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Many RV campers put their RV in storage right after Labor Day. This is a huge mistake. Fall is the best season for RV camping. Cooler weather, stunning fall foliage, and fewer crowds make autumn the ideal time to camp.
Here are the top 10 fall RV camping destinations to add to your bucket list.
Top 10 Fall RV Camping Destinations
In my 8 years as a full-time RVer, I have traveled all over North America. Here are my top 10 autumn RV road trip destinations.
Acadia National Park
Maine in the fall is stunning, and there is no better place to take in the fall foliage than Acadia National Park. Campers visiting the park should make reservations for Cadillac Summit Road.
Reservations are required to drive to this highest point in the park, but watching the sunrise from the peak is a magical experience, especially in the fall when the sun shines on the changing leaves. Campers should also hike to the top of the Bubbles for an incredible view of the changing trees over Jordan Pond.
There are 3 RV-friendly campgrounds within the National Park, but only Schoodic Woods has campsites with electric and water hookups. There are also several private campgrounds in the area with full hookups and other amenities.
Blue Ridge Mountains
Another popular east coast fall RV camping destination is the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia and North Carolina. This destination has stunning fall foliage, tons of hikes, and one of the best scenic drives in the country.
The Blue Ridge Parkway stretches 469 miles through these mountains and has plenty of overlooks where campers can stop and take in the beautiful autumn colors. There are 8 National Park Service Campgrounds along the parkway that offer dry camping for RVs.
Campers who prefer full hookups can stay nearby at full-service RV parks, such as Mama Gertie’s Hideaway Campground. Check out our full list of the best luxury RV resorts in North Carolina for more camping options.
Crested Butte, Colorado
Aspen groves offer some of the prettiest fall foliage. Each autumn the leaves on aspen trees turn an incredible shade of bright yellow. The gravel road over Kebler Pass starts in Crested Butte and extends about 30 miles to the west.
Campers can choose to enjoy the scenery from the road or stop and take a hike to get closer to the trees. The Beckwith Pass trail starts from the Kebler Pass road and traverses directly through the stunning aspen groves.
There are dry camping campsites along the route, but they will fill up quickly during the peak fall foliage season. Campers who do not want to risk finding a first-come, first-serve campsite can make a reservation at a private RV park, such as Kebler Corner or Crested Butte RV Resort.
Columbia River Gorge
Known for its stunning waterfalls, the Columbia River Gorge is a nature-lovers paradise about an hour east of Portland. This Orgeon canyon is beautiful all year, but the colors and weather make fall the ideal time to visit.
Campers can drive along the gorge, stopping at scenic overlooks and hiking to waterfalls. Every visitor should stop and see the famous Multnomah Falls, which is just a short walk from the road.
RVers who also want to visit Portland should stay on the west side of the gorge. We loved the Sandy Riverfront RV Resort in Troutdale. Thousand Trails members can stay at the Mt. Hood Village campground, just south of the gorge.
Garner State Park
Texas is not usually top of mind when thinking of fall foliage destinations. However, Garner State Park, located in the Texas Hill Country, absolutely deserves a place on this list.
In Autumn, the leaves of the park’s bald cypress trees start to turn crimson and gold. With the Frio River below and limestone cliffs above, the scene is breathtaking. RVers can spend their days in the park hiking, swimming, and biking.
The state park also has its own campground with 200 RV campsites. Most of the sites have electric and water hookups, but a few have full hookups.
Ozark-St. Francis National Forests
This National Forest in Arkansas is one of the top fall foliage destinations in the southeastern United States. The area has a variety of trees that turn various shades of yellow, orange, and red in the autumn months.
With areas for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, floating, kayaking, and boating, there are endless ways for campers to take in the fall foliage. Sam’s Throne is a moderate, 3-mile trail that offers stunning views.
Within the National Forest, there are several RV-friendly campgrounds with dry campsites as well as several dispersed camping options. Nearby private RV parks such as Shady Oaks Campground provide more amenities and full hookups.
