Can't Miss Fall Foliage Drives - Go Now!

There's nothing more quintessentially “autumn” than a road trip dedicated to enjoying the explosion of fall colors that occurs each October. Follow the lead of IgoUgo members who've found scenic drives of dazzling foliage in the color-filled Midwest, Northeast, and eastern U.S. And grab a camera!

• Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park, Luray, Virginia
  Shenandoah National Park takes fall color seriously--you can check the status of the leaves online via a weekly color report or browse the scenery via their webcam, even before you hop in the car. With or without the leaves at its pinnacle, a slow journey along 105-mile Skyline Drive is worth the gas. As treesinger says, "There are numerous overlooks on either side of the road to take in the scenery and say 'wow' a couple hundred times." If hiking out among the colors is more your style, Chris & Carrine recommend the White Oak Canyon/Cedar Run Loop Trail, where you can start at the bottom and "enjoy a series of fantastic waterfalls as you descend."


• Route 100 through the Green Mountains, Vermont
  Vermont is central to some of the best foliage in the country and a major destination for serious leaf-peepers. While almost everywhere in the state is filled with a rainbow of color come autumn, the Green Mountains in particular make for a perfect drive. Shaunandtrish recommend stopping by the quaint town of Stowe along the way, as it's "smack bang in the middle of some lovely scenic drives" and near Ben & Jerry's ice cream factory in Waterbury, VT.




Catskills photo by stromboli

• Highway 9W through the Catskills Mountains, New York
  Follow the Hudson River on this scenic highway--they run parallel up to the Catskills, and the reflections of the gorgeous red, yellow, and orange autumn leaves are a must-see. Ladyanne47 describes the "magnificent colors" in her leaf peeping journal, and also recommends the region's apple cider, usually sold roadside or at the many farms dotting the Hudson Valley.


• Scenic byways (any of them!) through Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
  Rocky Mountain National Park includes so many spectacular scenic drives that you literally can't go wrong. Try the popular Bear Lake Road, and hop out of the car for a color-filled hike. As kimgallegos says of Bear Lake in her Estes Park journal, "the air is fresh and clean, and the foliage is enchanting."




Photo by Nisa004

• The North Shore Scenic Drive, Superior National Forest, Minnesota
  The green pines and yellow aspens that this area is known for are punctuated with flashes of red maples--not to mention cliff views and those 10,000 lakes. Start near the town of Duluth and continue north on old highway 61 for some truly memorable views. Nisa004 took this gorgeous foggy picture of the fall scenery as she drove through.


• Brown County State Park, off Highway 46 near Bloomington, Indiana
  For the Hoosier State's biggest state park, the changing leaves are a huge attraction (in-park cabins typically have at least a 2 to 3 year waiting list in autumn). As a day trip, the park's bending roads are one of the best ways to take in the colors. As Globe attests, "the park is densely populated with oaks, maples, and other species that offer a beautiful array of colors." While you're there, head out on a guided horseback ride or pack a picnic lunch to enjoy under the colorful trees.

For even more routes, check out last year's 10 Favorite Fall Foliage Drives!

Posted by LonelyHighway (Kelly L. Phillips)

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• New York
• New England
• autumn
• nature
• road trips