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Fall Foliage Road Trip Checklist

Easy 22 items · 2 hours
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testuser Published 5 days ago
Travel

Peak color moves south and downhill as fall goes on. Northern New England and the higher mountains usually turn first, often from late September into early October, while lower valleys and southern states peak later in October or into November. A route that looked perfect in last year’s photos can be bare or still green on the weekend you pick.

This list is for a day trip or a long weekend by car to see the leaves. The first items are timing and bookings, because rooms and parking near the well-known routes fill up weeks ahead of the best weekends.

Plan to be off the back roads by dusk. October evenings come early, mountain roads rarely have streetlights, and deer move most around dawn and dusk, more so in fall.

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  1. Choose a region plus two backup areas at different elevations — If the high country has already dropped its leaves, a lower valley nearby may still be at peak.
  2. Check the state foliage report or color map for each area — Many state tourism offices and parks post color updates every week through the season.
  3. Pick weekday dates if you can — Overlooks and scenic routes are at their busiest on October weekends, and busiest of all on the long weekend around the second Monday in October.
  4. Book lodging as soon as your dates are set — Inns and cabins near famous foliage drives can sell out for peak weekends.
  5. Read the cancellation policy before you pay — Peak can arrive a week or more earlier or later than usual, so a flexible booking is worth a little extra.
  6. Look up park entry fees, timed reservations and parking passes — Some popular parks and scenic drives need them on busy days.
  7. Check that no mountain road or park drive on your route has closed for the season — Some high roads close in fall or after the first snow.
  8. Map the route and mark where the gas stations are — Rural stretches can run a long way between stations. Fill up whenever you drop to half a tank.
  9. Download offline maps for the whole area — Phone signal drops out in many mountain valleys and state forests.
  10. Check tire pressure, wiper fluid and lights
  11. Check the forecast the night before each driving day — Heavy rain and strong wind can strip turned leaves off the trees in a day.
  12. Pack layers for a cold start and a warm afternoon — A summit or overlook can be near freezing at sunrise and much warmer by lunch.
  13. Bring rain gear and shoes that can handle a muddy trail
  14. Pack water, snacks and a printed map as a backup
  15. Carry some cash for farm stands and small-town shops
  16. Charge the camera and phone, and pack a car charger
  17. Plan photo stops for early morning and late afternoon — Low sun from the side lights the leaves up. Overcast days work well too, since soft light keeps reds and yellows from washing out.
  18. Park fully off the road at pullouts, never in a travel lane — Drivers on scenic routes are watching the trees and may not see a car stopped around a bend.
  19. Ask before you walk into orchards, fields or private land for a photo
  20. Tell someone your plan if you leave the car for a hike
  21. Start back early enough to finish the drive in daylight
  22. Slow down and watch the road edges for deer at dawn and dusk — If one crosses, expect another to follow it.
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