America’s Best Fall Foliage Road Trips

From Oregon’s Columbia River Highway across the country to Jacob’s Ladder Scenic Byway in western Massachusetts, our friends at Roadtrippers.com share their favorite fall foliage road trips to take this year.

September 10, 2020

By: Natalie Akers, Roadtrippers.com

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Blue Ridge Parkway

A meandering 469 miles across North Carolina and Virginia, the Blue Ridge Parkway is an American favorite made even more spectacular by a breathtaking display of fall colors. It’s home to Mother Nature’s longest-lasting show of fall foliage, and with thousands of feet in elevation, there is no shortage of scenic overlooks.

Blue Ridge Parkway

Worried you’ll miss the leaves? Mount Mitchell and Grandfather Mountain change color in early October, while areas like Chimney Rock hold out until early November.

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula Day Drive

The Mitten’s Gold Coast gets most of the attention when people talk about fall colors, but the somewhat untamed beauty of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula shines in the fall as well. This short 5-hour loop leaving from Newberry packs in everything you could want in a fall color tour — trees, beers and even bears.

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula Day Drive

Snap some pictures at the Crisp Point Lighthouse, Tahquamenon Falls State Park (pictured above) and Michigan’s only historic cranberry bog, the Centennial Cranberry Farm.

Columbia River Highway

America’s oldest scenic highway traverses the cliffs of Oregon for 75 miles of some of the best views this grand old land has to offer. Constructed in the early 1900s to give travelers up-front-and-personal access to Mother Nature in all of her glory, Columbia River Highway boasts the title of America’s first scenic highway. It dons fall hues in mid-October, when its signature cottonwood, ash and maple trees begin to turn.

Columbia River Highway

Starting just east of Portland, the drive is also home to several waterfalls including Multnomah Falls and Horsetail Falls.

Mid Mitten State

The middle of October is the best time to check out the leaves in the middle of Michigan! Grab some pumpkins and apples at a farm, or snap a few perfect photos at a covered bridge. May we suggest Fallasburg Covered Bridge, Pioneer Village & School?

Mid Mitten State

Take a walk through one of the gorgeous parks along this route that loops around central Michigan — seriously, it doesn’t get more autumn-y than that! See our trip itinerary here.

Jacob’s Ladder Scenic Byway

Winding through the southern Berkshires in western Massachusetts, Jacob’s Ladder Scenic Byway follows the rivers that brought Native Americans between the Connecticut and the Hudson River Valleys. At just 35 miles, this foliage drive is perfect for slowing down and taking it all in.

Jacob’s Ladder Scenic Byway

Drive this stretch of New England — straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting — before the cold sets in and witness the landscape’s change from summer’s green to autumn’s golds, reds and scarlets. If you prefer some time outside the car, this route stretches alongside a chunk of the Appalachian Trail.

The Rugged and Wandering

For the hardcore leaf peepers among us, there’s no better place to take your jeep to experience the changing foliage than Montana. Montana’s backcountry offers the ultimate scenes of America’s rugged beauty. See the trip itinerary here.

The Rugged and Wandering

Take the road less traveled on the Big Sky Backcountry Scenic Byway of Montana or cross the Continental Divide, stopping at vistas on Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Wisconsin Fall Foliage and Frank Lloyd Wright

There’s a region in Southwestern Wisconsin that the glaciers never touched, deemed the “Driftless Area.” Stop along the way in Spring Green, Wisconsin, and grab a book and coffee before you tour Frank Lloyd Wright’s school, Taliesin.

Wisconsin Fall Foliage and Frank Lloyd Wright

Beyond the beautiful tree-lined roads found on Wisconsin’s scenic autumn drives, a drive from Madison up to La Crosse through the Driftless Area is chock-full of fall harvest stands and — believe it or not — Frank Lloyd Wright's iconic architecture.

Skyline Drive

The Skyline Drive is a 105-mile National Scenic Byway that twists and winds through the over-200,000 pristine acres that make up Shenandoah National Park.

Skyline Drive

Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, namely the park’s Skyline Drive, is one of the nation’s premier fall RV trips for people who want to see fall foliage. In addition to the stunning scenery, Shenandoah offers plenty of other outdoor activities as well.

America’s Best Fall Foliage Road Trips

Related To:

Shop This Look

Blue Ridge Parkway

Blue Ridge Parkway

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula Day Drive

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula Day Drive

Columbia River Highway

Columbia River Highway

Mid Mitten State

Mid Mitten State

Jacob’s Ladder Scenic Byway

Jacob’s Ladder Scenic Byway

The Rugged and Wandering

The Rugged and Wandering

Wisconsin Fall Foliage and Frank Lloyd Wright

Wisconsin Fall Foliage and Frank Lloyd Wright

Skyline Drive

Skyline Drive

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