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Whether your family has a fall break from school or you’re simply dreaming about a cozy fall destination for the weekend, I’ve got the best places to travel in October, friend! Admit it, you’ve been dreaming about colorful fall leaves in the crisp autumn air and then settling down with hot apple cider in front of a cozy fireplace at one of the best October vacation destinations! Me too. Oh, do I have some fall family vacation ideas for you…..
Best places to travel in October
You want ideal travel spots for fall where the entire family can enjoy foliage and autumn activities together. I get it, so that’s why I’m showing you the best places to travel in October in the South. Whether you are hunting a cabin in the woods, foliage, comfort food, or pumpkins in the patch, this fall travel list is extraordinary.
COZY CABINS
Hike part of the 80 miles of the Appalachian Trail before settling into your Blairsville, Georgia cabin in the woods with a view of the amazing North Georgia Mountains! Be sure to catch the Blairsville Sorghum Festival if you are visiting during the 2nd and 3rd weekends in October. Drive just 20 minutes westward and visit another quaint Georgia town full of fall family activities and shopping, Blue Ridge, Georgia.
(NEARBY HOTELS)
Want to truly immerse yourself and your family into the “big” things to do in Texas this fall? Oh sure, you’ll want to visit Magnolia Farms, but there’s also no better time to visit the State Fair of Texas and the Pumpkin Village at Autumn at the Arboretum in nearby Dallas. Small families can stay for a while in this Bed & Breakfast for under $100 a night. If you need a whole house and want to splurge, you can stay at Magnolia House for $695 a night.
(WACO ACCOMMODATIONS)
CREEPY TRAILS & TOURS
From October 9th through November 4th, experience 5,000 carved pumpkins that line an illuminated trail stretching one-fourth of a mile. The Louisville Kentucky Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular is delighting families with this “art show” fall activity as one of the newest and best places to travel in October and November! Hang around as Downtown Louisville as it’s taken over by the Belknap Fall Festival.
(NEARBY HOTELS)
I’ve mentioned Wormsloe Historic Site to you before because of the beauty of this Savannah, Georgia plantation with the oldest tabby ruins in the city and 400 huge oak trees that canopy over the driveway. But did you know that this year Wormsloe is hosting a Colonial Haunted Trail Tour?! Yep, a park ranger will guide your family back to the old home site of colonist Nobel Jones on the Wormsloe Colonial Haunted Trail tour and who knows who may visit you on the trail under the Spanish moss looming over you!
Don’t miss the chance to walk the breathtaking city squares of Savannah, Georgia while the weather is mild. Savannah is known for its legends and lore, so check out the Spooky Savannah tours mentioned HERE. Also, don’t miss the Wag O Ween fun in Downtown Savannah where there will be costume contests and treats for you and your pup or head to nearby Skidaway Island for the Fall Family Fun Festival.
(SAVANNAH BED & BREAKFAST INN)
FALL FESTIVALS
There’s nothing like the Smoky Mountains in the fall. Visit Great Pumpkin Luminights at Dollywood (thousands of illuminated jack-o-lanterns, as well as sculptures, whimsical scenes, entertainment, and pumpkin-themed food) in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. While you are near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, visit the 407-foot view of the Smoky Mountains on The Gatlinburg Space Needle.
FALL FOLIAGE SCENIC DRIVES
For some of the most beautiful scenery this fall, take a drive along North Carolina’s winding roads, but don’t forget your camera! Along the Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway, you’ll see iconic places like Pisgah National Forest, Sliding Rock, Looking Glass Falls, and Looking Glass Rock. Stick close to Asheville, North Carolina, and take a super-scenic view of the Blue Ridge Parkway to enjoy shopping, jaw-dropping mountains, and waterfalls. Visit Downtown Ashville, North Carolina, and ride the Ghost Train or experience Oktoberfest.
