The United States can really do fall foliage well. I know New England can burst into 50 shades of yellow, red and orange like no one else. HOWEVER, it isn’t the only place that comes to life with color! AND, there are many places that have the color without the crowds and the prices of New England. So, if you are looking for a fall US ROAD TRIP (you won’t be staying still long!) that includes 4 national parks, take this route:
- Kentucky- Mammoth Caves National Park and Lexington
- West Virginia- New River Gorge National Park and Seneca Rocks
- Virginia- Shenandoah National Park
- North Carolina- Blue Ridge Parkway and Asheville
- Tennessee- Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Gatlinburg
This itinerary has a mix of city and hiking with scenic routes between each destination! I have used Nashville as a good airport to fly into if you aren’t within driving distance of one of the locations (we drove from Arkansas, so we didn’t actually stop in Nashville), however, a perk of this itinerary is that it is more centrally located (than New England) and many more people can drive this route without flying!
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Day 1: Mammoth Cave National Park
Stop one of the great fall US road trip is Mammoth Cave National Park! It is the longest cave system in the WORLD! We visited when the *c word* was still around and a large part of the cave system was closed. However, we were able to see enough of the cave system to see just how vast the system really is!
There is a lot of history associated with the caves (it is literally a UNESCO World Heritage Site), including its purchase by a Dr. Croghan who was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1839 thinking the cave system would have curative properties. He brought down 16 other TB patients who lived in “TB huts,” hoping the elements of the cave would lend a cure to TB . However, as we know now, damp conditions and the smoke in the air to maintain the lantern lights were not good for lung integrity and they ended up dying from TB. The stone huts are still in the cave system.
Morning/Afternoon
When you visit Mammoth Caves, stay near the entrance in order to get to the park when it opens!
In order to explore the cave system, you can:
- Opt to do a guided tour (which have several options that are found here)
- Or you can do a self-guided tour which you begin a the Historic Entrance. Tickets are still required for self-guiding, so be sure to purchase them before heading to the entrance.
- Most of the tours are between 2-3 hours and a lot of the tours overlap on which portion of the cave system they cover.
The caves are a massive system and you could spend days here. However, caves are caves, and I don’t know if it is worth it to explore every inch (personal opinion.)
Late Afternoon/Evening
I recommend spending most of the day exploring the system and then head to Lexington for the night. I truly don’t know if we would have gone back to the caves for a second day if we had stayed in the area for another night.
- Drive Mammoth Cave to Lexington: Just under 2 hours.
- Keep your eyes peeled for the castle as you pass through Versaille!
In Lexington: Seeing as how you will likely arrive to Lexington in the evening after exploring the caves, I recommend just finding dinner and preparing to visit sights the next morning. I recommend staying in walking distance of downtown Lexington.
Day 2: Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is known as the Horse Capital of the World and known for its bourbon, so be sure to delve into both to get a feel for Lexington’s culture.
morning/Afternoon
Get up and explore Lexington! Be sure to:
- Walk through the Thoroughbred Park
- Visit a distillery of your choice for some bourbon. Or, visit a downtown bar such as Bluegrass Tavern for a wide selection of bourbon
- See the “Lexington” sign near the Pavillon (home to a farmers market on Saturdays!)
- Watch out for LOADS of murals in downtown Lexington
- Visit the old courthouse and its grounds
If you have time, visit the Kentucky Horse Park, which is about 20 minutes north of Lexington, to see live shows, go horseback riding, learn about the history of horses and more! This is a great way to finish the day exploring Lexington and what it has to offer before heading to Charleston for the evening!
Evening
After exploring downtown Lexington and maybe the hosre park, head to Charelston, WV for the night!
- Charleston, WV: 2.5 hour drive
Charleston is a quaint little town, but will bring you close to New River Gorge National Park. This was our primary reason for staying in Charleston, WV. We got into town pretty late, so really just had time to walk downtown a little bit and have dinner. Then it was up EARLY to head to New River Gorge National Park. If you would like to spend more time in Charleston, read Family Destinations Guide to Charleston! (they know more than I do about Charleston 👍🏼)
Day 3: New River Gorge National Park, West Virginia
New River Gorge National Park is the United State’s NEWEST national park. The park covers nearly 70,000 acres of land, meaning you could spend days and days hiking through the park and not be able to see it all. However, the biggest attraction of New River Gorge is the huge bridge that crosses the 3000+ foot wide gorge at a height that is 876 feet (nearly as tall as the Eiffel Tower!!) Nearly every top-rated hike will likely give you some version of a “great view of the bridge.”
