Fall Camping

Embrace the magic of autumn camping. Vibrant foliage, crisp air, and campfire nights under the stars.

20+ Campgrounds4.6★ AverageBest: September through November

Find Campgrounds Set Availability Alert

Fall Camping by State

Explore 43 state guides with curated campgrounds

Featured Campgrounds

Handpicked destinations that define the region

Norfork Lake
Mountain Home, AR

Autumn transforms the ancient oaks into a blazing canopy of gold and crimson above your lakeside campsite, while cooler September temperatures draw abundant bass and crappie to Norfork Lake's crystal-clear waters.

Schoodic Woods Campground

Acadia National Park
Winter Harbor, ME

The Schoodic Peninsula transforms into a blazing tapestry of crimson and gold each autumn, offering pristine hiking and biking trails through forests ablaze with color—all while Mount Desert Island's summer crowds have vanished.

Hearts Content Recreation Area

Allegheny National Forest
Bradford, PA

Vibrant maples and ancient hemlocks create a breathtaking canopy of gold and crimson along the trails, while cooler September temperatures transform this rare old-growth forest into a hiker's paradise without summer's crowds.

Tents

RVs

About This Season

Fall camping offers some of the most spectacular outdoor experiences across the United States, as autumn transforms forests, mountains, and valleys into breathtaking displays of color and crisp, comfortable weather. From the fiery maples of New England to the golden aspens of the Rockies, fall campgrounds provide the perfect base for experiencing nature's most dramatic seasonal transition.

Best Time

The prime fall camping season varies significantly by region, with timing crucial for catching peak foliage and comfortable weather. In New England and the northern tier states, late September through mid-October offers the most spectacular leaf displays, with campgrounds like Schoodic Woods and Hearts Content showing peak colors typically in early to mid-October.

Season Highlights

Stunning fall foliage
Cooler, comfortable temperatures
Fewer crowds and quiet sites
Perfect campfire weather

More Fall Camping

Discover 17 additional top-rated campgrounds for fall camping

4.7

(519)

White Rock Mountain Recreation Area

Ozark-St. Francis National Forests
Winslow, AR

Brilliant fall colors explode across the ancient Ozark forests as cooler mountain air sweeps through the trails, creating Arkansas's most dramatic autumn display from panoramic rim overlooks.

Smokemont Group Campground

Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Gatlinburg, TN

October brings blazing maples and golden hickories cascading down the mountainsides, while elk bugle echoes through crisp morning air along Bradley Fork.

Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground

Canyonlands National Park
Moab, UT

October transforms the high desert into a hiker's paradise, where crimson sandstone spires glow against impossibly blue skies and daytime temperatures hover in the comfortable 60s and 70s.

Rocky Mountain National Park Moraine Park Campground

Rocky Mountain National Park
Estes Park, CO

Autumn transforms this high-altitude haven into a golden amphitheater where aspen groves blaze yellow against evergreen peaks and bull elk bugle across frost-touched meadows.

Big Meadows Campground - Shenandoah (Va)

Shenandoah National Park
Luray, VA

The Blue Ridge Mountains explode in crimson and gold around this high-elevation campground, where crisp October mornings and thinner crowds let you savor Skyline Drive's famous overlooks in peaceful solitude.

Eau Galle Lake
Spring Valley, WI

Vibrant autumn colors blanket the hillsides surrounding Eau Galle Reservoir, while cooler September and October temperatures draw hikers and horseback riders to quieter woodland trails.

Brunet Island State Park

Wisconsin State Parks, Wisconsin
Cornell, WI

Autumn transforms this river-wrapped island into a kaleidoscope of color, where you can paddle beneath fiery maples and watch migrating waterfowl from quiet shorelines—all without the summer crowds.

Mount Pisgah Campground

Blue Ridge Parkway

Blazing scarlet maples and golden hickories erupt across the mountainside each October, while crisp air at 5,000 feet brings relief from lingering summer heat and thins the crowds along Blue Ridge Parkway trails.

Rocky Knob Campground

Blue Ridge Parkway
Floyd

Autumn transforms the Blue Ridge Parkway into a blazing corridor of crimson and gold, with Rocky Knob's trails winding through forests ablaze in peak color. Cooler mountain air and thinning crowds make September and October prime time for exploring Rock Castle Gorge without the summer rush.

Tents

RVs

Campground Locations

Showing top 20 campgrounds near Fall Camping Nationwide

Map of campgrounds near Fall Camping Nationwide

Explore Interactive Map →

Map Key

Bidwell Point Park

Schoodic Woods Campground

Hearts Content Recreation Area

White Rock Mountain Recreation Area

Smokemont Group Campground

Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground

Rocky Mountain National Park Moraine Park Campground

Big Meadows Campground - Shenandoah (Va)

Highland Ridge

Brunet Island State Park

Mount Pisgah Campground

Rocky Knob Campground

Cataloochee Campground

Snow Canyon State Park

Mather Campground

Lake Waramaug State Park

Big Tesuque Campground

Lewis Mountain Campground

Lafayette Place Campground

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Backcountry Camping Permit

View all 20 campgrounds on interactive map

Plan Your Trips

Popular Activities

Leaf peeping and fall foliage viewingHiking through colorful forests and mountain trailsWildlife viewing during active fall migration and rutting seasonsPhotography of autumn landscapes and golden hour lightingFishing in cooler waters with active fall feeding patternsMountain biking on less-crowded trails

Tips & Recommendations

1Reserve popular fall campgrounds well in advance, as autumn's combination of pleasant weather and stunning scenery makes this a peak season for many destinations despite lower overall visitor numbers than summer.
2Bring layered clothing and a sleeping bag rated for temperatures at least 15-20 degrees lower than forecast lows, as clear autumn nights can bring unexpected cold snaps.
3A quality four-season tent or extra tarps help manage morning dew and occasional rain that characterizes fall weather patterns.
4Pack extra firewood or verify availability, as campfire restrictions ease in many areas with fall's cooler, wetter conditions, making evening fires both practical and atmospheric.

20 campgrounds ranked

Based on real camper reviews

Curated for Fall Camping

Fall Camping FAQ

Fall camping offers stunning foliage, cooler temperatures, and fewer crowds than summer. The best fall campgrounds are located in areas with vibrant leaf changes, mild weather, and excellent hiking opportunities.

Peak fall camping runs September through November. Foliage timing varies by latitude and elevation—northern states and higher elevations peak earlier. Check local foliage reports for optimal timing.

We list 20+ campgrounds rated excellent for fall camping across the USA. Many offer spectacular fall color and harvest-season activities.

Explore Other Seasons

Find the best campgrounds for every time of year

Summer Camping

The best campgrounds for summer adventures with warm weather and peak-season amenities

Winter Camping

Cold-weather camping destinations that stay open year-round for winter adventures

Spring Camping

Spring camping with wildflowers, mild weather, and the awakening of nature

Guide last updated: January 6, 2026

Availability Alerts

Popular Fall Camping Sites Book Fast

The best fall camping sites book up quickly. Set up free alerts to catch cancellations.

Checks every 2 min

SMS, email, push

150,000+ campsites

Outdoorithm

Just now

🎉 Site opened up!

Bidwell Point Park
Your preferred dates

Quick! This site typically books within hours.

Find Your Perfect Fall Campground

Create your free account to save favorites, set availability alerts, and get personalized recommendations.

Search 20+ fall camping sites
Set alerts for hard-to-book sites
Get personalized recommendations for your trip
Compare campground amenities
Check weather forecasts

Create Free Account Browse First

No credit card required. Every feature is free to use.