12 Best Scenic Byways for Fall Road Trips

A yellow maple leaf under your windshield wiper is a good sign you’ve chosen a good weekend to hit the road. Best scenic byways in fall will turn a tank of gas into a front-row ticket to color. Here you’ll see gold aspen groves, red hillsides, foggy valleys along rivers and pie counters in small towns that make even an unscheduled detour worthwhile.

Fall color is tricky to pin down. Depending on temperature, wind, rainfall and elevation, peak color can shift a week one way or another. That’s part of the fun of fall driving. And it means you could build some flexibility into your plans.

When to plan a fall-color drive

Often, by mid-September, routes up in the Rockies and in northern New England begin changing color. Much of the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and South have their best color in late September through mid-October. And in southern Appalachia, you could see color into early November. And in the desert Southwest, you’ll find bright aspens and cottonwoods in place of maples.

Rather than pick a particular “peak” day, plan yourself a three- or five-day stretch. Usually color creeps up higher and then trickles down. So if your route includes valleys and mountain passes, you’ll be more likely to encounter color at different elevations. Another good idea: drive on a weekday. Fewer cars at the overlooks, easier to get a campsite, and more time to stop at a farm stand you spot along the road.

12 of the best scenic byways for fall

1. Route 100, Vermont

Vermont’s Route 100 is the epitome of fall. And it knows it. Along the way you’ll pass covered bridges, red barns, white steepled villages and the Green Mountains in the distance. Between Weston and Stowe, this is one of the best stretches of the route. Plan to stop at a country store, maybe pick up some cider donuts and stroll through centers of some of the villages.

Best color on this route tends to fall between late September and mid-October. And it starts up high. But it’s also a popular route. Make campground reservations well in advance. And start driving days before breakfast crowds hit. If you want a quieter look at the hills, take some of the smaller side roads.

2. Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire

Forest trails, mountain overlooks and pullouts along the Swift River make for a short but worthwhile drive. Best times to go: early in the morning or late afternoon, and on weekends in October. Fill up before you start the drive. And don’t forget snacks. Often, it’s colder in the mountains than it is in the nearby towns.

3. Skyline Drive, Virginia

This is a road to drive slowly. There’s a low speed limit and good reasons to stop along the way. Often in mid-October the drive is at its best. But in some years it could stretch into early November. And, there’s wildlife here. Please leave plenty of space for black bears, deer and cyclists. If you’re driving an RV, be sure to check the limits for your vehicle length before tackling the whole drive.

4. Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia and North Carolina

Along the way you’ll find trailheads, waterfalls, historic mills, overlooks and more. If you’d like a shorter drive in the fall, try the area around Asheville and Pisgah National Forest. Or add a drive up to Blowing Rock on the parkway.

Conditions vary dramatically up the elevation. And at times sections of the road close due to storms, ice, maintenance and fog. Check conditions on the road before you head out, particularly later in the season.

5. M-22, Michigan

Michigan’s M-22 runs along the Leelanau Peninsula, near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Along the way, you’ll find lighthouses, wineries, orchards and sweeping views of Lake Michigan. Beautiful as it is, what lingers about this drive is the contrast. Here you’ll find copper beech leaves, pale sand dunes, blue water.

Try this drive in early to mid-October. And if you have time, take the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive for views out over the lake. A windy stretch over the water can make even a warm day feel cool. For walks on the beach and the dunes, be sure to bring a jacket.

6. Talimena Scenic Drive, Oklahoma and Arkansas

The Talimena Scenic Drive is 54 miles up and over the ridges of the Ouachita Mountains. It connects Mena, Arkansas, and Talihina, Oklahoma. This is a great drive for anyone wanting views of the mountains without all the crowds of the Northeast.

Often best in color is late October into early November. There are plenty of overlooks along the drive, but not much in the way of services. Plan to fill up your tank before you start and bring a picnic along. Good idea, even if you spend a long afternoon snapping pictures of the ridgelines in the waning light.

7. Great River Road, Minnesota and Wisconsin

The Great River Road follows the Mississippi River. Here you can have an adventure of your own in the fall. You could drive between Minnesota and Wisconsin, visit towns along the river, or climb up on a bluff top for a hike. Or you could just keep following the river south until you spot an antique shop or bakery.

Early to mid-October is best on the road between Wabasha, Wisconsin, and Red Wing, Minnesota. Expect some traffic in two-lane roads along the river and in historic downtowns. But there’s no need to hurry. That’s what this drive is about.

8. San Juan Skyway, Colorado

In a 236-mile loop, Colorado’s San Juan Skyway brings mountain drama. It passes through Durango, Silverton, Ouray, Telluride and Ridgway. In the fall you’ll often find whole mountainsides ablaze with gold, as aspen trees blaze up in color against dark spruce and rugged peaks.

Try this drive in early October at the latest. Many people think of fall driving here much later. One of the best parts of the drive is between Ouray and Silverton. If you don’t like drop-offs, consider a different route. If you’re driving a big RV, before you set out, look at restrictions on the route and your own comfort level.

9. Utah Scenic Byway 12

Utah Scenic Byway 12 takes you between Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon country. Along the way you’ll drive through cottonwood and aspen trees, high plateaus, red-rock canyons and sandstone cliffs.

In late September and October, you could do well on this route. Especially around the Dixie National Forest and Boulder Mountain. Consider a walk in Kodachrome Basin or a drive into the little town of Boulder. Along the route, services are far apart. Don’t count on finding gas around the next bend.

10. Columbia River Gorge, Oregon

Other good options for fall driving are the gorge and historic highway routes along the Columbia River. Here you’ll find forests turning amber, orange and red, basalt cliffs, waterfalls and green trees. This could be a good option for you if you want an easy, stop-rich drive in the fall. It’s not one long stretch of road.

Often in October, this route is good, though expect rain and fog in the Pacific Northwest. And with that, more drama at the waterfalls. Watch for wet trails. And expect changing conditions and seasonal closure of some of the popular waterfall areas.

11. Acadia All-American Road, Maine

In one small spot, Mount Desert Island offers classic fall color and a bit of coastal Maine. On Acadia National Park’s Park Loop Road, you’ll drive past forested ponds, granite shoreline and spots from which you can look out over the Atlantic through the trees. Good times to visit are early to mid-October. Weather over the Atlantic can turn quickly, though. Plan on bringing a rain jacket. Well in advance, book any access you’ll need in the park. And if you can, try to watch the sunrise or sunset from one of the legal overlooks on the road. In the soft light of dawn or dusk, you’ll pick up the color in the leaves and in the granite.

12. Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway, South Carolina

A good time to hit South Carolina’s Highway 11 is late October to early November. And if you spend a weekend in the Upstate, this could be a nice complement to it. Especially if your group would rather short walks in the woods, stops at local farms and views from overlooks than strenuous hikes up the mountains, this road could work for you.

Build a fall route that leaves room for detours

Often the best part of a drive is not at the best-known overlook on the route. Pick a few anchors for your drive. Maybe a trail, a campground, a diner, a state park or local orchard. And leave room between them. In that space you might come across a hand-painted sign offering hot cider. Or an unlikely roadside museum that you’ll remember next year.

With Roadtrippers you could plan your byway, flag stops that might be worth a detour and see how long your drive would be. If you’re driving an RV, before you take the most scenic route on your map, check the grade, length, clearance and condition of the road. A short car could take this road, but in a motorhome it could be a dicey call.

Bring layers of clothing. And snacks and water. Before you drive into mountainous country, download maps. And then let yourself skip an overlook or a turnoff. The best road trips in the fall tend to have some structure, some serendipity and enough daylight left over to stop when a hillside bursts into flames.