For many of us, no year is complete without walking under a canopy of nature’s most impressive show: autumn colors. Even so, depending on where you’re located, you may or may not be in place where you can enjoy it. But with your RV, you can plan a road trip to witness peak autumn leaves around you. Imagine the foliage above so red that the air shimmers with a pinkish hue. The breeze is crisp and the leaves beneath your boots crunch. Your skin prickles with a whisper of the coming winter. Knowing the bitter cold that is just around the corner, makes this brief interlude of perfect weather that much sweeter. (A scene especially perfect for soft Instagram bragging.)
Most often, when RV folk think of peak autumn leaves, their minds drift east to places like the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Shenandoah Valley. But did you know that you can RV to see peak autumn leaves out West? From Colorado to Lake Tahoe and beyond, there are infinite paths to explore fall foliage all over the U.S.
So, with timing in mind, let’s take a peek at what you need to RV and see peak autumn leaves blooming along in western portion of the continent.
A Little Pep Talk for the Fall Out West
Sure, the East Coast gets most of the credit for fall foliage. But I would argue that the Western U.S. offers an equal, if not richer, palette of color. The air is drier with less cloud accumulation, leaving the colors bare and bold against blue skies and monolithic land formations.
If that sounds like what you’re looking for, let me offer three road trip options.
Option No. 1: Experience the Golden Glow of Colorado
In the fall months in Colorado, the Aspens are like golden honey poured on a canvas of cerulean blue sky. The scene will burrow deep into your visual memory bank. And if you’re not careful, it could get hungry, calling you back year after year for more of that big blue sky shimmering with flecks of gold.
The most notable destination to see Aspens in the fall is Golden, Colorado. But these iconic trees can be experienced in many different places including: Telluride, Vail, Boulder, Powderhorn and Silverton just to name a few. For the most scenic views of Aspens in the fall I recommend visiting Telluride, Colorado. There are plenty of roads that will be candy for your eyes, but here are the more notable: Million Dollar Highway, Wilson Mesa, Last Dollar Road, or Lizard Head Pass.
Any one of these drives will give you front row seating to mother nature’s masterpiece in yellow. Some RV campground options include: Telluride Town Park Campground, Sunshine Campground, or, a little further out in the “Switzerland of America,” Ouray Riverside Resort.
Options No. 2: Drink Up the Colors of the West Coast
California has a delectable menu of fall colors. For more of that golden honey, you can go to the Eastern Sierra’s where there are over 25 stops along Highway 395. Yosemite offers a wider palette of colors, with reds, yellows, and oranges flanked by some of America’s most iconic scenery. Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point, and Tioga Pass all vary in elevation and peak leaf timing. Be sure to check Yosemite’s current conditions before visiting.
Add some delectable reds and whites to your foliage tour in a crystal clear glass at Napa Valley. Bothe-Napa Valley State Park has big leaf maples and black oaks for more of nature’s brilliant display of yellow.
Lake Tahoe is rich with color. You can enjoy the view not once, but twice as it stares back up at you from the placid reflection on the lake.
Option 3: Make It a Coast-to-Mountain Road Trip
Like both ideas? Well, they’re not mutually exclusive if you have the time (and the gas money). For starters, quench your thirst at Napa Valley, then head west to Lake Tahoe, and down highway 375 along the Sierras. From there you can head to Colorado and lap up some more of that golden honey shimmering among the Quaking Aspen forests.
Timing the peak foliage will require a dance of luck and informed planning. You may need to run that route in reverse depending on how the season is looking. This Fall Foliage Prediction Map will be your best friend as the season approaches.
Great Places to Book Reservations
Eastern Sierras
Driving along Highway 375 offers a plethora of dispersed camping opportunities. Whether you are a seasoned boondocker, or are interested in dipping your toes in that sea of possibility, this is a great place to go rugged and boondock off the beaten path.
Bothe-Napa Valley State Park
To stay directly in the park, you can go on Reserve California to get your site reserved. Keep in mind, there are no hookups in the park. About an hour away from the park, you can make RV campground reservations at Clear Lake State Park, or Casini Ranch Family Campground.
Lake Tahoe
This iconic travel destination is peppered with RV parks all along the perimeter of the lake. Some great campgrounds to soak in the fall colors include: Zephyr Cove Resort, Lake Tahoe KOA, and Tahoe Valley Campground.
There are plenty of dispersed camping options available around Lake Tahoe, but make sure you know where these areas are available to you, and where they are not.
Your RV Plan to See Peak Autumn Leaves
If this looks like a lot to do in one season, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. To be honest, I don’t think you can see it all in one season. However, you can collect plenty of unforgettable views under your belt before the season wanes.
It can be complicated to time it perfectly, since peak foliage doesn’t happen at the same time every year, and it varies by elevation. But some areas have a smaller window than others, so it might make sense to build your schedule around those windows. The leaves change from the higher altitudes, to the lower ones. Weather is also a contributing factor. Out west you have about a month for peak colors. During your planning, this fall foliage prediction map will be your best friend.
Fine-Tuning Your Logistics
Factoring in the Weather
The biggest hindrance to driving anywhere out West are the elements. This is especially true in winter. If you aren’t from the area and don’t have thorough experience driving in the winter, make sure you are well informed of the risks, requirements, laws and road hazards of anywhere you plan to visit. Avalanches are a very real threat. While they probably won’t cover your rig in snow, they could leave you stuck in traffic for days. A snow storm on the other hand, could leave your rig immobile and covered in white, quite possibly in a remote area without any cell service.
I recommend timing your routes with the weather, and having a back up plan in case of an unexpected storm. I know, I know, how can you time your routes with the weather when campgrounds require booking reservations months in advance?
Timing an RV road trip is no easy task. But it can be done!
Having Backups and Preparing Beforehand
Out West, plans can change fast. If you foresee any weather coming along, consider making a back up reservation somewhere. You can probably find a campground that doesn’t require a deposit in order to hold the site. Check the state and federal park road condition pages. Most parks in these winter-weather-vulnerable-areas have updated road closure pages available on their websites.
And know the local laws where you are driving. Did you know that Colorado has vehicle traction and chain law requirements during certain months of the year? You could be subject to a hefty fine if you don’t adhere to these requirements.
Another recommendation if you plan to RV extensively is to have some boondocking under your belt. You could find yourself stranded, or unable to make your next campground reservation due to impending weather. It would be beneficial to have all the necessary parts and pieces to run the basics of your rig off the grid. Staying safe and prepared is going to be the first foundational step in setting your trip up for success!
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