October is the month when the temperature begins to drop and the colors in our world begin to change to orange, red, yellows, and browns. A welcome sight, the season of fall is upon us. Now is the time to indulge in everything from apple picking to pumpkin spiced lattes and enjoy scenic fall road trips.
It’s also the perfect time to travel in the US. With cooler temps many places that are too hot during the summer months are now the ideal destinations. It’s also a great time to look for lower prices and travel deals.
This list of best places to travel in October is designed to help give you some fantastic fall vacation ideas. So, let’s get into it.
Blue Ridge Parkway (Virginia / North Carolina)
NOTE: October 26, 2024, Per National Park Service website alert: Ridge Parkway is partially closed due to damage from Hurricane Helene. Most of the road closures are in the North Carolina section. Check for road closures before traveling in the area.
October is the most beautiful time of the year to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway. No matter where you begin the trip, you’ll be in for an absolute treat.
Throughout the month the leaves along this beautiful landscape are in the process of changing, so it’s okay to visit at the start, middle, or end of the month.
Stops along the way will be rewarded with fall festivities like the Virginia Fall Foliage Festival in Waynesboro and LEAF Festival in Black Mountain near Asheville.
Blue Ridge Parkway is also on our list of best National Parks to visit in fall.
Driving the Blue Ridge Parkway in October is perfect for fall foliage and hiking to the gorgeous waterfalls in the park
Acadia National Park (Maine)
October is definitely the best time to visit Acadia National Park.
The fall season marks lower, comfortable temperatures and not quite as many visitors as the summer peak season.
By mid-October the foliage is in peak form and the best time for leaf-peepers to explore this gorgeous landscape.
The park has so much to offer folks who love the great outdoors. Acadia is the perfect place for fall hikes or bicycling on the carriage roads.
Some shops and businesses in Acadia close for the season after Indigenous Peoples’ Day long weekend, so keep this in mind when planning your trip.
LEARN MORE: 15 Beautiful Places to Visit in Maine
Acadia National Park in October is when peak fall colors make their appearance – and it’s perfect hiking weather too!
Grand Canyon (Arizona)
Visiting the Grand Canyon in October is ideal. It’s during this time that temps drop low enough to make hiking more enjoyable, and rafting is still an option.
While temps normally reach 65 degrees at the south rim, in the canyon they can reach 85 on the same day.
In October the sightseeing crowds have thinned out significantly. If you want even fewer tourists then head over to Grand Canyon North Rim. Fewer tourists but more trees, so it’s perfect for fall foliage in October!
October at North Rim of the Grand Canyon is beautiful with fall colors and less crowded than South Rim
Page Arizona
The fall is a great time to visit Page Arizona. With temps reaching the upper 70s during the day, you’re set to do all of the outdoor activities in and around Page.
Hiking Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area are delightful in the cooler autumn air.
While the water levels in Lake Powell dropped significantly in 2022, they returned to higher levels in 2024, so you can still take part in watersports like kayaking, jet skiing, and fishing.
If it’s convenient for you, consider routing your road trip with a visit to Navajo Bridge on your way to or from Page. The views are spectacular!
While in Page be sure to book a tour of Antelope Canyon for an exceptional slot canyon walk in the Navajo Nation
Moab Utah
Moab is the best homebase to explore the beauty of Mother Nature in southern Utah. And in the month of October the weather is the absolute best to do just that.
With daytime temps that are in the low 70s, you just have to get outdoors to explore the hiking and biking trails around Moab.
From Moab it’s easy to explore national parks like Arches, Canyonlands, and Dead Horse Point State Park. After October 3rd you don’t need a timed-entry reservation at Arches National Park.
With perfect weather in October, Moab does get busy. Make sure to plan ahead for accommodations and permits.
Choose Moab for an October vacation and visit Arches National Park and Canyonlands
Santa Fe New Mexico
October is arguably the best time to visit Santa Fe New Mexico.
It’s during this time that the weather is just sublime, often in the high 60s during the day, making it perfect fall hiking weather.
Check out the popular Atalaya Mountain Trail or Nambe Lake Trail if you’re looking for a more strenuous hike. Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks remains closed in 2024.
