8 Places to Visit in the Fall in October in the USA
Searching for the best places to visit in October? Well, you are in the right place! Since I was first stunned by the beauty of Vermont’s fall foliage 30 years ago, I’ve made it a tradition to set aside plenty of time each September, October and November to explore the USA.
Living in Texas means I get to experience fall twice. I can watch the leaves turn in Vermont, Colorado, or Upstate New York, and then, when I return home, I get to enjoy Texas’s own fall foliage and festivals for another four weeks (yes, we do have beautiful displays here, just about a month later than most of the country!).
The cooler weather also makes October one of the best months for hiking, a road trip, and outdoor adventures, without the summer crowds (or heat!). My guide describes the ones I recommend (and what to do there), and I hope you’ll enjoy them too.
Oregon City, Oregon
We adored visiting this charming historic town that instantly became one of my absolute best places to visit during Columbus Day weekend! You'll find Oregon City in Willamette Valley, just 30 minutes from Portland.
The city's 19th-century streets along Main Street and Singer Hill became extra atmospheric because of the fall foliage. We also enjoyed the way seasonal haunted history tours brought the town’s past to life.
I also loved the small-town festivities, including the one day Oregon City Harvest Festival in October, the Willamette Falls Autumn Paddle for kayakers, and Halloween happenings. The crisp autumn air made our long weekend trip feel refreshing.
You can spent a long weekend exploring the trails at McLoughlin Promenade and Canemah Bluff Nature Park, taking in stunning views of Willamette Falls, and hearing the stories at the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center.
We checked into the 3-star Best Western Plus Rivershore Hotel (around $99/night) for three days
What I loved best:
My favorite highlight was discovering the Oregon City Municipal Elevator, the only outdoor vertical street elevator in the U.S. The panoramic views of the autumn colors around Willamette River were absolutely stunning. If was truly one of the best October vacation ideas for my family!
Oceanside, California
Chris and I both absolutely love Oceanside, especially since October still felt like summer here. This is one of my favorite beach towns for a road trip this month because there were no crowds which meant that we found a cheaper room to stay.
We brought a picnic and headed to Buccaneer Beach first thing to enjoy the ocean view. Although the historic Oceanside Pier was quieter in October, we also found that there was a fun calendar of fall events. There is the free annual Dia de los Muertos Festival, weekly Sunset Market in Downtown Oceanside, and family-friendly pumpkin patches at nearby farms (of course!).
We flew into San Diego International Airport and stayed four days in an Ocean View King room at the stylish beachfront 4-star Mission Pacific Beach Resort (around $406/night). A seasonal tasting menu at Michelin-starred Valle is perfect for a special celebration like an anniversary or your birthday. In the Travel + Leisure “World’s Best Awards”, Mission Pacific was voted #1 Resort Hotel in the Continental U.S. and #1 California Resort Hotel so you can trust that it's a high quality place to stay.
What I loved best:
My personal highlight of my October trip was hopping on the affordable Coaster train for a day trip through San Diego County. It's just $2.50 per ride, there are restrooms and free Wi-fi on board! We saw a lot in just a few hours and rested our feet too.
Oakland, Maryland
We discovered Oakland, Maryland by chance while living on the East Coast for ten years. I loved it right away because it's under-the-radar and not well known at all, but you can drive here in just three hours from D.C. and Baltimore too.
October is the sweet spot for fall foliage colors. In fact, this place puts on a fiery display with reds and golds. The crisp mountain air, scenic byways, and tranquil state parks made Oakland the perfect base for our autumn Maryland day trip!
We also checked out the Autumn Glory Festival, a beloved local tradition. You can watch parades, craft shows, and listen to live music.
What I loved best:
My personal highlight was seeing Maryland’s tallest free-falling waterfall in the fall at Swallow Falls State Park. I think it's one of the best parks in Maryland. You'll find it just 20 minutes north of Oakland.
Sulphur Springs, TX
This is one of my favorite road trip stops in East Texas in the fall, about four hours from where we live near Austin, TX. Temperatures are much lower compared to the summer heat, and the town welcomes the fall season with festive activities that are so much fun.
I like to get started Downtown at one of the cafés like Deep Routes Coffee and Haystacks. Along with unique shops, and friendly locals, Sulphur Springs is a welcoming place to explore. Like most Texas towns, Sulphur Springs has a fun calendar of seasonal events on October.
October brought the Hopkins County Fall Festival, complete with a parade, carnival rides, and local food stalls.
The town’s square also hosted family-friendly Halloween trick-or-treating (of course!). I loved how the historic courthouse lawn came alive with music and community gatherings.
We drove into town (Sulphur Springs is just off I-30, about 80 miles northeast of Dallas) and stayed at 3-star Clarion Pointe Sulphur Springs (around $111/night) for an overnight trip.
Be sure to check out downtown plaza, famous for its quirky glass-walled public restrooms. Also, explore the Hopkins County Courthouse.
What I loved best:
My personal highlight was walking on the trails at Cooper Lake State Park for a peaceful nature escape with my husband and son.
Aurora, CO
This is one of my favorite places to ease into the Front Range near Denver. Why? Because here you get those open views and crisp Colorado air in October without the intensity of downtown Denver. At the same time, it's super convenient for travel. If you are flying in, you can land at Denver International (DEN), and reach Aurora in just 20 minutes.
