The Best Fall Day Trip In Every State

Don't let the fall season pass you by without squeezing in some safe, socially distanced fun. Before the weather turns, you'll want to spend as much time outdoors enjoying the crisp fall air as you can. You may not have an entire weekend at your disposal for a full weekend getaway, but that doesn't mean you can't take advantage of everything fall has to offer. Whether it's with the family, by yourself or with your romantic partner, head out on the best fall day trip in your state.

October in Alaska can get pretty chilly, but don't let the weather prevent you from enjoying the fall season. You can warm up by soaking in the Chena Hot Springs. The resort offers day trip packages year-round that include a scenic 60-mile ride to natural hot springs, where you can sit and soak for hours in the therapeutic waters. 

Peebles Farm is an Arkansas attraction that has managed to pack a vast amount of fall activities into one farm. However, due to COVID-19, the availability of some attractions is limited so it's best to check online before you go. In addition to a 16-acre corn maze, the farm features a 60-acre pumpkin patch, a 4-acre cotton patch, a barnyard full of animals, hayrides, a horse and wagon, and a zip line.

Colorado is a state known for its scenery, and there's no wrong time to get out into nature and experience the sights. Kenosha Pass is a leisurely hike you can easily complete in a day, and fall is the best time to do it. The Colorado Trail is 500 miles long, but Kenosha Pass is one of its most frequented segments. The trail attracts leaf peepers from far and wide who travel to see the gorgeous yellows and oranges drifting through the air and covering the hilly forest ground between light-colored aspen tree bark.

Rehoboth Beach is Delaware's most-visited city, and it's easy to see why. This coastal town is as gorgeous in the fall as it is during summer. Stroll down the mile-long boardwalk in the cool autumn air while stopping in eclectic shops and quaint restaurants with a view. While you're there, be sure to make a pit stop at Dogfish Head Brewing and Eats — the famous brewpub has Dogfish's seasonal Pumpkin Ale on tap throughout the season.

Germany is a long way to travel for Oktoberfest. If you can't get all the way there, Helen, Georgia, is the next best thing. The town is inspired by the villages of Bavaria, including the building style of its downtown shops and restaurants.

In central Idaho just northeast of Twin Falls is Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve. This natural park features 600 square miles of basalt lava fields dotted with craters and magma-formed plateaus. Though it's been more than 200 years since the last eruption took place on the volcanic land, geologists predict that more magma will erupt from the ground in the future, this time spewing more than 1 cubic mile of lava. 

South Bend, Indiana, is fun to visit any time of year, but especially in the fall, when there's no shortage of things to do. Stroll through the South Bend Farmers Market, one of the largest in the state, and pick up some of the season's best local produce. Then get up close and personal with stunning fall foliage by vaulting and climbing your way through the trees at the Rum Village Aerial Adventure Park. And if you can squeeze it in, take a tour of South Bend Chocolate Company to end the day with a treat the whole family will enjoy.

At Cider Hill Family Orchard in Kansas, there are 38 acres worth of fun to be had. The farm is covered with 1,500 apple trees of 18 different kinds of apples. After apple picking, guests can also pick out their favorite pumpkin from the patch, fish in one of five ponds or simply relax under a giant tree enjoying fresh cinnamon-cider doughnuts. No matter what activity you choose, it's going to look, smell and taste like fall. 

Lake D'Arbonne is one of the most scenic lakes in north Louisiana with forests, rolling hills, canyons and camping grounds. There are more than 15,000 acres of outdoor space to enjoy while safely social distancing. 

Located in the rolling hills in Mt. Airy, Maryland, Gaver's Farm is pure fall family fun. Between September and November, visitors can pick their own pumpkins and sunflowers and take part in Fall Fun Days, which is a mix of more than 50 attractions and activities that include giant slides, jumping pillows, duck races and more. Separate tickets are required for Fall Fun Days admission, but if you're visiting the farm for U-pick, hayrides, food stands or to grab some produce at the Farm Market, an admission ticket is not needed.

Traverse City, Michigan, is an ideal fall destination for its gorgeous foliage alone. Whether by foot, car or bike, you can enjoy the pier at Clinch Park Marina and catch a fiery sunset over the lake before heading home. 

The Natchez Trace Parkway is a 444-mile stretch of road with more sights to see than just about any other highway but Route 66. And while some locations along the way are closed due to COVID-19, you can still go for a scenic drive. If you're feeling adventurous, there are opportunities to go biking, horseback riding and camping all along the parkway as well.

Philipsburg is one of America's most underrated small towns for a quick getaway. The charming locale was a 19th-century mining town, and the area is still rich with gem and mineral deposits as well as pristine lakes and hikeable mountains. Sapphire and silver mining are still popular attractions as well. Walk down the vintage streets lined with century-old buildings and stop in quaint jewelry stores. Depending on COVID-19 restrictions, check out some local breweries and peruse the many antique shops in town.

Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in the U.S. and easily one of the best lake towns in the country. Visitors can go swimming, fishing or boating on the water and traverse woodlands full of exquisite fall foliage on a lakeside hike. You can easily spend a full day simply taking in the crystal clear blue waters, relaxing under the trees and more.

