Autumn is a magical time. You can just about smell the pumpkin spice and apple cider in the air! The Autumn leaf color change signals the end of an annual life cycle, which begins in the Spring. Many areas quickly change from green to various shades of gold, crimson, orange, and eventually brown. The color change is a beautiful process to watch, and it makes for lovely views on a road trip.
Forgive me here for digressing for a moment. One of my fondest childhood memories is traveling with my family to the Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee to see the leaves as they changed colors. We packed up the pop-up camper. My parents, my siblings, and my grandparents… all in my parent’s 1986 Ford Bronco. Fun, fun memories right there.
This trip really inspired my interest in “Leaf Peeping.” We drove through Cades Cove, down the Newfoundland Gap road and on into Asheville, North Carolina. I also highly recommend that you take the hike up to Clingman’s Dome; this view covers over 100 miles on a clear day and provides a 360-degree view. I come from Tennessee, and while we are mostly known for our hot, humid summers. Tennessee’s Autumn season is so awe-inspiring that you would hate to miss it!
Why does this leaf color change happen?
Plant sugar, produced in the leaf, gets trapped when the days are sunny and warm, and the nights are cold. Chlorophyll, which makes the leaf appear green, disappears, allowing Xanthophylls (Yellow), Carotenoids (Orange), and Anthocyanin (Red). So, the Autumn colors appear after the Chlorophyll disappears. The air’s temperature and moisture determine color intensity. If you have warm, dry days and cold nights – the colors will be more brilliant. If you have rainy days and cold nights, the colors will be less vibrant.
When is peak leaf color?
The best leaf-peeping time is Late September through early November, depending on the area of the country. Unfortunately, we cannot predict what Mother Nature will do. We can predict a basic outline of events, but things can change very abruptly.
Camping is a great way to enjoy the scenery
Summer is now in the rear-view mirror; there is no reason to pack up the tent or park the RV. Chilly mornings, perfect hiking weather, and tasty cold-weather recipes will be the norm soon. Autumn camping is a must-do for anyone that enjoys the outdoors. Is camping not your thing? No worries, glamping may be just your style. Look for a campground/ Resort that has cottages, tiny homes, or glamping tents available (Along with some pretty cool amenities).
Here are my top recommendations:
Arkansas
Arkansas, being the Natural State, is famous for its forests and abundant wilderness areas. October 19 – November 4 is typically the peak season for leaf-peeping in Arkansas. Our favorite route to take through the state is State Hwy 7, which goes directly through downtown Hot Springs. It travels down the famous “Bathhouse Row,” past Hot Springs National Park and directly into the Ouachita National Forest. This scenic byway is 290 miles long and goes from the Louisiana state border to Harrison, Arkansas.
Autumn at Catherine’s Landing – Hot Springs, AR
Want to stretch out your trip over a few days? Catherine’s Landing is only 7 minutes from downtown Hot Springs, and it a great place to stop for an evening or for an extended stay. They offer RV sites, cottage rentals, tent camping, and Yurts and have great amenities, including a zip-line that is operated by Adventureworks Hot Springs. They are located right alongside Lake Catherine, and I must say… the sunrises and sunsets are pretty spectacular!
California
California doesn’t necessarily jump to the top of the mind for Autumn foliage; however, its color pallet will definitely surprise you. I think it is the diversity of trees in the area that produce a beautiful palette of colors. Especially in the Yosemite area, Yosemite National Park offers a completely different visual experience in the autumn than during any other season. It also helps that the park isn’t typically as busy as it is during the summer season. Tioga Road and Glacier Point are famous for their Yellow Aspen trees! Pay attention to the weather before your trip, as some roads close when the colder weather arrives.
Photo by Rakshith Hatwar via Unsplash
Many of the campgrounds within Yosemite park are not open, but just outside of the South Entrance (closest to Mariposa Grove), Yosemite RV Resort is a great option. This Resort encompasses more than 35 acres of Oak trees and Manzanita trees with a large pool, horseshoe pits, and a playground for the kids. Don’t have an RV or a tent? No problem! They have great Camping Cabins and Yurts available. Check out yosemitervresort.com for details.
Colorado
Crisp, autumn air welcomes vibrantly colored leaves that put on a dazzling display of color that brings people from miles to witness. There are some classic leaf-peeping spots that just beg to be enjoyed from the comfort of your car—like Kebler Pass, Independence Pass, and the aptly named the Million Dollar Highway. Also recommended is Pikes Peak Highway, take the trip up Pikes Peak Highway for cool mountain air and breathtaking views. Just wait until you get a chance to stand at the summit of Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain and overlook the city.
Photo by Matthew Hernandez on Unsplash
Colorado Springs many parks to hike the day away on numerous trails. For an easy walk, check out the paved trails of Garden of the Gods, which weaves through the famous formations and numerous bits of burnished foliage for all your autumn viewing desires. Cheyenne Canyon offers multiple trails of varying terrain for you to enjoy nature’s artistry.
