Fall Road Trips

Longer days and warmer weather are now just a faint memory as the crisp temperatures and fall foliage are upon us. This is the season when the changing palette of trees is in bloom with the dazzling display of color. Leaf viewing is one of the least expensive and easiest ways to experiences America’s natural beauty. You don’t have to travel far to check out some the best fall foliage. All across the United States, from New England to California, you can encounter the same experience. Here are some of our favorite fall road trips.

In the Northeast region, New England is the best for fall foliage viewing. From Maine to New York, these states offer picturesque settings to watch the colorful beauty. While leaves in other states are equally captivating, New England is blessed with forested terrain and quaint, historic towns, which accentuate the whole experience.

Road trips in Maine include Route 17 from Rockland to Augusta. Try an 88-mile loop in the center of Vermont along Routes 100, 107, 12 and 106. On the clearest of days, you can see five states from the panoramic view at Point Lookout Inn on the Palisades Interstate Parkway in New York’s Hudson River Valley. Check out New York’s Adirondack and Catskill mountains as well as the Finger Lakes region. Drive through the country roads of Connecticut from US Route 44 through Natchaug State Forest. Other highlights include Pennsylvania’s Bucks County and Lancaster County and New Jersey’s Whitesbog Village on Route 530.

While the Northeast does reign supreme, the Mid-Atlantic region doesn’t fall too far behind. Mt. Mitchell in western North Carolina is the highest mountain in the eastern United States and is surrounded by Pisgah National Forest which harbors deciduous trees. Waterfall country on US Route 276, the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway, the Great Smoky Mountains, Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park and Maryland’s Gambrill and Cunningham Falls state parks also provide excellent views.

Midwest autumn road trips include the Lake Superior Circle Route which includes scenic stretches of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Ontario, Canada. Wisconsin’s Kettle Moraine State Forest offers prime hiking and viewing.

Don’t forget about the Rocky Mountains, which offer stunning colors of the foliage. Be sure to visit early in fall, as snowstorms can impact road trips. When a world-famous town is named after a tree, you know it’s an extraordinary place. Aspen leaves turn a rich yellow hue and include golden tones, for a picture-perfect scene.