The Magic of Autumn Scenic Drives
As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisper, the annual rituals of autumn are upon us. From shoulder season vacations to football games, the unpacking of sweaters, and the inevitable pumpkin spice tsunami, there’s something special about this time of year. But perhaps the most cherished tradition is the scenic fall drive.
Timing is everything when it comes to planning the perfect fall drive. To increase your chances of witnessing the leaves in their full glory, consider using a US foliage predictor map. Keep in mind that peak leaf-viewing times often coincide with peak traffic, so plan accordingly, especially on weekends.
Here are six route suggestions for 2025 scattered around the United States. Whether the leaves disappoint or dazzle, these drives offer plenty of other things to see and do when you pull the car over.
Ozark Run Scenic Byway, Missouri
This 80-mile (130-kilometer) drive through prime Ozark Mountain terrain was officially designated as a scenic byway in 2023. It’s already a source of pride in the Show Me State.
The byway offers some of the state’s most beautiful natural landscapes, including clear, spring-fed rivers, rocky bluffs, and dense forests. Along the way, visitors can explore charming small towns and Elephant Rocks State Park, home to giant boulders more than a billion years old.
Check with the Missouri Department of Conservation for color reports, usually starting in the second half of September. Because of the rugged land, most major highways skipped the area, making it a peaceful destination for those seeking a leisurely trip in a somewhat isolated area.
Along the route or nearby:
Old Village Mercantile in Caledonia has more than 600 varieties of old-fashioned candies sold in a building dating back to 1909.
Mark Twain National Forest offers everything from hiking and horseback riding to kayaking and camping.
* Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site is for Civil War history buffs.
Lake Champlain Byway, Vermont
Vermont is known for its scenic fall drives, and the 184-mile (297-kilometer) Lake Champlain Byway is one of the best ways to take in the visual feast. This route provides beautiful views of America’s sixth-largest lake, Lake Champlain, as well as Vermont’s Green Mountains and New York’s Adirondack Mountains.
To catch the vibrant colors of Vermont’s maple and beech trees reflecting in the lake’s clear waters, visit Vermont’s fall foliage tracker and use New England 511 to check on road conditions.
Along the route or nearby:
Burlington, Vermont’s largest city, offers a hip vibe, farm-to-table dining, and quaint places to spend the night.
Middlebury and Vergennes are the very definition of small-town New England charm.
The ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain in Burlington is a great spot for science and nature lovers.
Grand Isle State Park and Button Bay State Park are popular camping sites along the route.
Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway, South Dakota
This 70-mile (113-kilometer) byway in southwestern South Dakota is a treat for both drivers and nature lovers. A masterpiece of artistic engineering, this route includes spiraling bridges, hairpin curves, granite tunnels, and awe-inspiring views.
The Iron Mountain Road section leads you around impressive wooden “pigtail” bridges, with several tunnels carved through the granite mountain that artistically frame the four faces of Mount Rushmore in the distance. Watch for mountain goats, deer, and chipmunks along the way.
Along the route or nearby:
September and October are less busy than the summer months at Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
Custer State Park is home to almost 1,400 bison and offers biking, hiking, and the scenic Sylvan Lake.
The Black Elk Wilderness is popular with climbers, hikers, and horseback riders.
The Crazy Horse Memorial is a private mountain monument depicting the Lakota leader Crazy Horse.
Laurel Highlands Scenic Byway, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is known for its long and varied fall foliage season, and the Laurel Highlands region is annually ranked among the nation’s best destinations for fall foliage. This 68-mile-long drive features a diverse collection of deciduous trees, small towns, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater.
The second week of October is generally the peak for fall foliage, but changes in elevation and weather patterns mean that any trip from mid-September through the end of October should be a scenic one.
Along the route or nearby:
Ligonier is known for its Christmas atmosphere but is a nice visit year-round.
Pletcher’s Farm Market offers a photo op with the “Great Pumpkin” and the chance to pick a pumpkin in just about any size or color.
Baughman Rock Overlook is a popular vantage point for leaf peepers.
The Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail is a great option for those tired of driving.
High Road to Taos Scenic Byway, New Mexico
The High Road to Taos Scenic Byway is a 76-mile route north from Santa Fe to the famous ski town of Taos. This route meanders through desert badlands, striking white geological formations, and gold-drenched cottonwoods before winding through villages backdropped against Carson National Forest’s golden aspen groves and deep, dark evergreens.
Along the route or nearby:
Santuario de Chimayó is an 1800s Catholic church that’s a National Historic Landmark. Autumn is the perfect time to buy Chimayó red chile, which is only grown in the town of Chimayó.
Folk-art gallery Eight Million Gods is in Truchas, an 18th-century Hispanic settlement turned artist enclave.
Truchas Overlook is worth stopping for views of Quemado Valley and Truchas Peaks.
The High Road Art Trail makes it easy for visitors to locate studios and galleries.
Appalachian Highlands Scenic Byway, Alabama
This scenic byway in the northeastern part of Alabama will prove that Appalachian beauty extends beyond northern Georgia. Its 80 miles are hilly and curvy in places, but overall, it is not a white-knuckle drive. Fall colors will be more prevalent on the northern part of the trail, and the scenery is beautiful all along the route.
Drivers will find lush vegetation, interesting geologic formations, and quaint communities along the route.
Along the route or nearby:
Cheaha State Park, on the southern end of the byway, is home to the highest point in Alabama and is known for its beautiful, panoramic views.
DeSoto State Park, on the northern end of the byway, features waterfalls and offers hiking, camping, and bird watching.
Mentone is an arts and crafts community about 10 minutes from DeSoto State Park. The Wildflower Café is a delicious and magical place to eat.
The Little River Canyon National Preserve contains one of the deepest and most extensive canyon and gorge systems in the eastern United States.
M-119, Michigan
Known as the “Tunnel of Trees,” M-119 is a 21-mile (33.8 kilometers) roadway that starts just outside of the town of Harbor Springs and extends north to Cross Village. It hugs the coast of Lake Michigan, showcasing some of the state’s most brilliant fall foliage.
Follow this map and turn the drive into a scenic loop of about 50 miles, or a one-hour and 15-minute drive.
Along the route or nearby:
Thorne Swift Nature Preserve in Harbor Springs is a great stop to get fall foliage photos.
Good Hart General Store has an early 1900s era charm.
The pedestrian SkyBridge Michigan at Boyne Mountain Resort is 1,200 feet long and 118 feet high.
Enjoy the 46th Annual Apple Fest in Charlevoix, about 40 minutes southwest of Harbor Springs.
