As the heat of summer fades, many US destinations become crisp, cool, and colorful with fall foliage. The abundance of warm hues and pumpkin patches create the perfect photography backdrop.
Whether you're interested in discovering the best destinations for fall photos or simply want to enjoy some leaf peeping, we're rounding up the most Instagram-worthy travel destinations for autumn.
DD Ranch in Terrebonne opens its pumpkin patch every fall, and it's worth the trip. The ranch sits at the foot of the Cascades, so you're picking pumpkins with a mountain backdrop that's hard to beat. There's a petting zoo, hay rides, food trucks, and live music on weekends. It's a full day out for families. Terrebonne is also just a few miles from Smith Rock State Park, so it's easy to add a hike along the Crooked River before or after.
After a long day of pumpkin picking, you need a peaceful location to kick back and relax. Bend Vacation Rentals by Arrived offers properties ranging from riverside villas on the Deschutes to golf-course townhomes, all close to downtown Bend. Expect gourmet kitchens with double ovens, floor-to-ceiling windows with mountain and river views, and amenities like private hot tubs, basketball courts, and media rooms. Properties sleep up to 14 guests, making them a solid pick for groups.
The Reflector Loop Trail is a 3.5-mile moderate hike that takes around two hours. In September and October, the aspen trees along the trail turn bright gold, and on a clear day, the views are hard to match. Big Sky is also well-placed for side trips. Yellowstone is an hour south, and the Gallatin River is close for fly fishing. The town is quieter in the fall than during ski season, making it a good time to go.
Enjoy mountain views and warm, cozy accommodations at Big Sky Vacation Rentals by Ascend Properties, which has 16 properties, from condos in the center of town to mountain homes with ski-in/ski-out access. Most feature stone fireplaces, timber-beam ceilings, hardwood floors, and large windows facing the mountains. Several have hot tubs on wrap-around decks. In-town properties put you within walking distance of restaurants, breweries, and trails.
The Blue Ridge Parkway runs 469 miles through the Appalachian Highlands, and the stretch near Asheville is one of the best sections to drive in the fall. The road winds past overlooks, open meadows, and dense forest that goes full color from mid-October through early November. Asheville itself adds a lot to the trip a strong food and craft brewery scene, the Biltmore Estate, local galleries, and live music most nights of the week. It works just as well as a base as it does a destination.
Greater Asheville Vacation Rentals by Greybeard Rentals has properties ranging from lakefront retreats on Lake James to mountain sanctuaries in private gated communities. Interiors feature exposed white pine beams, stone fireplaces, antique claw-foot tubs, and open-concept kitchens with high-end leather seating. Wrap-around decks with long-range mountain views, 7-person hot tubs, private docks, and fire pits complete the outdoor spaces. Properties sleep between 6 and 12 guests.
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The High Country of North Carolina sits above 3,500 feet, which means fall arrives earlier and harder here than almost anywhere else in the South. The Harvest Festival in Banner Elk draws crowds each October with local vendors, mountain crafts, live music, and food. The surrounding area is the real draw. Blowing Rock has a good main street with restaurants and shops, and the Moses Cone trails near Boone offer 40 miles of wide gravel paths with open mountain views. Color peaks in mid-October, and it's some of the best in the eastern US.
Blue Ridge Mountain Rentals has everything from riverside cabins with fly-fishing access to large mountain retreats at 5,000 feet. Properties feature two-story great rooms with hardwood floors, floor-to-ceiling stone fireplaces, antler chandeliers, and gourmet kitchens. Outside, hot tubs on elevated decks, fire pits at the river's edge, and covered outdoor living areas with stone fireplaces. Some properties have 8-person spas with built-in sound systems, 85-inch TVs, and EV chargers.
Brasstown Bald is the highest point in Georgia at 4,784 feet, and on a clear fall day, the view from the summit takes in four states. The hike up is short, about half a mile from the upper parking area, but steep enough to feel earned. Blue Ridge town is nearby and worth a stop. It has a walkable downtown with restaurants for kayaking. Fall color in this part of North Georgia runs through late October and gets deeper the higher you go.
