14 Fall Road Trips for Stunning Scenery Around the United States

When you think of places to see fall foliage, New England destinations probably come to mind, but southern parts of the country also have beautiful colors to view. 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 natural point in Georgia and the ultimate foliage viewing vantage point. Make a pit stop in Clayton, an old mountain town with antique shops, galleries, and restaurants. Take a hike in the nearby Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, or visit wineries and vineyards in Georgia Wine Country. 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.

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Take a drive through the country’s smallest state, which is packed with fall activities without too much drive time between each. Start at the Rail Explorers excursion in Newport, where pedal-powered vehicles trace historic railroad tracks on one-hour tours. Then head to Bristol to take in some historic mansions. Next, check out the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular (open Oct.1 — Nov. 1) at the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence. Finally, stop along Rhode Island’s Brewery Trail, which includes Foolproof Brewing Company in Pawtucket.

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Get outside the city and explore the Finger Lakes region for fall foliage and quiet country scenery.

Start in the city and head through Pennsylvania, stopping at Gouldsboro or Tobyhanna State Park along the way. Make a detour to visit Jim Thorpe, a borough in Pennsylvania that is called the “Switzerland of America” because of its mountain scenery and architecture. While in town, go on a hike in Lehigh Valley or visit the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway. Then take a tour of the Finger Lakes region near Ithaca, where you can stay at the historic Inns of Aurora, visit wineries, or hike the trails.

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Take a trip along the historic Route 6 in northern Pennsylvania for views of forests and mountains and other peaceful scenery.

Take a detour to visit Straub Brewery in St. Marys, Pennsylvania, which has been serving beer for decades. You can also take a trip through the Elk Country Loop, a 76-mile route that crosses through the Pennsylvania Wilds and past large elk herds. You can also stop at the Worlds End State Park for camping, cabins, and hiking on the Loyalsock Trail for beautiful views of forests in vibrant color.

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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 the numerous hiking trails, visit a local farm, or tour a historic home.

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Take your time exploring the roughly 100-mile loop through the northwest corner of the state.

Pass through the Town of 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 hash marks to go on a day hike. Then pass through the West Cornwall Covered Bridge, which covers 172 feet over the Housatonic River. Visit Lake Waramaug State Park for hiking and fall foliage, and then head to Litchfield to visit White Flower Farm.

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Yes, it’s cliche, but New England does have beautiful fall foliage and lots of hikes and historic places to stop.

Start in Boston and walk the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile, red-lined route that leads you to 16 historically significant sites. Then head west through Massachusetts’ Berkshires, where you can take in plenty of fall colors. Make a detour to Northampton or stop in the living museum Old Sturbridge Village, then travel south through Connecticut and New York to Philadelphia, where you can visit the Museum of the American Revolution.

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You might think a drive up the California coast is best done in the summer, but it’s also beautiful, and still pretty warm, in the fall.

Start outside Los Angeles and do an oceanside hike in Point Mugu State Park. Then trace the coast on Highway 101 to Santa Barbara, where you can spend a night and stroll down State Street, which is filled with shops and restaurants. Make a side trip to nearby Solvang, which is modeled after an old Danish town, with wineries and beautiful scenery outside. If you have the time, continue north for more ocean scenery.

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Make your way through the rugged coast of Washington, including Olympic National Park, for beautiful views of mountains and lush forests.

Start in Seattle and loop around Puget Sound, stopping for ferry boat detours to Vashon Island or Whidbey Island. On Vashon, you can walk the beaches or visit Point Robinson Lighthouse for a quick island feeling. Stop to hike in Olympic National Park, and then carry on to historic Port Townsend, where you can wander among the old waterfront neighborhoods and Victorian houses.

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Take in warmer temperatures than you’ll get in New England, but avoid the unbearable heat and humidity of Florida’s summers by doing this drive in the fall.

Do the short 19-mile drive along Florida’s Highway 30A, which runs along the Gulf of Mexico, or extend it further. Stop along the way in one of South Walton’s 16 beach neighborhoods, where the sands are sugar-white thanks to their pure quartz crystal makeup. You can also check out coastal dune lakes that only exist in a handful of places in the world, including New Zealand, Madagascar, and Australia. For food, stop at Airstream Row, a street lined with aluminum trailers serving up tasty dishes.

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You won’t get much fall foliage, but driving the Oregon coast has its own scenery to offer.

Start in Astoria, then head south. Along the way, you can stop for hikes at Lewis And Clark National And State Historical Parks or Ecola Beach. Stay in Cannon Beach to wander among the large boulders, including Haystack Rock. Be sure to detour for a visit to the Tillamook Creamery.

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Skirt the northern border of the country by driving along the Great Lakes. Start at the southern edge of Lake Huron and watch tall ship schooners or shop in the downtown antiques market in Bay City. Then head north along the lake, stopping to go hiking at Thunder Bay River State Forest. Stop in Mackinaw City and take the ferry to Mackinac Island, where you can bike or take a horse and buggy around the historic 3.8-square-mile island that is preserved as a National Historic Landmark.

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This historic highway has been marked in songs and movies, and it is definitely worth exploring, even if you don’t make it the whole way.

You can start in Chicago and follow the turn-by-turn directions to trace the historic route. Stop along the way for memorable sights, including the Polk-a-Dot Drive In, The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum, the 80-foot Blue Whale, and the Cadillac Ranch.

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Trace the Mississippi River by following the Great River Road, which runs 3,000 miles if you want to go the full distance.

Stop along the way to explore Saint Paul, Minnesota, Chicago, and Madison, Wisconsin, and consider detours to Nashville and Jackson, Mississippi. There is a long list of attractions you can visit and plenty of opportunities for hiking, including the Mississippi Palisades State Park.

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