There’s something about fall that makes me want to load up the car and head somewhere with cool mornings, colorful leaves and, ideally, a crackling bonfire and a mug of hot cider at the end of the day.

Of course, living in Florida, fall looks a little different. It can still be 90 degrees outside while the stores are filled with Halloween decorations, knit sweaters and pumpkin spice everything. If you actually want crisp air and changing leaves, you pretty much have to book a trip to go looking for them.

Luckily, there are some fantastic places around the United States where you can really make the most of the season. Think winding mountain roads, apple orchards, small towns, colorful hiking trails and chilly evenings that are full of cozy fall vibes.

So, if you’re craving a proper taste of autumn this year, here are five places I’d put at the top of the list.

1. Stowe, Vermont

If you asked me to picture the perfect New England town in the fall, it would probably look a lot like Stowe.

The state is aplenty with idyllic white church steeples, covered bridges, mountains covered in red and orange leaves, country roads, farm stands and plenty of places to stop for cider.

Stowe is surrounded by Vermont’s Green Mountains, so you don’t have to travel very far to find spectacular scenery. One of the best things to do is simply get in the car and explore. Route 100 is one of Vermont’s classic fall drives, while Smugglers’ Notch is another beautiful route when the leaves are changing.

You can also ride the Gondola SkyRide at Stowe Mountain Resort for a completely different view of the foliage or walk or bike along the 5.3-mile Stowe Recreation Path.

Fall colors generally begin appearing in September, with peak foliage around Stowe often occurring from late September into early October. Of course, Mother Nature doesn’t work according to a travel calendar, so the exact timing varies every year.

Best time to visit: Late September to early October

Don’t miss: Smugglers’ Notch, the Stowe Recreation Path, a drive along Route 100 and at least one stop for fresh apple cider.

My Travel Pro Tip: Book your hotel early. Fall foliage season is incredibly popular in Vermont, and the cute inns and smaller hotels can fill up long before the leaves start changing.

2. The White Mountains, New Hampshire

Whilst Vermont gets most of the attention when people talk about New England foliage, don’t overlook neighboring New Hampshire.

The White Mountains are particularly spectacular in fall, and this is a great choice if you like the idea of combining leaf peeping with hiking and scenic drives.

The star attraction is the Kancamagus Highway, affectionately known as “the Kanc.” The scenic highway runs for about 34 miles through the White Mountain National Forest between Lincoln and Conway and is one of those drives where you’ll probably find yourself pulling over every few miles to take another photo.

There are overlooks, waterfalls and hiking trails along the route, so don’t make the mistake of treating it as simply a road to get from one town to another. Give yourself plenty of time.

You can also visit Franconia Notch, explore some of New Hampshire’s covered bridges or take one of the area’s scenic train rides.

And if you really want to embrace fall rather than just photograph it, New Hampshire has plenty of apple orchards, pumpkin patches and farm stands to complete the experience.

Best time to visit: Late September through early October for the White Mountains, although timing varies by elevation and weather.

Don’t miss: Driving the Kancamagus Highway.

My Travel Pro Tip: Don’t rush the Kanc. Pack some snacks, stop at the overlooks and make a day of it rather than trying to squeeze it into your drive between destinations.

3. Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina and Virginia

For a completely different fall road trip, head south to the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The Blue Ridge Parkway stretches for nearly 470 miles through Virginia and North Carolina, and the huge variation in elevation means fall color doesn’t happen everywhere at once.

That’s actually really good news for travelers.

While the highest elevations can begin seeing color toward the end of September, October is generally the big month for fall foliage along the Parkway. The colors gradually move down the mountains as the month progresses.

This is a destination where the drive itself really is the attraction. There are mountain overlooks everywhere, along with waterfalls, hiking trails and plenty of places to pull over for a picnic.

You could easily build an entire fall road trip around the Parkway, stopping in places such as Asheville, Boone and Blowing Rock along the way.

The Southern Appalachians are also home to around 100 species of native trees, which helps create that wonderful mixture of yellows, oranges and reds rather than one uniform color across the mountains.

Best time to visit: October, with higher elevations generally changing first.

Don’t miss: Give yourself at least one full day when you don’t have anywhere in particular to be. Pick a section of the Parkway, stop at whatever overlook looks good and enjoy the drive.

My Travel Pro Tip: Don’t plan your itinerary too tightly. You will stop far more often than you expect, and that’s really the point.

4. Aspen, Colorado

Not all great fall foliage has to be red and orange.