Blue Ridge Vacation Rentals by Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals offers custom luxury cabins with vaulted ceilings, stacked-stone fireplaces, and walls of windows facing the mountains. Covered decks come with outdoor living rooms, fireplaces, dining areas, and hot tubs with long views. Some properties have screened-in porches, saunas, and outdoor daybeds. Inside, surround sound, game rooms, and plush furnishings throughout. Prices range from cozy one-bedroom A-frames to larger lodges that sleep up to 18.
The Swinging Bridge in Suches spans 270 feet over the Toccoa River and is the longest swinging bridge east of the Mississippi. It sits on the Benton MacKaye Trail, surrounded by North Georgia forest that turns red and amber in fall. Suches is off the main tourist track, which makes the fall colors here feel more like a discovery than a destination. The surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains offer waterfall hikes, mountain roads, and nearby apple orchards to fill out the trip.
Enjoy the fall colors of the North Georgia mountains when you stay at Suches Vacation Rentals by SVR Properties. Expansive porches and decks provide the perfect location to sip coffee and enjoy the fall colors, while unique amenities like hot tubs offer a relaxing way to unwind after a day of exploring.
Chattooga Belle Farm is a 200-acre working farm in Long Creek with apple orchards, mountain views, and an on-site distillery. It's a straightforward, enjoyable fall outing: pick apples, walk the grounds, and have a drink before you leave. Long Creek borders Sumter National Forest, which has good waterfall hikes and access to the Chattooga River for kayaking. The fall foliage in this part of South Carolina is underrated and worth the detour.
Clemson Vacation Rentals has lakefront properties on Lake Keowee and Lake Hartwell, featuring vaulted living rooms, wide-plank floors, stone fireplaces, and floor-to-ceiling lake views. Outside, double-decker docks, hot tubs, and fire pits sit right at the water. Inside, gourmet kitchens, game rooms with pool tables and shuffleboard, and theater rooms keep things comfortable on quieter evenings. Properties sleep between 6 and 18 guests.
Cades Cove is a historic valley within Great Smoky Mountains National Park with preserved settler homesteads, grist mills, and churches that still stand from the 1800s. In the fall, the forest turns red, orange, and gold around them, and deer graze in the open meadows at dusk. It's one of the most visited spots in the park for good reason. The valley also has 11 cemeteries and a long history of ghost stories; visitors have reported feeling uneasy and photographing unexplained lights. If you're visiting around Halloween, it fits the mood perfectly.
Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge Vacation Rentals by Mountain Laurel Chalets has 13 properties, ranging from two-bedroom chalets to large mountain estates that sleep up to 20. All have handcrafted wood interiors, high-end appliances, luxury mattresses, game rooms, and home theaters. Properties are in quiet neighborhoods with easy access to downtown Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, plus three clubhouses and community pools available in warmer months.
Oxbow Bend is one of the most photographed spots in Grand Teton National Park, and fall is the best time to go. The Snake River curves through a flat wetland with the Tetons rising straight up behind it, and in September and October the cottonwood trees along the bank turn a deep gold that reflects in the still water below. Wildlife is active in fall, too: moose, bald eagles, trumpeter swans, and bears are regular sightings around the bend. Jackson town is a short drive away with good restaurants, galleries, and the famous Town Square antler arches.
Jackson Hole Vacation Rentals by Outpost has chalets and custom log cabins in resort communities close to both Teton Village and Jackson town. Properties have cathedral ceilings, wood-burning fireplaces, floor-to-ceiling Teton views, and large primary suites with stone fireplaces, steam showers, and heated floors. Extras include gourmet kitchens, wet bars, private hot tubs, saunas, media rooms, billiards tables, and on-property hiking trails. Some have ski-in/ski-out access. Properties sleep between 8 and 18 guests.
These nine destinations cover a lot of ground, but they all deliver the same thing: a good reason to get outside before winter sets in. Whether you're chasing peak foliage, planning a family trip, or just looking for a change of scenery, fall in the US has no shortage of options. The 100 Collection takes the guesswork out of where to stay, with handpicked vacation rentals in each destination and dozens more across the country. Browse the full collection and find the right property for your fall getaway.
