These 6 US Road Trips Are Some of the Most Beautiful You Can Take This Fall

As forests change into fall finery, consider hitting the highway to savor the splendor. Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventures, harvest festivals, Oktoberfest celebrations, or striking tree-lined Main Streets, these are the best fall road trips in the US for 2025.

We hope you love the spaces and stays we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay.

Photo: Dmitry Kovba/Shutterstock

If you want a best of fall list in road form, this Pacific Northwest road trip is it. Washington’s roughly 440-mile Cascade Loop circles from Puget Sound into alpine forests, farmland, and mountain passes. You can drive it straight through in two days — but four days gives you the breathing room to take it all in.

The route heads north from Seattle, then east across farmland into pine-studded Cascades. Stop for a hike to Bridal Veil Falls — it’s about a four-mile round-trip trek to a waterfall framed by mountain views — then continue to charming Leavenworth. The Bavarian-inspired village hosts Oktoberfest over three weekends in October 2025 (October 3–4, 10–11, and 17–18), featuring live music, dancing, and beer gardens at the Festhalle and Front Street Park. Kinderplatz for kids and multiple beer and entertainment stages make it a festival packed with options. It’s worth booking an Airbnb here for a night or two — there are plenty of cozy cabins in the surrounding forests, close enough to town to join the festivities.

Photo: Bill Perry/Shutterstock

After leaving Leavenworth, the route dips into the Wenatchee Valley — aptly called the “Apple Capital of the World” — where you can stop at u-pick farms like Stutzman Ranch or visit wineries around Lake Chelan. The Lake Chelan Crush Festival, featuring grape stomping and vineyard tours, is typically held across consecutive weekends in October, with activities like wine tasting, stomp sessions, vineyard tours, and a BBQ.

Sun-yellow aspens light the treeline as the Methow Valley gives way to jagged peaks in North Cascades National Park, then harvest-ready farmland follows the Skagit River toward the bay lapping Whidbey Island’s shores. Be prepared to pull over during this final stretch of driving — scenic overlooks from the road are postcard-perfect.

Photo: Teri Virbickis/Shutterstock

The 90-minute drive from Denver to the Top of the Rockies Byway might leave you breathless: the Mile High City is no match for these altitudes, which reach over 10,000 feet. The Centennial State’s tallest peaks await along this 100-mile adventure to aspen forests, pristine lakes, and scenic towns beloved by laidback nature lovers and ritzy jet setters alike.

Start your mountain meandering in Frisco, called the “Main Street of the Rockies” thanks to its pretty downtown framed by nearby peaks. After fueling up at Frisco’s lodge-inspired Rocky Mountain Coffee Roasters, continue to Leadville, the highest incorporated city in the US. Here, drivers can take a backseat on a scenic 2.5-hour train ride through the Arkansas River Valley and awe at Mt Massive and Mt Elbert, both of which shoot past 14,000 feet.

Photo: Adam Springer/Shutterstock

From Leadville, you can either head north toward Vail or continue west over Independence Pass. If you opt for Vail, there’s no shortage of places to stay — from the luxe The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch in Beaver Creek to mountain condos and cabins listed on Airbnb, many within walking distance of restaurants, shops, and trailheads. Staying in a nearby rental affords time for dining on locally-sourced grub at Slope Room, ogling the 60-foot cascade on the hike to Booth Falls, and visiting the Vail Nature Center — a 1940s homestead with nature exhibits, walking trails, and tours.

Heading west from Leadville leads to Independence Pass, where dynamic mountain views make it impossible not to stop for photo ops. Aspen, surrounded by hills glinting gold with the town’s namesake trees, is a prized autumnal Elysium anchoring the byway’s end. Hike through aspen groves on the Cathedral Lake trail, handpick fresh produce from the Saturday morning farmers market, or get an altitude buzz from locally-made craft beer at Aspen Brewing Company.

Photo: anthony heflin/Shutterstock

Two lanes, 469 miles, and a speed limit that rarely goes above 45 mph: the Blue Ridge Parkway encourages drivers to slow down and appreciate fall’s foliage — an easy task when about 100 species of trees change colors at elevations ranging from 700 to 6,000 feet. Fall colors begin at the highest elevations by early October and move downward through mid-to-late October — and often into early November at lower elevations — offering a prolonged season of vibrant foliage.

For a north-to-south adventure, start near Waynesboro, Virginia, and pause at Humpback Rocks, a bald outcropping reachable via several paths, including the Appalachian Trail. Panoramas of rolling woodlands stretch for miles — a visual preamble of what’s to come.

Photo: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

After a few hours of driving, the photogenic Mabry Mill, built in 1908, appears along the road. Snap an obligatory pic of the pond-side structure then stop inside the restaurant for pancakes (go for buckwheat, produced in an on-site gristmill) or a Southern-style supper. When it comes to photography, nothing makes a prettier picture than the Linn Cove Viaduct — an elevated stretch of parkway tracing North Carolina’s Grandfather Mountain. The S-shaped road is a modern marvel; it’s easy to see why it’s designated a National Civil Engineering Landmark.

Once in North Carolina, the show-stopping sites don’t quit. There’s the hemlock forest hike to Linville Falls, which flows into the “Grand Canyon of the East,” and the Biltmore Estate, George Vanderbilt’s 1895 French chateau built on 8,000 manicured acres. Artsy Asheville is another must-see, with its booming restaurant scene, microbreweries, art-deco architecture, and easy access to outdoor adventures. Consider overnighting at The Foundry — the former steel forge once supplied materials for the Biltmore; it’s now an industrial-chic hotel — or one of these Airbnbs in Asheville for a different take on a mountain stay.