In October, enjoy the Santa Fe Indigenous Peoples’ Day Weekend Celebration. It takes place at Santa Fe Plaza and the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts—both places worth visiting any time of year.
And since it’s only an hour away, why not visit the Albuquerque International Balloon Festival. Even if you’re not riding high above it all in a hot air balloon, the festival makes the skies come alive. Check out more Santa Fe day trips.
When you’re looking for October vacation ideas Santa Fe is a great option!
October is the perfect time of year to visit Santa Fe
Austin Texas
Fall is just about the best time to visit Austin. With October temps in the upper 70s, everyone’s outside enjoying the city. There is so much to do in Austin in October!
The calendar is full of festivals and events like Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL) and Texas Craft Brewers Festival. Live Music + Beer is basically why I moved to Austin years ago :)
And the fall weather is just right for hitting the Austin hiking and biking trails.
Pay a visit to the Zilker Botanical Garden to walk the trails featuring gorgeous flowers in themed gardens, waterfalls, and a dinosaur!
At dusk be sure to check out the bats at Congress Avenue Bridge. It’s an amazing sight to see the bats depart for their evening outing. After the first cold snap they head south for warmer temps; October is your last chance to see them until they return in spring.
There’s always live music on the calendar in Austin and some great rooftop bars and restaurants complete the chill vibe in ATX.
Love Halloween? Austin is an ideal city to celebrate with Pumpkin Nights and Halloween parties all over town.
It’s easy to get into the autumn spirit in Austin.
Visit Zilker Botanical Garden for an escape to nature in downtown Austin
Seattle Washington
October in Seattle means mild temperatures (in the 50s) and potentially sunny skies.
There’s always fun stuff to do in Seattle but festivals fill the fall fun schedule, including Pumpkin Junction and Octoberfest both celebrating, you guessed it, beer.
October is also the time for the Children’s Festival, Queer Fest, and numerous Halloween themed events.
Plus, October also has the perfect weather to explore Seattle’s great outdoors, like Mount Rainier, Puget Sound, and San Juan Islands. Explore more great day trips from Seattle and enjoy the best of the Pacific Northwest.
Seattle view from the Space Needle
Sedona Arizona
Cooler fall weather makes for the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors in Sedona.
When the daytime temps are in the upper 70s it’s easy to spend the day admiring the Red Rocks on hikes like Airport Vortex, Cathedral Rock, and Little Horse Trail.
Take in the calming vibe at the Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park, a spiritual destination for meditation and prayer.
The fall foliage is another treat in the area. Leaf peepers love visiting the Village of Oak Creek and hiking the Oak Creek Canyon Trail in October.
In town, the Day of the Dead Celebration is tons of fun starting at the end of October to November 2nd.
Sedona sunsets are the best – especially in the fall when the weather is perfect for outdoor fun
Cedar City Utah
Another great fall vacation idea is to head to Cedar City in southwestern Utah.
Nicknamed the Gateway to Utah’s National Parks, Cedar City is perfectly positioned to visit Utah’s Mighty Five. Both Zion and Bryce Canyon are less than 90 minutes’ drive, while Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands are easy weekend trips from Cedar City.
Just 170 miles north of Las Vegas and 250 miles south of Salt Lake City, it’s an easy road trip to Cedar City.
The city itself is known for its yearly Shakespeare Festival that lasts until the end of October.
The Cedar Livestock and Heritage Festival also takes place in October. It starts with 500 sheep parading down Main Street—something you’ve got to see!
October is the perfect month for mountain biking in and around Cedar City
Big Bend National Park (Texas)
It’s no wonder that October begins the high season at Big Bend National Park. As the temperatures cool off visitors know it’s a great time to venture into the park to explore the best hikes in Big Bend.
When you’re in this remote region the stargazing is rad! Big Bend is also popular for birdwatching, canoe trips on the Rio Grande, and soaking in the hot springs.
Even though there are a lot of people headed to Big Bend in October, don’t let that stop you from exploring this fabulous park.
Instead, plan ahead.
Make reservations well in advance and make sure to have an alternate plan for lodgings just in case. Your options in the park are the rustic Chisos Mountains Lodge or the campgrounds.
