10 BEST Locations to Fly This Fall for Beautiful Foliage (Beneath $300 RT!)

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Crisp air. Cozy layers. Timber placing on their greatest present of the 12 months. There’s a cause fall journey looks like a secret season. And should you play your playing cards (and calendars) proper, it doesn’t should price far more than a very good flannel.

Whereas most individuals assume leaf season means hours within the automotive with a bag of fuel station path combine, there’s a wiser transfer: fly straight into the colour. Much less driving. Much less visitors. Extra time mountain climbing, sipping cider, and pretending you’re in a rom-com montage.

Under, you’ll discover one of the best locations to fly this fall for gorgeous foliage, from mountain cities to lakeside gems, all with current roundtrip flights underneath $300. These offers come and go quick, however with just a little flexibility (and a helpful alert or two), they’re completely doable.

• ✈️ Professional tip: Need fall foliage flight offers despatched straight to your inbox? Join Going. Their free service catches wonderful U.S. offers on routes like Chicago to Burlington and NYC to Portland – good for last-minute leaf chasing.

1. Burlington, Vermont

• ✈️ Flight Worth Vary: $100–$290 roundtrip
• 🔄 Prime Airline Offers: JetBlue, American, United
• 🍁 Why Go: Crisp air, glowing timber, cider all the pieces
• 🎯 Good For: Sluggish weekends, flannel vitality, leaf-watching with out the leaf-peeper chaos

Burlington is considered one of my favourite fall spots in New England, and I’ve been to a variety of them. It’s bought all the pieces you need this time of 12 months: mountain views, native farms, walkable streets lined in pink and gold leaves, and that lakeside stillness that makes a weekend really feel twice as lengthy. 

The colour often peaks within the first or second week of October. I attempt to go proper firstly of that stretch when the timber are simply beginning to flip, the air is cool sufficient for a jacket, and you may nonetheless seize a cider with out ready in line.

The flight offers look significantly good proper now. Going simply alerted me to a DC to Burlington fare for $189 roundtrip on American Airways (30% off the same old $270+), and related offers are popping up from Boston and NYC. Even throughout peak fall foliage season, when costs sometimes spike, these routes are staying surprisingly reasonably priced.

👉 Professional Tip: Take the morning gondola up Stowe Mountain as an alternative of preventing afternoon crowds. The early drive by way of the mountains is peaceable, and also you’ll have these well-known valley views virtually to your self. Heat up after with recent cider donuts at Chilly Hole. Belief me, they’re well worth the small detour!

2. Asheville, North Carolina

• ✈️ Flight Worth Vary: $100–$250 roundtrip
• 🔄 Prime Airline Offers: American, Delta, United
• 🍁 Why Go: Misty mountain mornings, limitless Blue Ridge views, golden valleys
• 🎯 Good For:Craft beer lovers, mountain hikers, small-town romantics

In case you’ve by no means executed fall within the South, Asheville is the place to start out. The timber within the Blue Ridge flip each shade of pink, gold, and orange, and the mountains layer out in gentle, misty folds like a portray. 

It’s peak coloration with out the height stress. No big tour buses. No six-hour visitors jams. Simply straightforward trails, scenic drives, and a downtown that is aware of the best way to do brunch and beer proper.

Early-to-mid October is the candy spot, particularly should you head out on the Parkway within the morning. I often keep simply outdoors the town at The Improper Means River Lodge. They’ve bought A-frame cabins tucked by the river, and you may bike straight into city whenever you’re prepared for espresso or a pint. 

👉 Professional Tip: Florida vacationers, take observe. I simply noticed Miami-Asheville for $159 roundtrip on Going (48% off regular fares). Different Florida hubs like Tampa and Orlando usually see related offers for fast mountain escapes.

3. Denver, Colorado

• ✈️ Flight Worth Vary: $140-280 roundtrip
• 🔄 Prime Airline Offers: United, Frontier, Southwest
• 🍁 Why Go: Golden aspens, Rocky Mountain drama, good mountain climbing climate
• 🎯 Good For: Journey seekers, mountain photographers, out of doors beer backyard followers

Denver serves up a completely totally different form of fall coloration present. As an alternative of fiery pink maples, you get complete mountainsides turning brilliant gold with aspens that shimmer when the wind strikes by way of. 

It’s just a little quieter than the Northeast leaf circuit, and truthfully, much more spacious. Denver’s a straightforward entry level: reasonably priced flights, fast entry to the mountains, and a ton of nice day journeys should you’re not making an attempt to spend the entire weekend mountain climbing.

In case you fly in, I like to recommend renting a automotive and heading west towards Golden, Nederland, or Estes Park. You’ll begin seeing coloration about half-hour out. Aspen coloration peaks quick—particularly at elevation—so attempt to go by late September should you’re aiming for the brightest gold. I went round that point final 12 months with zero itinerary and nonetheless stumbled into a few of the greatest fall views I’ve ever seen, simply from the roadside!

👉 Professional Tip: Skip the tourist-heavy Bear Lake space in Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park and head to the Wild Basin entrance as an alternative. The drive alone weaves by way of a few of the greatest aspen groves, and also you’ll have these golden canopies virtually solely to your self.

