Sun & Summit Destinations
10 National Parks for Fall and Winter
Parks that are at their best when summer crowds go home.
- Fall picks
- Great Smoky Mountains, Shenandoah, Acadia, Rocky Mountain, Zion
- Winter picks
- Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Everglades, Big Bend, Grand Canyon (South Rim)
- Passes
- An America the Beautiful annual pass covers entrance fees at every national park
- Before you go
- Check each park's site for road closures, reservations and fees
Best in fall
- Great Smoky Mountains, TN/NC: peak color usually mid-to-late October
- Shenandoah, VA: Skyline Drive in October, a few hours from Williamsburg and Washington, D.C.
- Acadia, ME: early-to-mid October color on the rocky coast
- Rocky Mountain, CO: golden aspens in late September and elk bugling in the meadows
- Zion, UT: cooler hiking weather and cottonwoods turning in late October and November
Best in winter
- Joshua Tree, CA: mild days for hiking and very dark skies
- Death Valley, CA: pleasant temperatures from November to March only
- Everglades, FL: the dry season brings wildlife to the water and fewer mosquitoes
- Big Bend, TX: desert hiking and hot springs along the Rio Grande
- Grand Canyon, AZ: the South Rim stays open all year, and snow on the red rock is unforgettable
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