The parkway ends near Cherokee, the eastern gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. To honor the landscape’s original stewards, visit the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, chronicling 13,000 years of the indigenous community’s history.

Photo: Big Joe/Shutterstock

Forget Michigan’s mitten — fall is all about the Upper Peninsula (UP). Spend a long weekend skirting three Great Lakes and beaches, carving through old-growth forests, and eating your weight in pasties to see why Yoopers once considered seceding in the 1970s. Life in the UP is worlds away from the rest of the US.

After reaching St. Ignace, roughly four hours north of Detroit, hop on a ferry to Mackinac Island. You’ll need to leave the wheels behind for this car-free jaunt — horse-drawn carriages and bikes are the go-to modes of transport. Rent from the Mackinac Island Bike Shop and pedal the eight-mile loop around the island via the M-185 trail, with views of Arch Rock, historic sites, and the lakeshore.

When evening comes, rest your head at The Grand Hotel, which opened in 1887 and retains its old-world elegance.

Photo: John McCormick/Shutterstock

After returning to St. Ignace and grabbing a pasty from Lehto’s, zoom 80 minutes north to Tahquamenon Falls State Park. The 50-foot plunge at Upper Tahquamenon Falls is Michigan’s version of Niagara — in fall, the scene is especially striking.

Next, head 30 minutes to Whitefish Point to view one of Lake Superior’s oldest operating lighthouses (tour availability varies seasonally), then cruise along sandstone cliffs of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore to Munising. Booking a 2.5-hour boat tour with Pictured Rocks Cruises remains possible through mid-October, offering narrated views of Miners Castle, Chapel Rock, Spray Falls, and more — just be sure to reserve in advance, as tours often sell out.

Rather than traversing the rest of the UP, cut through the Gwinn State Forest area to Iron Mountain’s abandoned Millie Mine — home to one of America’s largest bat colonies. Between September and October, you can spot them taking flight at dusk. As evening comes, head to the cabins at Edgewater Resort along the Menominee River. The trip’s final leg grazes Lake Michigan’s breezy northern shores on the way back to St. Ignace.

Photo: sweens/Shutterstock

New York urbanites looking for leaf-peeper paradise need only drive 90 minutes north — the Shawangunk Scenic Byway passes through historic hamlets and sprawling nature preserves far removed from New York City’s steely shimmer. By late September, chestnut oak forests along this 90-mile journey go from summer green to burnt sienna — a shock of color that unfolds for over a month.

The byway splits into four sections, but for a brisk one-day adventure, stick to the Northern Loop anchored by hippie-dippy New Paltz. History buffs should begin at New Paltz’s Historic Huguenot Street before perusing the cafes and antique stores at Water Street Market.

Photo: flashbacknyc/Shutterstock

From New Paltz, take Route 299 toward the Mohonk Preserve — an 8,000-acre expanse for outdoor adventures (hike-heads will appreciate the steep climb to Bonticou Crag). Next, follow Routes 44/55 past leafy Minnewaska State Park toward Route 209, lined with farms in harvest mode. Kelder’s, a u-pick produce operation with in-season pumpkins, concord grapes, and raspberries, is hard to miss — the world’s third-largest gnome hails the highway from its front lawn.

The byway continues onto Route 213, passing the 19th-century cement town of Rosendale (stop at Truss and Trestle for classic greasy-spoon grub), then snakes along the Wallkill River toward Coppersea Distilling, a whiskey distillery offering tours and tastings with a farm-to-glass ethos.

Although the loop ends in New Paltz, consider finishing at the Victorian-style Mohonk Mountain House — the lakeside resort has been charming guests since the 19th century and regularly runs fall packages with spa, dining, and guided hikes. If you’d rather stay somewhere more homely, there are plenty of Airbnb cabins in the woods outside New Paltz. Many are close to the byway’s trailheads and have outdoor space for sitting out in the crisp air, with views of the surrounding maples and oaks turning color.

Photo: yggdrasill/Shutterstock

Down-to-earth Burlington, Vermont’s largest city, is an attractive fall destination with craft breweries and locavore grub galore — but to make the most of fall’s arboreal brilliance, roll 30 minutes east along the Green Mountain Scenic Byway. This loop connects six pastoral towns through a quilt of rolling farmland and a riot of fall color. Choose picturesque Stowe as your home base for a two-day excursion.

Photo: Don Landwehrle/Shutterstock

Stowe’s Main Street, lined with friendly mom-and-pop shops, leads to a classic New England tableau: the white steeple of a church pierces eggshell-blue skies, backed by Mount Mansfield — Vermont’s highest peak. For mountain views with minimal effort, ride the Stowe Mountain Resort gondola, open daily (weather permitting) from mid-June to October 19 offering access to hiking trails and a cliff-top restaurant.

For something more ambitious, drive 45 minutes to Underhill and take on the challenging 7.7-mile loop trail that climbs above the treeline. After exploring, rest at the Trapp Family Lodge — once the home of the von Trapp family — now a year-round hotel on 2,500 acres with Austrian flair. The Stowe area also has a wide selection of Airbnbs, from classic log cabins to modern mountain homes, many with views of the surrounding hillsides and easy access to nearby trails.

Waterbury, just a 15-minute drive south along the byway, is perfect for weekend munchies. The Cold Hollow Cider Mill welcomes visitors with self-guided tours, cider tastings, and famed cider donuts. The city is also home to the Ben & Jerry’s factory. Guided tours run through the production floor, and in October the Flavor Graveyard is especially fun to visit, with its tongue-in-cheek headstones for retired flavors.