Start looking for your fall vacation destination with our list of the 10 best places to visit in the USA in October! Alternatively you can check out our list of the 11 best places to visit in the USA in November.
October is not exactly the most popular month for vacations, and it’s pretty easy to see why. Everyone is just settling back into school and work after the summer break, which is why most trips are scheduled for Thanksgiving and winter breaks. We just don’t imagine fall activities as anything more than cute little walks in the park and quick fall foliage drives and fruit picking trips on the weekend.
But let me tell you why October may be your designated vacation month for this year (and basically why it is my go-to month for vacations). For one, the weather is so much milder – you don’t have to die in the sweltering summer heat while exploring a new place, and you certainly don’t have to bring as many clothes as you would in winter. And because fewer people take their vacations on this glorious fall month, hotel and airline rates are generally cheaper. In fact, almost everything else is cheaper (except in places and attractions that specialize in fall activities like apple farms) and so you can take your money farther than you would on crowded summer, spring, or winter vacations.
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Speaking of crowds, they are mostly absent in popular attractions at this time of the year. You won’t be wasting your precious vacay time stuck in entry lines several miles long. That’s a vacation anyone can live with, yes?
But I think the best thing about October is the feel of it. There’s a certain sense of calmness that hangs in the crisp air and everyone seems more relaxed – none of the grumpiness of summer and the sleepiness of winter. It’s just about right for day-long frolicking, making new friends, and early nights in with a glass of organic, farm-made ales and brews. See what I mean about relaxing?
Of course, it isn’t too bad either that October, the peak of fall and the last days of warmth, that the views are just unbelievably beautiful. There are all shades of browns and reds and oranges everywhere, held against a backdrop of the brightest blue, unless you’re enjoying your idea of a perfect October vacation is in Hawaii for the Ironman World Champions, then your scenery will not be the same. Just as breathtakingly beautiful, in a more summery, tropical view way, that is.
Now, normally I wouldn’t have any trouble compiling this list – or compiling the list of the 11 Best Places to Visit in the USA in September. I am a self-proclaimed fall-vacation advocate, after all. The problem with compiling this list is ranking them to include everyone else’s tastes on what makes a vacation fun or exciting or memorable. I can go on and on and on about taking the best spots in the US for fall foliage, but certain people – like say, my husband – would find that boring and a perfect waste of Oktoberfest opportunities.
So to come up with a more comprehensive and inclusive, unbiased list of the best places to visit in the USA in October, I have consulted America’s (and perhaps the traveling lot’s) most trusted travel guides, Travel and Leisure, Travel Channel, and US News Travel. I’ve also taken some hints from Weather. To rank them, we use two major categories that make up our definition of ‘best destination’: the popularity (decided on by how often it is mentioned in the sources), and the variety of seasonal activities offered. If a place is beautiful and popular but only for fall foliage drives, it might not get as many points as a semi-popular destination that offers festivals, theme parks, beaches, and camping opportunities in October.
So, which favorite American destinations made it to this list of the 10 best places to visit in the USA in October? Read on to find out!
10. Orlando, FL
Visiting Orlando in October is just like visiting Orlando in summer, but about a hundred times better. Imagine all of your favorite attractions – Legoland, Disney World, Seaworld, Universal Orlando – but without the long lines, the humidity, and the sky high prices of summer! These are the main reasons why Orlando is among the most popular suggestions for October vacations in the US. If you’re not big into theme parks, downtown Orlando also has art festivals and food events throughout the season. Orlando also offers some really neat golfing opportunities, but do remember that October is one of the most golf-ideal seasons so expect the prices to be a little steep!
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9. San Antonio, TX
While October is still too early for fall foliage in San Antonio (or anywhere in Texas for that matter), San Antonio is still teeming with a variety of activities that couples, families, and even backpackers can enjoy. As with Orlando, the usual crowds are absent this time of the year so theme parks like Six Flags are a breeze. But if that’s not your thing, San Antonio’s slightly cooler temperatures, with average highs of 82 degrees Fahrenheit, and average lows of 60.1 degrees Fahrenheit, will make exploring the historic districts more pleasant than in summer. Aside from the harvest-themed farm events, the best things about Octobers in San Antonio are the cultural extravaganza – the centerpiece of which is the Dia de Los Muertos celebrations at the end of the month.
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8. Walla Walla, WA
The wine-related fun fare in Walla Walla countryside in Washington is enough to put this picturesque vineyard town in the list of the 10 best places to visit in the USA in October. But that’s not all they have to offer – they have every bit the usual fun we enjoy in the fall: corn mazes, harvest fairs, wine crushes, and farmers’ markets – plus a whole lot of outdoor space for hiking and biking to breathe in the heartwarming colors of fall.
