Fall Foliage: 5 Awesome RV Destinations for Fall Color
Obviously, different places deliver peak fall color seasons at different times, so be sure to do some research ahead of time to ensure you aren’t too early or too late.
There are many great RV destinations for fall color, but we want to narrow it down to a manageable list. I also encourage you to share your favorite RV destinations for fall colors in the comments below.
To get this conversation started, and in no particular order, here are our five RV destinations for fall colors.
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Why We Love Fall Camping
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We love Fall camping. RVing through all the beautiful colors and finding great sites to stop, take a break, and just enjoy the nature around us.
In the above video, we show some of our favorite places to go fall camping and boondocking.
5 Awesome RV Destinations for Fall Color
Among our favorites, of course, are many in our home state of Michigan. We have shared lots of our adventures through Michigan, and even have TWO Michigan RV Adventure Guides with complete itineraries.
1. Williamstown, Massachusetts – Fall colors in New England
It's fitting to start the list of our favorite RV destinations for fall colors with a location in New England since it's a destination for so many seeking fall colors. Williamstown, Massachusetts, is one of many beautiful communities in the Berkshires.
The Berkshires refers to a highland region in Massachusetts and is a rural getaway for many in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia.
Fall colors in this region are an incredible range of hues. Dark crimsons, bright oranges, and sunny yellows are accentuated against deep greens delivered by evergreen trees and the trees yet to change colors.
If you're looking for a place to start exploring the mountains and forests near Williamstown, Mount Greylock (especially the Stony Ledge Trail) is a wonderful destination. Alternatively, there a few scenic driving tours in the Berkshires you shouldn't miss.
When to Go: Late September through October.
2. Gatlinburg, Tennessee & the Great Smoky Mountains
When it comes to the best RV destinations for fall colors in the nation to see fall foliage, the Smoky Mountains deserves to be at the top of the list.
Gatlinburg is at the top of the list of Smoky Mountain towns to visit because of its great location at the entrance to Great Smoky National Park. More than 100 native tree types grow in the Smoky Mountains, including sugar maples, hickories, sweetgums, scarlet oaks, and red maples.
That means visitors get a spectacular show if their timing is just right. There are many trails in the National Park. Plenty of the trails lead to some stunning waterfalls, as well.
I wrote a post about the area many years ago that can be found here, if you're interested in learning more.
When to Go: Mid-October to early November
3. Hood River, Oregon – Best Fall Colors in the Northwest
Hood River, Oregon, a small town of about 7,000 people, is right in the Columbia River Gorge and just a stone's throw away from the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The Columbia River that cuts through the landscape divides Oregon and Washington and is fed by many amazing waterfalls.
With firs, cottonwoods, maple, ash, and pines, all the spectacular fall colors are present in this already breathtaking canyon. There are many ways to explore the fall foliage.
Bikers can tackle the Historic Columbia River Highway Trail. Hikers can take on the Multnomah Falls Trail to soak in both the fall colors and the stunning waterfall. Kayakers might even want to make their way down the Columbia River. It is one of the most spectacular RV destinations for fall colors.
When to Go: Mid-September to mid-October
4. Aspen, Colorado – Spectacular Yellow Fall Colors
With a town named after a tree, it's got to be a fantastic place to see fall foliage, right? When it's not ski season, things are a lot more mellow, and it's the ideal place to see the aspens change.
Thus, one of the top RV destinations for fall colors. In this area of the Rocky Mountains, there aren't many other deciduous trees beside the aspens. In addition, the aspen groves that speckle the rugged mountainsides are covered in evergreens.
That makes their bright gold color stand out even more among the pines. If you're lucky, a trip to Aspen may also mean you can hear elk bugling in the evenings. Since late September and early October are when elk enter mating season, their majestic calls can be heard echoing out into the dusk.
The Maroon Bells — the most photographed mountain peaks in the U.S. — are the perfect place in Aspen to see colors in the fall. That's because when you travel here, a glacial lake reflects these craggy peaks. While the mountains tower above the treeline, the aspen trees below the treeline turn a stunning yellow.
When to Go: The last two weeks of September
5. Taos, New Mexico – An Enchanted Circle Tour of Fall Colors
Those who seek genuinely unique RV destinations for fall colors travel to Taos, New Mexico. The big attraction is the aspen trees that turn dark orange.
The Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway is a popular 83-mile loop that delivers a spectacular tour of these beautiful trees. (The Enchanted Circle was featured in an RV Lifestyle report about “Boondocking in National Forests.”)
As a reminder, the Rocky Mountains do drop down into New Mexico. The mountains are ultimately responsible for the evergreens and the magical aspens in the Taos area. The Enchanted Circle makes its way around Wheeler Peak, a mountain towering at 13,159 feet.
So aside from traveling the byway, there is plenty of hiking and exploring to do. Tao also offers a vibrant art and music culture, as well as historical landmarks.
When to Go: Late September to early October
Do You Love Stargazing, Too?
If you love beautiful fall colors, you probably appreciate the beauty of the night sky, too.
With so many stars in the sky and a universe so vast, stargazing helps put life (and all of our problems) into perspective. It’s one of the biggest perks of camping when you have an open sky filled with stars above you.
To make stargazing even more enjoyable, we've created a list of the best stargazing items to take with you camping…
And some of the best Fall colors are in Michigan!
