10 BEST Places to Fly This Fall for Stunning Foliage (Under $300 RT!)

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Crisp air. Cozy layers. Trees putting on their best show of the year. There’s a reason fall travel feels like a secret season. And if you play your cards (and calendars) right, it doesn’t have to cost much more than a good flannel.

While most people think leaf season means hours in the car with a bag of gas station trail mix, there’s a smarter move: fly straight into the color. Less driving. Less traffic. More time hiking, sipping cider, and pretending you’re in a rom-com montage.

Below, you’ll find the best places to fly this fall for stunning foliage, from mountain towns to lakeside gems, all with recent roundtrip flights under $300. These deals come and go fast, but with a little flexibility (and a handy alert or two), they’re totally doable.

• ✈️ Pro tip: Want fall foliage flight deals sent straight to your inbox? Sign up for Going. Their free service catches amazing U.S. deals on routes like Chicago to Burlington and NYC to Portland – perfect for last-minute leaf chasing.

1. Burlington, Vermont

• ✈️ Flight Price Range: $100–$290 roundtrip
• 🔄 Top Airline Deals: JetBlue, American, United
• 🍁 Why Go: Crisp air, glowing trees, cider everything
• 🎯 Perfect For: Slow weekends, flannel energy, leaf-watching without the leaf-peeper chaos

Burlington is one of my favorite fall spots in New England, and I’ve been to a lot of them. It’s got everything you want this time of year: mountain views, local farms, walkable streets covered in red and gold leaves, and that lakeside stillness that makes a weekend feel twice as long. 

The color usually peaks in the first or second week of October. I try to go right at the start of that stretch when the trees are just starting to turn, the air is cool enough for a jacket, and you can still grab a cider without waiting in line.

The flight deals look particularly good right now. Going just alerted me to a DC to Burlington fare for $189 roundtrip on American Airlines (30% off the usual $270+), and similar deals are popping up from Boston and NYC. Even during peak fall foliage season, when prices typically spike, these routes are staying surprisingly affordable.

👉 Pro Tip: Take the morning gondola up Stowe Mountain instead of fighting afternoon crowds. The early drive through the mountains is peaceful, and you’ll have those famous valley views almost to yourself. Warm up after with fresh cider donuts at Cold Hollow. Trust me, they’re worth the small detour!

2. Asheville, North Carolina

• ✈️ Flight Price Range: $100–$250 roundtrip
• 🔄 Top Airline Deals: American, Delta, United
• 🍁 Why Go: Misty mountain mornings, endless Blue Ridge views, golden valleys
• 🎯 Perfect For:Craft beer lovers, mountain hikers, small-town romantics

If you’ve never done fall in the South, Asheville is where to start. The trees in the Blue Ridge turn every shade of red, gold, and orange, and the mountains layer out in soft, misty folds like a painting. 

It’s peak color without the peak stress. No huge tour buses. No six-hour traffic jams. Just easy trails, scenic drives, and a downtown that knows how to do brunch and beer right.

Early-to-mid October is the sweet spot, especially if you head out on the Parkway in the morning. I usually stay just outside the city at The Wrong Way River Lodge. They’ve got A-frame cabins tucked by the river, and you can bike straight into town when you’re ready for coffee or a pint. 

👉 Pro Tip: Florida travelers, take note. I just spotted Miami-Asheville for $159 roundtrip on Going (48% off normal fares). Other Florida hubs like Tampa and Orlando often see similar deals for quick mountain escapes.

3. Denver, Colorado

• ✈️ Flight Price Range: $140-280 roundtrip
• 🔄 Top Airline Deals: United, Frontier, Southwest
• 🍁 Why Go: Golden aspens, Rocky Mountain drama, perfect hiking weather
• 🎯 Perfect For: Adventure seekers, mountain photographers, outdoor beer garden fans

Denver serves up a totally different kind of fall color show. Instead of fiery red maples, you get whole mountainsides turning bright gold with aspens that shimmer when the wind moves through. 

It’s a little quieter than the Northeast leaf circuit, and honestly, a lot more spacious. Denver’s an easy entry point: affordable flights, quick access to the mountains, and a ton of great day trips if you’re not trying to spend the whole weekend hiking.

If you fly in, I recommend renting a car and heading west toward Golden, Nederland, or Estes Park. You’ll start seeing color about 30 minutes out. Aspen color peaks fast—especially at elevation—so try to go by late September if you’re aiming for the brightest gold. I went around that time last year with zero itinerary and still stumbled into some of the best fall views I’ve ever seen, just from the roadside!

👉 Pro Tip: Skip the tourist-heavy Bear Lake area in Rocky Mountain National Park and head to the Wild Basin entrance instead. The drive alone weaves through some of the best aspen groves, and you’ll have those golden canopies almost entirely to yourself.

