Ten fall foliage drives outside of New England

Fall foliage road trips across America

Ten fall foliage drives outside of New England

Sure, Vermont's got game when it comes to autumn leaves. But guess what? The rest of America didn't get the memo that fall colors are a New England exclusive. Here are ten spectacular fall drives that prove Mother Nature has plenty of paint to go around.

Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia and North Carolina

Image: Karthik Sreenivas

This 469-mile ribbon of asphalt snaking through the Appalachians is basically autumn's greatest hits album. You'll wind past crimson oaks, golden hickories, and enough scenic overlooks to make your camera cry uncle. Peak season runs from late September through October, depending on elevation. Pack a picnic, crank up some classic rock, and pretend you're in a car commercial.

Million Dollar Highway, Colorado

Image: Carol Highsmith's America

This stretch of US Route 550 has aspen groves turning liquid gold against red rock cliffs and snow-dusted peaks. The road climbs over three mountain passes without guardrails in some spots, which adds a little spice to your leaf-peeping adventure. Visit in late September, when the aspens are showing off, and you'll understand why Coloradans get so smug about their fall colors.

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee and North Carolina

Image: Jordan Whitt

The Smokies put on a color show that lasts from mid-September well into November, thanks to all those different elevations. Cades Cove Loop Road offers an easy 11-mile circuit where you might spot black bears fattening up for winter between the maples and dogwoods. The main drag—Newfound Gap Road—takes you from low-elevation hickories to high-altitude spruces, which means you're basically driving through three seasons in a single afternoon.

Kaibab Plateau, Arizona

Image: Omer Nezih Gerek

Who says fall colors need a freeze? The North Rim of the Grand Canyon serves up golden aspens and orange Gambel oaks, paired with jaw-dropping canyon views. State Route 67 runs through Kaibab National Forest, and by late September, the aspen groves look like they've been dipped in butter. The elevation keeps things cool while the rest of Arizona bakes, and you'll have the place mostly to yourself, since the North Rim closes for winter in mid-October.

Cascade Loop, Washington

Image: Getty Images

This 440-mile circuit through the Cascade Mountains combines fall foliage with apple orchards, Bavarian-themed towns, and enough mountain vistas to overload your Instagram feed. The North Cascades Highway portion delivers serious alpine drama, with larches turning gold and vine maples blazing orange. Bonus: you can buy fresh cider that tastes like actual apples, not corn syrup.

Upper Peninsula, Michigan

Image: Michaela Zuzula

US 2 along Lake Michigan's northern shore gives you sugar maples on one side and big blue water on the other. For maximum color impact, take M-28 through the Ottawa National Forest, where the hardwoods go absolutely nuts with reds, oranges, and yellows.

Ozark Highlands, Arkansas

Image: Spencer Imbrock

State Highway 7 from Harrison to Hot Springs cuts through the Ozark National Forest, where oak, hickory, and maple trees compete for attention. The road twists past limestone bluffs and through tiny towns where time seems to move at a different speed. Mid-October is prime time, and the lack of crowds means you can actually stop and take that perfect photo without someone's Winnebago in the frame.

Lake Tahoe Loop, California and Nevada

Image: Ken S

This 72-mile loop around America's most photographed lake combines cobalt water with autumn aspens in a way that'll make you question why you live anywhere else. The California side delivers more dramatic mountain scenery, while the Nevada side offers casinos if you need a break from nature. Late September through early October is the sweet spot before the first snow. Take the drive counterclockwise so you're on the lake side during the best light.

Scenic Byway 12, Utah

Image: Joshua Colah

This All-American Road lives up to its name, winding through red rock country where golden aspens pop against crimson cliffs like nature's own color wheel gone wild. The stretch between Torrey and Boulder crosses two mountain passes where the aspens cluster thickly in the high country. Late September brings peak color, and the absence of crowds makes it feel like a personal discovery.

Columbia River Gorge, Oregon and Washington

Image: Elena Kuchko

Historic Highway 30 on the Oregon side takes you past moss-covered forests exploding with vine maple reds and bigleaf maple yellows. Stop at Multnomah Falls before continuing east, where the landscape turns golden brown and wine country beckons. The scenic highway portion is only about 70 miles, but you'll need all day because every curve demands a photo stop.