The Best Places to See Fall Leaves in the US
Ready to catch all the beautiful colors of fall leaves? With flights across the United States from coast to coast, the reds, oranges, and yellows of the season are just a quick trip away. Use the foliage map to estimate the timing of peak fall colors for your desired destination or read about some of the best places you can see fall foliage with Breeze below.
New England Locations
Maine: Bangor and Portland both offer stunning leaf peeping spots. Looking for a more peaceful retreat? Travel north to the Moosehead Lake region and take in all of nature’s autumnal splendor. Parks in the surrounding Portland area also offer stunning views. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Portland Head Light and Fort WIlliams Park, Sebago Lake State Park, and Peaks Island all offer incredible vistas along the coast or tucked away at a mountain lake.
Vermont: Take a scenic drive down Route 100 near Burlington, or immerse yourself in Green Mountain National Forest, with a palette that changes as the days get shorter and cooler. The rolling hills in the Burlington surrounding area are full of sugar maple trees that are transformed into a patchwork of fiery reds and oranges.
New Hampshire: Enjoy a crisp afternoon in the mountains or by a lake in Manchester. Head north and take a drive down the serene Kancamagus Highway or visit the White Mountain National Forest for a truly breathtaking view of the leaves.
Rhode Island: Enjoy a bike ride through a kaleidoscope of trees on the Blackstone River Bikeway, just outside of Providence. Travel a bit further south to the Arcadia Management area to enjoy hiking in wooded areas. Catch a fish in a nearby pond as you take in the season’s splendor.
Connecticut: Hartford is full of trails to spot all the cascading colors. Spot an autumn forest contrasted against the iconic Heublein Tower at Talcott Mountain State Park or enjoy waterfalls and wooded hiking trails at Wadsworth Falls State Park.
Midwestern Locations
Michigan: From local parks and nature centers to long drives through national forests, Lansing is full of opportunities to see the leaves. Take a drive through Huron-Manistee National Forests or the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge to see wetlands, forests, migratory birds, rivers, and lakes all surrounded with a background of fiery foliage.
Wisconsin: Bask in the beauty of a landscape shaped by glaciers in Madison while taking in the sights along ridge lines and through woodlands. Travel along US-14 in the Wisconsin River Valley for a drive along the water, where bright hues are reflected from the trees.
Ohio: This state offers many must-see locations during the fall. Near Columbus you can walk along the Scioto Mile Promenade and watch the greenery change along the river and city skyline. The Cincinnati Nature Center offers hiking trails through forests and along streams, providing excellent views of nature in the Cincinnati area. Visit Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens for an unforgettable autumn in Akron, complete with guided tours and special events surrounding the season’s festivities. Relax and take in the foliage around Tuscan-inspired buildings at Gervasi Vineyard near Canton.
Kentucky: Downtown Louisville features Waterfront Park where you can enjoy the fall leaves along the Ohio River and from the Big Four Bridge. Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest just south of Louisville features over 15,000 acres of forests, meadows, and lakes where you can take in spectacular vistas.
Arkansas: The Ozark Mountains in the Bentonville-Fayetteville area offer many opportunities to see the colors change. Nearby Highways 23 & 21 offer wonderful vantage points with bursts of red, yellow, and orange.
Eastern Locations
Pennsylvania: Head over to Prompton State Park near Wilkes-Barre Scranton for hiking, boating, and fishing amongst wooded hillsides that showcase seasonal colors. Moraine State Park near Pittsburgh offers those visiting Western Pennsylvania the opportunity to bask in the beautiful foliage. Lancaster County Central Park is a great place to feel at one with nature right in the heart of the city.
New York: New York is full of stunning plant life, especially as you travel upstate. From the Adirondacks to the Highland Forest near Syracuse, you are sure to spot the bright orange and red glow of the autumn leaves. Westchester County and Stewart-Newburgh both offer visitors opportunities to see the trees in the Hudson River Valley.
Virginia: The Suffolk Seaboard Coastline Trail in Norfolk offers leaf peepers over 11 miles of wooded areas, wetlands, and farmlands to photograph. The Canal Walk in Richmond allows you to stroll along the James River juxtaposing the changing season against an urban backdrop.
West Virginia: Take a drive along Route 60, also known as Midland Trail Scenic Byway near Charleston, for breathtaking vistas of foliage along the Kanawha River. Enjoy the views of the newest National Park at Hawks Nest State Park where you can overlook New River Gorge and the valley displaying its autumn colors.
North Carolina: Conveniently located next to the Raleigh-Durham airport, Umstead State Park offers viewers the opportunity to experience fall in numerous wooded areas and along lakes and streams. The Tryon Palace Gardens in New Bern showcase a variety of trees and plants that exhibit all the different colors amongst the historic buildings.
South Carolina: Visit Angel Oak Tree, estimated to be over 400 years old, on John’s Island, just south of Charleston, for an awe-inspiring scene scattered across the tree roots and branches. Just north of Greenville-Spartanburg is Caesars Head State Park and Jones Gap State Park where visitors can enjoy vibrant hues while exploring waterfalls and hiking trails. Take a boat tour through Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge near Myrtle Beach where autumn casts a spell over the swamp and forest wetlands.
Whether it is the Northeast, Midwest, Pacific, or Atlantic, let Breeze take you to see the inspiring fall transformation. Book your Seriously Nice™ flight now and enjoy the colors before they disappear.
Western Locations
California: San Francisco is far enough north that the air cools and transforms the landscape late in the year. The UC Berkeley Botanical Garden features a variety of plants from around the world and is a great place to spot trees from both Asia and North America shedding their autumn leaves.
Utah: Watch as the Wasatch Front erupts into a blend of burnt oranges and reds as summer fades. Travel along the highways in Provo and Ogden Canyons to see breathtaking fall brilliance along the rivers.
Colorado: Check out Grand Junction and Grand Mesa National Forest, part of the largest flat-top mountain in the world, with expansive scenery of forests, lakes, and mountain vistas. Witness as aspen trees turn a stunning golden yellow in the area surrounding Denver as you travel along Highway 5 to Mount Blue Sky. Catch gorgeous views at the top and along the way through this dazzling hike.