Amazing National Parks To Visit In The Fall
Leaf-peepers, start your engines! The US is blessed with some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world during the autumn months. And from coast to coast, there’s strong odds that an amazing national park is within road trip distance to you. So this fall, take advantage of our incredible outdoors and witness the changing of the seasons in all of their splendor.
We’ve put together a list of our favorite national parks to visit in the fall, spanning the entire continental US. Whether you’re visiting just for the day or braving the elements overnight in your RV rental, RVnGO has got you covered.
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Best National Parks To Visit In The Fall
Rocky Mountain National Park
Where else could our list of the best national parks to visit in the fall start but with the US’s most famous mountain range. In autumn, the sweeping hills and peaks of the Rockies turn to a gorgeous golden yellow as far as the eye can see. As the Aspens change their colors, the park takes on a warmth to the eye despite the drop in temperatures. It is exquisite to visit at the height of its season in summer, but we’d argue that it’s just as magnificent— if not more so— in the fall.
For this reason, RV camping in Rocky Mountain National Park in the fall is fairly popular. There are a few campgrounds that are open year round, mainly in the Estes Park region. Otherwise, RV campgrounds in the Rockies close around October 15 each year.
The most important thing to consider when RV camping in the Rockies during the fall is that the temperature in the park is quite colder than other areas during this same time period. The high elevation puts temperatures in the 40s where in other states there may still be peaks in the 50s. Be sure to plan your trip responsibly with proper gear, attire, and a generator for your RV just in case.
RV Campgrounds In Rocky Mountain National Park
Moraine Park Campground | Glacier Basin Campground | Estes Park Campground at Mary’s Lake
Acadia National Park
This coastal Maine retreat is everything you could ask for in a New England park. Although it’s far from the largest of the national parks, Acadia boasts of multiple mountains, rugged sealine, lakes, nearby islands, and multiple lighthouses at sea. Although there are a few sand beaches, Acadia’s coast is famous for its rock shelves that stretch dramatically along the shoreline. At the Cadillac Cliffs of Monument Cove, a natural inlet sees waves that crash stories high, giving it the name Thunder Hole.
Despite being one of the smaller national parks in the US, Acadia has seen a surge in popularity within the last decade. It regularly ranks in the top 10 most visited parks in the US, with over 3.4 million visitors annually. Because of this, and the relatively smaller size of the park, there are only a handful of RV campgrounds to serve visitors. Although the fall isn’t the peak season of the park, we strongly recommend booking far in advance of your trip. Leaf peepers across New England will no doubt still be pouring into Schoodic Peninsula to take in the landscape in autumn.
During your visit, be sure to check out Bar Harbor on the northeast of the peninsula for fabulous seafood and drinks on the water.
RV Campgrounds In Acadia National Park
Mount Desert Campground | Blackwoods Campground | Seawall Campground
Shenandoah National Park
New England may get all of the glory when it comes to the fall, but the mountains of Virginia become something out of a Robert Frost poem itself. What’s best, the leaf-peeping season in Shenandoah National Park is somewhat longer than in other regions. The leaves begin to turn in early October, and last all the way through late-November.
Among the many things to see and do in Shenandoah, we find the plains of Big Meadows to be the most spectacular. Situated in the center of the park, the meadow consists of miles of grasslands. In the fall, the grass becomes a stunning, vivid shade of red. The landscape is so dreamy here in autumn, we think it’s actually the best time of year to visit the park. The dreamy landscape simply speaks for itself.
If you’re short on time during your visit, the Skyline Drive will take you along 70 overlooks in the iconic Blue Ridge Highway. There are numerous trailheads that veer off from the highway, so you’ll be able to pull over for a hike as well.
RV Campgrounds In Shenandoah National Park
Loft Mountain Campground | Big Meadows Campground | Mathews Arm Campground
Mount Rainier National Park
The landscape of Mount Rainier in the fall looks straight out of a painting. We know, we know; we’ve said things like this before. But the rolling hills of the park are a feast for the eyes in the fall. Golden yellows, reds, greens, and oranges turn the meadows and hilltops into an autumnal wonderland to behold while the evergreens look on.
As with our caveat for RV camping in the Rockies during the fall, the same applies tenfold to Mount Rainier. In October, temperatures drop to the 30s in the park. Because of this, we strongly advise that only experienced campers RV camp at Mount Rainier during October. Otherwise, make sure your RV has a good generator— and pack warm!
Because of this, we recommend hikes that won’t take you as high in elevation. The Naches Peak Loop is a classic family-friendly trail that brings you to Tipsoo Lake and Chinook Pass. This 3.5 mile stretch offers amazing views of the fall foliage in Mount Rainier National Park.
RV Campgrounds In Mount Rainier National Park
Cougar Rock Campground | Ohanapecosh Campground | Silver Springs Campground
Zion National Park
The months of September and October are ideal for visiting this Southwestern favorite. With the cooling in temperatures, the overwhelming crowds are much thinner at one of the most popular parks in the west. But, the temperature isn’t so cool that you won’t have a great experience in the rusty canyons. All along the creeks and the base of the rock formations, the yellow leaves of the trees make for a beautiful pop of color in the desert landscape. Best of all, the temperatures ranging from the low 50s to high 70s mean that you’ll still be able to do pretty much all of the hikes and other cool things that you could do in the summer. Just without the crowds to block the view!
To get the best access to Zion’s fall foliage, check out the lovely Emerald Pools trails. This hike will take you along the Virgin River and through Heaps Canyon. At the end are three tiered pools and waterfalls tucked within the canyon. In the fall, the foliage surrounding the hike is incredible, so despite it being one of the more popular trails in the park, we can’t not suggest it.
For breathtaking views of the canyons of Zion from higher up, take the Weeping Rock trail from Hidden Canyon. You’ll have extraordinary views not only of the canyon walls, but the foliage that dots them as well.
RV Campgrounds In Badlands National Park
Zion Canyon Campground & RV Resort | Watchman Campground | Zion Crest Campground & RV Park
Glacier National Park
The final spot in our ranking of the best national parks to visit in the fall has to go to the shorelines of Glacier National Park’s lakes. Of course, the park as a whole is stunning in the fall. The aspens of northern Montana begin to turn yellow in September and don’t shed fully until late October. Due to the very low temperatures in the park in October, we advise staying in the park in September to have the best experience.
To keep at somewhat lower elevations during your hikes in the park, we recommend checking out Hidden Lake Overlook. At 460 feet elevation and 2.8 miles hike, it’s one of the easier and more popular trails in Glacier. But it’ll provide you with lakeside picnic spots to stop at and mountain views to take in without exerting yourself too much in the colder weather.
St. Mary Falls, at 260 elevation and less than two miles, is another great afternoon spent in the park. The trail to the waterfall passes through sunny valleys between the mountains, which makes it ideal for time of year.
RV Campgrounds In Glacier National Park
Many Glacier Campground | Mountain Meadow RV Park | Apgar Campground
What did you think of our list of the best national parks to visit in the fall? Which is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!