Morning
Get up early to get to New River Gorge National Park!
- Drive from Charleston to New River Gorge: Little over one hour.
Spend the morning viewing the New River Gorge bridge from multiple angles!
- There is a very accessible, wooden walkway that takes you to a great overlook of the gorge and the bridge. You can also take some wood stairs further down for a closer view (photo below taken here!)
Afternoon
If you are feeling adventurous, I recommend taking a tour across the bridge.
- The tour is about 2-3 hours long and can be booked here!
- I didn’t even know this was a thing until recently, but I would 100% do it if I were going back to New River Gorge!
If you aren’t a fan of heights, spend the afternoon hiking with a different view of the bridge at New River Gorge! Here are the top-rated trails on AllTrails!
Fayetteville, West Virginia is the closest town to New River Gorge National Park, which is where I recommend staying day 3!
Day 4: Seneca Rocks, West Virginia
Day four of the fall US road trip is allotted for more of West Virginia! Seneca Rocks are a jutted rock formation that is one of the most well-known landmarks in West Virginia. With its dramatic peaks and ability to climb all the way to the top, it attracts many hikers as well as rock climbers! It is a little out of the way from New River Gorge, but is SUCH a cool hike. AND it is pretty close to Shenandoah National Park which will be your next destination!
- Drive time: 2 hours and 40 minutes.
The drive from New River Gorge to Seneca Rocks is through Monongahela National Forest, which is a really beautiful drive (some of the most colorful leaves we saw the whole trip!) So, take your time and feel free to stop and take in the leaves!
It will get dark in West Virginia by about 7 or 7:30 pm in October, and the Seneca Rocks hike is about 3.6 miles out and back trail which takes about 2.5-3 hours to complete. So, as long as you start hiking by 3 or 4 pm you will have plenty of time!
NOTE: you will NOT have reception in this area and there are not accommodations nearby (it is kind of in the middle of nowhere). I recommend driving to Harrisonburg, Virginia for the night (about an hour and a half drive)!
Day 5: Shenandoah national Park, Virginia
Shenandoah National Park will be a popular destination on this fall US road trip. Therefore, I recommend getting up early to enter the park when it opens. You’ll beat the crowds AND be able to enjoy the whole day in Shenandoah!
- The drive from Harrisonburg to the Shenandoah entrance is only about 30 minutes.
There are miles and miles and miles of hiking trails along the Appalachian Trail and inside Shenandoah National Park. You could spend a full week camping here. However, Shenandoah is easy to navigate, as there is just one main road, Skyline Drive, that goes along the ridge. If you get to the park early enough, you will have plenty of time to do see a lot of the park and do several hikes. We did three different hikes:
- Stony Man Trail
- 1.5 mil loop with great views at the end.
- Approximately 45 minutes to hike.
- Dark Hollow Falls Trail
- 1.6 mile loop, but steep with stairs.
- Approximately an hour and 5 minute hike.
- Hawksbill Summit
- 1.6 mile out and back trail, but steep as well.
- Good view point at the top.
- Approximately an hour and 10 minutes to hike.
After getting your hikes in in Shenandoah, drive to Roanoke for the night. This will start you on the Blue Ridge Parkway and get you a little closer to Asheville.
- Drive time is a little under two hours.
Day 6: Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia and North Carolina
Day 6 of the fall US road trip is allotted for driving the Blue Ridge Parkway! The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most scenic routes in the US, connecting the southern portion of Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park to the entry of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
- It is a little under 4 hours, from Roanoke to Asheville, but, again, it is one of the most scenic byways in the US, so take your time, make some stops, pull over for a picnic and enjoy the views
Stay in Asheville for the night. I recommend Wicked Weed Brewery for dinner if you are a craft beer fan!
