Time to break out the cozy sweaters, cups of hot cider, or pumpkin-flavored everything and embrace the sound of crunching leaves. Fall runs from mid-September through mid-December. From the best fall road trips with the top places to go apple picking or leaf peeping, to escaping the colder weather and relaxing on a sunny and sandy beach, we've compiled the top places to escape this autumn.
When it comes to booking your fall getaway, you'll almost always do better to book ahead of time, but not too far ahead. When to book also depends on how far you're traveling—while the best range for booking domestic flights, deals, and hotels are probably around 2-4 months, for trips abroad you may want to book as far as 5-6 months in advance, particularly to destinations that are popular in the fall.
Embark on a road trip through New England and watch the leaves change to hues of orange, red, and yellow. From mid-September through mid-October you'll find peak foliage. With the more north you go, the earlier the changes start to appear. Below, we've compiled some top iconic spots to catch the best foliage.
Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire
Dixville Notch, New Hampshire
Stowe Mountain, Vermont
Lake Willoughby, Vermont
Lake Champlain, Vermont
The Adirondacks, New York
The Berkshires, New York
The Catskills, New York
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts
Acadia National Park, Maine
Portland, Maine
The Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
The Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina
Ozark National Forest, Arkansas
Olympia National Park, Washington
The Poconos, Pennsylvania
Aspen, Colorado
Taos, New Mexico
Lake Superior, Michigan
Denali National Park, Alaska
Yosemite National Park, California
Lake Tahoe, California
Tokyo, Japan
Bavaria, Germany
Glencoe, Scotland
Edinburgh, Scotland
Seoul, South Korea
Patagonia, Chile & Argentina
Bran, Romania
Banff, Canada
Quebec, Canada
Paris, France
Queenstown, New Zealand
Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
With temperatures still hitting 75°F in October, Marrakech makes a perfect fall destination, especially since the temperatures during the summer months are almost too hot to enjoy yourself!
Stroll the markets, indulge in the delicious local food, or visit the stunning Jardin Majorelle botanical gardens. There are endless things to do in Marrakech that make it the perfect autumn break.
If you want it really hot, then it's hard to beat Cancun! Temperatures can reach almost 90°F in October, making it an excellent destination for a beach vacation.
Visiting the incredible beaches should be number one on your itinerary but Cancun is also known for its excellent nightlife and historical sights like Chichen Itza. Tulum is also not too far away for a day trip!
Less affordable but no less hot is Bali. Highs of 88°F is most welcoming for October, with the average temperature around 80°F. In fact, October is the second-best month to visit in terms of the amount of sunshine!
Go island hopping, indulge at luxury retreats, and enjoy the stunning beaches. Bali is the perfect retreat to get away from real life, and October is a perfect month for it.
Another great European destination that is hot during the fall months is the Algarve in southern Portugal. Temperatures hover between the mid-70s to 80, but can be more in the sun. That means it's plenty hot enough to enjoy the beaches like the famous Ponta da Piedade, but it makes October perfect for exploring.
Take a boat trip to go dolphin watching, stroll the old town of Lagos, or head inland to the stunning mountainous Monchique region, which is perfect for walks through nature.
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