With the shortening days and a crispness in the air, there may be no better time to enjoy the great outdoors than in the fall. Camping in the fall not only means avoiding the preceding months’ sweltering heat, but it usually means fewer crowds than in the summer since the kids are back in school and there are fewer vacationers.
Of course, arguably the best thing about camping in autumn is the dazzling foliage.
Below are eight of our favorite fall campgrounds, all of which check the boxes for great fall weather and spectacular autumnal foliage displays.
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1. Cross Timbers State Park, Kansas
Cross Timbers offers landscape full of prairie and hills of oak savanna to explore this fall. The rugged region is perfect for outdoor recreation including hiking and mountain biking the 15-mile trail system, hunting the adjacent Toronto Wildlife Area, fishing on the river and lake, and paddling the blue water trail. Full hook up sites, primitive camping, cabins, and special permit camping on segments of the Chautauqua Hills Trail are available to extend your stay and explore.
2. Dry River Campground, New Hampshire
This campground is in the heart of Crawford Notch State Park, which is the main passage through the White Mountains. The 5,775-acre park provides access to numerous hiking trails, waterfalls, fishing, and wildlife viewing. It also provides spectacular mountain views, which become only more spectacular come late September when the landscape transforms into vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow with the changing leaves. Dry River Campground is situated in a woodland setting, with flush toilets and showers located near the 36 campsites.
3. Bannack State Park, Montana
Bannack State Park combines rugged Western landscapes with Old West lore. This park is a National Historic Landmark and the site of Montana’s first major gold discovery back in 1862. The town’s population boomed as a result, but then quickly contracted as gold discovery dwindled. Today over 50 buildings line Main Street with their historic log and frame structures evocative of Montana’s Wild West formation.
The landscape is a mixture of high elevation semi-arid landscape with the deciduous trees turning bright yellow around town and along the Grasshopper Creek, just beyond the campgrounds. Bannack has one tipi and two campgrounds for a total of 24 campsites, eight of which are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
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4. Bull Run Regional Park, Virginia
Say “fall foliage” and one of the places people may think of is Virginia. For campers who don’t want to take a trek deep into the Shenandoah, you can get a wonderful taste of fall and its colorful changing leaves close to the Washington, D.C. metro area.
Located in Centerville, Bull Run Regional Park has plenty of fun for the whole family with disc golf, a playground, and nearby hiking trails that weave through the wooded landscape that bursts with color by the end of September. The park can accommodate last-minute reservations – with 141 campsites, including RV sites, tent sites, group camping areas, and four rustic cabins.
5. Kenlake State Resort Park, Kentucky
This resort-style retreat is located just outside of the Land Between the Lakes, a 170,000-acre National Recreation Area known for its unique geography and wildlife. Kenlake State Resort Park combines camping opportunities with a polished vacation and business retreat in the heart of one of the region’s finest outdoor recreation areas.
Located on the mid-west shore of Kentucky Lake, Kenlake State Resort Park offers gorgeous autumnal leaf displays that are reflected in water that is abundant in the area. There are lots of hiking and water activities to be had, and plenty of camping with 87 campsites.
6. Jackson Lake State Park, Colorado
Jackson Lake is beloved for its well-tended campgrounds and excellent water sporting opportunities on its vast reservoir. What people may overlook is that this is a fantastic spot for fall foliage viewing. The high plains have plenty of deciduous trees nestled along the waterways and in the canyons, all of which become awash in warm colors near the end of September. The area is also a preferred spot for spotting waterfowl and wildlife that are indigenous to the area. With 260 campsites, you also have a very good chance at booking even a last-minute trip.
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7. Fort Robinson State Park, Nebraska
Yes, Nebraska can be a wonderful place to take in the beauty of fall foliage! Western Nebraska’s premier state park, Fort Robinson, is known for its exquisite Pine Ridge scenery, fascinating Old West folklore, exceptional lodging, plenty of family-friendly activities, and camping amidst the park’s buffalo and longhorn herds.
The park is a part of Pine Ridge, an escarpment between the Niobrara River and the White River in northwestern Nebraska. This high tableland between the rivers has eroded over millennia into a region of forested buttes, ridges, and canyons. These forests brilliantly show all of the color you would expect from a New England fall display but set against a classic rugged Western landscape. The park has 242 sites, including 35 cabins, so there’s no excuse to not make a reservation at any time.
8. Detroit Lake State Reservation Area, Oregon
Detroit Lake State Recreation Area nestled amidst some of Oregon’s most beautiful wilderness. There are plenty of outdoor adventures activities to enjoy, including hiking and boating on Detroit Lake. The wooded landscape is speckled with bright yellow leaves by mid-fall, making it one of the best autumn camping destinations in the central Oregon area. There are 107 full-hookup sites, 68 electric and water sites, and 96 tent sites to choose from at the forested campgrounds.
Are you ready for your adventure? Plan your camping trip!