Day 7: Asheville, North Carolina
Day 7 is full of exploring Asheville! Asheville is a charming, eclectic city full of loads of art, beer, food and beautiful scenery!
Start your day with a cup of coffee from Double D’s, then explore Asheville!
- Explore the River Arts District
- If you are a book fan, I recommend Battery Park Book Exchange and Champagne Bar! It is located inside the historic Grove Arcade. Whats better than books and champagne?! (they also serve other drinks and beer if you prefer that 🙂)
- Shop in the Grove Arcade after visiting the Book Exchange
- Shop down Lexington Avenue
- Go pub crawling or visit some breweries. As mentioned before, Wicked Weed is a great option and offered beer flights. We also liked Bird Song Brewery!
If you are wanting to go to Biltmore Estates, book tickets in advance! Also, you will likely want to add an extra day in Asheville, because it will take most of a day to explore the estate, the grounds, the winery, etc.
Day 8 and 9: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
Get up early and head to the Smoky Mountains!
- Drive time: about 1 hour
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is another popular stop amongst the great fall foliage chase. Be prepared for crowds to be larger in the Smoky Mountains compared to other places on this fall US road trip route.
Day 8
Day 1 in the smokies:
- Take a hike. I recommend taking the hike to Alum Cave Bluffs
- It is a popular hike, so I recommend getting here early to secure parking in the small parking lot.
- You’ll pass Arch Rock about 1.4 miles in
- Alum Cave Bluff is 2.3 miles out and back (4.6 miles total)
- You can continue from Alum Cave to Mt. LeConte for a total of 5 miles one-way if you would like
- At night, head to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge to see the Great Pumpkin LumiNights.
- Rides are open and the pumpkins are cool to see!
- It runs from the end of September to the end of October along with the Harvest Festival
- Price: To enter the Great Pumpkin LumiNights, you have to purchase a whole day-ticket to Dollywood.
- The price is $89 for one day or $109 for two days.
- When we visited, there were $35 tickets after 5 pm when going specifically for the lit pumpkins (getting there around 5 also gave you a couple of hours of daylight).
- Not sure if this will be an option. However, there is a big Harvest Fest during the day as well with day-time pumpkins, arts and crafts, food, etc. So if you HAVE to purchase a whole day ticket, I recommend spending at least a half-day there to get your money’s worth.
Day 9
Day 2 in the smokies:
- Morning: Visit Clingman’s Dome early- it is a popular destination
- This is the highest point in the Smoky Mountain National Park and offers great views
- The “hike” is about a half mile walk that is well-paved, but it is a uphill walk!
- In the afternoon either:
- 1) Fill up your second day with ALL the hiking (there are a million hikes to do in the GSMNP)
- Grab a park map at the visitor’s center that gives all the details on length of the trails, etc!
- 2) Or, do a short hike after Clingman’s Dome and then visit downtown Gatlinburg (we didn’t really explore Gatlinburg too much because it was a bit crowded for us)
- 1) Fill up your second day with ALL the hiking (there are a million hikes to do in the GSMNP)
- Evening: Recommend grabbing pizza and a beer at the Gatlinburg Brewing Company- you hiked, you earned it.
Fall US Road Trip Recap
Again, I’ve set this up as a loop flying into Nashville, Tennessee due to it being one of the larger cities and (typically) more affordable flight prices. However, if you are close to one of these destinations (as many are due to the centrality of this loop!) then the loop can be completed by driving from Great Smoky Mountains to Mammoth Cave rather than going through Nashville (about a 4 hour drive).
- If you are trying to avoid crowds as much as possible, I recommend minimizing time in Great Smoky Mountains National Park/Gatlinburg and increasing time in West Virginia or driving slower through Blue Ridge Parkway!
- RECOMMEND getting a US National Park Pass; you’ll be visiting 4 parks, so the pass will save you money
- This is a bit of a lengthy fall US road trip, but if you utilize two weeks, it could be done by using only 5-6 days of PTO!
If you aren’t sold on a fall US road trip, but are wanting to travel in October, here are some other recommendations on places to visit in October!