4. Portland, Maine

• ✈️ Flight Worth Vary: $80-300 roundtrip
• 🔄 Prime Airline Offers: Breeze, JetBlue, American
• 🍁 Why Go: Coastal air, forest trails, and lobster rolls with a aspect of foliage
• 🎯 Good For: Individuals who need foliage and seafood in the identical day

Portland usually will get overshadowed by inland spots just like the White Mountains or Acadia, however don’t sleep on it…coastal Maine in October is magic. You get the coastal attraction (lighthouses, sea breezes, knit hats that really really feel vital) plus easy accessibility to brilliant, leaf-filled trails simply outdoors the town. Early October is often one of the best time to go for fall foliage in Maine. The leaves are turning, the air smells like pine and fireplaces, and the crowds have thinned out.

You don’t should go far to search out the colour. Wolfe’s Neck, Bradbury Mountain, even the drive out to Cape Elizabeth feels crisp and golden. In between, you’ve bought espresso retailers, cider tastings, and sufficient chowder to make carrying flannel really feel like a way of life selection.

The offers proper now are unreal. I couldn’t consider my eyes once I noticed Charleston to Portland for $94 roundtrip as we speak on Going. That’s lower than what you’ll spend on dinner at considered one of Portland’s well-known seafood spots!

👉 Professional Tip: Hike up Mount Battie in Camden should you’ve bought a automotive and some hours—it’s an hour north, however the view over the harbor with all these timber beneath? Value it each single time!

5. Traverse Metropolis, Michigan

• ✈️ Flight Worth Vary: $100-300 roundtrip
• 🔄 Prime Airline Offers: Delta, United, American
• 🍁 Why Go: Vibrant lakeside coloration, quiet backroads, small-town attraction with out the crowds
• 🎯 Good For: Hidden gem seekers, wine lovers, cozy cabin fans

Let me allow you to in on a neighborhood secret: Northern Michigan in fall is approach higher than most individuals count on. The timber pop with brilliant reds and oranges, the lake sparkles in that silvery autumn gentle, and each street looks like the beginning of a extremely peaceable drive. 

Traverse Metropolis makes an excellent base. It’s bought simply sufficient happening with out being busy, and also you’re near spots like Sleeping Bear Dunes, Glen Arbor, and the wine path out on Outdated Mission Peninsula.

The trick is getting there. Flights instantly into Traverse Metropolis could be seasonal and refill quick. In case you don’t guide early, you’ll doubtless be priced out. That’s why I like to recommend flying into Grand Rapids (a few 2.5-hour drive) or Detroit (nearer to 4 hours) and turning it right into a mini street journey. The drive up the coast is gorgeous in October, and you may swing by way of locations like Charlevoix or Petoskey on the best way.

👉 Professional Tip: I repeatedly spot offers on Going to Detroit and Grand Rapids for underneath $150 roundtrip from main cities. You’ll save lots of in comparison with flying direct to Traverse Metropolis, and the drive up M-22 is taken into account considered one of America’s greatest fall coloration routes anyway.

6. Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah

• ✈️ Flight Worth Vary: $75-240 roundtrip
• 🔄 Prime Airline Offers: Delta, United, Southwest
• 🍁 Why Go: Fiery mountain canyons, crisp air, and trails 5 minutes from city
• 🎯 Good For: Off-beat adventurers, photographers, crowd-avoiders

Utah isn’t often the primary place folks consider for fall foliage within the US, however Salt Lake delivers – large time. You’ve bought golden aspens, brilliant pink maples, and burnt orange scrub oak layered into the mountains, all inside twenty minutes of downtown. The most effective time to go is late September by way of early October, particularly should you’re heading up into the canyons the place the elevation pushes the colour early.

I often keep proper in Salt Lake, lease a automotive, and spend mornings exploring close by trails. Little Cottonwood and Millcreek Canyon are each unbelievable, however if you need a quieter, show-stopping spot, Guardsman Go is my favourite. The street winds by way of glowing aspen groves and opens as much as big alpine views. You possibly can pull over virtually anyplace and it’s gorgeous. In case you’re not up for a hike, even simply driving it with espresso in hand is price it.

👉 Professional Tip: Flights to Salt Lake are constantly least expensive from Denver, LA, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. In case you’re coming from a type of hubs, you’ll often discover roundtrip offers underneath $200. Join Going to get alerts when these fares drop.

7. Montreal, Quebec

• ✈️ Flight Worth Vary: $240-300 roundtrip
• 🔄 Prime Airline Offers: Air Canada, American, Porter
• 🍁 Why Go: European attraction, mountain backdrops, maple all the pieces
• 🎯 Good For: Foliage chasers who additionally need wine and pastries

Need to really feel such as you’ve landed in France with out the transatlantic flight? Montreal in fall is pure magic – and proper now flights are surprisingly low cost. I just lately noticed San Diego to Montreal for $296 roundtrip on Going (usually $510+). Imagine me, that is the proper time to find why Canadians are so happy with their fall colours!

