The Best U.S. Cities for Fall Fanatics

Fall lovers rejoice! The best season of the year is upon us. It is officially time to say farewell to scorching summer heat and humidity and welcome cozy autumn hues and refreshing weather. From pumpkin carving at home to apple picking and strolling around a fall festival with your significant other, there is an endless supply of fun activities for you to do during this beautiful time of the year — that is, if you’re in the right place.

Whether it be cooler climates or more autumnal activities to get involved in, some cities are better equipped to meet all your fall-related needs. If you want to get the most bang for your buck during pumpkin (spice) season this year, we have a few places you will want to check out. Without further ado, let us introduce you to the best cities to visit in the fall!

The 20 Best U.S. Cities for Fall

A U.S. map highlighting the 20 best U.S. cities to enjoy Fall in.

Cities up north with naturally cooler climates performed better overall against their counterparts on the other side of the Mason-Dixon line. Poughkeepsie and Syracuse helped New York claim two spots in our top 20. Syracuse is known for its haunted houses, hayrides, and Halloweens in the Park. Poughkeepsie is a dream date for couples who prefer long romantic walks in the refreshing autumn air; the Dutchess Rail Trail spans 13 miles and is perfect for hiking and biking.

Surprisingly, some cities in Florida and South Carolina made it into the list. Greenville, South Carolina, is ripe with apple orchards, farmers markets, and corn mazes for you and your family to enjoy. Additionally, South Carolina’s fall foliage road trip is ideal for couples who enjoy sightseeing and spontaneous traveling.

For those brave souls who fancy a fright, Lakeland, Florida, is home to over 40 haunted houses for you to explore. Polk County’s various landmarks are well known for serving up scares in Florida during the Halloween season; for example, the haunted loggia at Lake Mirror. The Frances Langford Promenade loggia is said to be full of ghosts, secret tunnels, and terror galore — enter at your own peril!

The Most “Unbe-LEAF-able” U.S. Cities

A graphic highlighting the top 10 cities for fall lovers.

There were many worthy contenders for the title of best U.S. city to visit in the fall this year, but there can only be one winner. Coming in at number one is the lovely Springfield, Massachusetts, with its nearly perfect balance of fun events and crisp weather. Looking for fun for the whole family? Springfield has you covered with over 30 hayrides and 14 exciting festivals, like The Big E. The Big E, or Eastern States Exposition, is an annual 17-day agricultural fair representing all of New England. The festival includes fun performances, food, and even a daily parade!

If you typically find yourself running out of things to do during spooky season, make sure you mark Bridgeport, Connecticut, on your map. Bridgeport ranked the highest for activities and events, and it is easy to see why; the city has food, frights, and everything in between. Whether you’re looking to show off your craftsmanship at Beardsley Zoo’s annual scarecrow competition or dazzle your partner with spectacular views, the city has a little something for everyone.

Mountainous Salt Lake City, Utah, came in at number three and holds the highest score for fall weather. Temperatures typically stay within the mid-60s to high 70s throughout the season, making it an ideal time to enjoy the city’s many beautiful hiking trails. Hotel prices in Utah also tend to lower with the temperature, thanks to fewer travelers during the offseason.

Pennsylvania claimed three spots in our top 10 fall-friendly cities. Reading, Scranton, and Harrisburg all scored exceptionally high for events and activities, and just above average for weather and search interest. Scranton (or Dunder-Mifflin country) is home to some of the best pumpkin patches, orchards, and haunted attractions the Quaker State has to offer. If you’re looking for the perfect place to pop the question, Lackawanna county’s self-guided fall foliage tour is full of beautiful parks and trails for you and your partner to check out together.

Closing Thoughts

Fall presents us with the best opportunity to travel and experience new things together just before the frosty days of winter. Crisp temperatures and gorgeous autumnal hues make sightseeing an absolute dream before the holiday season. Whether you’re interested in hiking, apple picking, or wandering around a farmers market with your significant other, we hope each of these cities gives you something to look forward to this autumn.

Fall foliage provides a beautiful backdrop for any engagement. If you’re looking to pop the question during the next hayride or pumpkin patch adventure with your honey, let us help you find the best engagement ring to complement the breathtaking scenery.

Full Data

That wraps up our city ranking of the Best U.S. Cities for Fall Fanatics. Interested in diving deeper into the numbers for all of the cities, or wanting to see how your city stacks up if it’s not listed within the above map?

We’ve compiled our full data study for all 100 U.S. cities analyzed into the interactive data table below. Search for the city you call home or click on the heading of each column to sort by that category!

Methodology

To determine the best fall cities in the U.S., we took several important factors into consideration. Our team of researchers analyzed 100 of the most populated cities in America and compiled 13 ranking factors from sources like Yelp, EventBrite, Weather U.S., and Google Trends. We broke down these factors into three categories: fall activities & events, fall weather, and fall search interest. Next, we assigned each factor a weighted score for criteria like number of pumpkin patches, average fall temperature, and autumn leaf colors. We added these factor scores for a total possible city score out of 50.

Factors

Fall Activities & Events (Worth 4.5)