We are from NJ and looking to do a great fall foliage trip. Just curious, what are everyone's favorite campgrounds and destinations for fall foliage? We had a nice stay at Pleasant Acres in the Skyland Region of NJ last year but are looking to do something different this year.

Colorado: Ridgeway State Park and the Dallas Divide area. I headin for Bogen Flats campground outside Glenwood Springs and then on the back roads to Crested Butte and over Cottonwood Pass to Beuna Vista and on back to Loveland. Pictures to follow!

My favorite is Ricketts Glen State Park in PA. A 7 mile hike that takes you past 22 named waterfalls & hundreds of cascades. You don't have to do the entire loop - there are shorter sections of trail. They have two campgrounds, one that is open during the fall season. No hookups, but bathrooms with showers & a dump station.Some more photos: Ricketts Glen State Park, PA

Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park (stay at Big Meadows Campground). Second is Ricketts Glenn, PA. The leaf change starts a couple of weeks earlier in Ricketts Glenn than Shenandoah so you could do both on different weekends/trips. If you want to go even later in the season, try Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

Along US-50 from Salida to Montrose, where color of the aspens contrasts with evergreens. The mixed forests of northern LP of Michigan, for the same reason. More of a mix in hardwoods, including maples.If I can't get to those places, the Ouachita National Forest in SE Oklahoma and SW Arkansas.

The White Mountains in New Hampshire is popular with "leaf peepers". My favorite campground in North Conway is Saco River Camping Area. We have never been there for foliage though.Last year my wife and I went to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park for "leaf peeping".

Your favorite campground/destination for fall foliage.

22 Replies

wny_pat1
Explorer
Sep 27, 2013
Ours in Western New York State, way south of Buffalo, has already started turning. Regretfully, the colors are very dull. Appears we are going to have lots of browns, and a few reds and yellows. The bugs did damage to lots of leaves this year - big time damage!!!
livelylittlecam
Explorer
Sep 26, 2013
Thanks for the responses. I wish I could go on all of these trips!
bukhrn
Explorer III
Sep 26, 2013
Pawz4me wrote:
Anywhere along the Blue Ridge Parkway or Skyline Drive.
X-2, we go here because it's close, when I get re-retired, we'll try the NE.
Flintstones
Explorer
Sep 26, 2013
Just like Allimax says, go to Danforth Bay and have a great time in the Mount Washington Valley.

There is a train ride right out of North Conway, Chairlift rides from Wildcat, Attitash, and Gunstock ski areas to view the foliage.

Danforth Bay is an excellent, full service, big rig friendly rv park with all the amenities.
allimax
Explorer
Sep 26, 2013
Another vote for the White Mountains in NH. We stay at Danforth Bay in Freedom, which is southeast of North Conway. Cruise up Rt.16 to 302 thru North Conway and west toward Crawford Notch, then south on Rt.3 past Cannon Mtn. and the former Old Man of the Mountains (r.i.p), into Lincoln, and jump on the Kancamagus Hwy. back toward 16. If you stop for lunch (Woodstock Inn is my favorite. Try the Old Man Oatmeal Stout), it's a pretty full day. Beautiful scenery. Columbus weekend is prime.
bfourman
Explorer
Sep 25, 2013
atreis wrote:
Brown County State Park in Indiana. Great views from the ridge.

Second this!! One of the best parks in the Midwest.
Wumba
Explorer
Sep 24, 2013
Smokey Mts. in TN. Anywhere in the Townsend and wears Valley area.
otis-agnes
Explorer
Sep 23, 2013
White Mountains in NH. That's Mt. Washington in the background. Agnes
travelnutz
Explorer II
Sep 22, 2013
MICHIGAN! Both the Upper Peninsula and the Lower Peninsula.

A link to some fall color pics in Michigan and we'll be right there to enjoy it and follow it south like we always do!

https://www.google.com/search?q=fall+color+pictures+michigan&newwindow=1&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=mz4_UvrAKoX5qwHE34CoDQ&ved=0CCsQsAQ&biw=1424&bih=705&dpr=1

As for a CGs during the color season, there's hundreds to choose from and most are excellent and the color is 360 degrees around you while there. Some of our favorites in the U.P. are Tahquamenon State Park River Bend CG, Muskallonge State Park CG on Lake Superior, Fort Wilkins State Park at Copper Harbor, Presque Isle or Union Bay CG's in Porcupine Mtns SP (The Porkies), Van Riper SP on M-28/US-41 at Champion, Fayette SP - S off US-2 on the Garden Peninsula, Indian Lake/Palms book SP at Manistique, and Straits SP at Saint Ignace.

In the L.P are: Wilderness SP - Mackinaw City, Hartwick Pines SP, Platte River CG in Sleeping Bear Dunes NP on Lake Michigan, Mitchell SP at Cadillac, Interlochen SP at Interlochen, Ludington SP on Lake Michigan, Hoffmaster SP just north of Grand Haven.

Edit: I forgot to add the fine CG at Little River Casino on the hill at Manistee in the L.P.
D___M
Explorer
Sep 22, 2013
I spend Columbus Day Weekend at Hickory Hills Camping Resort located a few miles below the base of Keuka Lake in Bath NY. Columbus Day weekend is about the peak time for leaf peeping in NYS. Several nice restaurants on the Lake and its a short hop over to the wine trail over on Seneca Lake.