10 of the best national parks to visit in the fall

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

If you’re thinking about visiting a national park this fall, you’re in luck. There’s a secret many travelers with flexible schedules have long known: national parks are best in autumn.

Of course, that’s not true of every national park — there are more than a few that are best visited at other times of the year. But, generally speaking, fall can be a spectacular time to visit the nation’s parklands. The temperatures have dropped and the crowds have thinned, meaning you can enjoy the scenery without breaking a sweat or competing with other visitors for a photo.

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Best of all, depending on when and where you travel, you may get the added bonus of experiencing a vibrant display of fall foliage. Just remember, as winter draws nearer, snow can cause road closures at Glacier, Yellowstone and Rocky Mountain National Park.

So plan ahead and get the timing right, and these will be ten of the best national parks to visit in the fall.

In This Post

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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Fall is arguably the absolute best time to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park and take in the colorful display of leaves from the observation deck at the peak of Clingmans Dome.

Or, if you prefer a scenic drive, admire the autumnal hues from Cades Cove Loop Road, the Blue Ridge Parkway or the Foothills Parkway (also known as “the Tail of the Dragon”). Fall temperatures in the Smokies are also a great alternative to the oppressive heat that comes with summertime in Tennessee and North Carolina.

TPG’s former social media lead, Caitlin Riddell, says to be sure to stop by the Apple Barn Village on your way out of the park for their world-famous apple cider, apple butter and pumpkin bread, all of which simply taste better in the fall, when apples and pumpkins are in season.

Rocky Mountain National Park

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Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado is spectacular during the long, warm days of summer, but it pulls out all the stops for travelers who visit in the fall. Beginning in mid- to late-September, the weather cools down enough for a light jacket during the day, and the crisp evening chill demands a cozy jacket, a warm campfire and a steaming mug of hot cocoa.

During those magical weeks when summer gives way to fall, the aspens are ablaze with shades of gold, while other trees pepper the mountains and fields with pops of orange, red and yellow. Another draw of fall in the Rockies is the elk rut, during which you can hear the elk bugle across the park and neighboring Estes Park. In late September, the area even hosts an annual Elk Fest.

Truthfully, fall is one of the best times to visit many parts of Colorado, so you’ll have your pick of natural wonders even beyond Rocky Mountain National Park.

Related: The best Airbnbs in Colorado

Acadia National Park

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It’s no secret the Northeast has a leg up on much of the rest of the country when it comes to experiencing fall foliage at its finest. Acadia National Park starts cooling down in late August, and by mid-October, the park on the coast of Maine is usually experiencing its peak weeks for fall foliage.

As an added bonus, beginning in early October and lasting until early March, Acadia also has the distinction of being the first place in U.S. to see the sunrise each morning from the 1,530-foot summit of Cadillac Mountain. As the weather cools off and Bar Harbor begins to close down, you can enjoy Acadia with fewer tourists, too — and even grab popovers at the Jordan Pond House Restaurant, before it shutters for the season, without enduring a multihour wait.

Check out Under Canvas Acadia — a luxury glamping property right on the coast. Just keep in mind it’s a seasonal stay that closes in mid-October.

Zion National Park

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Zion National Park is very popular, so it can be quite crowded during the peak summer months. But in fall — especially if you can delay your visit until late in the season — the crowds taper off along with the temperatures.

If you have your heart set on some of the more popular trails, such as Angels Landing or the Narrows, a less-busy autumn day will be a far more enjoyable experience. (Just avoid the fall break, when Utah schools let out for a four-day weekend or an entire week, often in mid- or late-October.) Effective April 1, 2022, note that (lottery-based) permits are required to hike Angels Landing and the Narrows.

Fall colors make their way to Zion in late October and early November, and in November, temperatures often range from the 30s to the 50s, so pack plenty of layers. Also, remember that as visitors disperse for the winter, Zion’s shuttle buses begin running a little less frequently and for fewer hours each day.

A great place to stay near Zion is the Springhill Suites in the shadow of the park. You can even redeem the annual up to 50,000-point award night certificate from the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card on nights that cost 50,000 points or fewer.

Arches National park

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Another Utah park best seen in autumn is Arches National Park. In addition to glimpses of changing leaves, the temperatures are much more tolerable, with highs in the 70s in October (compared to daily highs in the 90s from June through August). Trust us: The 3-mile hike to the Delicate Arch is easier to manage when the air is cooler.

If you’re hoping to capture some amazing photographs, the autumn light cast on the red rocks is spectacular. You’re also more likely to see wildlife if you’re camping in the area. Just remember to visit before or after those Utah school breaks: Your crowd-free shots will reward you for your efforts.