Finally! Mike and Jennifer's Michigan Bundle
(Michigan's Lower Peninsula AND Michigan's Upper Peninsula)
This Michigan Bundle contains our ever-popular Guide to the Upper Peninsula PLUS our newest Guide on the LOWER Peninsula! Here's a little on both ebooks (not a printed book):
Michigan's Upper Peninsula Adventure Guide: This ebook is a seven stop guided exploration of the Michigan UP. We provide a suggested route and itinerary, links to multiple campgrounds and boondocking spots, and the best spots to see along the way. Don’t plan your trip to the Upper Peninsula without it!
Michigan's Lower Peninsula Adventure Guide: This guide explores the Lower Peninsula, also known as ‘the Mitten.” You can easily spot its mitten shape on the map. Most of this guide follows the coast of Lake Huron and Lake Michigan, with a little bit of Lake Erie down near Detroit.
You are in for a HUGE adventure with this ebook bundle of the best of Michigan for RVers!
You can see ALL our eBooks here, or use the following Quick Links to go straight to what you need!
● Adirondacks ● Arizona ● Colorado ● Coastal Maine ● Florida’s Atlantic Coast ● Florida’s Gulf Coast ● Florida Keys ● Great Lakes Shoreline ● Natchez Trace ● Southern Utah ● Upper Peninsula ● Lower Peninsula ● Yellowstone ● Bourbon Trail ● Yosemite
And MANY of these are BUNDLED together:
Northeast Bundle
Coastal Maine, Adirondacks
Ultimate Michigan and Great Lakes Bundle – 3 ebooks –
Upper Peninsula, Lower Peninsula, and the Great Lakes Tour
Michigan Bundle
Upper Peninsula, Lower Peninsula
The Great Lakes Adventure Guide Bundle
The Great Lake Shoreline Tour & JUST the Upper Peninsula Guide
Florida Adventure Guide Bundle
Gulf Coast, Atlantic Coast, Keys
Southwest Adventure Guide Bundle
Arizona, Colorado, Southern Utah)
Ultimate 7-Day RV Adventure Guide Bundle
Collection 1- our first 10 ebooks (does NOT contain Great Lakes Shoreline, Natchez Trace, The Bourbon Trail, and Yosemite)
We also have a nice collection of ebooks that will help you navigate the RV Lifestyle.
Like these:
RV Buying Secrets – The Beginner's Guide to Boondocking – The Ultimate Guide to Cheap or FREE RV Camping Sites – Boondocking and Free RV Camping EBOOK Bundle – Winter Camping – Newbie Guide
And ONE PRINT book 🙂 and yes, before you ask, we have plans for MANY more print books.
The Complete Guide to Boondocking – PRINT VERSION
This is the same as the ebook titled The Beginner's Guide to Boondocking but in print.
And while you are exploring all our ebooks – check out the hoodies, T-shirts, Stickers, and mugs in our MERCH Store! You can get to it directly by just going here – SHOP!
Michigan fall colors never disappoint us, it’s always beautiful in the fall
We have to agree! Team RV Lifestyle
Have to add Shenandoah National Park and The Blueridge Parkway where you can enjoy many miles of fall colors starting in Va and ending in western NC.
I see no rv campsites as part of the katy trail state park. It is likely there are other Mo. State Parks w RV camping.
Mo. has wonderful, well kept RV campsites!!
Letchworth State Park, Castile, New York in October. 14,000 acre Park in northwestern part of the state. Deep gorge, several big waterfalls, 600 foot cliffs, 66 miles of trails, campground with electric.
Hwy 112 in New Hampshire.
Nearby we take a day trip to Baldwin City Kansas and the Maple Leaf Festival. Missouri has beautiful fall colors. Our favorite destinations are wineries and State Parks specifically the Katy Trail, a Rail to Trail designated as a MO State Park. We hop on and off the trail as we travel across the state but for sure stop at Rocheport which is a scenic town and a good out and back destination on the trail. Sometimes we continue on over the Mississippi (on a ferry if they are running) to southern Illinois and Shawnee National Forest. Tunnel Hill Rail to Trail is in the area.
Vermont will not be disappointing.
Follow route VT-100 to see beautiful foliage, quaint little villages and towns, the Green Mountains,
Maple sugar locations and so much more.
Taos is great, but New Mexico still requires 14-day quarantine for any non-residents.
Vermont, of course – but, like anywhere in these days of Corona virus, check the Vermont State Travel Map to see whether you’d need to quarantine. Please wait until next year, when hopefully there will be a vaccine, if you are coming from a yellow or red county on the map!
Let me add one more: Anywhere in the Adirondack mountains from Lake George moth to Plattsburgh.
Have never had a problem with bear or cougar… It’s their home and we’re just visiting but we follow all safety procedures… and carry bear spray
California’s Eastern Sierra (Inyo and Mono Counties) are a big attraction. Just head north on Hwy 395 in Bishop up into Bridgeport and you won’t be disappointed.
Sad news:
Oregon fall colors top pick – Multnomah Falls trail is closed due to recent fire damage.
To Mike. You have some wonderful places to visit in America,
My Question. Is when camping in these woods, Surely you are concerned
About Black Bears, or Cougars. While out walking. Please explain how you manage to stay safe from these Animals
Thank You Steve Young
Letchworth State Park in Western NY has been one of the best for fall colors.