Where to go in September, maybe October

If you decide to go to the PNW area, I'd be prepared to change plans at the last minute if needed due to the potential of wildfires. They are predicting a long hot summer this year. May was the driest month on record here. Wildfires could very well be bad this year and have already started in some locations.

We almost made it to Yellowstone a couple of summers ago in early Sept. and had to bail out at the last minute due to a wildfire nearby. We're planning to try again in early Sept. and are keeping our fingers crossed that we can make it this time. Wildfires can sometimes burn into late Oct./Nov. until rains arrive.

We are originally from Michigan and family is still therein the lower peninsula. Retired now and we have traveled twice in October. Last year we traveled to the Upper Peninsula around October 10 and the fall colors were absolutely breathtaking. The weather was fair, not hot at all and not too hot. We will travel there again this fall, too.

4runnerguy wrote:
The last couple of weeks of September are magnificent for the aspen in CO. Since you are flying and not RVing, campgrounds won't be an issue. But do think about getting reservations as it's a popular time to travel. Maybe catch a ride on the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge RR as it goes through spectacular scenery only enhanced by the changing leave.

You can even head over to Utah and visit any of the NP's there, as cooler temps make it an ideal time to go.

Absolutely agree with Ken. We were in SW Colorado late last September, headed to the Grand Canyon for October. The colours were still magnificent. Did the Durango & Silverton train, it did not disappoint for the brilliance of the colours.

For the advice to avoid the Rockies after Labour Day...please do! It will make for less traffic and tourists. :W(TFIC)

Early October is our very favorite time of year to visit the national parks in the western states. It will just be you, the retirees, and the Germans.

I studied German for 9 years in high school and college, plus an exchange program to Switzerland, so my German language skills used to be pretty good. They aren't so hot anymore though. It's funny to have a German tourist walk up to me and strike up a conversation in his native language (because he assumed I wasn't a retiree yet) and have me respond with my very rusty vocabulary. He looked at me like I was developmentally challenged and asked me where I was from: "Ich komme aus Los Angeles!"

Not only will the crowds be down and the fall colors will be out, but the staff at the NPs will be in a great mood in the last week or two of the season.

One year as we were pulling out of Mesa Verde in Colorado, the staff locked the gate behind us and closed the campground for the year. Good stuff.

jplante4 wrote:

Busskipper wrote:

jplante4 wrote:
Advised I've received from a friend who has done it - don't be in the Rockies after Labor Day. We're also planning a westward trip starting in August and plane to be through the rockies by Labor Day.

Sorry but your friend was pulling your Leg!

Seeing is Believing - Aspen - In September

Having been to Yellowstone at least a dozen time (they were all good) but the best trip was late October - first week of November, Indian Summer - more animals than People.

IMHO You will be hard pressed to find a more enjoyable time to be In Colorado.

JMHO,

Wonderful, but no one said anything about Colorado. You do know that the Rockies exist outside that state, right? The friend's warning was about the specific route we're doing - US2 along Glacier NP and the upper part of Idaho where he has traveled extensively.

I am avoiding CO like the plague. I do not want to be pulled over and searched after leaving. Of course, I'm going to run into the same issue leaving Mass.

Pulled over and searched? I've driven lots of places from Colorado, and have never once been pulled over and searched. I think you're a bit too paranoid about that one.

But as for you not coming here, fine, more room for the rest of us ;)

To the OP, I think you're fine anywhere in the Rockies (CO, WY, MT) in September. October gets a bit more dicey... could be beautiful, could be a blizzard.

For us Tent Trailer guys late SEP/OCT is perfect time for us to head down to Myrtle Beach SC

LOVE Myrtle Beach but will not head into hurricane territory that time of year. Have been in both the Outer Banks and Myrtle Beach with hurricanes churning offshore-never again.

Have a great time and don't worry about weather.

I don't "worry" per se but will avoid areas that are prone to certain issues during certain times of the year if at all possible.

We'll only have a week and prefer to stay in one or two spots. Love the ideas so far-gives us a lot to think about. So far the west is indeed winning but we'll see.

We left Monson MA the Tuesday after Labor Day and had great weather all the way out and back. We stopped at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Field of Dreams, Wall Drug, Mitchell SD, The Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, and other small sites along the way. Came back through Minnesota, Green Bay, Mackinac Island, RV Museum, and Cooperstown along the way. You will find that it is a great time of year to travel with all the young ones back in school. Have a great time and don't worry about weather.

For us Tent Trailer guys late SEP/OCT is perfect time for us to head down to Myrtle Beach SC and visit family and then come back up through Gatlinburg-Smoky Mountains TN to catch some outstanding fall foliage... Kids are heading back to school and you have the shopping streets all to your self...

Good way to spend two or three weeks... The most time we spend on the road is usually 5-6 hours between stops. We are definitely not into the RV Travel mode... Color us RV Campers not RV Travelers hehe...

Roy Ken

Busskipper wrote:

jplante4 wrote:
Advised I've received from a friend who has done it - don't be in the Rockies after Labor Day. We're also planning a westward trip starting in August and plane to be through the rockies by Labor Day.

Sorry but your friend was pulling your Leg!

Seeing is Believing - Aspen - In September

Having been to Yellowstone at least a dozen time (they were all good) but the best trip was late October - first week of November, Indian Summer - more animals than People.

IMHO You will be hard pressed to find a more enjoyable time to be In Colorado.

JMHO,

Wonderful, but no one said anything about Colorado. You do know that the Rockies exist outside that state, right? The friend's warning was about the specific route we're doing - US2 along Glacier NP and the upper part of Idaho where he has traveled extensively.

I am avoiding CO like the plague. I do not want to be pulled over and searched after leaving. Of course, I'm going to run into the same issue leaving Mass.

We've done the Canadian Rockies in September, twice. Stunning. Fly into Calgary, rent a car, and enjoy!

And Colorado in late September and early October is also wonderful.

Then there is Utah, cool and rugged, with slanty autumn sun on red rocks.

Also the North Cascades of Washington, including the Mt. Baker area. The huckleberries are ripe, the air is clear, and you can see forever.

Then there is the Eastern Sierra, chilly and crisp, with miles of wonderful trails at high altitude. Maybe throw in Great Basin National Park in Nevada -- astonishing stars in the autumn months.

We have done all of these trips in the fall, many of them more than once. The bugs are dead, the tourists are gone, the weather is dry and clear and cool. Heaven.

Good luck choosing amongst all of these great options!!