DanckTravel

October is a great time of year to travel. The temperatures have started to cool and the northern parts of the country are beginning to experience peak fall foliage. It’s a perfect time to visit National Parks or go hiking.

October also marks the beginning spooky season, making it a fun time of year to do haunted tours or explore destinations with ties to the supernatural.

Check out our list below to see where we recommend visiting in the fall time:

Key Takeaways

• If you are looking for a spooky destination, Salem, New Hope, Lambertville, and Sleepy Hollow are great places to check out.
• For peak fall foliage, check out New England or the Finger Lakes in New York
• Zion National Park is also great to visit during this time of year, due to the smaller crowds and 

1. Salem, Massachusetts 

Get ready to embrace spooky season by visiting Salem, Massachusetts. This town is best known for the Salem Witch Trials (which technically took place in neighboring Danvers). The trials started when three women were accused of witch craft and today, numerous sites and shops are dedicated to the supernatural.

If you are into history, you can explore the various museums, including the Salem Witch Museum and the Witch Dungeon Museum. You can also visit various witch shops, where they sell spell books and crystals. Plus, the Hocus Pocus movie was filmed here, so you can take a photo outside the home.

To get here, we recommend taking the commuter rail from Boston. It’s pretty direct, which is great since there is limited parking and big crowds during this season.

2. New Hope, Pennsylvania, and Lambertville, New Jersey

New Hope and Lambertville are right next to each other, making it easy to visit both in the same trip (simply cross the bridge!) This area has a great art scene, filled with galleries and antique stores.

However, if you are visiting for spooky season, you might catch the ghost of Aaron Burr, who resided here (Yes, that same Aaron Burr from Hamilton). There are also a few witch shops (like in Salem), which sell herbs, clothes, and spells.

3, Acadia National Park, Maine

Known for its incredible hiking trails, Acadia is great to visit in the fall due to the views of the fall foliage.  It spans a vast terrain, including the coastline. Peak fall foliage generally occurs between the first and third weeks of October, so plan accordingly.

4. Sleepy Hollow, New York 

October is, of course, spooky season, and where better to visit than the original site of the Headless Horseman. When visiting here, you can visit the sites from the story. The town also has festivals, farmer’s markets, and live music to check out.

5. Chicago, Illinois

I’ve done the Chicago Marathon twice, which is in October. The weather is perfect and I loved touring the city before and after the race. 

Right before the Chicago Marathon

For spooky season, we recommend taking a ghost tour on the water. We did one through City Cruises. The tour is very historically accurate and takes you through several interesting stories surrounding Chicago. Plus, you get to enjoy the amazing views of the buildings right from the water.

6. Watkins Glenn, New York 

Watkins Glen is known for its numerous waterfalls. The views of these are beautiful and the hike is actually very short and not too strenuous, making it ideal for a relaxing weekend. Up and down the lake are tons of vineyards with different kinds of wine.

Plus if you are looking for a spooky vineyard, check out Miles Cellar. Legend has it that two ghosts still haunt the premises.

7. Zion National Park, Utah

October is a great time to visit Zion due to the cooler temperatures and stunning fall foliage. The crowds are also not as crazy as other parts of the year.

Zion National Park

8. Snow Canyon, Utah

This state park is located about one hour from Zion and is absolutely stunning. 

We were recommended this state park by our friends who used to live in the Arizona/ Utah area. There are tons of trails to hike and the views are crazy. If you do Zion, we highly recommend adding this to your tip.

Views from Snow Canyon

9. Mystic, Connecticut

Mystic, Connecticut, is one of our favorite East Coast destinations for the falltime.

One of the reasons we love it here in October is B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill, which is the oldest steam-powered cider house and was founded in 1881. It’s perfect for grabbing apple cider and donuts. They also have a farm stand with delicious baked goods and jams.

We also recommend checking out Mistick Village (which is right near the Aquarium). This is a pedestrian-friendly outdoor shopping mall. Inside is the Cloak & Wand, which sells goods from Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and other mystical items. They also have a coffee and drink shop, which is perfect for spooky season.

A display in the Cloak & Wand

10. New York, New York

While early summertime in New York is fun, there’s a reason we didn’t include it in our favorite places to visit in the US in July. Late summer can get very hot in the Big Apple, which does not have a lot of vegetation or shade from trees. On the other hand, October is a great time to go, since the weather is cooler, but still manageable if you prefer a warmer climate. 

11. New England 

While we already do have several destinations from New England on here, this region of the United States deserves its own section. Fall is considered one of the best times of year to visit New England, due to the stunning fall foliage. There is plenty to do here and tons of states to visit, including Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts. 

Final Thoughts

October is one of our favorite times of year to travel. What’s your favorite travel destination in the fall? Leave it in the comments below.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the prettiest state to visit in the fall?

As New Englanders, we may be a bit biased, but we think anywhere in New England is a great place to visit in the fall. This includes Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire.

What state has the best weather in October?

We love crisp fall weather, so New England and other northern states will have cooler temperatures. However, if you are looking for warmer weather and beaches, check out Florida, which will still be warm at this time of year.