The Nine Best National Forest Destinations for Fall Foliage 

Fall Foliage covering a mountainside in a National Forest

Autumn is one of the best seasons to enjoy the great outdoors. The changing of seasons brings crisp air and a spectacular medley of color, attracting travelers from across the country. To truly experience the magic of this time of year, we’ve rounded up our go-to national forest destinations for a quintessential autumnal experience. 

Due to site restrictions, RV size, and seasonal conditions, some campgrounds may not be available. Be sure to consult weather conditions and your RV's manual to ensure your RV is equipped for cold-weather camping before heading out this fall. 

On the hunt for your perfect RV?

Your search just got a little easier. Take this quiz to find the RV that fits your lifestyle.

Find my RV
Flathead National Forest, Montana - National Forest Foundation
Montana

Flathead National Forest

Nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains just west of the continental divide and south of the Canadian border, is Flathead National Forest—2.4 million acres of wilderness areas, mountain ranges, lakes, and wild rivers. Home to part of Glacier National Park and the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem, the forest is a true testament to nature’s grandeur. Boasting the largest intact ecosystem in the United States, it’s here you’ll find lynx, grizzly bears, and bull trout, as well as plant and animal species that have been native to the region since the Lewis and Clark expedition. Fall colors will start to make an appearance on the west side of the park as early as mid-September, but the most spectacular display of fall foliage can be found in October when larch pines begin to turn from green to gold before losing their needles.

Outdoor Activities

Thanks to its diverse topography, the forest offers activities for every quintessential fall bucket list: fishing, boating, rafting, canoeing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing. To catch the most spectacular views of Flathead Valley, make your way to Jewel Basin Hiking Area.

RV Camping

There are 13 campgrounds in the area that allow RVs, many of which are near the Hungry Horse Reservoir with a few others to the north, west, and south of Whitefish, Montana. Whether you prefer to burrow deep into the forest, relax on the lake, or see the sites by horseback, there’s a campground for everyone.

All local campgrounds

Top rated campgrounds:

Chattahoochee Oconee National Forest, Georgia - National Forest Foundation
Georgia

Chattahoochee Oconee National Forest

The Chattahoochee Oconee National Forest spans 867,000 acres, offering 10 wilderness areas, 1,367 miles of trout streams, and 850 miles of recreation trails. As Georgia’s only national forest, the Chattahoochee Oconee National Forest is home to the famous Appalachian Trail trailhead, Brasstown Bald (Georgia's highest peak at 4,784 feet), the Blue Ridge Mountains, and Lake Conasauga, the highest lake in the nation at 3,000 feet above sea level. Fall colors peak in October in these lands, but if you trek to higher elevations, you’ll be starstruck by the brilliant reds and yellows that blanket the mountaintops in early fall.

Outdoor Activities

If you’re not hiking the Blue Ridge Mountains or fishing Lake Conasauga, more adventures await you. Biking, boating, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, and waterfall hunting are some of the few activities travelers can indulge in. If you’re hunting for the splendors of fall foliage, be sure to check out Helton Creek Falls or cruise the Ridge and Valley Scenic Byway which tours the Armuchee Ridges of the Appalachian Mountains.

RV Camping

The forest offers many developed campgrounds suitable for campers and RV's with water and electric hookups. There are 11 campsites that allow RVs, each ranging in their amenities and landscapes. 

All local campgrounds

Top rated campgrounds:

Chugach National Forest, Alaska - National Forest Foundation
Alaska

Chugach National Forest

A vast landscape spanning nearly 7 million acres across Southcentral Alaska, the Chugach National Forest border begins 35 miles south of Anchorage and sweeps over the region, from the salty shores and snow brushed peaks of Prince William Sound to the Kenai Peninsula teeming with wildlife. As a region that’s larger than New Hampshire, the forest features almost every geographic marvel Alaska has to offer: expansive mountainscapes, coastal inlets, boreal woods, rain forests, and abundant wetlands. It’s also one of the few places left in the world where glaciers grind valleys into earth’s hard rock. If you’re looking to experience the true magnificence of Mother Nature, Chugach National Forest is it. The best time to catch the autumn’s colorful dance is in August through early October when foliage is in peak season.

Outdoor Activities

The size and topographic diversity of Chugach National Forest means the opportunities for adventure are endless. From watching killer whales along the remote coastline in the Prince William Sound to fishing for the world famous Copper River Wild Salmon, and even native Alaskan-led kayak adventures, there’s something for everyone. 

RV Camping

With nine campgrounds offering quintessential Alaskan scenery, these RV-approved campsites are an excellent way to immerse yourself in the land.