Colorado’s aspen trees turn an incredible golden yellow in the fall, and seeing entire mountainsides covered in shimmering gold is one of the most beautiful autumn sights in the country.

Aspen is an obvious base, particularly if you want somewhere that combines outdoor scenery with good restaurants, shopping and comfortable hotels.

One of the most photographed spots is Maroon Bells, where the golden aspens surround two dramatic mountain peaks reflected in Maroon Lake. It’s one of those places that looks almost too perfect to be real.

There are also scenic drives and hiking trails throughout the area, and fall is a particularly nice time to explore because you get those crisp mountain temperatures before winter really sets in.

The catch is that Colorado’s foliage season can be surprisingly short. Weather, elevation and drought conditions can all affect when the leaves change and how long they stay on the trees.

Best time to visit: Generally mid-September through early October, depending on elevation and conditions.

Don’t miss: Maroon Bells and a drive through the surrounding mountains.

My Travel Pro Tip: Give yourself a few days if possible rather than trying to time one exact “peak foliage” day. Fall weather in the mountains can change quickly, and having some flexibility gives you a much better chance of seeing those golden aspens at their best.

5. Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee and North Carolina

If you want a fall foliage trip a little later in the season, the Great Smoky Mountains are a great option.

One of the advantages here is the huge range in elevation. Fall color starts in the higher mountains and gradually works its way down toward the valleys, creating a much longer foliage season than you’ll find in some northern destinations.

This is also a good choice if you want to combine a fall road trip with hiking, wildlife and mountain towns.

You could stay near Gatlinburg on the Tennessee side or base yourself around the North Carolina side of the park and spend your days exploring scenic roads, stopping at overlooks and walking some of the shorter trails.

Cades Cove is particularly beautiful in the fall, and the 11-mile loop road takes you through a broad mountain valley where you might also spot deer, wild turkeys and other wildlife.

For bigger mountain views, head toward Newfound Gap and the higher elevations of the park.

Best time to visit: October into early November, depending on elevation.

Don’t miss: Cades Cove early in the morning, before the roads get busy.

My Travel Pro Tip: The Smokies can become extremely crowded during peak fall weekends. If you can visit Sunday through Thursday rather than Friday and Saturday, do it.

When Should You Plan a Fall Foliage Trip?

This is always the tricky part.

You can research average peak dates all you want, but ultimately, the trees are never going to abide by a rigid schedule! Rainfall, temperatures, elevation and even individual tree species affect when leaves change. Along the Blue Ridge Parkway, for example, the National Park Service points out that predicting an exact peak date for a particular location simply isn’t possible.

As a general rule, though:

• Mid to late September: Colorado and northern New England begin changing.
• Late September to early October: Vermont and New Hampshire are usually putting on their best show.
• October: The Blue Ridge Mountains become increasingly colorful.
• Mid-October into early November: The southern Appalachians and lower elevations of the Smokies can still have beautiful foliage.

Before you leave, check the local foliage reports for your destination. New Hampshire, for example, publishes regular foliage reports and has an online foliage tracker during the season.

A Few Tips for Planning a Fall Trip

Fall foliage destinations can become surprisingly busy, particularly on October weekends. If you have some flexibility, travel during the week.

I’d also avoid building an entire trip around one specific “peak foliage” date. Instead, choose an area where you can explore different elevations. If the leaves haven’t peaked in the valley yet, you may find beautiful color higher in the mountains. If the higher elevations are already past peak, head lower.

Bring layers. You may be comfortable in a T-shirt by afternoon and reaching for a jacket the next morning. 

Most importantly, don’t spend the entire trip chasing the perfect Instagram photograph! Pull over. Go for a walk. Buy the cider donut. Sit outside with a cup of coffee. Wander through the little town you hadn’t planned on stopping in.

That’s the best part of a fall trip anyway.

Final Thoughts

There are plenty of beautiful places to see fall foliage in the United States, but these five give you something more than colorful trees.

Stowe gives you classic New England fall. New Hampshire’s White Mountains deliver one of America’s great autumn road trips. The Blue Ridge Parkway gives you hundreds of miles of mountain scenery. Aspen turns the landscape gold. And the Great Smoky Mountains let you enjoy fall a little later in the season.

And for those of us who live in warmer climates, there’s something especially nice about getting away for a few days, putting on an actual sweater and remembering what autumn is supposed to feel like – even if you come home to palm trees and sweltering 90-degree heat!!