If it’s beautiful scenery you’re searching for, you really can’t beat the stunning vistas that our many U.S. National Parks hold. From coast to coast, these incredible nature destinations are filled with scenery that transforms throughout the year along with the change of seasons. And fall is perhaps the best season of all – especially for campers who love fall foliage.
With still-warm weather across the U.S. and fewer crowds at campgrounds, this time of year is perfect both for traveling and camping. So, which parks exactly should you plan a trip to? We’re sharing five of our favorites below, each filled with great campsites and campground choices as well as fall activities that’ll get you up close to some incredible natural scenery.
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
The West Coast is home to warmer weather year-round, so if you’re looking for a top national park to camp in during the fall, head west! One of the best is Mount Rainier National Park in Washington, where you’ll find both sweeping views of fall foliage and some incredible lakeside places to set up camp. Although Mount Rainier is just two hours outside of the bustling city of Seattle, it’s like stepping into an entirely different world – one with some impressive natural sights.
Throughout this national park, you’ll find plenty of forests with leaves in a rainbow of fall colors come September and October. However, one of the best ways to experience fall here is by visiting the many lakes. Within Mount Rainier National Park, you’ll find waterfalls, lakes, and meadows as well as mountain peaks. Some of the best destinations to put on your must-see list include Reflection Lakes and Tipsoo Lake.
Camping Options
There are three campgrounds within Mount Rainier National Park, and there are plenty of sites to choose from (including individual and group campsites). If you’re headed up to the park in fall, you can reserve spots in advance at Cougar Rock and Ohanapecosh Campgrounds online – and both are open into early October. Plus, they’re pet-friendly, a detail perfect for those who want to bring along furry companions to explore the fall foliage.
Activities to Try
If it is indeed the foliage you’re looking for, you’ll find plenty at Yakima Peak and Emmons Glacier. There are a number of hiking and cycling trails (like the Silver Forest and Skyline trails) that’ll take you through the forests and meadows. And you shouldn’t miss the Reflection Lakes loop, which includes some standout views of everything this national park has to offer – including a mirror image of Mount Rainier itself.
Zion National Park, Utah
Think a desert campground doesn’t have much to offer during fall? Zion National Park in Utah will make you rethink that assumption! In fact, this desert destination filled with incredible canyons is one of the best places to see fall colors in person. And by September, all of the massive summer crowds have headed home, leaving the park itself pretty empty.
The beauty of Zion National Park in the fall is how you can see both the natural desert landscape and fall foliage simultaneously. Actually, at higher elevations, the landscape of this national park features trees with leaves that begin to change colors right as fall arrives, allowing you to see a visual bounty of crisp reds, fiery oranges, and bright yellows. Thanks to the warmer climate, you’ll be able to see fall colors from September through mid-November, giving you plenty of options for your next camping trip.
Camping Options
There are two campgrounds located in Zion Canyon, and both are open until late November or early December, depending on the year’s weather. Here, you’ll find simple sites with bathrooms, trash cans, and potable water. If you’re looking for hookups, though, you’ll want to look outside of the national park itself for more equipped sites.
Activities to Try
If you’re looking for outdoor fall fun, you’ll definitely want to take a hike. Options like Pa’rus Trail and Watchman Trail will wind you through Zion’s natural beauty, giving you the chance to see canyons as well as sky-high vistas.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina & Tennessee
When it comes to fall camping, you definitely have to plan a trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Straddling the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, this park is an absolute beauty to behold when the seasons switch over and the trees get ready to shed their leaves. In fact, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to more tree species than the entirety of Western Europe!
Thanks to the wide variety of tree types and the varied landscape itself, there are multiple elevations and microclimates within this national park. That means you can start checking out gorgeous fall views in September, and it’ll still be warm enough to camp until early November. The Great Smoky Mountains are popular year-round, but crowds do decrease when cooler temps arrive later in October.
Camping Options
You can choose from a wide array of different campgrounds located in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. With 10 different options right inside park boundaries, and the majority open until midway through October, you have a lot of options. Just note that you’ll get everything but water and electrical hookups, and you may need to make advance reservations. Elkmont and Cades Cove are two top picks where you’ll be able to set up camp in the middle of the gorgeous leaves.
Activities to Try
When it comes to activities that’ll get you in the autumn spirit, you’ll absolutely want to hike the trails of this park. You can check out the scenery from waterfalls via the Baskins Creek Falls trail or see peaks, valleys, and beyond along the more strenuous Ramsey Cascades trail.
Don’t forget to plan a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway during your camping trip, either. It’s the best way to get a panoramic view of the foliage and even some wildlife (black bears and elk often appear roadside).
Acadia National Park, Maine
Is there any scenery as iconic as fall in New England? Well, if you’ve always wanted to bask in the glory of fall on the East Coast, you’ve got to visit Acadia National Park in Maine. Featuring absolutely stunning scenery that includes a rainbow of autumnal colors and a vast expanse of woods to explore, this is as natural as the season gets in this part of the U.S.
As the only national park in New England, plenty of visitors are drawn to Acadia National Park in spring and summer – but the demand cools down in fall. This is a particularly great destination for those who enjoy more rustic camping or even backcountry camping, as you can hike into some campsites. It’s also a national park where you can hike, bike, and boat well into September.
Camping Options
Because the weather does get cold faster in Maine than other locations on our list, Acadia National Park’s four campgrounds all close by mid-October. However, you can still camp at any of them until roughly October 10. Your best bet as temps fall is Blackwoods Campground, which isn’t as remote as the others and offers the least chill coming off the ocean water nearby.
Activities to Try
Some of the best activities to put on your itinerary for a fall camping trip to Acadia include a sunrise hike up Cadillac Mountain (it’s hard to beat the views from the top!) and riding a bike along the park’s historic carriage roads. You can also see plenty of fall foliage and wildlife with easier hikes, like the Jordan Pond Path or Bald Peak and Parkman Mountain Trail.
Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
Home to the deepest volcanic lake in the U.S., Crater Lake National Park in Oregon is a great fall destination. The national park is packed in the summer thanks to its pristine blue water and plenty of opportunities to have some water-based fun, but the crowds cool off come September. And that makes this a top destination for those interested in a fall camping spot that’s as gorgeous as it is nicely temperate.
With warm days and cool nights, Crater Lake is ideal weather-wise. You’ll have no qualms about hiking or even boating, though facilities within the national park do start to reduce their hours ahead of winter. The best part of visiting in autumn, though, is the vibrantly-hued scenery in shades of gold, red, and orange thanks to a mix of pine, conifer, and larch trees. You’ll be able to see birds and other wildlife start their annual migrations, too.
Camping Options
Crater Lake National Park offers a bit of something for everyone. The campgrounds available within this park have rustic amenities or full amenities; it’s up to you to decide which you prefer. Mazama Campground, for example, is ideal for those who want some comforts of home, as it features tent sites as well as RV sites with no hookups, electrical hookups, and full hookups.
Activities to Try
While biking and hiking are both fun all fall long, it’s also a good idea to get in your car when visiting this national park. You can see the lake from about 30 different pullouts along the 33-mile-long Rim Drive, giving you plenty of picturesque spots to stop at. Oh, and don’t forget to plan a drive or hike to the two waterfalls at Crater Lake! You can see both the Vidae Waterfall and Plaikni Falls from the road or get up close on foot.