All local campgrounds

Top rated campgrounds:

Coconino National Forest, Arizona - National Forest Foundation
Arizona

Coconino National Forest

With landscapes ranging from the otherworldly Red Rocks of Sedona to the Ponderosa Pine Forests to the alpine tundra, Coconino National Forest is like something out of a fairytale. Just south of Flagstaff, nestled between several other national forests, Coconino National Forest boasts canyons, mountains, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, wildlife parks, hot springs, and even the Sedona Vortexes. The area is split into three districts—Flagstaff, Mogollon Rim, and Red Rock—each with their own unique geographic wonders. The Flagstaff District is home to the San Francisco Peaks (a whopping 12,633 feet), ponderosa pine forests, juniper woodlands, natural lakes, and expansive prairies. The Mogollon Rim District will surprise you with deep reveens, far-reaching scenery, historic trails, and picturesque lakes for boaters and anglers. The Red Rock District is famous for its red rock vistas, buttes, pinnacles, mesas, and canyons, as well as its opportunities for hiking, scenic driving, and sliding down a natural waterslide. You can catch the region’s autumn transformation in early October, where areas like Oak Creek Canyon and the Verde Valley typically start to change.

Outdoor Activities

When it comes to the Coconino National Forest, the better question to ask yourself is, “What can’t I do?” Biking, hiking, climbing, fishing, hunting, OHV riding, and nature viewing are just a handful of the recreational activities to enjoy in the area. We also recommend giving Slide Rock State Park and Red Rock State Park a visit (you’ll thank us later!).

RV Camping

Coconino National Forest hosts 14 RV-friendly campsites, each ranging in landscape, sun exposure, and amenities. 

All local campgrounds

Top rated campgrounds:

Superior National Forest, Minnesota - National Forest Foundation
Minnesota

Superior National Forest

Thousands of pristine lakes. Rugged mountainscapes. Iconic megafauna. Pine, fir, and spruce trees. This is what makes the Superior National Forest so beautiful. Stretching three million acres and housing 695 square miles of surface water, it’s in this forest that you’ll see why Minnesota is named the “land of 10,000 lakes.” The forest is also a wildlife marvel, providing a habitat for species like deer, moose, gray wolf, black bear, and 155 types of birds (the greatest number of breeding birds in any national forest). The peak fall foliage season is short, running for only 1-2 weeks between mid-September and mid-October. If you want to catch the best colors, we recommend venturing deep into the forest where nature rules the land.

Outdoor Activities

Highlight activities in the Superior National Forest include fishing for walleye, northern pike, and rainbow trout; boating or canoeing one of the 1,500 canoe routes in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW)—a land that has changed little since the glaciers melted; hiking; ATV riding; or wilderness stargazing. 

RV Camping

The forest offers 29 RV-suitable campgrounds. Depending on your interests, you can camp in one of the area’s five types of designated campsites which range in price and amenities: fee campgrounds, rustic campgrounds, backcountry campsites, dispersed camping, and wilderness camping.

All local campgrounds

Top rated campgrounds: 

Mark Twain National Forest, Missouri - National Forest Foundation
MIssouri

Mark Twain National Forest

Grassy woodlands and savannas, dry rocky glades, and sweeping prairie lands are just a few of the characteristics that make the Mark Twain National Forest the perfect backdrop for your next adventure. “Mark Twain” is Missouri’s only National Forest, which encompasses 1.5 million acres almost exclusively within the Ozark Highlands. The area runs from the St. Francois Mountains to Missouri River to the nation’s most ancient mountains in the south, with crystalline springs, otherworldly caves, rocky barren glades, and archaic volcanic mountains. The forest was named one of the best fall foliage destinations in Missouri where you can catch the scenery’s metamorphosis mid-to-late October.

Outdoor Activities

The Ozark Highlands create an outdoor playground for nature-lovers of all kinds to enjoy. Highlight activities include boating and canoeing one of the 3,000 spring-fed rivers which flow year round; exploring the area via the 742 miles of trails by foot, mountain bike, ATV, or horse; or wildlife spotting. Be sure to pay Greer Springs a visit. It’s the second largest spring in Missouri and said to be so clear and pristine that you can see ten feet deep!

RV Camping

Mark Twain National Forest boasts 20 RV-friendly campgrounds across six ranger districts, each offering a unique jumping-off point to the local lakes, rivers, trails, foliage, and history.

