Charlottesville, VA
Off the beaten path, Charlottesville has myriad oaks that turn brilliant shades of red when the summer is over. Located in west central Virginia, this rural hideaway in the Blue Ridge Mountains is the home of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello estate and offers great antique hunting and shopping. Honored by outlets like A&E, Money magazine and others as one of America’s best places to live, it’s also where you’ll find the University of Virginia.
Best Dates: Leaves are already turning and are expected to peak between October 15 and 25th.
State Parks/RV Parks: George Washington National Forest is comprised of nearly a million acres and offers RVers both boondocking and full-amenity camping. For more information, click here.
Peters Valley – Delaware Water Gap NJ
Widely known as an artisan colony, this northwestern New Jersey town hosts woodworkers, sculptors, weavers, metal workers and more. It’s also one of the best places in New Jersey to witness the glory of autumn leaves. Part of the Skylands area, Peters Valley is nestled in the Walpack Valley, where the Delaware River splits Sussex County, NJ and Pike County, PA. Rent a canoe at Dingman’s Ferry and experience the colorful foliage from the ground up. Plan to spend at least at day to experience what Peters Valley has to offer.
Best Dates: Peak season comes earlier here than in New England because of the abundance of shallow rooted trees like swamp maple and ash.
State Parks/RV Parks: Worthington State Forest is comprised of 6,000 acres that extend nearly seven miles along the of the Kittatiny Mountain ridge. There are 69 tent and trailer sites in the park and hunting, fishing and boating are permitted.
For more information, click here.
Wellsboro, PA
Located adjacent to Pine Creek Gorge, also knows as the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, Wellsboro has classic small town charm and is nestled in the wilderness of northern Pennsylvania. Antiques and restaurants satisfy those who want to explore town while the 47-foot gorge carved during the ice age is the focal point of outdoor life, which includes hiking, biking, bird watching, horseback riding and fishing. Stick around for a couple of days and get a taste of both.
State Parks/RV Parks: Leonard Harrison State Park has 585 acres with hiking, hunting, and campsites to accommodate RVs. For more information, click here.
Asheville, NC and The Blue Ridge Parkway
The elevation changes 5,000 feet between Asheville and the highest point in the Smoky Mountains, creating a glorious brush of color change that lasts almost two months. Asheville, located in northwestern North Carolina, is a medium sized city with plentiful art, theater, music and restaurants while the surrounding small towns along the parkway offer charm, peace and quiet. This is an area you could spend weeks exploring and still not experience all it has to offer, but any amount of time you stay will provide years of scenic memories.
Best Dates: Asheville explodes with color around the first week of November.
State Parks/RV Parks: The Great Smoky Mountains National Park accommodates RVs in its frontcamping areas. Along with hiking, biking, horseback riding and fishing, you can tour early settler structures like houses, churches and farms. For more information, click here.
Things to Do: Each weekend in October and early November is packed with festivals and events. Art in the Park, Oktoberfest and The Craft Fair of Southern Highlands are just a few. For a complete list, click here.
Bowling Green, KY
Located in southern Kentucky, the focal point of this town is the maze of caves that comprise Mammoth Cave National Park and outdoor enthusiasts can canoe on 31 miles of river or go spelunking. But this scenic area has much more, including tours of local farms and distilleries, along with an aviation museum and a downtown area offering historical tours, unique restaurants and shops. Arts enthusiasts will find plenty to satisfy them with theaters and museums, and of course, a bounty of bluegrass and blues music.
Best Dates: The best color in this area is mid to late October.
State Parks/RV Parks: Mammoth Cave National Park is known for its caves, all 367 miles of them. The Green and Nolin rivers offer canoeing, kayaking, and fishing that afford views of the surrounding foliage from ground level. Horseback riding, hiking, and bike trails offer plenty of opportunities to learn more about this unique area. RVs are welcome at the Maple Springs campground.
Things to Do: Visit Jackson’s Orchard for their weekly Pumpkin Festivals, running every weekend in October. The Festival features hayrides, a pumpkin patch to pick your own, a straw castle, face painting, a petting farm and much more. Sample caramel apples, apple cider slushes, fried pies and many other fall favorites.
Harrisville/Cairo, WV
Nestled in the Appalachian Mountains in northern West Virginia, these towns offer spectacular views of the fall foliage. While many choose Weirton or Ogelbay for their leaf peeping, these two off-the-beaten-path towns offer tranquility and a taste of West Virginia charm. With plenty of hiking and biking trails, quaint shops and home-style restaurants, this is a spot for those who prefer to keep things simple.