There are lots of options for staying near Big Bend, and you can easily do day trips from Alpine as your base. Marfa, Marathon, and Terlingua are also great options.
LEARN MORE: 15 Best Places to Visit in Texas
Big Bend in October is an excellent choice for enjoying outdoor activities and exploring West Texas
Lafayette Louisiana
In the heart of South Louisiana, Lafayette is the place to be in October. The cooler temps make it a great time to paddle through the bayou or discover the beauty of nature in Louisiana.
Head over to Lake Martin or Chicot State Park for outdoor fun. Discover all the best day trips from Lafayette to enjoy unique Cajun Country experiences.
Every October the Festivals Acadiens et Créoles 3-day celebration takes place with everything Creole, from music to crafts, and of course, food.
For another chance to enjoy everything Cajun, get to the Blackpot Festival and Cook Off at the end of October. Read more about all the best things to do in Lafayette LA.
Would you travel just for the food? Yaaasss! Foodies love Lafayette for the delicious Southern and Cajun cuisine on offer such as gumbo, etouffee, fried chicken, po’boys, and shrimp n grits.
Southern Louisiana in the fall is an excellent idea!
Visit Cypress Lake at the UL campus in Lafayette to see alligators, birds, and turtles
Las Vegas Nevada
Las Vegas is known for fun year-round. But for the hot summer months you’re tempted to stay indoors because of the sweltering heat. This is not the case in October.
Temps reach into the high 80s early in the month and usually hit the mid-70s by the end of October. With weather like this it’s easy to stroll along the strip and even dine outside—something you wouldn’t dream about doing in July.
When you think of Vegas you may think it’s all about casinos, but Vegas is so much more than that! For outdoor fun around Las Vegas you’ll love Valley of Fire and Red Rock Canyon.
Check out my list of best weekend getaways from Las Vegas too.
October is just about the perfect time to visit Las Vegas and also enjoy fun outdoor adventures in the Red Rock Canyon
Stowe Vermont
Escape into the majesty of fall in Stowe, Vermont. This quaint resort town has everything you’d want in a fall getaway.
Fall foliage is the main draw for many visitors to Vermont, and Stowe is no different.
Here you can hike or bike the mountains and immerse yourself in the beauty of the changing seasons.
Paddling across rivers and reservoirs around Stowe gives the unique view of the foliage reflected in the water.
Check out Lake Elmore, Winooski River, Lamoille River, and Waterbury Reservoir, which also has a lovely beach.
From the last week of September through mid-October is your best chance to catch peak fall foliage in Stowe.
LEARN MORE: 10+ Best Places to Visit in Vermont
Asheville North Carolina
As a city situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the fall foliage here is just about the best in the country, making it one of the top places to visit in October.
From here you can head out for a fall day filled with hiking, biking, or picking apples.
Halloween themed events can be found throughout Asheville in October.
It’s also fun to enjoy a drink at any of the 30 breweries in town. Read our full list of best things to do in Asheville.
And there’s also a ton of cool day trips from Asheville to keep the fun going and fabulous fall foliage along the way.
October is the perfect month to visit Ashville North Carolina and the Blue Ridge Mountains for fall fun and fantastic foliage
Portland Oregon
In Portland, the crisp October air normally gets up to about 50 degrees during the day, which is perfect for getting out into the beautiful city.
With tons of outdoor festivities like harvest festivals, arts events, and even haunted houses, you’ll always have things to do.
Some favorites are finding your way through the corn maze on Sauvie Island, watching the Giant Pumpkin Regatta, or enjoying Dogtoberfest, a major event for dog lovers.
Of course there are some cool day trips from Portland too, like the amazing Multnomah Falls!
Oahu Hawaii
Oahu has pretty constant warm temperatures with highs in the 80s year-round.
The number of visitors to Oahu tapers off in October, making it a great time to find deals on travel and accommodations.
There are always great reasons to visit Oahu, like snorkeling at Hanauma Bay.
But if you visit in October, special events like the Hawaii Food and Wine Festival make it even better.
Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)
October in the Rocky Mountain National Park has everything to love about the outdoors in autumn. With hiking, fishing, wildlife viewing, backpacking, and biking, you can’t go wrong.
