Autumn is *finally* here and I am so excited because it’s my absolute favorite season! Bring on the pumpkin pie, cute fall booties, and the amazing autumn colors! And if you’re looking for a few great spots to go leaf-peeping this year, I’ve rounded up the 10 best places to see fall colors in USA! So without any more hubba-baloo, let’s jump right into it!
10 Best Places to See Fall Colors in USA:
- Leavenworth, Washington
- Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Door County, Wisconsin
- Aspen, Colorado
- Portland, Maine
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Sonoma Valley, California
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Fairbanks, Alaska
- Sedona, Arizona
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When is the best time to see fall colors?
Catching the fall colors can be a tricky thing to do, especially if you’re planning your trip in advance. This is because there are so many factors that matter when trying to pin-point the perfect time of year for fall foliage.
These include things like:
- How far away from the equator your are
- Temperatures throughout the year (yes, this really matters)
- Amount of sunlight there has been
- The amount of rainfall and soil moisture
How long does peak foliage last?
If you’re lucky, the fall colors will last for 3-4 weeks. But they can sometimes last as little as one week.
The best thing to do is search for (destination + fall foliage) ahead of time and monitor the fall color progress before your book your trip.
There are entire sites dedicated to estimating when/where/and how the fall colors will be each year!
What should I pack for a fall trip?
Fall packing is so much fun because of the cute autumn outfits and color combinations – orange plaid and knee-high boots for me! 😛
When I’m packing for a fall trip I try to be style-conscious while still packing light.
But the the real magic comes in with fall-colored accessories!
My fall packing list looks pretty much like this for a 1 week trip:
- 5 long sleeve shirts/blouses
- 2 cardigans
- 2 sweaters
- 1 heavy coat
- 2 pairs of jeans
- 1 pair of leggings
- 2 full-length dresses
- 1 pair of booties
- A pair of knee-high boots
- 1 pair of hiking boots/sneakers
- A whole bunch of accessories including scarves, gloves, and hats
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10 Best Places to See Fall Colors in USA
1) Leavenworth, Washington
Leavenworth is one of the most unique places in the US,
And that’s because then entire town was made to look like a German-Bavarian village, crazy right?
So not only is the entire town ridiculously picturesque, but you also have that beautiful Washington scenery surrounding you.
Now combine that with the fall colors, an Oktoberfest that lasts for weeks, and plenty of outdoor activities – and Leavenworth is one of the absolute best destinations for autumn in the USA!
2) Chattanooga, Tennessee
If you’re looking to stay on the East Coast, Chattanooga is a great place to be!
Think multiple fall festivals, gorgeous red and orange leaves, staying in a quaint cabin just outside of town, and driving through the Smokey Mountains with that cool fall breeze coming in!
Not to mention the plenty of hiking options and the amazing Ruby Falls nearby – did I mention that’s an underground waterfall??
3) Door County, Wisconsin
If you’re looking for that perfect mix of camping trip and fall festivals, you can’t go wrong with Wisconsin!
Not only are colors stunning due to it’s position on the map, but the people are super friendly, there are tons of things to do, and a quiet place to camp is never far away!
4) Aspen, Colorado
Aspen is well known for it’s winter activities like skiing and snowboarding, and for good reason.
But did you know Aspen is also an amazing place to see some beautiful fall colors?
You can visit some of their weekly farmer’s markets for handmade items, go hiking at the beautiful Maroon Bells, or take a scenic drive and enjoy the cool fall air!
5) Portland, Maine
Portland is our favorite New England autumn destination – we even got married in Portland in the fall!
Not only do you have the fall colors in the middle of the city and the Old Port, but a short drive out of the city will leave you in the middle of the countryside with fall colors for miles!
Combine that with all of the fall-related activities like apple-picking, the many amazing bakeries filled with pumpkin pies and apple crumbles, and the perfect Maine weather, and you’ll wonder why you didn’t visit sooner!
6) Boston, Massachusetts
In my opinion, Boston is perfect for a weekend getaway – especially in fall when the weather is great and Boston Commons turns a bright orange and yellow!
The summer crowds have already left by October and just in time for Boston’s annual Head of the Charles Regatta!
So walk around the city during the day, hang out at the rowing event on the river, and then enjoy a peaceful picnic in the park at sunset – just don’t forget the camera because those photos are sure to be epic!
7) Sonoma Valley, California
If you like wine, then Sonoma has to be on your bucket list this fall – it is wine country, after all!
Not only are the fall colors in full bloom, but it’s grape harvesting season – which means all of the local wineries will be in full swing.
A couple of wine tastings, some long walks through the vineyards, mild autumn weather, and to wrap it up, there are 31 Michelin Star restaurants in Nappa Valley – talk about a bucket list trip!
8) Albuquerque, New Mexico
Have you ever wanted to visit Cappadocia for it’s hot air balloons?
Well what if I told you that you can attend the world’s largest hot air balloon festival without even leaving the country?
Picture the hundreds of hot air balloons rising up over the New Mexico desert.
Then imagine all of the local fall festivals and a tram-ride to the summit of the Sandia Mountains.
When you get to the top you can do some hiking and even have lunch while enjoying that summit view!
Sounds like a magical fall getaway to me!
9) Fairbanks, Alaska
Alaska may not have been the first place that came to mind when you thought of an autumn trip, but it definitely won’t disappoint!
Imagine leaves in all different shades of orange, snow-capped mountains in the background, and a chance to see the Northern Lights!
Yup – Aurora Borealis season starts in fall in Alaska!
That alone is a good enough reason to make the trip to the last frontier!
10) Sedona, Arizona
We just got back from our Arizona road trip so you’ll definitely be seeing Arizona on a lot of our lists coming up 😉
But in all seriousness – Arizona isn’t all just red rock.
In fact, Arizona’s leaves change colors just like everywhere else, just with a more impressive background to compete with!
Plus, hiking in Arizona’s autumn season is way more manageable since the temperatures drop and you’re not sweating buckets (hopefully) 😛
So are you excited to book your fall trip?
Each one of these places in the US are perfect to see the fall colors, now the hard part is deciding which one you want to visit!
And for more travel resources, subscribe to our free travel resource library! It will help you plan your fall trip like a pro and it only takes 5 seconds!
Happy travels!
– Veronica
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I enjoy reading through a post that will make men and women think. Also, many thanks for allowing for me to comment! Kerrin Karlis Ladew