Best Destinations in the USA to Travel to in Fall 2019

With the summer season just kicking off, It may seem premature to be thinking of autumn travels. But it pays to plan ahead. And what better time to get away than when the crowds dwindle, prices drop and the cooler, crisper weather comes around? To help you choose a destination, we are sharing our top cities around the USA to visit this fall!

Nicknamed “The Nation's Oldest Seashore Resort,” Cape May is a lesser known coastal town worth visiting on New Jersey’s southernmost tip. It’s known for its grand Victorian houses set along relaxing beaches.

Main draw in Autumn: You may catch a glimpse of monarch butterflies that migrate over the town from mid-September to October.

Autumn Climate: Pleasant with highs in the upper 70’s and lows in the 60’s.

What to do in Autumn:

• Take in ocean views from the top of the historic 1858 lighthouse. (30 minutes)
• Tempt your taste buds at September’s annual Food and Wine Celebration. (2-4 hours)
• Search for Cape May “diamonds” or polished quartz on Sunset Beach. (All day)
• Shop until you drop along the pedestrian-friendly Washington Street. (2-4 hours)

A city of firsts! Boston is home to America's first baseball stadium, first free public library, first subway system, first public school and first public park. So a well-rounded visit to Boston includes a mix of both historic and modern experiences.

Main draw in Autumn: A great time to visit for foodies and concert lovers with lots of culinary events and festivals occurring at this time of year.

Autumn Climate: Comfortable with highs in the low 70’s and lows in the mid 50’s.

What to do in Autumn:

• Follow in the footsteps of revolutionary heroes as you walk the 18th century Freedom Trail. You’ll pass 16 of the city’s historic sites including the location of the Boston Tea Party, the USS Constitution, the Old State House, and the Paul Revere House. (Half a day).
• Grab a pint or flight during a free Samuel Adams Brewery tour. (2 hours)
• Cheer on the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, the oldest baseball stadium in the USA (3 hours)
• Eat your way through Boston on a food tour or at the Phantom Gourmet Food Festival (2 to 4 hours)
• Visit one of Boston Harbor’s 34 islands - Georges Island and Spectacle island are accessible by ferry. (Full day)

Enjoy 3,000 square miles of unspoiled natural beauty. We’re talking mountains, canyons, geysers, lakes and waterfalls galore. Plus wildlife roaming the park.

Main draw in Autumn: Most of the summer crowds have dissipated, making hotel and campsite prices cheaper. The leaves are changing to beautiful shades of golds and reds.

Autumn Climate: Cooler with highs in the 60’s and lows in the 30’s

What to do in Autumn:

• Watch the world famous geyser, Old Faithful erupt 130 feet into the air (1-2 hours as it erupts around every 90 minutes)
• Hike the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (2-5 hours)
• Gawk at the rainbow waters of the Grand Prismatic Spring. At 370 feet in diameter and 120 feet deep, it is the largest hot spring in the USA. (1-2 hours)
• Visit Norris Geyser Basin, the park’s oldest and hottest geothermal pool, where you can also see Steamboat Geyser, the tallest active geyser in the world (1-2 hours)
• Visit Hayden Valley to spot bison, elk, coyotes and grizzly bears. (1-2 hours)

Main draw in Autumn: Less crowds than in summer make for an all around more relaxing experience.

Autumn Climate:

What to do in Autumn:

• Hike Mount Bonnell for sweeping views of the city and Austin Lake (2-4 hours)
• Hang out in the quirky SoCo district for all the best boutique shops and retro clothes (4 hours)
• Rock out in the “Live Music Capital of the World” at Austin City Limits. If you are visiting outside of festival times, be sure to venture to Sixth Street for good tunes. (All day)
• Cycle the 10-mile Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake.

The 425 vineyards of Sonoma County stretch across nine cities and cover three times the area of Napa. Sonoma tends to offer a more budget-friendly and relaxed experience than Napa.

Main draw in Autumn: It is peak harvest season for the grapes.

Autumn Climate: Mild with highs in the 70’s and lows in the 40’s.