Garden of the Gods just one mile away from this urban camping resort, which is outfitted with a bark park, a children’s playground, and an arcade. They offer RV sites, Cottages, bunkhouses, and tent sites for campers. Check out GardenoftheGodsRVResort.com for details.
Florida
Summer is the longest season in Florida, but Autumn is the perfect time to go Glamping in Florida. The intense summer heat is gone and refreshing breezes whip across the state. You’ll enjoy hiking on shady trails, fishing the deep seas, and making smores around the campfire. To see the Autumn leaf change best, you will want to be around the Northwest corner of the state around Tallahassee. Just west of Tallahassee, you will find Torreya State Park. The bluffs at this park overlook the Apalachicola River.
To the South of Tallahassee’s Edward Ball Wakulla Springs Park. This park has the deepest freshwater springs in the state. They have found Mastadon remains within the confines of this park, which is pretty cool. You will see a variety of Maple, Sweetgum, and Sourwood trees. Also, if the Autumn leaf change isn’t your thing, you aren’t terribly far from the beach. You can always stop to stick your toes in the sand!
I recommend that you visit Live Oak Landing, in Freeport, Florida. This RV resort offers both RV spaces and waterfront Cottages. The RV sites are big-rig friendly and have flat concrete pads. The Cottages are fully furnished with flat-screen TVs, washer/dryer, full bathrooms, and kitchens. Enjoy the outdoors with your own grill, picnic table, and fire pit! Check out LiveOakLanding.com for details.
Georgia
Georgia is the most underrated state for Autumn foliage destinations in the country! This state is packed with scenic drives, loads of trees, and wide-open spaces. South of Atlanta, you will find rolling mountains and hardwood forests. I recommend visiting F. D. Roosevelt State Park near Pine Mountain, GA. Specifically the 6.7-mile-long Wolf Den loop. This is a favorite amongst visitors to the area.
The Meriwether-Pike Scenic Byway is a longer 55-mile is a loop that begins in Warm Spring, Ga. This town is the location for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s ‘Little White House.’ When you pass through Woodbury, be sure to stop at the Western end of Red Oak Creek Covered Bridge. This is Georgia’s oldest remaining covered bridge and a great photo opportunity! Another fun fact – The path for the Meriwether-Pike Scenic Byway was created by a meteor impact billions of years ago. In the 1970’s it was also home to an extraterrestrial research station.
Pine Mountain RV Resort was a great choice for my basecamp. While spending my time exploring Georgia, I also made s’mores around the campfire, enjoyed in the pool, and visiting with my family and friends. Socially distanced, of course! They offer cottages, yurts, RV, and tent camping sites. They are pet-friendly too! Check out pinemountainrvresort.com for details.
North Carolina
Between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains, this area has the longest autumn color seasons in the country. The area offers a variety of microclimates, so you don’t have to worry about exact dates. The color changes begin in the upper elevations and work their way down the mountainsides starting as early as September.
When in the Asheville area, you can’t go wrong in traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Autumn. This 170-mile drive is one of the top 10 scenic drives in the United States. The kaleidoscope of colors that you will see is incomparable to anywhere else in the world. Check out these Top 20 Fall Photo Stops by our friends at Romantic Asheville. Don’t forget to stop and visit the Biltmore Estate while you are in town!
Nestled in the heart of the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, Mountain Springs Cabins offers 13 unique, fully equipped cabins that are packed with all the charm you love and all the modern conveniences you need. These great cabins are located only 20 minutes west of downtown Asheville and the historic Biltmore Estate, you can enjoy all that the area has to offer, yet still, escape from the city and surround yourself with nature. I highly recommend it. Find out more at mtnsprings.com.
Texas
“Vermont has more hardwood trees, more natural beauty.” Take one or more looks at these Hill Country Autumn color tours and see if you still say that afterward. One of my favorite places to visit is the Lost Maples Natural Area. This park is approximately 90 miles from San Antonio and on the scenic “Three Sisters” route. The interesting thing about this park is that this park is a bunch of Bigtooth Maples that have grown there. They are separate from all of the other Maples in the world. Thus, the name Lost Maples was born. I will note that parking is extremely limited, so you will probably want to visit during the week when it is not as crowded.
As the climate is warmer in Texas, you will want to visit the area closer to November to see the full spectrum of autumn colors. Medina Highpoint Resort is a great option for accommodations. Located just off of Hwy 16, it is near the “Three Sisters” trail and smack dab between Medina and Kerrville. They offer a fantastic pool, game room, and on-site hiking trails. If you decide to hike to the top, there are two observation towers at the top that give a wonderful view of the Texas Hill Country. Visit them at medinahighpointresort.com.
About RVC Outdoor Destinations
RVC Outdoor Destinations develops, owns, and operates vacation resorts set within naturally beautiful environments and in close proximity to local attractions and activities. We offer RV Sites, Cottages, Yurts, and Tent camping at our 8 locations across the country! Visit our rvcoutdoors.com for more information or to speak with a reservation specialist through our Live Chat!
