Best Fall Vacation Ideas In The US
From its whimsical colors to its seasonal foods and beverages, it’s no wonder that fall is America’s favorite season. More and more people are ditching the crowds of summer to appreciate everything fall has to offer. The weather is amazing for camping (not too hot, not too cold) and the festivities can be enjoyed weeklong or just for the weekend! Sure enough, the American landscape has got you covered from coast to coast with popular destinations and hidden gems, whether you’re looking to escape from the city or find a new one to call home. For a perfect fall getaway, take a look at our picks for the best fall vacation ideas in 2021.
Berkshires, Massachusetts
Our list of fall vacation ideas kicks off, where else, in New England. The Berkshires is the name given to the area in Western Massachusetts between the Housatonic and Hoosic River valleys. Nestled amongst the mountains are quaint towns and villages (Lenox, Stockbridge, and Williamstown, to name a few), which are reason enough to visit for their New England charm in their own right. However, what truly makes people flock to the Berkshires in fall are its rolling hills, farmland, and mountain trails. In the autumn months, the landscape fuses into the shimmering red, gold, and orange of a Robert Frost poem. Most conveniently, they’re near the halfway mark between New York City and Boston. The Berkshires are bucolic, peaceful, and rustic, making them a prime destination for a fall weekend getaway in the Northeast.
While you’re there, be sure to visit local favorite Hilltop Orchards for scrumptious cider donuts, wine and cider tastings, hiking trails, and of course, Pick Your Own apples!
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Nearby hotspots like Sedona or Aspen tend to get a lot of the glory in America’s Southwestern fall. However, New Mexico’s Santa Fe is an incredible melting pot of not only different cultures, but ecospheres as well.
To the west of Santa Fe are desert plains, dotted with the architecture of the Pueblo and Plains Native Americans. Yet just above the desert is the Santa Fe National Forest, where towering pines meet jagged red rock mountains and grassland valleys. In the fall, the hills and pines become a brilliant yellow against the rusty hues of the rock formations. Santa Fe is most beautiful during this time of year, even though the crowds are typically moved to places like Flagstaff. Recharge yourslef in the splendor of nature, then be sure to visit downtown Santa Fe for its Spanish and Mexican-infused cuisine. If you’re lucky enough to be invited, attend a Pueblo Feast Day with the locals to experience and learn more about Pueblo culture firsthand.
Savannah, Georgia
The month of October is the best time of year to visit Savannah for so many reasons. What immediately stands out among them is the weather; while the summer months reach as high as 90° daily, October is cooler at around 78°. Still more than warm enough to enjoy the beach, but not nearly as sweltering. The cooler temperatures also bring out the best in a walking city like Savannah. Its historic district is laid out on a grid, so sightseeing is super easy.
However, the weather isn’t the only great thing about Savannah in the fall. Spooky season is right at home in the most haunted city in America, and there are dozens of ghost tours to take you through Savannah’s most haunted spots (and even a haunted pub crawl). And if ghosts aren’t your thing, then there’s always the Savannah Jazz Festival, or Oktoberfest, or the prestigious Savannah Film Festival. . . There are so many amazing things to do in Savannah in the fall. So naturally, your schedule will be packed full the entire time you’re there!
Hot Springs, Arkansas
The autumn months are the best time of year to appreciate the thermal springs that Hot Springs is known for. To enjoy the heated springs out in nature, head to Hot Springs National Park north of the city— or if you’d prefer to stay in town, the famous Bathhouse Row features eight working bathhouses from the 19th and 20th centuries.
The lush slopes of Ouachita National Forest become painted in the colors of fall. Threads of hiking trails and overlook spots to take in the natural beauty from abound. And absolutely not to be missed during your stay are the Garvan Woodland Gardens, with over 200 acres of tranquil botanical flora, a Japanese Garden, and 4.5 miles of shoreline along the Ouachita River. Perhaps most special about the Gardens is the Anthony Chapel, an immaculately designed sanctuary in the middle of the woods. The chapel has a 57 foot high ceiling, supported by an elaborate network of criss-crossing pine beams. Its sweeping windows on all sides provide luminous light and breathtaking views. The result is a celebration of the serenity of nature, like the town of Hot Springs itself.