4. Portland, Maine

• ✈️ Flight Price Range: $80-300 roundtrip
• 🔄 Top Airline Deals: Breeze, JetBlue, American
• 🍁 Why Go: Coastal air, forest trails, and lobster rolls with a side of foliage
• 🎯 Perfect For: People who want foliage and seafood in the same day

Portland often gets overshadowed by inland spots like the White Mountains or Acadia, but don’t sleep on it…coastal Maine in October is magic. You get the coastal charm (lighthouses, sea breezes, knit hats that actually feel necessary) plus easy access to bright, leaf-filled trails just outside the city. Early October is usually the best time to go for fall foliage in Maine. The leaves are turning, the air smells like pine and fireplaces, and the crowds have thinned out.

You don’t have to go far to find the color. Wolfe’s Neck, Bradbury Mountain, even the drive out to Cape Elizabeth feels crisp and golden. In between, you’ve got coffee shops, cider tastings, and enough chowder to make wearing flannel feel like a lifestyle choice.

The deals right now are unreal. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw Charleston to Portland for $94 roundtrip today on Going. That’s less than what you’ll spend on dinner at one of Portland’s famous seafood spots!

👉 Pro Tip: Hike up Mount Battie in Camden if you’ve got a car and a few hours—it’s an hour north, but the view over the harbor with all those trees below? Worth it every single time!

5. Traverse City, Michigan

• ✈️ Flight Price Range: $100-300 roundtrip
• 🔄 Top Airline Deals: Delta, United, American
• 🍁 Why Go: Bright lakeside color, quiet backroads, small-town charm without the crowds
• 🎯 Perfect For: Hidden gem seekers, wine lovers, cozy cabin enthusiasts

Let me let you in on a local secret: Northern Michigan in fall is way better than most people expect. The trees pop with bright reds and oranges, the lake sparkles in that silvery autumn light, and every road feels like the start of a really peaceful drive. 

Traverse City makes a great base. It’s got just enough going on without being busy, and you’re close to spots like Sleeping Bear Dunes, Glen Arbor, and the wine trail out on Old Mission Peninsula.

The trick is getting there. Flights directly into Traverse City can be seasonal and fill up fast. If you don’t book early, you’ll likely be priced out. That’s why I recommend flying into Grand Rapids (about a 2.5-hour drive) or Detroit (closer to 4 hours) and turning it into a mini road trip. The drive up the coast is beautiful in October, and you can swing through places like Charlevoix or Petoskey on the way.

👉 Pro Tip: I regularly spot deals on Going to Detroit and Grand Rapids for under $150 roundtrip from major cities. You’ll save hundreds compared to flying direct to Traverse City, and the drive up M-22 is considered one of America’s best fall color routes anyway.

6. Salt Lake City, Utah

• ✈️ Flight Price Range: $75-240 roundtrip
• 🔄 Top Airline Deals: Delta, United, Southwest
• 🍁 Why Go: Fiery mountain canyons, crisp air, and trails five minutes from town
• 🎯 Perfect For: Off-beat adventurers, photographers, crowd-avoiders

Utah isn’t usually the first place people think of for fall foliage in the US, but Salt Lake delivers – big time. You’ve got golden aspens, bright red maples, and burnt orange scrub oak layered into the mountains, all within twenty minutes of downtown. The best time to go is late September through early October, especially if you’re heading up into the canyons where the elevation pushes the color early.

I usually stay right in Salt Lake, rent a car, and spend mornings exploring nearby trails. Little Cottonwood and Millcreek Canyon are both incredible, but if you want a quieter, show-stopping spot, Guardsman Pass is my favorite. The road winds through glowing aspen groves and opens up to huge alpine views. You can pull over almost anywhere and it’s stunning. If you’re not up for a hike, even just driving it with coffee in hand is worth it.

👉 Pro Tip: Flights to Salt Lake are consistently cheapest from Denver, LA, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. If you’re coming from one of those hubs, you’ll usually find roundtrip deals under $200. Sign up for Going to get alerts when those fares drop.

7. Montreal, Quebec

• ✈️ Flight Price Range: $240-300 roundtrip
• 🔄 Top Airline Deals: Air Canada, American, Porter
• 🍁 Why Go: European charm, mountain backdrops, maple everything
• 🎯 Perfect For: Foliage chasers who also want wine and pastries

Want to feel like you’ve landed in France without the transatlantic flight? Montreal in fall is pure magic – and right now flights are surprisingly cheap. I recently spotted San Diego to Montreal for $296 roundtrip on Going (normally $510+). Believe me, this is the perfect time to discover why Canadians are so proud of their fall colors!