When you want to be blown away with amazing scenic views, The Cherohala Skyway is one of the best places to travel in October because it crosses through the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee into the Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina. This byway is a two-lane road that connects Tellico Plains, Tennessee, with Robbinsville, North Carolina, and stretches along forty miles from one end the other.
(HOTELS NEAR GATLINBURG SPACE NEEDLE TOWER)
FALL HOME & GARDEN TOURS
I don’t know about you, but I LOVE to see how other people decorate their homes during the holidays. I also love the historical home of South Carolina. If you do too, check out Charleston’s Annual Fall House and Garden Tours and the Fall Festival of Houses and Gardens in Beaufort, South Carolina. Both of these tours allow you to stroll around the grounds of the these city’s oldest homes and spectacular gardens at your leisure.
FALL FAIRS
Many of the best places to travel in October for fun carnivals in the South have been listed HERE, you also don’t want to miss the traditional Greater Gulf State Fair that has a midway, entertainment, animals, games, and “The Chomping Grounds,” where you’ll find more fair food than you can shake a stick at!
FALL PARTY
Can you imagine how excited the fam would be to show up to the after-dark special event in Magic Kingdom Park at Disney World, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party?! It’s a Halloween celebration – Disney-style in Orlando, Florida. Get those costumes ready and trick or treat throughout the park with special treats and entertainment. No dull moments allowed during this fall party in the South!
(DISNEY’S VALUE RESORT)
Related:
- Disney Packing List & what I wish I’d known
- You won’t believe what you can do at this family attraction
- The campground where I thought we were going to die!
There’s certainly no shortage of things to do in October in the South this year.
What are your best places to travel in October in the South? I’d love to hear your ideas below!
Published on HuffPost, Okefenokee Living Magazine, and more, Shan is a Family Travel Journalist with a passion for helping women lose the overwhelm of planning family-friendly trips in the south. She shares travel reviews & insider secrets that Women REALLY want to know about Georgia, Florida, & the Carolinas vacations.
☕️ It’s THE REAL DEAL around here ☕️
I would love to travel along the Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway! My husband and I just got back from our Disney trip, I just love seeing Magic Kingdom all festive for fall. Can’t wait to walk the Dallas Arboretum, we had our engagement photos taken there around this time of year a few years ago.
I love true fall / autumn; sadly we don’t really get it here in my micro-climate are of SoCal. Would love a fall getaway; maybe one year I will be able to take my kids on a scenic fall drive.
We do getaway to cabins occasionally; loads of places with those around here.
Love all your ideas! Fall is truly the best time of the year, and the east coast has some of the best fall scenery. We live in NY and spend a lot of time in the Fall between NY and VA and just love the drive. You can’t beat fresh apples and warm cider this season. I would love to get to TN to experience the Fall fun there as well.
Living in Ohio I can only dream of most of these beautiful destinations!
Wish I was in the USA and not Europe. Your post inspired me and really make me feel like planning Fall holidays next year there. Thank you
We just moved to the Dallas area this spring and I’m still learning all the wonderful things to do in the area. We will be going to the state fair this week! I’ve been searching for a great pumpkin patch, so maybe we will check out the Arboretum!
Author
Yay, Nicole. Dallas is awesome! Have fun and let me know what you think of your fall activities there!
much love,
shan
Oh my goodness, you are giving this San Diegan some major seasonal jealousy! From the unmatched natural beauty to the abundance of community events, the South seems like the place to be this fall. What a dream.
Author
Aw, come on over and visit us, Lois! 🙂
much love,
shan
Great ideas! We’ve done Magic Kingdom in the fall and it was such a great time. I’d love to check out Charleston’s Annual Fall House and Garden Tours! Making a note of that for future travels. Thanks!
Author
Yay to Magic Kingdom in the fall. That’s awesome! 🙂
This post makes me want to hop in a car right now and head south. I want to do everything you mentioned here. What an informative and fun list of things to do. I will be referencing this when I have time to get away.
