The most spectacular American road trips to see autumn leaves
Perhaps no excursion is more liberating than a road trip. And with the changing hues of the trees and the crisp air, autumn may be the best season to enjoy America’s most scenic drives. Now is the time to pull out a map to begin tracing the route that takes you through the heart of some of the country’s most breathtaking views. From the craggy coast of Mount Desert Island in Maine to the long stretches of highway in Alaska’s Yukon region, we survey 13 of the most incredible scenic drives across America to enjoy this autumn. So get behind the wheel and let the vibrantly coloured maple and poplar trees dotting the East Coast, or the ash and elm trees along the West Coast, leave you speechless this season.
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REX/Shutterstock1/9The Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina and Virginia
Take a trip along North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains for a taste of southern U.S. foliage. If you follow this route, the winding road covers almost 470 miles. You'll start at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and whizz past golden mountain meadows all the way to the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.
Design Pics Inc/REX/Shutterstock2/9Acadia National Park, Maine
Located on the eastern coast of Maine, whizz past rugged coastlines, lighthouses and oceanfront lobster shacks in New England's only national park. The park has 158 miles of trails that loop around lakes and forests and make for ideal spots to leaf-peep from around late September to mid-October.
REX/Shutterstock3/9Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Wyoming's spectacular display of red, yellow and orange is typically runs from the beginning of September to mid-October. In Grand Teton National Park, the autumnal display is complemented with craggy peaks, alpine lakes and geysers.
Design Pics Inc/REX/Shutterstock4/9Alaska Highway, Yukon Territory
Autumn along the great Alaskan Highway means driving with a backdrop of snowy mountain peaks and glaciers. Because of the climate, leaves start to change much earlier than the rest of the country, meaning as early as mid-August above the arctic circle.
Stock Connection/REX/Shutterstock5/9Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada
Come to Canada's Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario from late September to mid October to see gloriously red and orange maple trees. To time your road trip just right, keep your eyes peeled on the park's in-depth fall foliage report.
David Brownell/Alamy6/9Route 5A along Lake Willoughby in Westmore, Vermont
Apart from New England, Vermont comes up a close second for its leaf-peeping displays. Take it all in with a drive along Lake Willoughby.
Getty Images/iStockphoto7/9Emerald Bay Road in California’s Lake Tahoe
Located at the southwestern tip of Lake Tahoe, Emerald Bay Road is a very scenic cliff-side drive along the California and Nevada border. Plan your trip along highway 89 around late September to Mid October to catch the lake shores transform into golden shades.
James Hager/robertharding/REX/Shutterstock8/9Gunnison National Forest, Colorado
Rugged canyons, mountains, over 3,000 miles of trails and four scenic byways make Colorado's Gunnison National Forest a treat for nature lovers looking to leaf-peep on a large scale.
Andre Jenny/Stock Connection/REX/Shutterstock9/9Linn Cove Viaduct on the Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina
The Blue Ridge Mountains' autumnal colours are some of the country's most spectacular and longest running, starting around early October. Take in its orange-hued kaleidoscope with a drive along North Carolina's Linn Cove Viaduct.
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