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Acadia, Congaree, fall camping, Fall Camping Destinations, Fall RV Travel, National Parks, National Parks In Fall, RV travel, Zion
Looking for some amazing fall destinations to visit in your RV? Why not pay a visit to some of our country’s national parks? There are several national parks that are ideal during the fall months, making them absolutely perfect fall camping destinations.
Here are the best national parks to visit in the fall.
Acadia National Park
Acadia is amazing in summer, but when the leaves start to turn in September, it becomes absolutely magical. The colors that cover the entire park are stunning, and the hikes up into the mountains give you some amazing views of the colorful trees set against the bright blue ocean. The weather is a bit chilly but just perfect for brisk hikes during the day and crackling campfires at night.
Congaree National Park
Thanks to its southern location, fall hits Congaree National Park a bit later. Usually in October, you’ll see the leaves change to beautiful oranges and yellows that are reflected in the waters that run throughout the park, making for some bright, beautiful strolls. To top it all off, the humidity that fills the air in this park during this summer is cut by crisp, cool weather that I absolutely love.
Cuyahoga National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is in an amazing location right between Cleveland and Akron, making it easy to reach if you happen to live in one of these cities. Fall hits the park in late September, and by October the whole place is a rainbow of yellows, oranges, reds, and purples. I recommend hiking and bicycling during your fall visit to Cuyahoga, as these activities allow you to immerse yourself in the colors.
Grand Canyon National Park
To be perfectly honest, I adore the Grand Canyon all year round. That said, fall is my favorite time of year to be there. During this time, the crowds thin a bit and the temperatures drop, making hiking more manageable. The park doesn’t play host to a whole lot of trees, but there is still a shift in the color palette of the place, creating an extra spectacular experience.
Note: This park has amazing Ranger programs. Make sure to attend one!
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
One of the best leaf-peeping destinations in the country, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is another of the best national parks to visit in the fall. Thanks to the 100+ species of trees that call the park home, the color variety in the area during the fall months is nothing short of spectacular. Hiking through the park is one great way to take in the fall colors, but we also recommend driving some of the Blue Ridge Parkway for amazing views.
Shenandoah National Park
Set at the other end of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Shenandoah National Park is another wonderful spot for autumn leaf peeping. In fact, this one can be a great addition to your Great Smoky Mountains trip if you want to drive the entire Blue Ridge Parkway.
Once again you’ll see some amazing colors, but I also recommend hiking to a waterfall for an extra special view. While you’re there, watch out for animals, which tend to be out during the fall months.
Zion National Park
Finally, I must mention Zion National Park. This isn’t exactly a leaf-peeping park, but it is lovely during the fall, and the trees that are in the park do change to nice colors in late October.
Usually packed during the summer, this park sees fewer visitors during autumn, meaning the crowds are much more manageable. The weather is also much more pleasant, meaning you can tackle more of the park’s trails.
There you have it, my absolute favorite national parks to visit in the fall! Which one will you check out this year?
About the author: Chelsea Gonzales
Chelsea has the amazing opportunity to take part in full-time RV living and traveling with her tiny tribe. She homeschools her five-year-old son as they travel, and takes full advantage of their unique situation by using the entire world as her son’s classroom. A group of total Disney fanatics, Chelsea and her family often find themselves in the Orlando area in order to visit the Disney parks, but they have also visited over 25 of the 50 states with plans to see many more along the way. No matter where her travels take her, Chelsea enjoys riding bikes, gazing at beautiful sunsets, finding new coffee shops, Irish dancing, and sitting around a campfire with her family.
You can join her adventures through her blog, Wonder Wherever We Wander.
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As summer gives way to fall, many people will be winterizing their RVs and putting them away for the colder months. Fortunately, you do not have to be one of those people. Why not keep the RV out for some fall-time camping with the kids? Not only will you get to continue to enjoy the relaxing camping experience, your kids will be thrilled as well.
While acorns can be found on the ground in the summer, they become much more abundant as the weather turns colder. Take advantage of this fact by teaching your young nature explorers how to create a whistle from an acorn cap. Not only is this great fun, it could also be helpful knowledge to have in an emergency situation.
If you enjoy hiking, you are probably always looking for a way to entertain the kiddos during your treks through nature. Why not have the young hikers collect pretty fall leaves during your adventures? There are leaves in lots of amazing colors, shapes, and sizes, and collecting them could turn into a fun lesson on how to identify various leaves.
The fall season brings earlier sunsets, meaning much more of your camping time will be spent in darkness. However, you don’t have to let this fact put a damper on your fun. Instead, use the darkness to increase your fun by playing a rousing game of flashlight tag.