All local campgrounds

Top rated campgrounds:

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Washington - National Forest Foundation
Washington

Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest

A vast wilderness of heavily wooded forests, glaciated peaks, rocky scree slopes, natural lakes, lush valleys, old growth forests, and rugged shrub-steppe countryside, the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest is a sight to behold. Spanning 3.8 million acres that run along the Cascade Range and span from the Canadian border to Goat Rocks Wilderness, the forest offers a plethora of geographic wonders. Elevations range from under 1,000 ft to 9,000 ft, which welcomes a diversity of wildlife. Coyotes, mule deer, elk, cougars, black bears, mountain goats, and the red-tailed hawk inhabit the area, offering an exhilarating wildlife orchestra. The best time to catch the autumn colors is October, and we recommend visiting Lake Ann and the Maple Pass Loop Trail which boast beautiful golds and reds in mid-October. 

Outdoor Activities

Between its diverse topography and remote location, the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest is the perfect outdoor playground. Biking, climbing, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, scenic driving, and even mushroom picking are some of the most popular activities in the area. Notable destinations include the Pacific Crest Trail Northern Terminus (where the PCT ends), the Dewey Lakes Overlook for a panoramic look at the area’s mountains and lakes, and the Kendall Katwalk for the most rugged snapshot of the mountainscapes.

RV Camping

The forest offers 73 RV-compatible campgrounds, offering you plenty of choices for your next wilderness adventure. Stay along glacial-fed rivers and lakes or park yourself in front of a scenic hillside—the choice is yours. 

All local campgrounds

Top rated campgrounds:

San Bernardino National Forest, California - National Forest Foundation
California

San Bernardino National Forest

Dry deserts, alpine peaks, lush wildlands, flowering cactuses, rugged mountainscapes, and an abundance of flora and fauna are just a few of the reasons why the San Bernardino National Forest is known as a geological spectacle. Formed 11 million years ago, the San Bernardino mountain ranges span over 50 miles and tower to 11,490-feet at the top of San Gorgonio Mountain, the tallest peak in southern California. With over 94,000 acres of wilderness, 100 miles of designated trails, and 10 peaks that exceed 10,000 feet, it’s easy to see why the forest is a beloved wonder. While southern California isn’t your typical destination for fall foliage, the area is a must-see during the autumn season to experience the area transform into an array of bright yellows, golds, and oranges in late October and November.

Outdoor Activities

Whether you’re an avid outdoorsman or someone who’s curious to explore new sights, the plethora of activities at San Bernardino can accommodate any traveler. Hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, climbing, and hunting are just a few of the mainstay adventures in the area. Miles of streams and many reservoirs make the area ideal for casting a line. Wildlife enthusiasts can also enjoy action year-round. Additionally, there are wheelchair accessible campgrounds, picnic areas, fishing piers, and paved trails.

RV Camping

The forest offers 21 RV-suitable campgrounds ranging in scenery, elevation, remoteness, and amenities.

All local campgrounds

Top rated campgrounds:

Green Mountain National Forest, Vermont - National Forest Foundation
Vermont

Green Mountain National Forest

Quintessential Vermont villages nestled in rugged mountainsides, four-season recreational activities, secluded forests, quiet lakes, and captivating vistas make the Green Mountain National Forest a must-have for any bucket list—especially during the fall season. The 400,000 acre forest will immerse you in nature with its wilderness hiking trails, abundant wildlife, and picturesque scenery. Autumn colors typically peak in the beginning of September and blaze through October. Catch bold yellows, reds, pinks, and purples on a rolling countryside or lush forest.

Outdoor Activities

The primitive recreational opportunities are what make the Green Mountain National Forest so unique. Hike the Bald Mountain to the summit, soak in the scenery by horseback, admire wild turkeys and moose from afar, or catch one of the many waterfalls, such as Thundering Brook Falls, Moss Glen Falls, Texas Falls, or Brewster River Gorge.

RV Camping

Picture yourself emerging from your RV overlooking a pristine lake while breathing in the crisp autumn air. The RV-compatible campsites in Green Mountain National Forest offer the perfect nature escape. 

All local campgrounds

Top rated campgrounds:

The National Forest Foundation x THOR Industries

In 2020, THOR and the National Forest Foundation entered a partnership that will plant at least 500,000 trees on National Forest lands. Join us by supporting our National Forests and help improve the health of important public lands for future generations.

Make A Donation
wildflowers by a lake in mt baker national forest

Find Your Perfect RV

Whether you're new to the world of RVing or you're ready to narrow your search, we're here to help you sort through it all and find the RV that's right for you. Explore RVs based off of your lifestyle and the features important to you.

Find Your RV
An travel trailer RV parked in a green field.