Fall Mountain Escapes

From the Ozark Mountains in northern Arkansas to the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina, find all our favorite mountain getaways for fall.

Alabama's Little River Canyon

Alabama's Mountain Country

Little River Canyon threads through some of the most stunning fall color in Alabama. Discover the secret jewel cutting through the state's slice of Lookout Mountain.

Mother Nature may bring you here, but the antiques shopping and the enchanting small towns of Fort Payne and Mentone will keep you for the whole weekend.

Biltmore Estate Roof

Art Meripol

The Biltmore Estate: Asheville, NC

Explore the grounds of Biltmore where new activities make it more than just a house tour. 

Each day, thousands trace the velvet rope-lined passages weaving through one of America's grandest homes. Few, however, know that the total Biltmore experience begins outside. Through hikes, carriage rides, float trips, and rooftop views, discover what really brought George Vanderbilt to this land almost 120 years ago.

Cumberland Gap, KY

Cumberland Gap, KY

Slip away to Cumberland Gap National Historical Park if you want to leave the bustle of the city for a getaway that isn’t overrun with tourists. Be sure to make reservations to tour the early 20th century community of Hensley Settlement in the heart of the park.

 

North Georgia Mountains

North Georgia Roadtrip

It's autumn, and that means it's the perfect time to hit the byways. Along the Peach State's northernmost backroads, you'll encounter bucolic scenery, wondrous waterfalls, charming towns, and majestic vistas.

There will likely be lots of other folks in search of seasonal vignettes, so we've planned a route that harvests bits of well-known drives while reaping a small crop of lesser-known destinations. Although you can cover this route in a day, plan on two or three.

Downtown Greenville

Greenville, SC

Looking for a more urban feel in your mountain escape? Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Greenville, South Carolina gives you the best of both worlds. 

The centerpiece of Greenville’s lovely downtown is stunning Falls Park. Down Main Street, find a perfect setting of greenspace, gardens, the Reedy River, and a gorgeous waterfall. The Liberty Bridge spans it all, with its curved, 355-foot-long pedestrian walkway. The bridge overlooks nature trails, landscaped flowerbeds, and people enjoying the season. 

Chimney Top Rock of Red River Gorge, Kentucky

Cary Jobe, Art Meripol

Red River Gorge, KY

With soaring cliffs and majestic arches, Red River Gorge is an awe-inspiring place to visit. This rugged region of geological wonders astounds visitors from other places, but it is beloved by Kentuckians and known the world over to rock climbers, partly because of its many overhanging cliff.

 

Texas Riders

Meg McKinney

Caprock Canyons State Park, TX

Leave the main road to discover the wild, untamed beauty of Caprock Canyons State Park in Texas. 

There are many ways to explore the scenic canyon―hiking, mountain biking, on horseback, or by car on a 5-mile loop. Even on the drive, you get a close-up look at multicolored sandstone cliffs and rugged arroyos carved by tributaries of the Red River. The long narrow Caprock Escarpment stands as high as 1,000 feet in places.

Butterfly Gap, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Cary Jobe

Butterfly Gap, Great Smoky Mountains

Hidden in the foothills near Maryville, Tennessee, lies an undiscovered spot, with five strikingly modern guesthouses, where you can have a private piece of these mountains.

Called Butterfly Gap Retreat, it’s the biggest surprise we’ve found in the Smokies all year―and our favorite place to stay when we want a true getaway.

Virginia's Shenandoah Valley at Humpback Mountain

Meg McKinney

Blue Ridge Roadtrip

The prettiest stretch of highway in the South, the Blue Ridge Parkway, curls along mountain ridges between two national parks--Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains. The 469-mile road reveals remarkable panoramic views of tree-blanketed mountains stretching to the horizon.

 

Arkansas Ozarks Fall Weekend

Ozark Mountains, AR

Small towns dot the sprawling Ozark Mountains like scattered leaves across a field. These gems, each defined by its own local color, make a fun drive for those with a wandering spirit. Though they lie only about 20 minutes apart, they afford miles of memories for a perfect fall weekend.

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