Salem, Massachusetts
If you are looking for fall RV camping destinations that put the spooky in Spooky Season, look no further than Salem, Massachusetts. The town’s month-long celebration includes elaborate Halloween decorations, spooky tours, and parades.
Campers should definitely check out the night faire at Olde Salem Village, which offers a market, live performances, fireside ghost stories, a Biergarten, and more fun activities. For a scarier experience, campers can visit one of several local haunted houses.
Winter Island Park, just a few miles from downtown Salem, offers RV campsites with electric and water hookups. The campground is open until the end of October. If you plan to camp in Salem, don’t forget to decorate your RV for Halloween.
Sedona, Arizona
Sedona is famous for its vibrant red rocks which make it a top year-round RV destination. However, I love visiting Sedona in the fall when the weather is cool and the fall foliage is popping.
The best place to see changing leaves in Sedona is Oak Creek Canyon, a drive along Arizona Highway 89A just north of Sedona. Vibrant leaves set against the colorful canyon rocks create a stunning scene. There are also hiking opportunities along the route.
RVers can stay at the Thousand Trails Verde Valley Campground, which offers free campsites for members. Learn more about Thousand Trails memberships here.
Sawtooth Mountains
If you love yellow aspen trees but want to avoid the Colorado crowds, consider driving north to Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains. We spent 5 months workamping in this area, and it was an incredibly peaceful place to spend early autumn.
For easy access to a stunning aspen grove, hike the Fishhook Creek Trail. The easy hike goes right past a grove, and hikers can even turn off and ascend a trail through the trees. In addition to the aspens, the area has some of the most stunning mountain lakes in the country.
RVers have a wide range of places to stay in the Sawtooths, including full-service RV parks in the town of Stanley and tons of National Forest Service campgrounds in the surrounding area.
White Mountains
Last, but not least on our list of the best fall RV camping destinations is the White Mountains in New Hampshire. We recently spent a week camping in these mountains in the summer months, and I cannot wait to return in the fall.
I highly recommend the Sugarloaf Trail in the White Mountain National Forest. The moderately challenging hike is just over 3 miles but includes two peaks with sweeping views of the surrounding forests and mountains.
RVers can camp in the National Forest, in Franconia Natoch State Park, or at several private campgrounds in the area.
Fall RV Camping Tips
There are a few things all RV campers should consider when planning a fall trip.
Plan your Trip for Peak Fall Foliage
One of the most difficult parts of planning a fall RV camping trip is selecting your dates. The height of peak fall colors is going to vary at every location every year.
Use American Forests’ fall foliage predictor map to help plan your RV trip. Also keep in mind, that the longer your trip is, the better chance you have to see the peak colors.
Be Prepared to Take a Day Trip
Even with tons of research and planning, there is a chance you will arrive before or after the fall colors. Fortunately, if your camping trip is close to the peak season, you can likely take a day trip to another location where the timing is better.
A few years ago, we were camping in Bar Harbor but were about a week too early to see the fall colors there. However, a two-hour drive west led us to some of the most fantastic fall leaves we have ever seen.
Prepare for Chilly Temperatures
Fall campers also need to be prepared for all kinds of weather. While most campers are used to dealing with hot summer temperatures, many are not prepared for cold weather camping.
Before your fall camping trip, read our guide to RV camping in cold weather and make sure you are ready for below-freezing nights.
Happy Camping
Thanks for reading our guide to the best fall RV camping trips! If you want to extend your camping season even more, check out our favorite winter RV road trips.
Happy Camping!
Christina Pate is a seasoned full-time RVer who, along with her husband Justin, has journeyed across the US, Canada, and Mexico. Drawing from her extensive travels, RV repairs and RV renovations, she founded Travels with Ted to guide and inspire fellow RV enthusiasts. Christina is also the co-author of The Owner’s Guide to RV Maintenance and the creator of My RV Log Book.