Early to mid-October is peak right here, and the foliage is unbelievable. Mount Royal Park is an apparent decide, with straightforward trails, metropolis views, and tons of coloration. If you need one thing quieter, I all the time ship folks to Parc Lafontaine. It’s smaller, much less touristy, and in fall it turns into this good mixture of blazing timber, peaceable strolling paths, and locals enjoyable with a guide and a espresso.

Between the French meals, European structure, and people good Canadian maples, it feels such as you’re getting three holidays in a single. Simply you’ll want to keep versatile with dates across the Canadian Thanksgiving vacation (October 13, 2025)!!

👉 Professional Tip: The most effective fall foliage views in Montreal are free! Take the #11 bus to Mont Royal Park’s Beaver Lake, then comply with the winding trails as much as the Kondiaronk Belvedere lookout. Time it for sundown when the town’s spires glow gold towards the mountain’s pink maples.

8. Spokane, Washington

• ✈️ Flight Worth Vary: $100-250 roundtrip
• 🔄 Prime Airline Offers: Alaska, Southwest, Delta
• 🍁 Why Go: Alpine lakes, hidden valleys, wild river gorges
• 🎯 Good For: Nature photographers, out of doors soakers, waterfall chasers

Spokane is a type of locations that folks don’t take into consideration – till they go. In fall, the timber flip brilliant gold and fire-orange, the river stroll glows, and there’s a relaxed, native really feel to all the pieces. It’s not making an attempt to be a giant fall foliage vacation spot, and possibly that’s why it really works.

Late September to mid-October is one of the best time to catch it. I counsel staying downtown. Seize a rental bike and cruise the Centennial Path within the morning. You get timber, water, bridges, parks, and quiet – like your individual little fall loop with built-in espresso stops!

If you need a hidden gem, go wander by way of Manito Park. It’s bought Japanese maples, secret-feeling trails, and an ideal greenhouse that’s heat when it’s chilly and funky when it’s sizzling.

👉 Professional Tip:  Take a detour to Inexperienced Bluff, about half-hour north of city. It’s a cluster of native farms with apple choosing, cider donuts, fall markets, and a few of the greatest views of rolling farmland wearing full coloration. I often go away with extra jam and pie than I meant to… and nil regrets.

9. Boise, Idaho

• ✈️ Flight Worth Vary: $150-300 roundtrip
• 🔄 Prime Airline Offers: Alaska, Southwest, United
• 🍁 Why Go: Desert meets mountains, wine nation shock, river trails
• 🎯 Good For: Off-radar explorers, wine lovers, surprise-and-delight seekers

I wasn’t anticipating to like Boise within the fall, nevertheless it completely received me over. The autumn coloration right here reveals up alongside rivers, in parks, and even proper downtown. Early to mid-October is one of the best time to go to for foliage. That’s when the cottonwoods begin turning gold, the mornings get crisp, and the town slows down in a approach that makes it actually nice to discover.

I often begin on the Boise River Greenbelt, a paved path that winds by way of glowing timber and alongside the water. You possibly can stroll or lease a motorbike and cease wherever seems good – there’s lots. Hyde Park is a good neighborhood for lunch or a espresso cease, and if you need just a little elevation, Camel’s Again Park has quick hikes with extensive views and full-on fall coloration on the prime.

You received’t get New England-level saturation right here. However the cottonwoods and aspens alongside the river trails and within the foothills pop fantastically towards the excessive desert backdrop.

👉 Professional Tip: Flights to Boise are typically least expensive from West Coast cities like LA, Seattle, and San Diego. Join alerts from Going so that you’ll know when the costs drop – this route sees offers extra usually than you’d assume.

10. The White Mountains, New Hampshire

• ✈️ Flight Worth Vary: $100-300 roundtrip
• 🔄 Prime Airline Offers: United, JetBlue, American
• 🍁 Why Go: Excessive-elevation coloration, dramatic overlooks, and the traditional fall drive
• 🎯 Good For: Highway trippers, hikers, and anybody who needs to really feel like they’re inside a postcard

I’ve saved one of the best fall foliage vacation spot for final. The White Mountains placed on one of the crucial outrageous autumn reveals within the nation, full cease. It’s not simply the colour (which is unbelievable), it’s the dimensions. You’ve bought complete valleys glowing, ridgelines lit up in gold and pink, and quiet cities that really feel like fall by no means ended.

Peak coloration often hits in early October, and the Kancamagus Freeway is the drive you need. It cuts straight by way of the mountains and round each bend there’s one other spot that makes you wish to pull over. 

I’ve seen Detroit to Boston flights for $161 roundtrip on Going. The truth is, from most main cities within the US, yow will discover offers for underneath $250 roundtrip,which makes this complete journey far more doable than folks count on. From Boston, it’s a few 2.5-hour drive, and truthfully, the foliage begins earlier than you even go away the suburbs.

👉 Professional Tip: Skip the primary trailheads one morning and head to Artist’s Bluff close to Franconia Notch. It’s a brief, steep hike with among the best views within the Whites. Go early, carry a thermos, and thank your self whenever you’re sitting above a lake surrounded by orange timber and mountain peaks.

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