How to Plan the Perfect Fall Trip
Call me crazy, but I would much rather over plan for a trip than under plan. Maybe it’s just because I love to be organized, but I will always make a detailed itinerary and be overprepared for my trips. I’ve been dreaming of a fall trip ever since I gained my independence and started exploring on my own, and now the time has finally arrived! I’ve spent months leading up to this trip planning and researching down to the hour of what I want to do. I love to plan this way because I like knowing how much I can fit into the trip.
Mt. Mansfield Gondola
Plan Your Trip months in advance
Typically, the fall is a popular time to travel. Because of this, you’re going to want to start planning your trip months in advance. In doing that, you’re able to book lodging and other activities without worrying about them being full/no longer available.
I personally like to plan this early because then I don’t have to rush to get things taken care of at the last minute. And if you needed to make any changes to your trip then you still have time.
research When and where to go
Before you can figure out when to go, you need to figure out where you want to go. Research locations; do you want to do outdoorsy things, explore cities, etc? I typically know of one or two places I want to visit in the fall and then look into nearby places that aren’t too far from those main spots.
Okay so you know where you want to go, now you need to figure out when to go. Assuming you want to go during peak fall colors, then you need to do the research of when that is for that location, and that can be tricky. Most touristy destinations have fall foliage trackers, but they’re usually just guestimates. But these tools can be extremely helpful in giving you an idea of when the peak is so you can plan around those expected dates. Keep in mind though, the weather greatly affects the fall colors, so pay attention to that as well.
If you can, plan a trip during the week. Most places will still be busy, but it probably won’t be as bad during the week since most people can only travel on weekends.
Stowe Mountain Resort
Determine Where You’ll Be Staying
Probably the most difficult part of planning a fall trip is the lodging, especially if you’re visiting a popular destination. You have two options here… do you want to book far in advance in order to save money and risk not visiting your destination during peak colors? Or do you want to be flexible and possibly spend more money in order to make sure you arrive during peak colors?
When it comes to lodging, you have quite a few options. Depending on where you’re going, keep in mind many campgrounds close around Columbus/Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
make An itinerary & Save Locations on a Map
Some people might be able to wing their trips, but not me. I have to plan out everything, from where I’m eating and parking to where I want to explore that day. So regardless of how you like to plan your trips, making an itinerary is a must to at least give you a basic idea of things you want to do that day.
Saving locations on Google Maps is extremely helpful as you can see the travel time between locations and see what’s nearby. Check out this blog post by The Adventure Atlas on planning a road trip with Google Maps.
Whiteface Mountain Toll Road
If you’re able to, be flexible
The weather drastically changes the fall colors, so it’s very possible the days you planned to see colors are no longer going to be at their peak. If you can, be flexible and willing to change your trip. Colors tend to be within a week before or a week after when they typically are at their peak so most likely you’ll still see amazing colors regardless.
Assuming you’re going to a popular destination, then expect crowds. You need to be flexible for if there’s no parking and you need to visit another destination or try at a later time. If you’re going to a hiking trailhead and it’s busy, please come back at another time and don’t make your own parking. Not to mention, if it’s busy at a scenic spot, then it’s going to be hard to enjoy it with crowds of people around.
Other Tips to Keep in Mind
If you’re visiting a more outdoorsy destination, you might not have cell service, so be sure to download/print maps with directions.
From personal experience, you can plan your entire trip to the minute and things may not work out the way you wanted. Be prepared for that and try not to let it get to you - just make the best out of it.
Fully expect to find other things to do when you’re driving around. You might drive past a scenic vista or a cool roadside attraction.