New Jersey's Great Pumpkin Train is the perfect fall-themed excursion to ring in the season on a fair-weather day. Throughout the month of October, the train rides through crisp fall air on tracks lined with foliage, all of which can be seen from the interior of the wide-windowed train cars. The train makes a stop at a nearby pumpkin patch, where every child on board is allowed to pick their own pumpkin. For an extra small fee, passengers can opt to wander through a corn maze and experience the Susquehanna Mine, where visitors can pan for gemstones that they then get to take home. Face masks are required and visitors are encouraged to check out the COVID-19 policy online before visiting. 

Avoid the bustle of New York City and instead take a trip upstate to Millbrook. Here, you'll find Innisfree Garden, a nonprofit and public 150-acre garden world-recognized for its beauty. Work on the garden began in the 1920s and took more than 50 years to complete. The garden creates a peaceful and artistic environment composed of rock, water, wood and sky that you won't mind wandering through for hours, especially while the weather and air is cool and clear.

Near the town of Medora, North Dakota, is Theodore Roosevelt National Park, a 70,446-acre expanse of land filled with a variety of landscapes. Considered part of the rugged Badlands of North Dakota, the land in the park is a breathtaking blend of color and altitude. Craggy rocks are juxtaposed against plateaus of thick trees that, during fall, turn into a tapestry of warm colors. If you're lucky, you'll catch sight of the park's thriving population of wildlife, including animals such as bison, deer, antelope, prairie dogs and eagles. Make sure to check the park's website for updated information about COVID-19 regulations before planning your trip.

If you love nature, you'll love a trip to Broken Bow. The small city in Oklahoma is home to Beavers Bend State Park, which is gorgeous year-round but especially in the fall when the leaves turn and the air has a slight chill. Visitors can go fishing on Lower Mountain Fork River, boating on Broken Bow Lake or hiking on the David Boren Hiking Trail. You may also want to rent a canoe to float down the river or go horseback riding on one of the park's many trails. Make sure to stay long enough to see the sunset descend over the lake. Seeing a sunset that beautiful is one of the travel experiences everyone should have at least once in their lifetime.

Every year in Delaware Valley, residents get psyched for the annual Pumpkinland Festival, a two-month-long autumn extravaganza. Hundreds of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes are on display, and guests are welcome to pick apples, take a hayride, see the jack-o'-lantern exhibit, try their luck at a corn maze and munch on apple cider doughnuts and other seasonal treats. The festival lasts from mid-September to mid-November, but this year, tickets are timed and limited to allow for proper social distancing.

Caesars Head State Park is located in upstate South Carolina, and it's one of the state's prettiest attractions. Here, you'll find one of the most photogenic spots in the country, a 3,266-foot granite gneiss outcropping with a view of Table Rock that cannot be beat. The view is especially dazzling in the fall, when the surrounding forest comes alive with deep reds and bright yellows from the leaves. Visitors can trek through the paths and stumble upon waterfalls and wildlife.

Chattanooga, Tennessee, has a rich history, a great food scene, views and a boatload of activities to try. Fall's mild temperatures create the perfect environment to enjoy spending time outdoors in this bustling city. Bike or walk down Chattanooga's beautiful 13-mile Riverwalk along the Tennessee River or spend a day in one of the city's many parks.

Utah's Escalante Petrified Forest State Park is filled with natural features such as lava-formed rocks and petrified wooden logs. Even more enticing is that the park is said to be haunted — the perfect eerie backdrop for Halloween season. The waterways of the park are popular boating, canoeing and fishing areas, and the park includes a fully developed campground complete with RV sites and a group area where visitors can picnic and enjoy the sunshine.

Located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, Skyline Drive is definitely one of the best places to see stunning fall foliage outside New England. Overlooks are scattered along the drive so you can get out and snap the perfect photo, and you'll be so mesmerized by your surroundings you won't want to get back in your car and leave. Skyline Drive is 105 miles long and located inside Shenandoah National Park. Pack a picnic and spend the day among the rainbow of leaves and chatter of nature.

Babcock State Park, located in Fayette County, is West Virginia's most iconic and highly photographed place. The park boasts 4,127 acres of gorgeous scenery, which is only even more breathtaking studded with fall foliage. There are more than 10 different scenic trails to choose from to go hiking and mountain biking. And if you're not totally starstruck by nature, you can also go whitewater rafting in the nearby streams.

Jackson Hole is a valley in Wyoming near the border of Idaho. There are endless outdoor activities to partake in, especially when the weather is cool and dry. Go hiking in the surrounding woodlands, drive past elk and other wildlife, and go leaf peeping anywhere you like within the 48-mile valley. Even the town of Jackson, located in the northern part of the valley, is bustling with activity and fun. During the summer, it can get somewhat crowded with tourists, but in the fall, most of the hubbub has passed and you're in for a much calmer trip. Jackson Hole, Wyoming, also has some of the most beautiful views in America's national and state parks.