50 Fall Break Travel Destinations for Families
Fall break is a wonderful time to get out of the house, enjoy cooler weather and the changing leaves. Just because there’s a global pandemic, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your fall break. There are several options in almost everyone’s backyard.
Below are more than 50 fall break destinations to consider. Depending on where you live, it may be a day trip or a multi-day overnighter. But I must point out that travel is still possible during a global pandemic.
I’ve organized the list by categories and invite you to share your thoughts in the comments below. If you’re looking by state, use the DESTINATIONS tab above to navigate to your state.
I encourage you to research each of the areas you’re interested in visiting. There may be some restrictions or closures in place because of the pandemic. I try to capture what I can, but since everything is changing quickly, it’s always best to do your research.
National Parks or National Monuments
There are more than 400 national park sites across the United States. They range from small museums to endless acres of wilderness and wildlife. We’ve enjoyed many of these sites, but we have a long way to go to reach them all.
Since I live in Utah, many of the sites listed below are in and around Utah. But as I’ve explored sites in other parts of the country, I’ve provided tips about those parks, too.
- Arches National Park (Utah)
- Badlands National Park (South Dakota)
- Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)
- Canyonlands National Park (Utah)
- Cape Cod National Seashore (Massachusetts)
- Capitol Reef National Park (Utah)
- Cedar Breaks National Monument (Utah)
- Crater Lake National Park (Oregon)
- Devil’s Tower National Monument (Wyoming)
- Freedom Trail (Massachusetts)
- The Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
- Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (Utah)
- Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)
- Independence National Historic Park (Pennsylvania)
- Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado)
- Minuteman Missile National Historic Site (South Dakota)
- Minute Man National Historical Park (Massachusetts)
- Mount Rushmore National Park (South Dakota)
- Valley Forge National Historical Park (Pennsylvania)
- Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming)
- Yosemite National Park (California)
- Zion National Park (Utah)
State Parks
State Parks are just as amazing as some of the popular national parks. There are hiking trails, museums, historical artifacts, wildlife, beach, flowers and more. Depending on your interests – and location – there are several state parks in Oregon, Utah and Nevada worth exploring.
- Anasazi State Park and Museum (Utah)
- Bullards Beach State Park (Oregon)
- Cape Disappointment State Park (Washington)
- Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint (Oregon)
- Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park (Utah)
- Escalante Petrified Forest State Park (Utah)
- Fremont Indian State Park (Utah)
- Frontier Homestead State Park (Utah)
- Hyrum Lake State Park (Utah)
- Kodachrome Basin State Park (Utah)
- Sand Hollow State Park (Utah)
- Shore Acres State Park (Oregon)
- Snow Canyon State Park (Utah)
- Utah Lake State Park (Utah)
- Valley of Fire State Park (Nevada)
Hiking Trails
We love to hike. Whether it’s a short one-mile trail to a waterfall or a 14-mile trek to a mountain peak. Many of the national and state parks listed above have their own hiking trails. If you’re looking to hike in those parks, visit the links above.
The list below are hikes that don’t fall into national or state parks. However, they are amazing treks in some beautiful wilderness areas.
- Albion Basin & Cecret Lake (Utah)
- Bear Canyon Suspension Bridge (Utah)
- Bells Canyon Lower Waterfall (Utah)
- Calf Creek Falls (Utah)
- Camelback Mountain (Arizona)
- Donut Falls (Utah)
- Horseshoe Bend (Arizona)
- Little Wild Horse Canyon (Utah)
- Lower Antelope Canyon (Arizona)
- Red Canyon (Utah)
- Waterfalls near Prospect, Oregon
Scenic Drives
There’s something fun about a scenic drive. It’s an opportunity to connect with your family, while enjoying the beauty of the world. However, scenic drives may not be for everyone. My kids don’t enjoy a scenic drive unless they have movies to watch or electronics to play. But that defeats the purpose of a scenic drive, right?
I’ve enjoyed these four scenic drives, each one offering something unique.
- Cape Ann on the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway (Massachusetts)
- Highway 139 – A beautiful mountain pass (Colorado)
- Scenic Byway 12 – Majestic landscapes near Bryce Canyon (Utah)
- Tidepools along Highway 101 on the Oregon Coast
Other Notable Destinations
As fall break approaches, I’ve heard of several people heading to Las Vegas. Many Utah residents often escape to Anaheim for a Disneyland vacation. Since Disneyland isn’t currently open (Oct. 2020), Disney World in Florida is always an option.
Here’s a rundown of some other notable fall break destinations.
- Best spots to stargaze in Utah
- Enjoy a float tray at the Coca-Cola Store in Las Vegas (Nevada)
- Plan a Disneyland vacation (California)
- Take the family to Walt Disney World (Florida)
- Visit LEGOLAND California
- Spend Halloween at SeaWorld (California)
- Explore the USS Midway aircraft carrier in San Diego (California)
Summary
I know 2020 isn’t a typical year. Vacations or road trips take a little extra planning. But I’ve also found that a day trip to enjoy the great outdoors relieves stress. I fully believe in mental wellness drives, too. It’s a great way to address cabin fever.
If you have questions about any of these destinations, post comments below. If there’s a spot you think others would enjoy, share that, too. Travel is possible during a global pandemic; you just have to be responsible and do your research.
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