Author
Thanks, Colleen. That makes my day. Come on down, we’ll be happy to see you!
much love,
shan
This list is wonderful! Fall is one of my favorite seasons and I could definitely use a mini getaway. I love the idea of taking on some solo time and bunkering up in a cabin for a weekend <3
My parents used to have a vacation home in Blairsville, and I really miss that area. It’s so gorgeous there. I also lived in Orlando for a while, and love Mickey’s Halloween Party.
Fall is my favorite season! There is so much to see and do. This is such a comprehensive list. I really hope to go to Disney in October next year.
I totally need to see what creepy trails and tours are in Wisconsin. I think those would be the perfect way to build up towards Halloween!
October and scenic drives ooo yes please. Also like the sound of staying in a lovely super cosy cabin x
I love this time of the year to travel!!! There are so many beautiful places to see the arrival of fall!
Cozy Cabins sounds awesome! But seeing the leaves on a scenic drive is my favorite.
I love Fall fairs! We just moved to a new area and I’m hoping we can find some good ones in our area.
Author
How exciting! I hope you are able to find lots of family fun!
much love,
shan
awesome ideas! My birthday is in October and I would loooove to spend the day at a cozy little cabin with Nick. House and garden tours are so interesting as well! Thanks for the lovely inspo!
This is an AWESOME list!! I am so in love with the beautiful leaves and smells of Fall!!
Autumn is hands down my favorite time to travel! I love shacking up in a cozy cabin, the crisp air of hikes and haunted trails!
Author
Shacking up – sorry that gave me a giggle! Autumn is amazing! 🙂
much love,
shan
Living in Cyprus we don’t have much of a fall season, I mean today was the first day we even saw grey clouds….even though no rain! It must be nice to celebrate fall!
D, xo || from https://livedreamcreate-d.com
Author
Aw, that makes me sad that you miss fall, BUT your area is GORGEOUS like a postcard every day! I’d love to visit there. 😉
much love,
shan
I love this post- makes me so excited for Fall! I love the idea of spending the weekend in a cozy cabin 🙂
So many gorgeous suggestions! I love going for short road trips during Autumn, the scenic is magic with all the beautiful autumnal colors around us.
Oh, my! We’d love to go to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. It always looks amazing. One day. One day!
Louise x
Fall is my favorite time of year for sure! I’m in the midwest and there are SO many festivals to go to!
Author
Yay, Rachel, that’s awesome! Have fun! 😉
much love,
shan
I’m from New England where fall and foliage is everything up there. But I’m actually staying with family in right now Pisgah Forest, NC until December! I actually thought to myself that I’ve never seen so many trees and really would like to see the outdoors while we are here.
Author
Oh, wow, you right in the middle of fall fairyland, Lindsay! Yes, get out and see all that beauty, girl! 🙂
much love,
shan
I always forget that not everyone gets to enjoy Fall with all its perks and downfalls. Fall is a magical time of year and needs to be enjoyed to the fullest each year!
Such amazing ideas. WE are heading to the mountains in 2 weeks. So excited!
Author
Yay, Neely. Have fun and I’m so happy for you. Glad it helped. 😉
shan
Wow the fall foliage looks incredible! Fun list of places to travel with kids! Ill stay away from creepy tours because disney is more my style.
I think fall is the perfect time to travel! We are major Disney fans and we have yet to get to go to the Halloween party, but will soon.
These are all such great ideas, I can’t wait to start planning fall/winter vacations and I definitely keep these ideas in mind.
Growing up in New England, we had all of this! It’s such a magical time of year to live here 🙂 our family owns cabins in the mountains and they’re so much fun to visit, not to mention they’re super cozy and surrounded by beautiful fall foliage.
I just love everything about Fall! The pictures you shared are great, my fave is the one of the foliage!!
Mickey’s not so scary Halloween party is always awesome. But I really do love doing the scenic drives during the fall. They are so amazing with all those beautiful colors on the leaves. It’s awesome.
We’ve got loads of creepy trails and stuff planned for the next week, and we can’t WAIT to go on them. They can be so much fun!!
Louise x