Greetings, fellow travelers! Fazal Abbas here, excited to share my top 7 destinations for admiring autumn’s vibrant palette on the road:
1. Acadia National Park, Maine: 47,000 acres of stunning fall foliage, typically peaking in early October.
2. Scottish Highlands: Witness the Cairngorms National Park ablaze with color from late September to November.
3. Kyoto, Japan: Experience momijigari (autumn leaf viewing) in ancient gardens, best from mid-October to early December.
4. Black Forest, Germany: Drive through 6,000 square kilometers of autumnal beauty, peaking in October.
5. Laurentian Mountains, Quebec: Enjoy 2,400 square kilometers of fall splendor, typically best in late September.
6. Vermont’s Route 100: This 216-mile scenic byway offers quintessential New England fall views, peaking in early October.
7. Lake District, England: Explore 2,362 square kilometers of lakes and mountains painted in autumn hues, best from September to November..
Discovering the beauties of autumn is always an extraordinary experience-a way to unplug and dedicate yourself to finding peace in close contact with nature. An on-the-road trip to admire the beauty of foliage can offer the perfect mix of freedom and immersion in all those landscapes “enriched” by the colors of this season; ranging from orange to golden to red.
CamperDays, Europe’s leading RV rental platform, has compiled a guide of 7 destinations – European and non-European – perfect for admiring the foliage phenomenon and appreciate the life cycle of nature in a breathtaking color scenery.
Oulanka National Park in Lapland, Finland
Covered more than 70 percent by forests, during the period of “Ruska” (the Finnish term for “foliage”) this country becomes a paradise tinged with autumn hues., resulting in an explosion of colors reflected in the many lakes for which Finland is well known throughout the world. One of the most popular activities from early September until late November is going on “ruskaretki,” trips to admire the beautiful colors of the foliage and engage in picking small fruits of the earth such as blueberries and mushrooms.
On-the-road travelers should stop at Oulanka National Park in Finland’s northernmost region of Lapland to fully experience the wonders of autumn, where–provided the weather conditions are favorable–it is also possible to admire the extraordinary spectacle of the Northern Lights at this time.
Oliwa Park in Gdansk, Poland
Ideal for autumn getaways on the road, Gdansk is great if you want to experience “urban foliage” (“city foliage”); also favorable is the climate, which is milder than in the rest of the country. A kaleidoscope of colors, with tree leaves ranging from golden yellow to deep red to bright orange, welcomes travelers to the Oliwa district park, the city’s green lung. founded in the 18th century by Circestine monks.
The park is known for its well-kept gardens, including. one French-style and one Japanese-style, its beautiful ponds, and a wooded area where numerous meandering paths ensure a ride through nature in the middle of the city center.
Orfento Valley in Majella National Park, Abruzzo
This valley – a canyon carved out over the millennia by the force of the water of the Orfento River in the natural oasis of Majella – reaches its peak during the autumn months, when it transforms into a veritable enchanted realm, enveloping travelers in an “embrace” of colors and sounds. A fairy-tale destination for outdoor enthusiasts – and not only – who, walking the many trails among the rock formations and lush forests, are invited to slow down and be carried away by the magnificence of the autumn foliage.
Among the most pleasant and suitable for all levels of difficulty is the Scalelle trail, which, thanks to a system of bridges and footbridges, allows visitors to cross the deep gorge in about 2-3 hours surrounded by a scenic natural setting.
Sintra, Portugal
Only thirty minutes away from Lisbon by motorhome, Sintra is a pearl appreciated worldwide for its fairy-tale castles and its magical atmosphere. This place becomes even more enchanting during autumn when the town’s woods are tinged with warm autumn hues, creating a contrast with the greens of the pines and evergreen oaks.
Among the must-see attractions is the “Palácio da Pena,” Sintra’s iconic castle whose exterior walls (mainly yellow and red) echo the surrounding foliage palette.
Westonbirt National Arboretum in Gloucestershire, UK.
This arboretum is located in the picturesque Cotswolds region near Tetbury, where green hills alternate with rural villages of honey-colored stone cottages. The more than 2,500 species of trees and shrubs create during autumn a unique palette of bright, warm and deep colors.
Here you can immerse yourself in the naturalistic riches of this location, made all the more spectacular by the breathtaking hues of autumn foliage: starting from the “Silk Wood” area (originally a hunting forest, it is now home to a variety of ancient trees including oaks, beeches, and maples) you then proceed to the historic heart of the arboretum (the “Old Arboretum” area, founded in 1829, is famous for its collection of exotic trees).
Napa Valley in California, United States
Although it may seem like an unusual destination for fall foliage (these trips in English are also called “leaf leeping” from the word for leaf, “leaf”), the renowned vineyards and magnificent parks of Napa Valley-one of the best wine regions internationally-transform in late October and early November into a mosaic of warm and vibrant hues.
The most evocative way to visit this valley during this season is certainly to travel its fascinating roads: among them, for example, the “Highway 29” (which moreover connects Napa to the spa town of Calistoga) is unforgettable, along which there is no shortage of rest stops from which to admire and immortalize the foliage. In addition, for the more daring travelers, a hot air balloon tour represents an unmissable experience to celebrate autumn in its full splendor, guaranteeing privileged views of a kaleidoscope of hues stretching to the horizon.
Mont-Tremblant National Park in Quebec, Canada
As early as mid-September, the vast Laurentian Mountains region in Quebec is clad in a colorful coat of golden, scarlet and amber. The scenic highways of this territory, such as Route 117 and Route 239, framed by rolling hills, lush forests of maple, aspen, beech, red oak, birch, and enchanting bodies of water, offer campers the opportunity to drive immersed in the splendor of the autumn “awakening.”
In addition, the addition of a boat trip on the majestic Lake Tremblant, in the national park of the same name, can become an unparalleled vantage point for viewing the foliage from a unique and breathtaking perspective: it gives visitors a natural painting of colors reflecting on the crystal clear water, with the mountains “diving” into the lake and the sky blending with the landscape in perfect harmony.
