The 5 BEST National Parks to Visit this Fall
If you’re thinking about visiting a national park this autumn, you’re in luck! As many travelers with flexible schedules have long known, national parks are a spectacular time to visit the nation’s parklands.
The temperatures have dropped and the crowds have thinned, meaning you can enjoy the scenery without breaking a sweat or competing with other visitors for a photo. Best of all, depending on when and where you travel, you may get the added bonus of experiencing a vibrant display of fall foliage!
Keep reading for our picks for the 5 BEST National Parks to visit this fall!
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Fall is arguably the absolute best time to visit Great Smoky Mountain National Park and take in the colorful display of leaves from the observation deck at the peak of Clingman’s Dome.
Or, if you prefer a scenic drive, admire the autumnal hues from Cade’s Cove Loop Road, the Blue Ridge Parkway or the Foothills Parkway (also known as “the Tail of the Dragon”). Fall temperatures in the Smokies are also a great alternative to the oppressive heat that comes with summertime in Tennessee and North Carolina.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado is spectacular during the long, warm days of summer, but it pulls out all the stops for travelers who visit in the fall. Beginning in mid- to late-September, the weather cools down enough for a light jacket in the day, and the crisp evening chill demands a cozy jacket, a warm campfire and a steaming mug of hot cocoa.
During those magical weeks when summer gives way to fall, the aspens are ablaze with shades of gold, while other trees pepper the mountains and fields with pops of orange, red and yellow. Another draw of fall in the Rockies is the elk rut, during which you can hear the elk bugle across the park and neighboring Estes Park. In late September, the area even hosts an annual Elk Fest!
Acadia National Park
It's no secret that the six states that make up the New England region have a leg up on much of the rest of the country when it comes to experiencing fall foliage at its finest. Acadia National Park starts cooling down in late August, and by mid-October, the park on the coast of Maine is usually experiencing its peak weeks for fall foliage.
As an added bonus, beginning in early October, and lasting until early March, Acadia also has the distinction of being the first place in U.S. to see the sunrise each morning from the 1,530-foot summit of Cadillac Mountain. As the weather cools off and Bar Harbor begins to close down, you can enjoy Acadia with fewer tourists, too — and even grab popovers at the Jordan Pond House Restaurant, before it shutters for the season, without enduring a multihour wait.
Zion National Park
Zion National Park is a very popular national park, which can create crowding issues during the peak summer months. But in fall — especially if you can delay your visit until late in the season — the crowds taper off along with the temperatures.
If you have your heart set on some of the more popular trails, such as Angels Landing or the Narrows, a less-busy autumn day will be a far more enjoyable experience. (Just avoid the fall break, when Utah schools let out for a four-day weekend or an entire week, often in mid- or late-October.)
Fall colors make their way to Zion in late October and early November, and November temperatures often range from the 30s to the 50s — so pack plenty of layers. Also, remember that as visitors disperse for the winter, Zion’s shuttle buses begin running a little less frequently and for fewer hours each day. And the Human History Museum closes at the end of November, after Thanksgiving.
Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park in Virginia may not have the same nationwide recognition as Arches or Zion, but it holds treasures of its own, especially in the fall.
Shenandoah is known for its fall foliage, which usually peaks in late October or early November. The red, orange and yellow hues signifying the changing of the season can be enjoyed not only during hikes within the park, but also from the serpentine Skyline Drive that runs 105 miles north and south along the Blue Ridge Mountains right through the national park.
It’s hard to go wrong with a trip to a national park during the fall. After all, September, October and November are really the best times to get out there and enjoy the crisp, autumnal air before winter blankets everything with snow. Whether you’re seeking lower temperatures and smaller crowds, or you’re purely in pursuit of peak foliage, pack your jacket, bring the camera and get ready to have an unforgettable trip.