What to do in Autumn:

• Taste chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon, as well as the unique varietal of arnei at the Jacuzzi Family Vineyards (2-4 hours)
• Sip on champagne straight out of France at the Buena Vista Winery. (2-4 hours)
• Take a day trip to Sonoma Coast State Park with rugged shorelines stretching for 20 miles along the Pacific Ocean. (Full day)
• Shop and eat your way through Sonoma Plaza. (2-4 hours)
• Taste the best of Sonoma County at the Harvest Fair.

Leavenworth is a Bavarian village year-round and with snowy Cascade Mountains in the background, it appears to be a dreamy village tucked away in the Alps.

Main draw in Autumn: Enjoy the next best Oktoberfest from Munich.

Autumn Climate: Highs in the mid 60’s and lows near freezing.

What to do in Autumn:

• Enjoy beer, live music and brats at Oktoberfest. Runs the first three weekends of October across four venues (All day)
• Mountain biking down the trails of Steven’s Pass mountain or Ski Hill. (2-4 hours)
• Hike Icicle Ridge, Sauer Mountain or Colchuck Lake. (2-4 hours)
• Drink local at Eagle Creek or Icicle Ridge Winery (2 hours)

The charming colonial town of Charleston needs no introduction. Pastel mansions line the cobblestone streets which horse drawn carriages trot along.

Main draw in Autumn: The southern heat wave is slowly making it’s reprieve for a more comfortable experience.

Autumn Climate: Cooler with highs in the 60’s and lows in the 50’s.

What to do in Autumn:

• Enjoy a local culinary sea of southern delights on a food tour. We’re talkin’ sweet tea, grits, BBQ, chicken & dumplings, fried green tomatoes and more! (2 hours)
• Get a glimpse into the Old South at the Charleston City Market. (1-3 hours)
• Check out the sweeping harbor views at the Battery promenade. (1-2 hours)
• Take a classic photo at the ancient Angel Oak Tree. She’s massive! (20 minutes)
• Spend the day swimming, sailing or sunbathing along the 7 miles of shoreline at the Isle of Palms County Park. (All day)

Stretching 90 miles along the west coast of central California, Big Sur's remote location helps you become one with nature. With over 300 days of sunshine a year, and a temperate climate, there really isn’t a bad time to visit Big Sur.

Main draw in Autumn: Aside from the pleasant temperatures, fall also brings activity from humpback whales and orcas.

Autumn Climate: Highs in the 60’s and lows in the 40’s. The beginning of rainy season.

What to do in Autumn:

• Explore the gorgeous State Parks: Julia Pfeiffer Burns, Andrew Molera, Limekiln, Garrapata and Pfeiffer Big Sur. (Full day)
• Beach comb for sand dollars at the aptly named Sand Dollar Beach. (Half day)
• Attend the Big Sur Fall Harvest Crafts Fair. (1-2 hours)

This quaint mountain town is centered around the great outdoors and becomes vibrantly colored in the fall. With more breweries per capita than anywhere else in the US and a culinary culture, Asheville has so much to offer!

Main draw in Autumn: The leaves are at their peak brightness in color.

Autumn Climate: Mild with highs in the upper 50’s and lows around 40.

What to do in Autumn:

• Visit the historic Biltmore Estate which boasts 250 rooms and 8.000 acres of gardens. (2 hours)
• Hike a section of the beautiful Appalachian trail (1-2 hours)
• Wander the Urban Trail, a 1.7 mile long stretch covering the cultural and architectural history of the city. (1-2 hours)
• Take a self-guided walking tour along the Appalachian Ale Trail, pedal around on an Amazing Pubcycle or go on an Asheville Brewery Tour.
• Hit the wide open road along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway (2-4 hours)

USA pin board maps are the perfect way to document your American road trips and weekend getaways and inspire future adventures! Available in four different styles from the modern to the rustic and in four sizes.

We hope you found this guide useful in planning your upcoming trips! Where are you headed this autumn? We would love for you to share your favorite fall destinations in our Facebook Community!