If you already packed up the car for a leaf-peeping drive, why not keep the engine running for another five thousand miles? That’s what a true fall foliage aficionado would do, after all, which is why we’ve pulled together the ultimate fall foliage road trip across the USA, with every stop guaranteed to engulf you in beautiful fall colors.
Let’s get one thing straight: leaf-peeping opportunities don’t revolve around New England alone. They actually stretch across the country with scenic drives in the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains, Shenandoah Valley, and the Upper Midwest. It’ll take you about 100 hours, give or take, to see the millions of colorful ash, oak, elm and aspen trees on this journey. So what are you waiting for? Show-stopping fall colors start popping up in mid-September and generally fade by the end of October — so let’s get this show on the road!
And while the jaw-dropping views from your window are stunning from Oregon to Vermont, you’ll get even more out of any road trip if you get out of your car from time to time. Rest your head under the colorful canopies at these fall foliage campgrounds across the U.S., pack your bicycle for a ride along our curated list of fall foliage bike trails, and get ready to fall in love with the open road.
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