Great Smoky Mountains National Park
#5 in Best Fall Vacations
Straddling the North Carolina-Tennessee border, this national park is home to multiple hiking trails, cascading waterfalls and all kinds of wildlife. As temperatures cool, the park becomes a perfect place for leaf peeping. Hike the Appalachian and Oconaluftee River trails to various lookout points for jaw-dropping vistas, or drive along Clingmans Dome Road or the Blue Ridge Parkway for a more relaxing but equally scenic excursion. You can also see the fall colors from above by hopping on the nearby Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
Zion National Park
#6 in Best Fall Vacations
Utah’s first national park is the perfect destination for your next autumn getaway. As fall makes its debut, Zion National Park’s dwindling temperatures (think: highs starting in the low 90s in September and dropping to the mid-60s by November) create the perfect conditions for activities like hiking, biking and canyoneering. Hike the valley floor alongside colorful cottonwoods, or traverse steep inclines for panoramic views of Zion’s sandstone cliffs. The Narrows, the Canyon Overlook Trail and Angels Landing are some the park’s most popular trails. Keep in mind that higher elevations bring even cooler temperatures, so pack extra layers.