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7. Lancaster County, PA
Lancaster may just as well be called ‘Fall County’ for all good reasons. Aside from the obvious fall foliage scenery that abounds in Lancaster, the heart of the Pennsylvania Dutch country has so much to offer their autumn-loving visitors. Everything fall was made for – harvest festivals, Fall fairs, and farm adventures – can be done right here in Lancaster County. It is also a great place to enjoy some local ales, ciders, and beers, and partake in their own version of Oktoberfest. There’s also a nice little reenactment of the ‘Sleepy Hollow’ tale at the Rock Ford Plantation for Halloween.
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6. Boston, MA
Landing on the 6th spot on this list of the 10 best places to visit in the USA in October is Boston. Boston may be your best option for urban fall foliage spotting – you don’t even have to go on a long drive to other popular New England Fall Foliage spots to get your dose of autumn hues! Head on over to Boston Esplanade or the Arnold Arboretum before exploring the rest of Boston’s best October attractions. Don’t miss the grand Columbus Day Parade (October 9) or the regular open air, free theater and music performances in the numerous parks across the city. Love sports? Don’t miss the opening games of the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden or witness the Charles Regatta between mid to late October. Boston also offers memorable graveyard tours that are more historical and educational than scary to add a touch of class to your usual Halloween fare.
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5. New York City, NY
We are halfway through our list of best places to visit in the USA in October and next in line is the New York City that, you may argue, is an all-year-round kind of vacation destination. That may be true but it does not mean, however, that there is nothing special about autumn in the Big Apple. The fall foliage at Central Park is hard to miss, as it stands out like a breath of fresh, crisp, autumn air in the concrete jungles of New York. The rest of New York’s fall offerings are uniquely New York – grand, multicultural, and full of pizzazz. Surely, you would not want to miss out on the New York City Wine and Food Festival (because anything that involves good wine and even better food is a great reason to go on a vacation), the New York Comic Con, and for the fashion lovers (and the moneyed lot) the New York Fashion Week.
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4. Chicago, IL
Chicago lands in the top 4 on this list of the 10 best places to visit in the USA in October because of the variety and uniqueness of its fall vacation offerings. Aside from the usual Oktoberfest and Halloween Parade, Chicago is teeming with cultural events in the month of October. The centerpiece of its fall cultural celebrations is the ‘Chicago I Love You’, a 10-day festival of music, arts, and culture and features a throng of different activities (i.e. exhibits, performances, free concerts) throughout the city. You should also not miss out on the Jazz Festival as well as the highly anticipated Chicago International Film Festival.
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3. Jackson Hole, WY
Exploring the Grand Tetons and the Yellowstone should not end in fall! Enjoy the breathtaking beauty of America’s most favorite national parks without the usual crowd and the colors of autumn. (The average weather ranges between 23-degrees and 58-degress Fahrenheit so a light jacket is a requirement!) Jackson Hole, the next entry on our list of best places to visit in the USA in October is a haven for the outdoorsy types, but that does not mean there isn’t anything else to do here. Aside from the trekking, fat biking, hunting, and fly fishing opportunities (plus elk bugling if you go early in October), Jackson Hole offers its visitors their own art festivals, food fairs, and their signature outdoor film screenings.
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2. Savannah, GA
Savannah’s southern warmth and hospitality do not wane with the cooling of the temperatures! October vacations in Georgia’s oldest town consists of fall festival after fall festival – and involves a lot of fun, booze, and food (pretty much the reason why it is one of the most highly suggested destinations for October trips). There’s the Greek festival, Columbus day celebrations, Oktoberfest with local breweries, Seafood Festival, the Island Pirate Fest in Tybee Island, and the Shalom Y’all Jewish Food Festival to name a few! And because the city is known for its historic haunted sites, you might want to stay ‘til Halloween for a ghost and graveyard tour (but only if you’re really, really brave!). Savannah may not have the foliage, but it’s one of the best places to visit in the USA in October.
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1. San Francisco, CA
And the top spot for the 10 best places to visit in the USA in October is…San Francisco! Yep, and let me tell you why. San Francisco, for the most part, is only just warming up come September when most everyone else in America is just cooling down. This makes San Francisco the best destination for people who have not had enough of summer. This also means that the outdoor events are only just heating up. Start your October vacation with Hardly Strictly Bluegrass at the Golden Gate Park for a free concert, then follow it up two weeks later with the Treasure Island Music Festival! Not much of a music fan? No problem! Take your pick between San Francisco’s choice of harvest festivals, wine tours, fruit picking, pumpkin picking, and maybe even whale watching activities at the Farallon Islands. San Francisco does not run out of food (or drink) options either so explore the famous Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, or head on over to Napa or Sonoma for wine harvest. And if you’re daring, end your October vacay in San Francisco with the Halloween Costume Dash. Aside from these outdoor activities, San Francisco also boasts of hundreds of arts and culture events throughout the month including the San Francisco Dance Film Festival and the annual Litquake for the bibliophiles among us.
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So there you go, my list of the 10 best places to visit in the USA in October! Does this convince you to skip your summer vacation plans and take an October trip instead? Let us know in the comments what you think about this list and which places you are looking forward to visiting!