Sure, the coasts seem to naturally attract people to them in autumn. But don’t write off the inland states from your list of fall vacation ideas just yet.
Sonoma Valley, California
The birthplace of wine in California, Sonoma Valley is a hugely popular spot for visitors in the harvest season. It’s a time of year when many of Sonoma’s numerous wineries offer grape stomping competitions and tours of their vineyards while they’re flush with fall color. There are a bounty of festivals honoring Sonoma’s famous wines, including the Sonoma County Harvest Fair and Taste of Sonoma. And yet, Sonoma Valley has so much more to offer than just its beverages.
For lovers of Californian nature and history, the Jack London State Historic Park in Glen Ellen becomes a rustic wonderland in the fall. Named for its famous author and adventurer (best known for Call of the Wild and White Fang), the park is home to Jack London’s appropriately titled Beauty Ranch, a sprawling collection of several farms, silos, and distilleries that London once rehabbed and worked himself. Over 20 hiking trails will take you through the dreamy Ranch’s stone houses, barns, ruins, and vineyards. Later, after you’ve left the Ranch and had dinner in Sonoma, watch the sunset from Goat Rock Beach’s sandy shoreline and grassy dunes.
Black Hills, South Dakota
Our list of fall vacation ideas turns to the Midwestern states for good reason. The Badlands of South Dakota have a unique autumnal landscape that’s refreshing against the traditional fall backdrop. For those seeking to escape into the American Wild, look to South Dakota’s Black Hills .
In the fall, the grassy plains of the Black Hills’ prairies become a soft gold. The birch trees are a vibrant yellow, and the spruces a green so deep it’s nearly black. These colors stand in stark contrast to the jagged greys and whites of the mountains that hold them. And those to the deep blues and blacks of the rivers that reflect them. The Black Hills are a hiking and camping wonderland. Most fortunately, its waterfalls and valleys are most beautiful in the months of September through November. For driving and motorcycle enthusiasts, Vanocker Canyon has a scenic byway that passes along parts of the park. To go all the way through it, US Route 385 will send you deep into the Hills themselves.
Portland, Oregon
A mainstay travel hub for the West Coast, Portland, Oregon, is a delight for people of all ages. Brunch is kind of a big deal here, as are its many charming coffee houses that are absolutely perfect on a crisp fall day. Then of course, there’s the Portland Japanese Garden, whose famous Japanese Maple turns an exquisite fiery orange in autumn.
Lovers of hard cider, craft whiskey, and innovative cocktails will find themselves at home in a city that has seven speakeasies in it (that we know of!). Of note, Portland’s apple orchards have made the state spoiled for its number of hard cider taprooms, with Portland Cider House being most nationally recognized among them. Within the whiskey scene, Multnomah Whiskey Library is a must-visit for its old world atmosphere of brick walls and chandeliers. An unmarked speakeasy itself, Multnomah is a membership-based bar. This means that people can purchase day passes to access its incredible collection of whiskeys and cocktails.
Whether it’s brunch, nature hikes, coffee, or cocktails, everything about Portland just screams snug fall day.
Portland, Maine
Ah, New England in the fall, once again. The other, lesser known Portland in the US is starting to gain more and more recognition in recent years, particularly with millennials. One need only stroll through Portland’s downtown streets to understand why.
For one thing, Portland is a major brewery and craft beer city, and the scene is only getting larger. From popular hometown brands like Allagash, whose factory is constantly buzzing with tours and food trucks, to lesser known holes in the wall, Portland is nothing less than a beer lover’s paradise. For the opportunity to sample from a downright decadent list of international craft imports, step off the main street to find hidden away Novare Res Bier Café. The establishment is based out of renovated horse stables, that gives it an incredibly cool and incredibly homey vibe. As it proclaims, Novare isn’t trying to be a British pub or a German biergarten. It’s just a really awesome place to hang out and try something new at.
Of course, while you’re in Portland, you also have access to Maine’s iconic shoreline and picturesque lighthouse. Enjoy the state’s famous lobster dishes or clam chowder at any of its homespun restaurants, and bundle up in a cozy knit sweater for some authentic autumn in New England experience.
Need more help coming up with fall vacation ideas? On The Go with RVnGO has you covered.