The benefit of visiting in October is that the crowds have thinned out a bit from peak summer season.
But you’ll still need a Time Entry Permit until October 10th – after that you can enjoy the park whenever you like and without so many other people.
The other big plus is the fall foliage. The cool fall air and shorter daylight hours bring the park to a whole new life with the golden aspen foliage.
It’s no wonder that Rocky Mountain National Park is on our list of best National Parks to visit in fall.
Visit Rocky Mountain National Park in autumn for golden aspen foliage
Adirondacks (New York)
The great outdoors reign supreme at the Adirondack Mountains. With so much to do, a visit to the Adirondacks is a no-brainer.
Go for a hike up to any of the 46 peaks in the mountain range. Raft through the Ausable Chasm or take a gondola ride on Gore Mountain.
Known for its beautiful fall foliage, any venture in the Adirondacks will have you oohing and ahhing over the gorgeous autumn colors.
Yosemite National Park (California)
An October visit to Yosemite National Park can be just what you’re looking for.
Since it’s shoulder season, chances are you’ll experience less congestion on the trails and not so many people posing for pics everywhere.
Although October daytime temps are normally in the 70s, it can get really cold at night (near freezing) so pack your cold weather gear too.
Rain or snow are possible in Yosemite during the fall. So, make sure to check the weather forecast and bring a good selection of layers to wear.
Take in the wondrous views of Yosemite Valley, El Capitan, and Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, to name a few of the highlights at the park.
A road trip to Yosemite in October is a great idea and way less crowded than summertime
White Mountains New Hampshire
The White Mountains of New Hampshire are known far and wide for its spectacular fall foliage, making it one of the prettiest places to visit in October.
You could come to the White Mountains to view the fall colors, but there’s so much to do, you’ve got to experience it all.
Take an aerial tram at Cannon Mountain, hike to Flume Gorge in Franconia Notch State Park, or drive the Mt. Washington Auto Road, to name a few.
For a scenic fall foliage route, drive the Kancamagus Scenic Byway (locals simply call it “the byway”) and enjoy New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest with stops at waterfalls and scenic lookouts.
San Francisco California
Fall in San Francisco is delightful when the temps are normally in the 60s and sometimes into the low 70s.
Prime for outdoor fun, there are tons of events and festivals. There’s Fleet Week, the Outside Lands Music Festival, and the Castro Street Fair, to name a few.
The weather in October is also great to go on a tour or cruise of the Bay Area. And there are tons of great day trips like Muir Woods, Point Reyes National Seashore, or hop across the bay to Oakland and Berkeley.
Since it’s way less crowded in the fall in San Francisco compared to summer you will enjoy it that much more.
San Francisco in October is a pleasant time to visit both for the weather and because there are fewer tourists compared to summer
Washington DC
October weather is perfect for exploring Washington DC. With sunny skies and highs around 70 degrees, you’ll have no problem walking from monument to monument.
The manicured lawns of the National Mall are filled with locals and visitors alike enjoying the sun before the winter season sets in.
With the start of the school year well under way, you’ll find fewer tourists in DC and a better chance for deals on accommodations.
New Orleans Louisiana
You can’t get more New Orleans than Blues and Voodoo.
Although you can experience both in the city any time of the year, the Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival and the Voodoo Music and Art Experience take place each fall.
If you’re into ghost and vampire tours then New Orleans will be just the right place for you!
This is definitely a reason New Orleans is one of the best places in the South to visit in October.
Fall temps in the city reach into the 80s. It’s a great time of year for a Southern road trip, and there’s lots of cool day trips from NOLA, from swamp tours to sandy beaches.
October is the perfect time for NOLA ghost tours and fun times in the Crescent City
Lake Tahoe California
Lake Tahoe is an outdoor dream any time of year. But in October you’ll be able to enjoy it all without the major crowds found in the summer.
The crisp, cool air normally reaches the low 60s in October, which is perfect for getting your body moving and heart pumping on the trails.
The lake water is pretty cold year-round (in the 60s). If you’re up for a dip in the cool water, then go for it.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are so many great places to visit in October throughout the entire country. No matter how you define fall fun, you’ll find it on the list of best places to travel for an October vacation in the USA.
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