Celebrating Autumn in the RV

Fall is one of our favorite times to be traveling in our RV. School is back in session, and places start to really clear out. Plus, the weather is usually gorgeous wherever you are in the US. If you are like me, you appreciate a nice 60-degree day versus a 90-degree day when out hiking or exploring.

We once spent a September by Glacier National Park in Montana, and the campground owners told us that September was their favorite month to explore the park as well. We have also explored around Wyoming and Yellowstone in October, and haven’t been disappointed.

Yes, we were pushing that a bit, and yes, we did get snowed on. But the snow melted the next day. I also love the beautiful fall leaves, pumpkin patches, Halloween celebrations every weekend at the RV resorts, and being able to turn the fireplace on in our RV while sipping a warm apple cider!

Our top recommended places to visit in the fall will take you from the northern US down to the most southern point.

RV Resorts

Almost every RV resort we have stayed at from September through October has Halloween-themed weekends. That means getting dressed up and trick-or-treating, even in September. And if you want, you can do it every weekend leading up to Halloween.

They usually offer amazing haunted houses or haunted hayrides and many other Halloween activities. Your kids will thank you for this one. And it is a lot easier to trick-or-treat between RVs at a campground than it is in a neighborhood where the houses are all spread out.

Overnight in a Pumpkin Patch

Check with a Harvest Hosts site to see if you can find a pumpkin farm that allows you to stay overnight. Call ahead to make sure it is okay for you to stay as the farms can get busy, especially on weekends.

National Parks

Fall is a great time to visit a national park. The crowds are usually way down, which makes the experience that much better. And the cooler weather is so much better for hiking and exploring outdoors.

We recommend visiting Yellowstone, Glacier, and the “Mighty Five” national parks in Utah in the fall months. Fall usually means less rain as well, which makes it a beautiful time to explore this part of the country.

Leaf-Chasing Road Trip

Last fall we did a leaf-chasing road trip from the top of the East Coast down. We missed the peak season since it happened later than expected, but we still saw some brilliant colors. We started in New Hampshire at the beginning of October and made our way through Vermont up into Maine and straight down the coast.

You could do this on the West Coast or in the Midwest as well. If you have flexibility in your schedule, leave it as open as you can so if the leaves haven’t peaked yet you can wait around for them.

Be aware that campgrounds do fill up at the top leaf-peeping spots this time of year. So be sure to book ahead if you have a specific place in mind you want to stay.

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

If you are looking for a unique experience, you won’t want to miss the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. This once-a-year event is normally held in October in New Mexico. Imagine waking up every day to hot-air balloons floating over your RV! And these aren’t just any hot-air balloons, but amazing designs, from animals to carriages to aliens! This is one of those experiences you should do at least once while you are in your RV. Campsites for RVs fill up quickly so you’ll want to plan way in advance.

Florida Keys

Fall is also a great time to plan a beach trip because, again, the crowds are down from the summer. Additionally, the snowbirds haven’t all made their way down yet, so you will find campgrounds much quieter than in January or February.

South Padre Island, Texas

I have to mention SPI in Texas. We spent a couple of falls there, and it was amazing. The main reason was that the ocean water is still warm from the hot summer. This means your kids and you can get in some awesome surfing lessons without having to be in wetsuits. There are also tons of other fun activities to do like kiteboarding, kayaking, and boat tours.

And the city itself is nowhere near as busy as it gets in January and the summer months.

Needless to say, fall is one of our favorite seasons to be in our RV. We enjoy opening the windows to let in that crisp fall air before heading out to explore and enjoy the amazing fall weather!

Top Fall Activities

Rock Climbing + Rappelling

Both sports can be done in the summer, but it’s no fun with a scorching sun beating down on your back. You can find rock-climbing opportunities all over the country. The best thing is to do a Google search for “outdoor rock climbing” and see what comes up in your area.

Hiking

Fall is a great time to hike with the cooler weather and fewer crowds. Depending on where you are traveling, you might experience the leaves changing as well. National parks always have great hikes. Checking an app like AllTrails when you get to a location will help you find some local gems. Listed are the hikes, distances, and hikers’ reviews, which are all very helpful.

Campfires

Fall campfires are the best as you huddle around the warm flames to keep you warm on a cool fall night. Don’t forget the s’mores

Boondock Meetup

Fall is a great time to plan a boondocking meetup since nights are cooler, and you can do without the A/C. Add Halloween into the mix and you have a perfect reason to get your friends together, find an epic boondocking spot, and plan some fun Halloween activities with your kids!