There's something about fall that makes people want to get outside and experience nature.
Instead of suffering through another round of apple picking in an orchard that's been plucked dry, check out these essential American road trips, where you can see the fall foliage in all its glory.
Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina and Virginia
While beautiful year-round, this is a fall foliage fave (for its epic dogwood, sourwood, sassafras and poplar), and might even get packed during the autumn months. The 470-mile parkway goes from North Carolina's Great Smoky Mountain National Park to Shenandoah National Park and Virginia's Skyline Drive, passing through dozens of beautiful hardwood forests, Appalachian mountain towns, pristine lakes, pastoral highlands and hot spots like Asheville. It's also an All-American Road, and America's longest linear park.
Blues Highway (US Route 61), Tennessee and Mississippi
Blues, and more specifically the Delta Blues, is a part of American history, as well as culture, originating in the so-called Deep South. Starting in Memphis, it's the perfect trip for soaking up blues — from the clubs on Memphis’ famous Beale Street to Clarksdale, Mississippi, where guitarist Robert Johnson allegedly made a deal with the devil — with a side of legendary barbecue. While US Route 61 spans 1,400 miles from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Wyoming, Minnesota, it can be broken up into Bluesy bites.
The Pacific Coast Highway (Route 1), California
Quintessentially American, the famous PCH, aka Route 1, snakes across California's coastline — from LA to San Francisco — for over 600 rugged, cliff-flanked miles. Not designated an "All-American Road" for nothing, while fall colors might be sparse, Americana abounds in the form of boardwalks, beaches, quaint seaside towns and old-fashioned amusement parks. Even better, the trip can easily be broken down into smaller trips, like San Francisco to Santa Barbara, or historic Monterey to Big Sur.
Route 66, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California
Of course, no list of US road trips would be complete without Route 66, the "Mother Road" and icon of the American Dream. The route was discontinued, but you can still migrate West by sticking to the various Interstate Highways that have replaced it (like the I-55 from Chicago, or the I-70 from Missouri) or by sticking to those National Scenic Byway portions renamed "Historic Route 66." Stopping by quirky roadside attractions is a US road trip staple, and this route's got plenty of those, like the famous Cadillac Ranch or the Blue Whale of Catoosa
Green Mountain Highway (Route 100), Vermont
Vermont is the holy grail of autumn colors in the east as it is almost 80% forest. In fact, local newspapers even track the foliage. This 220-mile route dissects almost the entire state, meandering across sloping mountains, dipping valleys, green pastures, farmlands and forests, all ablaze in shades of yellow, orange, and red. Partake in cider tastings and apple picking in rural villages and old-fashioned general stores, and nosh on local fare like Ben and Jerry's, Cabot Cheese and Lake Champlain Chocolates. In the winter, it's known as part of "Skiers Highway," which connects some of Vermont's most well-known ski resorts, like Wilmington, Killington, and Stowe.
Million Dollar Highway (US Route 550), Colorado
