09/26/2026
I planned our year-long road trip strategically so we would drive down the east coast during peak fall foliage season and it was definitely one of the highlights of our whole trip! If colorful mountains are calling your name, here are a few East Coast national parks to add to your fall travel list!
➡️ Swipe for more on each park
🍁
🐴 Just on the outskirts of Gatlinburg, TN, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is an easy-to-access fall escape and the trees were poppin’! Take in the colorful scenery on horseback for the perfect crisp fall afternoon.
🦞 Perched along the rocky coast of Maine, Acadia National Park is a fall favorite with stunning foliage and ocean views. Take on the iconic Beehive Trail for a little adventure with some seriously rewarding views then after, head to Bar Harbor for a lobster dinner.
🦦 Tucked into the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, New River Gorge National Park is a fall favorite with vibrant foliage and incredible mountain scenery. Take a river rafting adventure through the gorge where you can see otters and views of the towering bridge from below. Be warned- you will get wet and the water is cold!!
🍂 Shenandoah National Park is made for a fall road trip, with winding mountain roads, endless overlooks, and gorgeous foliage around every turn. We kept it simple with a scenic drive through the park and honestly, sometimes that’s the best way to take it all in!
🛤️ Just south of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Valley National Park is another easy-to-access park with colorful forests and rolling hills. We hopped aboard the scenic train ride to take in the views from a whole different perspective!
For an off-the-beaten-path escape, head to Congaree National Park and explore the towering old-growth forest through winding boardwalk trails or even kayak on Cedar Creek. By the time we got here it was already November and the leaves were a little past their prime!
