Best Fall Destinations in the USA 2025: Hidden Gems for Peak Foliage

Every fall, travelers across the U.S. look for the perfect mix of crisp air, vibrant foliage, and fewer crowds. In 2024, I chased gold and crimson leaves across Colorado—from Durango to Telluride via the Million Dollar Highway—and the views were nothing short of spectacular. But for 2025, with Colorado facing lower rainfall and predictions of more muted colors, I’m seeking destinations with healthier moisture levels, vibrant foliage odds, and hidden-gem vibes.

If you’re planning your own fall trip for peak foliage in 2025, you might be thinking of the usual suspects—Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine—but also worrying about traffic, crowds, and sky-high prices. The good news? There are equally breathtaking, often-overlooked fall destinations across the USA that deliver fiery foliage without the chaos.

Let’s dive into the best fall destinations in the USA , including some hidden gems you may not have considered.

 1. Michigan’s Upper Peninsula & Lake Superior’s South Shore

Why It’s Special

If you don’t mind a connection, flying into Marquette (MQT) puts you at the doorstep of some of the most underrated fall scenery in the Midwest. The Upper Peninsula (UP) is rugged, wild, and refreshingly uncrowded, with trails that wind past waterfalls, lakeshores, and forest canopies that turn into fiery tunnels of color.

Highlights

• Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore – dramatic sandstone cliffs rising above Lake Superior, framed by blazing maples.

• Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park – one of the best fall hiking spots, with views over Lake of the Clouds.

• Copper Harbor & Keweenaw Peninsula – the final stretch of Highway 41 into Copper Harbor feels like driving through a cathedral of color.

Travel Tips

• Peak season usually hits late September to early October.

• Rental cars are available at Marquette, Hancock, Escanaba, or Iron Mountain.

• Combine this with the north shore of Lake Michigan for even more scenic variety.

 2. North-Central Pennsylvania – The Underrated Foliage Capital

Why It’s Special

Forget New England for a second. Ask any diehard leaf-chaser, and they’ll tell you north-central Pennsylvania rivals Vermont for foliage—without the traffic jams. With endless state forests, rolling hills, and narrow valleys, this region explodes with deep reds and golds every October.

Highlights

• US Route 6 Scenic Byway – from Coudersport to Mansfield, one of the prettiest drives in the East.

• Flaming Foliage Festival (Renovo) – skip the crowds during the festival weekend, and you’ll have the backroads mostly to yourself.

• Allegheny National Forest – quiet trails, creeks, and overlooks that feel blissfully undiscovered.

• Minister Creek & Hearts Content Scenic Area – if you miss the turnoff, you still end up somewhere magical.

Travel Tips

• Peak is usually early-to-mid October.

• Stargazers will love this area—it has some of the darkest skies east of the Mississippi.

3. The Adirondacks, New York – Big Views Without New England Crowds

Why It’s Special

If you crave mountain landscapes but want to avoid Vermont’s tourist traffic, the Adirondacks in Upstate New York are your answer. Spanning over six million acres, this region is packed with lakes, trails, and small towns that come alive with autumn color.

Highlights

• Lake Placid & High Peaks – classic hiking, kayaking, and cabin stays with postcard-perfect foliage.

• Scenic Byways – Route 28, 30, and 73 all offer gorgeous drives.

• Gore Mountain – Airbnb cabins nearby give you cozy fall escapes at reasonable prices.

Travel Tips

• Peak foliage: late September to mid-October.

• Summer tourists leave after Labor Day, making this one of the least crowded fall destinations in the Northeast.

 4. Finger Lakes & Western New York

Why It’s Special

While New England draws the spotlight, Upstate New York’s Finger Lakes region quietly delivers some of the most dramatic fall landscapes in the East—cascading waterfalls, vineyard-covered hills, and state parks carved with canyons.

Highlights

• Watkins Glen State Park – a fairy-tale gorge with waterfalls framed in fall colors.

• Letchworth State Park – often called the “Grand Canyon of the East,” surrounded by fiery maples.

• Ithaca & Cayuga Lake – charming towns, wineries, and easy access to multiple state parks.

Travel Tips

• Mid-October is peak season.

• Wine lovers can add a fall harvest wine trail tour for a unique twist.

 5. Wisconsin & Michigan Road Trip – From Chequamegon to Copper Harbor

Why It’s Special

For those flying into Minneapolis (MSP), this road trip takes you through Hayward, WI, the Chequamegon National Forest, the Porcupine Mountains, and up into Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. The drive is a rolling showcase of red maples, golden birches, and the shimmering waters of Lake Superior.

Highlights

• Chequamegon National Forest (WI) – quiet, forested drives with small lakeside towns.

• Porcupine Mountains (MI) – breathtaking fall hiking and overlooks.

• Copper Harbor – arguably one of the best fall drives in the country.

Travel Tips

• Allow 4–5 days for the loop.

• Great option for those wanting variety in landscapes and fewer crowds.

 6. Utah’s Pando & the High Plateau

Why It’s Special

For something truly unique, head west to Utah’s Pando—the world’s largest living organism and one of the oldest at 80,000+ years. This massive grove of quaking aspens turns into a glowing sea of gold every fall.

Highlights

• Fishlake National Forest – Pando sits here, along with other lesser-known scenic drives.

• Aspen Groves of the High Plateau – fewer crowds compared to Colorado, with equally stunning color.

Travel Tips

• Peak foliage runs late September into early October.

• Pair this with a trip to Bryce Canyon or Capitol Reef for epic contrast.

7. The Catskills, New York

Why It’s Special

Closer to NYC but far more laid-back than Vermont or New Hampshire, the Catskills offer charming small towns, mountain hikes, and waterfalls—perfect for a fall weekend trip.

Highlights

• Kaaterskill Falls – one of New York’s tallest waterfalls, stunning in fall.

• Woodstock & Phoenicia – artsy, cozy small towns with great food.

• Scenic Byways – Route 28 and Route 23A are classics.

Travel Tips

• Peak season is early-to-mid October.

• Pair with a few days in the Hudson Valley for wineries, orchards, and small-town charm.

Bonus: Detroit & Traverse City, Michigan

Why It’s Special

For something offbeat, combine Detroit’s urban energy with a fall road trip up to Traverse City and the Leelanau Peninsula. The contrast between city architecture framed by golden trees and the serene vineyards of northern Michigan is unforgettable.

Highlights

• Detroit suburbs – surprisingly colorful foliage, usually peaking late October to early November.

• Traverse City & Leelanau Peninsula – wineries, orchards, and Lake Michigan sunsets.

When & Where to Go for Peak Color in 2025

• Late September – Early October: Colorado, Utah, Adirondacks, Upper Peninsula

• Early to Mid-October: Finger Lakes, Catskills, North-Central Pennsylvania

• Late October – Early November: Detroit, Traverse City, lower Midwest

Fall in the U.S. is about more than just chasing color—it’s about finding places where you can breathe, wander, and connect with nature without the rush of tour buses and traffic jams.

For 2025, instead of joining the crowds in Vermont or New Hampshire, consider the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, the wilds of north-central Pennsylvania, or the vast Adirondacks. These destinations offer all the brilliance of autumn, with more room to explore and more opportunities for authentic, uncrowded adventure.

If last year Colorado gave me a million-dollar view, this year I’m chasing hidden-gem foliage worth far more: solitude, serenity, and stories you’ll remember long after the leaves have fallen.