Best Fall Camping Destinations In The US
America is teeming with stunning camping spots. With over 60 national parks and literally thousands of state parks, there is no shortage of natural adventure in the United States.
And while these places are beautiful year-round, there’s just something about the fall that makes them extra special. Here’s 24 of the best places to camp in the fall.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee (And North Carolina)
There was no doubt that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park would be on this list. Aside from an actual campground, this park is filled with hiking trails that take you along streams, past waterfalls, over old wooden bridges, and out to unbelievable views.
It’s home to 19,000 documented plant and animal species and one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world—making it a bucket list destination for nature lovers.
Acadia National Park, Maine
Acadia National Park tops the list for those looking for breathtaking landscapes, especially those majestic coastal views. Hike through vibrant forests, fish off the rocks, or go cycling through the trails. There’s plenty to see and do here, and it’s extra spectacular in the fall.
Big Sur, California
Big Sur is famous for many things, with fall hiking being one of them. It is unofficially the longest stretch of undeveloped coastline in the lower 48—which is prime for camping.
Big Sur offers unmatched coastal views with dramatic landscapes merging land and sea. This region has attained a worldwide reputation for its spectacular beauty.
Private campsites and glamp-sites are available along the coastline, but the state parks also offer oceanside spots and scenic trails that are unlike any other.
Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland
The Assateague Island National Seashore offers a stunning 37 miles of beaches that are perfect for crabbing, biking, water sports, and more. The best part is that the camp sites are oceanfront, and often give you an immersive experience with the island’s wild horses—which are known to visit the beach in the early mornings.
Camping is available year-round, but the fall is said to be a fan favorite.
Vicky Faye Aquino, Shutterstock
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
October is said to be the best month to visit Shenandoah National Park, with mild temperatures and breathtaking fall foliage.
Visitors are urged to take a scenic drive along Skyway Drive, which offers stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Or, take a hike along the famous Appalachian Trail, which will take you to picturesque waterfalls.
Camping closes early November.
Cloudland Canyon State Park
Cloudland Canyon is one of the largest and most scenic parts in Georgia, and a spot you don’t want to miss.
From sandstone cliffs, caves, and woodlands to waterfalls, streams, and canyons, there are over 90 miles of trails and hikes for every level. There are also 30 miles of mountain biking trails, for those looking for a faster-paced adventure.
Aside from that, visitors can enjoy horseback riding, fishing, and, of course, camping.
Jeff Gunn, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Big Bend National Park, Texas
Big Bend National Park is a hiker’s paradise. It offers an array of landscapes, from the depths of the basin to the Chisos Mountains—all of which are absolutely stunning in the fall.
Aside from countless trails, Big Bend is a designated Dark Sky Park, meaning the night sky is a top view, too. And in the months of October and November, meteor showers are said to frequent the night skies as well.
Gunnison National Forest, Colorado
Gunnison National Forest has it all. With six mountain peaks, 3,000 miles of trails, and an array of untouched wildlife, this vibrant forest offers a truly immersive experience with nature.
Gunnison National Forest, Colorado
There are about 60 campsites scattered around, some that come with an incredible 360-degree view of the Gunnison Valley. You can also hunt, fish, backpack, and mountain bike.
Campsites are first come, first serve only.
Galyna Andrushko, Shutterstock
Adirondack Park, New York
Adirondack Park, in upstate New York, boasts vast, untamed wilderness with stunning lakes and mountains and an abundance of incredible hardwood trees that take on a beautiful golden hue in the fall.
Foliage enthusiasts, photographers, and those who truly appreciate all that nature has to offer will feel right at home here.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Yellowstone is often known as a world-renowned natural wonderland as it takes on an otherworldly charm—especially during the fall season.
The highlights of the park are its geothermal features, like the hot springs, geysers, and mud baths, all of which boast an exceptional allure in the cooler months while creating an eerie yet enchanting atmosphere.
Ozark National Forest, Arkansas
Camping in the Ozark National Forest in the fall is an unbelievable experience where campers can fully immerse themselves with the serene wilderness.
This forest is known for its vibrant colors and peaceful vibe, and boasts an extensive trail system.
Backcountry camping is permitted almost anywhere along the trail, but must be a certain distance from water and campers must use “Leave No Trace” practices.
Marco Becerra, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Great Basin National Park sits in the high desert of Nevada, offering a unique experience for fall camping. Particularly during this season, the park is known for its remarkable night sky, which is said to provide some of the best stargazing conditions in the entire country.
Jrmichae, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Great Basin is also home to Wheeler Peak, one of the darkest places in the continental United States. The park even offers stargazing programs to overnight visitors, for a truly immersive desert experience.