If you want to use points to stay in nearby Moab, you have many choices, including the Hyatt Place Moab for just 12,000 World of Hyatt points per night. The more upscale Hoodoo Moab, a Curio Collection property by Hilton, can be booked in the fall from around 70,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

Shenandoah National Park

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Shenandoah National Park in Virginia may not have the same nationwide recognition as Arches or Zion, but it holds treasures of its own, especially in the fall.

Shenandoah is known for its fall foliage, which usually peaks in late October or early November. The red, orange and yellow hues signifying the changing of the season can be enjoyed not only during hikes within the park but also from the serpentine Skyline Drive that runs 105 miles north and south along the Blue Ridge Mountains right through the national park.

As an added perk, you may be able to get some awesome baked goods as a reward for your hike. TPG writer Katie Genter has fond memories of epic blackberry pie here, so be sure and drop by a spot like Skyland for that local specialty.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

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On the border between Texas and New Mexico is Guadalupe Mountains National Park, home to the highest peaks in Texas, along with canyons, dunes, desert, clear night skies and a fossil reef.

The elevation in this park ranges from 3,000 to 8,000 feet, so it isn’t as hot in the summer as you might guess for West Texas, though summer can still be warmer and rainier on average than October and November.

A highlight of autumn in the Guadalupe Mountains is the kaleidoscopic colors you’ll find in McKittrick Canyon and Pine Canyon. Here, the bigtooth maple trees star in the very colorful foliage show that usually occurs in late October and early November.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park isn’t all that close to, well, anything else, but it could make for a great add-on to a road trip that also includes one of the country’s newest national parks, White Sands, which is approximately three hours away in New Mexico.

Great Sand Dunes National Park

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Not to be confused with the aforementioned White Sands National Park, you’ll find Great Sand Dunes National Park in south-central Colorado.

These dunes cover about 30 square miles and soar to a height of almost 750 feet, making them the highest dunes in North America. And while the dunes are the star of the park, you’ll also find lakes, waterfalls, mountains and forests in this park and preserve. The National Park Service says you’ll enjoy some of the best weather of the year here in September, with an average monthly high of 71 degrees and of low of 42.

Bundle up, and you can head outside after sundown to gaze up at the velvety night sky. This is, after all, one of the nation’s Dark Sky Parks, meaning it’s an extraordinary destination for stargazing thanks to the dry air, high elevation and the Sangre de Cristo mountains, which shield the park from light pollution from nearby cities.

Grand Teton National Park

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The Tetons are indeed grand in every way, and this park is also very accessible if you can fly into Jackson Hole Airport (JAC), which is located within the national park boundary, just at the base of the mountain range. And if you make the trip, you can use Marriott points per night to stay in nearby Jackson at the Springhill Suites or the Autograph Collection property, The Cloudveil.

The fall season in Grand Teton National Park runs from early September until mid-October, with the foliage often peaking around the third week of September, according to the National Park Service. And when the cottonwood trees along the Snake River and the aspens on the hillsides ignite with color, the animals are out preparing for the oncoming winter.

You may hear elk bugling, and even see them sparring with each other. Just be aware that late-fall visits here could be met with some closed roads. For example, Teton Park Road closes to cars for the season on Nov. 1.

New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

The New River Gorge Bridge In autumn, seen from the Canyon Rim Visitor Center Overlook, West Virginia. JIM VALLEE/GETTY IMAGES

The country’s newest national park, the 7,000-acre New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia, can be visited any time of year — but it stands apart in the fall.

Anglers catch fish such as walleye and bass in the New River, and on dry days rock climbers can be seen ascending the more than 1,400 routes established on the park’s sandstone cliffs.

October, after the heat subsides, is a particularly popular time to visit. It’s also when the annual Bridge Day event takes place (in 2022, on Oct. 15), and thousands of visitors congregate to walk across the park’s eponymous bridge and watch BASE jumpers and rappellers descend over the side of the bridge.

And, of course, visitors who head to the New River Gorge in the fall will be rewarded with stunning fall foliage, which arrives first in the mountains and works its way down into the valleys throughout the season.

Bottom line

It’s hard to go wrong with a trip to a national park during the fall. After all, September, October and November are really the best times to get out there and enjoy the crisp, autumnal air before winter blankets everything with snow. Whether you’re seeking lower temperatures and smaller crowds, or you’re purely in pursuit of peak foliage, pack your jacket, bring the camera and get ready to have an unforgettable trip.

Additional reporting by Melanie Lieberman.

Featured photo by Matt Anderson Photography/Getty Images.