Late September

Where: Glacier National Park, Montana & Whitefish Montana

What: Stunning mountain views, wildlife, golden Aspens, and beautiful hikes!

If you are looking for an adventurous Fall road trip then look no further than Glacier National Park in Montana.

Fall in Montana is a beautiful sight, and from talking to the locals is actually their favorite time of year! With the golden colors, fewer crowds, wildlife sightings and perfect temperatures I can see why. 

This trip is perfect for families, adventurous couples and groups of friends!

Some of the best things to do include: Drive the Going to the Sun Road, hike the Highline Trail, watch sunrise at Lake Bowman and get a huckleberry bear claw at Polebridge Mercantile & Bakery.

You can find more information on this trip in my blog post linked below!

4. Grand Tetons & Yellowstone Fall Road Trip

When: Last week of September & first week of October

Where: Grand Tetons National Park, Wyoming & Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

What: Stunning Mountain Views, Wildlife, Golden Fall Foliage!

One of my favorite ways to experience National Parks is in the Fall. There is something SO magical about the leaves turning golden, the crowds getting thinner and the days turning that perfect crisp Fall feeling.

Wyoming has two of the most amazing National Parks- The Grand Tetons and Yellowstone.

Both are stunning in their own way, and both can be visited in the same trip! Only a 45 minute drive away from each other, you can start in Yellowstone and work your way South or begin in Jackson Hole and work your way North! 

Yellowstone in October is absolutely beautiful, and well worth a visit. The grasses have turned a beautiful gold, the misty weather clears out the crazy Summer crowds and the wildlife are actively getting ready for Winter. 

In my personal opinion the Grand Tetons is one of the most beautiful National Parks– the mountain range rises up out of the great plains of Wyoming and dominates the skyline for miles around.

You will find gorgeous golden Aspens, beautiful, scenic drives and tons of wildlife in both of these locations! If you love the great outdoors and want a bit of a western experience then I can’t recommend this Fall road trip enough!

Find more information on both National Parks in my blog posts below!

READ MORE: Your Ultimate Guide To Yellowstone In October

READ MORE: Your Ultimate Guide To Grand Tetons In The Fall

5. Washington Fall Road Trip

When: Late September- Mid October

Where: Mt Rainier National Park, North Cascades National Park, Olympic National Park

What: Unreal Mountain Views & Hikes, Larches, Misty Weather & Beautiful Forest Walks

Ohh Fall in Washington State, what a beautiful time it is! Washington is one of the more underrated places to go for Fall but it really is beautiful in it’s own way.

There are a few stand out spots in Washington where you can find the best Fall experiences.

#1 The North Cascades: Here you will find jagged peaks frosted in snow, golden larch trees and beautiful hiking.

#2 Mt Rainier National Park: This national park is beautiful in all seasons but in Fall it really shines. You will find beautiful red underbrush and gorgeous views!

#3 Olympic National Park: You can find gorgeous mossy trees with beautiful red and yellow leaves. This area has some gorgeous forest walks and coastal views!

If coming from out of town, fly into Seattle and then depending on the weather, head North or South to Rainier or the North Cascades and then loop the Olympics in. You can do all three but be prepared for a lot of driving.

Otherwise, decide on one of these parks and plan your entire trip in that area to get the full experience!

READ MORE: Check Out These 11 Stunning Cabins in Washington

6. Idaho Fall Road Trip

When: Mid September- October

Where: Stanley, Idaho & Sawtooth Mountains

What: Stunning mountain views, hot springs and a mountain town!

If you are looking for a unique Fall road trip then an Idaho road trip may just be for you! Idaho is extremely underrated in my opinion.

Situated in the Sawtooth Mountains sit Stanley, Idaho- a tiny mountain town sitting right under the Sawtooth Mountains. Here you can find tons of gorgeous hot springs right on the river to relax in, as well as gorgeous lakes and beautiful hiking!

You can find all of my favorite hot springs in Stanley Idaho in the link below!

7. Utah Fall Road Trip

When: Mid September- Early October

Where: Salt Lake City, Utah, Provo Canyon, Spanish Fork Canyon, Sundance Mountain

What: Gorgeous Mountain Views, Red, Orange & Yellow Fall Colors & Beautiful Drives

Another extremely underrated Fall destination is Utah! Right next to Salt Lake City is the Wasatch Mountains, and during the Fall they bloom into gorgeous reds, oranges and yellows!

You can find areas that resemble New England colors and patches of Aspens that bring those gorgeous golden hues.

Start your road trip in Salt Lake City and spend a few days to a week exploring the gorgeous canyons of the Wasatch Mountains!

Some of the top spots to check out include Provo Canyon, Sundance Mountain, American Fork Canyon and Spanish Fork Canyon!

You can find more information on top Utah Fall destinations here.

READ MORE: What To Wear Hiking In The Fall– A Beginners Guide

More Info On The Best Fall Road Trips In The US

What is the Prettiest State to Visit In the Fall?

This is such a subjective question and will really depend on what you like the best!

Personally, I think Colorado and New Hampshire or Vermont would be my top two picks for prettiest state to visit in the Fall. Each have their own beauty that comes alive in the Autumn Season.

Where is Fall Most Beautiful in America?

Another subjective question- but if you were to ask me, I would say New England or the Rocky Mountains!

New England has the quaint towns amidst skittle colored hills of red and gold and the Rockies have gorgeous Aspen tree groves, sharp jagged mountains and charming mountain towns.

What To Pack On A US Fall Road Trip

Outerwear

Crisp air and cool evenings and mornings make a nice warm jacket, beanie and rain shell a must– these are some of my favorites!

Sweaters

A Fall road trip is the perfect time to show off new Fall fashion. With the crisp air you will be happy you brought along your favorite sweaters. Below I have linked some pieces I think would be super cute for a Fall road trip!

Boots

The best part about Fall Fashion- boots! I love a good bootie but I also think a riding boot style could be perfect for exploring the east coast. I love these because they all have a good balance of being stylish and comfortable- perfect for walks around town!

Road Trip Essentials

There are a few things that will make a road trip extra comfortable.

My Road trip Favs:

Insulated Mug: I love having a warm coffee or tea each morning, this one is perfect!

Camp Stove or Backpacking Stove: Having the ability to make tea, lunch or dinner while on the road is one of my favorite things! Pick a backpacking stove for a small version or level up with a cute camp stove!

Hammock: Give yourself the ability to just hangout and relax in this double nest hammock!

Lantern: Having access to light is essential! I personally love this inflatable lantern or this pro lantern!

Compressible Pillow: Car ride naps anyone?! Bring along a pillow to stay comfy.

Camp Chair: Collapse these cute little chairs and hangout under the stars or watch the sunset!

Down Booties: Stay warm with camp slippers.

The Best Fall Road Trips: Conclusion

I hope this list the best Fall road trips inspired you to get out and go see more of the United States this Autumn!

Fall is truly one of the best times of year to travel and everywhere has it’s own particular brand of Autumn.

From the festive towns of the North East to the jagged peaks of the Rocky Mountains I hope you found a Fall road trip perfectly suited to you!

Let me know if there are any road trips I need to take! I am always excited to hear about new travel destinations.

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