Early to mid-October is peak here, and the foliage is incredible. Mount Royal Park is an obvious pick, with easy trails, city views, and tons of color. If you want something quieter, I always send people to Parc Lafontaine. It’s smaller, less touristy, and in fall it turns into this perfect mix of blazing trees, peaceful walking paths, and locals relaxing with a book and a coffee.

Between the French food, European architecture, and those brilliant Canadian maples, it feels like you’re getting three vacations in one. Just be sure to stay flexible with dates around the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday (October 13, 2025)!!

👉 Pro Tip: The best fall foliage views in Montreal are free! Take the #11 bus to Mont Royal Park’s Beaver Lake, then follow the winding trails up to the Kondiaronk Belvedere lookout. Time it for sunset when the city’s spires glow gold against the mountain’s red maples.

8. Spokane, Washington

• ✈️ Flight Price Range: $100-250 roundtrip
• 🔄 Top Airline Deals: Alaska, Southwest, Delta
• 🍁 Why Go: Alpine lakes, hidden valleys, wild river gorges
• 🎯 Perfect For: Nature photographers, outdoor soakers, waterfall chasers

Spokane is one of those places that people don’t think about – until they go. In fall, the trees turn bright gold and fire-orange, the river walk glows, and there’s a relaxed, local feel to everything. It’s not trying to be a big fall foliage destination, and maybe that’s why it works.

Late September to mid-October is the best time to catch it. I advise staying downtown. Grab a rental bike and cruise the Centennial Trail in the morning. You get trees, water, bridges, parks, and quiet – like your own little fall loop with built-in coffee stops!

If you want a hidden gem, go wander through Manito Park. It’s got Japanese maples, secret-feeling trails, and a perfect greenhouse that’s warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s hot.

👉 Pro Tip:  Take a detour to Green Bluff, about 30 minutes north of town. It’s a cluster of local farms with apple picking, cider donuts, fall markets, and some of the best views of rolling farmland dressed in full color. I usually leave with more jam and pie than I meant to… and zero regrets.

9. Boise, Idaho

• ✈️ Flight Price Range: $150-300 roundtrip
• 🔄 Top Airline Deals: Alaska, Southwest, United
• 🍁 Why Go: Desert meets mountains, wine country surprise, river trails
• 🎯 Perfect For: Off-radar explorers, wine lovers, surprise-and-delight seekers

I wasn’t expecting to love Boise in the fall, but it totally won me over. The fall color here shows up along rivers, in parks, and even right downtown. Early to mid-October is the best time to visit for foliage. That’s when the cottonwoods start turning gold, the mornings get crisp, and the city slows down in a way that makes it really pleasant to explore.

I usually start on the Boise River Greenbelt, a paved path that winds through glowing trees and along the water. You can walk or rent a bike and stop wherever looks good – there’s plenty. Hyde Park is a great neighborhood for lunch or a coffee stop, and if you want a little elevation, Camel’s Back Park has short hikes with wide views and full-on fall color at the top.

You won’t get New England-level saturation here. But the cottonwoods and aspens along the river trails and in the foothills pop beautifully against the high desert backdrop.

👉 Pro Tip: Flights to Boise tend to be cheapest from West Coast cities like LA, Seattle, and San Diego. Sign up for alerts from Going so you’ll know when the prices drop – this route sees deals more often than you’d think.

10. The White Mountains, New Hampshire

• ✈️ Flight Price Range: $100-300 roundtrip
• 🔄 Top Airline Deals: United, JetBlue, American
• 🍁 Why Go: High-elevation color, dramatic overlooks, and the classic fall drive
• 🎯 Perfect For: Road trippers, hikers, and anyone who wants to feel like they’re inside a postcard

I’ve saved the best fall foliage destination for last. The White Mountains put on one of the most outrageous autumn shows in the country, full stop. It’s not just the color (which is unbelievable), it’s the scale. You’ve got whole valleys glowing, ridgelines lit up in gold and red, and quiet towns that feel like fall never ended.

Peak color usually hits in early October, and the Kancamagus Highway is the drive you want. It cuts straight through the mountains and around every bend there’s another spot that makes you want to pull over. 

I’ve seen Detroit to Boston flights for $161 roundtrip on Going. In fact, from most major cities in the US, you can find deals for under $250 roundtrip,which makes this whole trip way more doable than people expect. From Boston, it’s about a 2.5-hour drive, and honestly, the foliage starts before you even leave the suburbs.

👉 Pro Tip: Skip the main trailheads one morning and head to Artist’s Bluff near Franconia Notch. It’s a short, steep hike with one of the best views in the Whites. Go early, bring a thermos, and thank yourself when you’re sitting above a lake surrounded by orange trees and mountain peaks.

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