Best Dates: Expect a full range of color from mid to late October.
State Parks/RV Parks: North Bend State Park is in close proximity to Harrisville and accommodates RVs in both its River Run and Cokely campsites. Nature programs and boat rentals end in September, but there is still hiking, biking and horseback riding on the 72-mile rail trail that runs throughout the park, Part of the 5,500 Discovery America trail it follows unused railway tracks from a CSX corridor. Enjoy the park’s Quilter’s Getaway from October 28-31 with classes from master quilters.
Things to Do: The annual Pioneer Days in Cairo takes place October 16-17 in the Cairo town square. Filled with fun activities including a staged bank robbery, blacksmith demonstrations and apple cider pressing, delicious food and plenty of bluegrass, this events draws tourists and residents from all over the state.
Finger Lakes, NY
Spread across northwestern New York state, this area contains seven lakes and provides amazing locations to view the autumn leaves. Rochester, Ithaca and Syracuse form the triangle in which the lakes sit, but there are plenty of small towns that offer activities from hot air ballooning to apple picking. Wine aficionados may already know that this area is New York’s largest wine producing region and the fall is a perfect time to tour the vineyards and sample the wares. There also are plenty of museums and interesting historical sites, including Seneca Falls, the birthplace of the women’s suffrage movement.
State Parks/RV Parks: There are eleven state parks that front lakes and six more that feature gorges. Visitors can see waterfalls, spectacular foliage and stunning rock formations while hiking, biking and boating. There are nearly 70 camp sites within the state park system in the Fingerlakes region, many of which accommodate RVs. Find a campground near your route.
Things to Do: The Naples Grape Festival celebrates all things grape, including a grape pie eating contest and a grape stomping, and also has arts and crafts and plenty of food October 25-26.
White Mountains, NH
Famous for its spectacular fall colors, this mountain region in northern New Hampshire is filled with sugar maples that provide brilliant hues of red and orange. The area is home to a number of small towns known for their hospitality, including Franconia, North Conway, and Woodstock. Here you can take the Cannon Aerial Tramway across the valley to the top of a 4,200-foot summit or ride the Mountain Coaster at Attitash, an open flume-like ride that plummets down a 2,600-foot mountain slope. Calmer activities include a scenic walk along the famous Flume Gorge or hopping aboard an antique train.
State Parks/RV Parks: There are three state parks that can accommodate RVs in the area: Crawford Notch, Franconia Notch, and Moose Brook. All offer scenic vistas and an array of outdoor activities. Because of the high elevation, winter comes early here, so it’s best to visit as early as possible.
Things to Do: The Leaf Peepers craft show takes place October 16 and features handcrafted jewelry, wearable art, paintings, scroll saw creations, tapestry bags, gourmet food items and more. The event takes place regardless of weather at the North Conway Community Center. For more information, click here.
Chattahoochee/Oconee State Parks - GA
Numerous tiny towns surround and are embedded in the Chattahoochee and Oconee National Forests, which rest at the northern Georgia border. Dahlonega is the heart of wine country with a half dozen wineries and Suches is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts offering exhilarating views while hiking, biking and boating. Towns are located in close proximity to each other so you can shop, hike and enjoy a great meal without having to travel far. If you’re a Cabbage Patch doll fan, be sure to stop in Cleveland, the home of Babyland Hospital where you can actually see a Cabbage Patch doll being “born.”
Best Dates: Best viewing dates will depend on your elevation here and span from mid to late October into the beginning of November.
State Parks/RV Parks: The campgrounds at Desoto Falls in the Chattahoochee Forest provide a great base camp from which to enjoy the scenery of the falls, as well as the nearby Appalachian Trail and Raven Cliffs Wilderness. The campground can accommodate RVs. Surrounded by dense forest, camping here is almost like being on your own private island. For information call 770 297-3000.
Things to Do: Here is a complete list of activities in the northern mountains of Georgia.
Catskills, NY
Sometimes referred to as the “other” mountains, this area may not be as famous as its sister Adirondacks, but it has just as much to offer those who love scenic views and outdoor activities. Comprised of four counties in the southwestern pocket of New York state, the area is home to Woodstock and Belleayer Mountain, as well as numerous small towns. The region is known for its artisans and antiques, along with fine restaurants serving everything from avant garde fare to traditional homestyle cooking. Visit for a detailed list of the great towns that make up the Catksills.
Best Dates: See the best color here are around the third week of October.
State Parks/RV Parks: There are many local campgrounds that are RV friendly.
Things to Do: For a complete list of Catskills events for the fall season, click here.