We had such a memorable time visiting this town for seven days this Columbus Day! The cooler fall weather made it perfect for outdoor adventures, and there was plenty of great nature here. The city also celebrated fall with its Harvest Festival & Trick-or-Treat Trail ($2 per person). Plus, you can easily hop to nearby Denver’s seasonal highlights like Oktoberfest and Halloween-themed events (of course!).
I also recommend strolling through Stanley Marketplace because it's such a cool converted aviation building now filled with shops, restaurants, and local art. To learn about local history, we took our son to the Aurora History Museum.
What I loved best:
I think that Cherry Creek State Park ($10 per vehicle) is the best place to visit for fiery fall foliage. Plus, you can usually spot wildlife by the reservoir.
A downside? Fall in Colorado can happen here in the blink of an eye so you have to time your visit just right. One year when it was a bit colder than normal we arrived just a few days too late and missed peak fall colors which was disappointing.
Goodyear, Arizona
In the mood for a warmer destination for your October vacation? Head to Arizona! Goodyear was such a cool Columbus Day road trip in October! Why? The desert heat had cooled to a warm but comfortable level, making it the perfect season for outdoor adventures. Goodyear, Arizona was friendly. We had all the suburban comforts but also easy access to stunning desert landscapes.
Fun fall events in Goodyear include pumpkin patches, haunted houses, and Oktoberfest parties.
You can visit Estrella Mountain Regional Park, Goodyear Ballpark, and browse local shops and cafés in the nearby Litchfield Park area.
What I loved best:
My highlight was lunch at Wildflower. Although I wasn't traveling with my furry friends, I loved their dog-friendly patio in the heart of Old Litchfield Park.
We flew into Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), just about 25 miles from Goodyear. We stayed for a sunny three-day visit at 3-star Best Western Phoenix Goodyear Inn (around $109/night).
Killington, Vermont
Fall foliage in Vermont is is one of the best in the USA. That said, similarly to Colorado, you can miss it if you arrive too late. Columbus Day weekend in October is often the sweet spot but I have to warn you that hotels spike their prices and sell out quickly.
Even so, when we lived in NYC for ten years, we often went for the 5-hour drive through rolling hills of fall foliage to reach Killington in the heart of the Green Mountains. For me, it's the perfect fall getaway because even just the drive along is absolutely surreal with the colors of golds, brilliant reds, oranges and eventually browns.
Without a doubt, Killington offer that classic New England charm I was looking for. We caught Killington Brewfest which was a fun addition to our road trip.
For a short and scenic hike, head to the Thundering Brook Falls Trail. You'll end up at a beautiful cascading waterfall surrounded by golden maples in the fall. After exploring, Long Trail Brewing Company is a cool spot for sampling their autumn seasonal ales alongside sharp Vermont cheddar.
Need a place to stay? There are many options, and if you have some flexibility to visit mid-week, you can find reasonable prices. We stayed for three days over a long weekend in a King guest room at 3-star Killington Grand Resort Hotel (around $317/night) with mountain views.
My favorite meal was the Tavern Turkey with bacon, cheddar cheese, lettuce and tomato ($16) at The Lookout Tavern.
Dripping Springs, Texas
If you’re curious about fall in the Texas Hill Country where I live, Dripping Springs is one of my favorite towns to visit in October. In fact, I can safely say that Texas is one of the best family-friendly destinations, with warm people and more fall events than you could count. When I'm in the mood for a quick family day trip, Dripping Springs is our go-to spot.
In Dripping Springs, local vineyards and breweries buzz with seasonal tastings. I also love the small-town events in mild autumn air, including the Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival, the Founders Day Wine & Food Fest, and the many family-friendly Halloween happenings.
As you are driving around, you’ll also find pumpkin patches, outdoor movie nights, and themed markets at local farms and ranches so leave some time for that in your itinerary.
Just 40 minutes from Austin, I enjoy hiking at Hamilton Pool Preserve (book well in advance for Columbus Day!) and Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center. You can also enjoy savoring wines at award-winning vineyards along the Texas Wine Trail, and catching sunset views from scenic overlooks on Ranch Road 12.
Some of my favorite highlights include staying at a romantic Hill Country retreat.
If you are in town around Halloween, one of my favorite spots for Trick-or-Treating is at the Hill Country Galleria in Bee Cave (20 minutes from Dripping Springs) where local shop owners hand out generous amounts of candy to your kids for free! They usually roll out something special like an antique car exhibit or a free concert.
What I loved best:
For me Dripping Springs is one of the best places to visit in October because it's scenic and unique!
Perfect (usually still warm!) weather, affordable prices and many family-friendly activities are my favorite highlights.
Booking Checklist
1. Book Your Flight - I use Expedia because I like their mobile app with my itinerary. They've helped me re-book flights on many occasions. Once you reach their Gold tier, support is especially good.
2. Book Your Hotel - I use Booking.com or Expedia, depending on my destination.
3. Book Your Rental Car - I use Expedia.
4. Book your tours on Viator or Get Your Guide.
5. If you are planning to visit more than three national parks in the next 12 months, we've found that buying the America the Beautiful Pass is cost effective.