Unknown Author, CC-BY-SA-3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Olympic National Park, Washington
Olympic National Park in the fall is a spectacular experience as the park’s natural beauty is fairly diverse, offering a range of colors and textures.
From the moss-draped trees of the lush, coastal Hoh Rainforest to the alpine meadows of Hurricane Ridge, the landscapes are widely different, but equally as stunning.
Columbia River Gorge, Oregon And Washington
The Columbia River Gorge is a beautiful natural wonder that is said to be a “truly exceptional” destination for fall camping.
Visitors can set up camp right beside the river—which reflects the explosion of color seen along the landscape—and spend the day exploring the park’s extensive trail system.
From riverbanks to enchanting forests, fall visitors often get a fantastic view of various wildlife preparing for winter.
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Bryce Canyon is a fall paradise as it already gives off that warm hue with its stunning red rock spires and unique geological formations (known as hoodoos).
This magnificent landscape gets even better when framed by the vibrant shades of red, orange, and gold of the trees that border the park.
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
The fall season is also ideal for stargazing. The park even offers overnight visitors a variety of events and programs to get the most out of the stunning night sky.
Campers can set up in prime locations throughout the park, either privately or with tour groups.
Zion National Park, Utah
Zion National Park is another one of Utah’s gems that also boasts striking red rock formations. While the park is famous for its red rocks, it also offers beautiful trees, incredible canyons, gentle waterfalls, and tranquil streams.
In the fall, wildlife enthusiasts are sure to see a number of animals, like Mule deer, wild turkeys, and bighorn sheep as they prepare for winter.
North Cascades National Park, Washington
North Cascades in Washington provides a fall camping experience that is truly like no other. The rugged mountains and alpine meadows become even more mesmerizing as the fall season progresses, offering a remarkable view in every direction.
North Cascades National Park, Washington
Camping here is an immersive experience, allowing visitors to dive right into nature. But there is also a KOA campground close by that offers hot showers and access to the park’s extensive trail system.
Jeffhollett, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Green Mountain National Forest, Vermont
The Green Mountain Forest is another exceptional fall camping destination. Visitors particularly enjoy views of the fiery reds and oranges that paint the Green Mountains. With a large number of deciduous trees, the forest completely transforms into a warm and tranquil paradise.
The forest offers well-maintained hiking trails that take you through the captivating greenery, along quiet streams, and out into the crisp mountain air.
Glacier National Park, Montana
Glacier National Park offers more than 700 miles of trails through picturesque forests, meadows, and mountains. There are over a thousand campsites throughout the park, each giving a different immersive experience with nature.
Camping is first come, first serve, but most sites are available year-round.
U.S. Department of the Interior, Flickr
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Grand Teton is another incredible natural wonder that offers views of the Rocky Mountains, fields of wildflowers, dark forests, pristine lakes, and plenty of wildlife.
It’s also located next to the National Elk Refuge, where you can spot hundreds of elk.
There are over a thousand campsites within the park—with Signal Mountain campground getting the best reviews. There is also an RV park, and a small village with cabins for those who don’t wish to pitch a tent.
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Obviously sleeping along the rim of the Grand Canyon is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. There are campsites along both the South Rim and the North Rim, offering campers and incredible view to wake up to.
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Spend the day hiking the canyons, taking in stunning views from below and atop. Sleep beside the stream, in the forest, or between the rock formations. There are countless things to do in this park, and the golden hues of fall offer scenery that is truly unmatched.
Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina And Virginia
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and all-American road that becomes a fall paradise in late September. With eight public campgrounds lining the parkway, there are dozens of opportunities to take in the landscapes.
Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina And Virginia
These campsites are located along the road, making them easily accessible. They all have picnic tables and a fire ring; Two of them have showers.
Along the road, you’ll find surrounding parkland that offers horseback riding, walking trails, and biking trails.
Joshua Tree National Park, California
Joshua Tree National Park isn’t exactly inundated with fall colors, as it is set in the desert, but it is said to be much more enjoyable in the fall months due to the cooler climates and smaller crowds.
Joshua Tree National Park, California
This intriguing landscape is a great place to see raw rocks and the effects of earthquakes. The lands were once home to Columbian mammoths, saber-toothed cats, dire wolves, giant ground sloths, horses, camels, and llamas.
The park has a few different campgrounds to choose from, some of which are open year-round.
Channel Islands, California
Channel Islands is another beautiful spot for fall camping in Cali. This group of five islets off the southern California coast often provides ample opportunities for whale watching—and if you set up in the right spot, you may be able to see them right from your tent.
These stunning islands offer camping on various spots, including backcountry beach camping. But there’s only one way to reach them—by ferry.
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