The 4 Best National Parks to See Fall Colors

Whether you are a seasoned leaf peeper or venturing out for the first time chasing the beautiful colors of autumn, check out this list of the best national parks to visit in the fall. AAA's picks for best national parks to see fall foliage are Acadia, Great Smoky Mountains, Rocky Mountain and Shenandoah. Fall is a busy season in these parks, but with a little planning, you can enjoy your time and, in some cases, minimize your wait times in lines and enjoy less crowded parts of parks.

There are beautiful scenic drives where you can see the yellow, orange and red colors of the changing leaves and hikes ranging from short and easy to more strenuous day hikes. You can see waterfalls, wildlife and sweeping panoramas of fiery bright trees, lakes and autumnal mountains scenes from atop summits. The National Park Service recommends packing the ten essentials to stay safe on the trails. The list includes paper maps, sun protection, protection from the cold and first-aid supplies.

1. Acadia National Park

When to visit: September to mid-October

Location: Maine

Acadia National Park is a favorite spot in New England among leaf peepers. If you can be flexible in your travel times, keep an eye on fall foliage reports to increase your chances of seeing the autumnal orange, red and yellow leaves at their brightest. The park has scenic drives, bicycle trails and hiking trails perfect for fall.

Drive or take the Island Explorer shuttle bus (included with park entry and runs until mid-October) down the 27-mile park loop road for views of the brightly colored forest. This route typically takes 1 to 4 hours, depending on how many scenic pullouts you stop at and if you decide to park at any trailheads to explore a little deeper.

The most popular drive in Acadia National Park is Cadillac Summit Road. You'll need reservations to take this journey, which will cost $6 in addition to the entrance fee. If you're lucky enough to take this 3-mile drive to the highest point in the park, you'll get stellar views from atop Cadillac Mountain. No matter the time of year, it's a gorgeous spot, but in autumn, you'll enjoy a sea of colors in a 360-degree panorama. Get your reservations at Recreation.gov. The National Park Service releases the first set of reservations 90 days in advance and the second set of reservations two days in advance.

Trail ratings in Acadia range from easy and child-friendly to difficult. Jesup Path and Hemlock Pack Loop is about 1.5 miles and a mix of boardwalk and gravel fire road. This trail is good for kids, and the boardwalk portion is wheelchair accessible per the National Park Service. Jordan Pond Path is another easy trail that affords hikers beautiful views on a 3.3-mile hike. Bubbles Nubble Loop is a bit more difficult, and the views of Eagle Lake are fantastic. For experienced hikers who are more daring and not afraid of heights, Beehive Loop and Jordan Cliff Loop offer spectacular summit views. Both trails involve climbing iron rungs and walking on narrow granite paths with steep drop-offs. Only hike these paths when they are dry and in optimal weather conditions.

2. Great Smoky Mountains National Park

When to Visit: Mid-September to early November

Location: North Carolina and Tennessee

The best times to see fall foliage change in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is difficult to predict, but generally, leaves change colors at the highest elevation in mid-September. Leaves above 4,000 feet of elevation start changing from early to mid-October, and leaves at the lowest elevations generally change colors from mid-October to early November. The last three weeks of October are typically the busiest days of the season for the park and the surrounding areas of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge in Tennessee, as well as Asheville, North Carolina.

Fall activities in the park include hikes to view the spectacular fall colors in the old-growth forest, see waterfalls and climb up an observation tower for a bird's eye view. There are scenic drives that include pullouts to admire the beauty and to snap a few photos. Popular fall hikes include a portion of the Appalachian Trail that runs through the park. The trail from Indian Gap and back is 3.4 miles. Other trails include Alum Cave Trail, The Oconaluftee River Trail and Sutton Ridge Overlook.

The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a scenic drive that runs through the vibrant oranges and reds of the forest and is easily accessible from Gatlinburg. Pullouts on the route include trailheads for Rainbow Falls and Grotto Falls, popular sites within the park. The seven-mile Clingmans Dome Road is also a must if you like observation towers. The road ends at a visitor center. From there, it's about a half mile to the observation tower — a very steep half mile — but the payoff is views from the highest point in the park. If you go at the right time of year, you'll see miles of colorful leaves from above the trees.

3. Rocky Mountain National Park

When to visit: Late-September to early October

Location: Colorado

The aspen trees in Rocky Mountain National Park change into shades of yellow, orange and red, making the park a popular fall destination. It's also elk mating season, so you can see the elk that have traveled down from higher elevations. Both events attract photographers and hikers from all over.

Bear Lake Road is one of the most popular areas of the park. The 9-mile road has access to several trailheads. The trail to Sprague Lake is a 0.8-mile loop ideal for families and those looking for a casual walk. The National Park Service has marked the hike as wheelchair accessible, and there are plenty of lookout points and benches along the trail that offer visitors the chance to relax and take in the natural beauty of the Rocky Mountains. The Glacier Gorge Trailhead has a few options with trails that range from 0.7 to 4.2 miles one-way. One of the trails will lead you through the colorful aspen forest to Loch Vale, a picturesque lake surrounded by mountain views.

You can opt to travel in your vehicle or take the free shuttle bus that's in service until late October. The shuttle bus saves you from searching for parking at each trailhead and reduces emissions in the park. The bus on Bear Lake Route runs every 10 to 15 minutes and stops at Bierstadt Lake Trailhead, Glacier Gorge Trailhead and Bear Lake, and the Moraine Park Route bus runs every hour. If you don't want to drive into the park, reserve your spot on the hiker shuttle that serves visitors on Saturdays and Sundays from early September to late October. The hiker shuttle departs from the Estes Park Visitor Center and drops off at the Bear Lake Park & Ride. Visit the Rocky Mountain National Park website for the most up-to-date information on hiker shuttle reservations and in-park shuttle bus service.

Summer and fall are popular seasons for the park. Advanced reservations from Recreation.gov are required for entry.

4. Shenandoah National Park

When to visit: Late September to mid-November

Location: Virginia

Fall is one of the most popular times of year for Shenandoah, and it's no wonder. In the Blue Ridge Mountains, the red oak and chestnut trees that cover most of the park turn beautiful shades of fall colors, and so do the ash, birch, maple and yellow poplar trees that make up much of the other tree population in Shenandoah. To get through the park, take Skyland Drive. It's a scenic route that runs 105 miles from one end of the park to the other and takes about 3 hours to drive when there are no traffic slowdowns. It's also where you'll find access to most of the trailheads. The popular trails are packed in the fall, but there are amazing, less crowded trails if you want a more secluded experience hiking.

The Old Rag area is the most popular part of the park, so to limit use, the park service requires that everyone purchase a day-use ticket before visiting that portion of the park. The National Park Service releases 400 tickets 30 days in advance and another 400 tickets five days in advance. Hikes in this area average 6 to 7 hours and involve rock scrambles. You'll be rewarded with views from the summit of Old Rag.

The waterfall trails to Dark Hollow Falls and Loyles River Falls are great for seeing cascading water amid the autumn colors. Some less crowded hikes in Shenandoah include a 2-mile portion of the Appalachian Trail and the 2.2-mile Turk Mountain trail, rated easy.

To maximize your time at the park, purchase your entry tickets ahead of time. This will save you from waiting in the longest lines at the entry gates, and if you are able to be flexible in your travel time, check the fall broadcasts to visit when the fall foliage is at its peak.

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