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20 Delightful State Parks for RVing in the fall

| Updated Dec 17, 2023

Planning to go RVing in the fall? Despite sweltering temps and the long days of an August summer, a change in season is right around the corner — what better time to look at the best state parks for autumn camping?

Of course, like many lists of this sort, this is entirely subjective — especially with more than 6,000 state park units across the U.S.

But as you start to plan your fall RVing, we thought we' give you a jump start by listing some of the ones we think are the best.

But we'd also love to hear from you, our RV Lifestyle Fellow Travelers, to learn about more great options so we can keep adding to the fall RVing list in the future. Just use the comments below this article to share your suggestions.

To get the conversation started for now, however, here are:

20 Delightful State Parks for RVing in the fall

Letchworth State Park, New York

A destination that has becomes one of our favorites.,Letchworth State Park has been voted one of the best attractions in the U.S., and New York, and is known to some as the Grand Canyon of the East. In addition to plenty of spots to RV, it offers tent and trailer sites as well as winterized cabins and group camping facilities.

You can get a glimpse of the majesty of this state park towards the end of this video we did on the Adirondacks and New York.

 

Pawtuckaway State Park, New Hampshire

Campers say they love Pawtuckaway State Park as its located in one of the best U.S. states for fall RVing colors. Activities abound: hiking, mountain biking, boating, swimming and fishing. If you're looking for a change of scenery you can always head 30 minutes west to Bear Brook State Park.

Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee

Tennessee's popular Fall Creek Falls State Park spans an impressive 26,000 acres and is home to one of the highest waterfalls campers will find in the eastern U.S. in the 256-foot Fall Creek Falls. There are 220-plus campsites available in addition to cabins and back-country options for serious explorers. It's a great choice for fall RVing.

Allegany State Park, New York

Allegany State Park is the largest in New York and must-see in the fall. The sprawling park boasts 424 campsites and 375 cabins, so finding a spot shouldn't be a problem when you head the for phenomenal leaf-peeping.

Ricketts Glen State Park, Pennsylvania

The fall foliage found in Pennsylvania's Ricketts Glen State Park is second to none but there's so much more to see here, including nearly two dozen waterfalls (among them the 94-foot Ganoga Falls). Campers will have plenty of choices too as there is a wide variety of options located within this park that spans more than 13,000 acres.

Burlingame State Park, Rhode Island

It may be the smallest state, but you can't afford to miss out on Burlingame State Park, a 3,100-acre hidden gem surrounding Watchaug Pond in Charlestown, Rhode Island. The park's namesake campground is massive too, offering visitors more than 700 campsites along with 20 comfortable cabins.

Blackwater Falls State Park, West Virginia

West Virginia's scenic Blackwater Falls are named for the color produced as a result of tannic acid from fallen hemlock and red spruce needles. The campground here is home to 65 total tent and trailer sites, nearly half of which offer electricity. Cabins are also available. 

Lost Maples State Natural Area, Texas

The Uvalde bigtooth maples located within Texas' Lost Maples State Natural Area are a big draw come fall as they turn remarkable shades of red, orange, and yellow. There are also more than 10 miles of hiking trails as well as primitive campsites and campsites equipped with electricity. 

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, California

Towering redwoods and dramatic cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean sound good? Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and nearby Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park are as picturesque as camping settings come no matter the season. If your stay is brief, hop on the PCH and head north to explore places like Natural Bridges State Beach and Big Basin Redwoods State Park in and around Santa Cruz. Be sure to check out previous coverage of the area by the RV Lifestyle!

Blue Spring State Park, Florida

Every winter from November to mid-April, a spit of water called the Blue Springs Run is filled with manatees, often called sea cows. The Blue Springs Run flows into the St. Johns River and emanates from a deep underground spring that burps up crystal clear water that never varies from a temperature of 72 degrees. This is another location that was featured by the RV Lifestyle, which you can find here.

Tettegouche State Park, Minnesota

Camping is available year-round in Tettegouche State Park so don't hesitate to take advantage this fall. Visitors will discover mesmerizing waterfalls along with stunning wildlife and rock formations. We can attest to the beauty of the area, too, having been to this park as part of our Great Lakes Shoreline Tour several years ago. 

Custer State Park, South Dakota

Head to the Black Hills this fall to experience Custer State Park, which offers a bundle of campgrounds including the inviting Blue Bell Campground. Legion Lake, French Creek and other areas also offer visitors an array of camping options, including back-country and even horse camping.

If you plan to visit this area, be sure to check out the video below for “Our Five Favorite Stops in South Dakota.”

Indian Cave State Park, Nebraska

A renowned camping destination in large part because of its unrivaled scenery, Indian Cave State Park boasts spectacular views, awesome autumn colors and miles of hiking trails. October's annual Haunted Hollow is also a huge draw for campers looking to participate in hayrides and campsite decorating contests, among other games and activities. It's a perfect place for RVing in the fall. Note that there has been recent flooding in the area so be sure to check the website here.

Cunningham Falls State Park, Maryland

Located a little over an hour north of Washington, D.C., Cunningham Falls State Park isn't short on natural or man-made wonders as campers can experience the park's namesake 78-foot waterfall as well as a 40-plus-acre lake. Campsites are available for RVing in the fall through October at the larger William Houck Area Campground (which also features cabins) and year-round at the nearby Manor Area Campground.

Fort Boonesborough State Park, Kentucky

American history buffs will love Kentucky's Fort Boonesborough State Park, which is the site of the namesake frontier fort founded along the Kentucky River by Daniel Boone in 1775. Campers looking to experience the site at their own pace can choose from more than 160 sites equipped with electricity and water hookups. For more on the area, check out the Off the Beaten Path report from episode 96 of the RV Lifestyle podcast. 

Pedernales Falls State Park, Texas

Pedernales Falls State Park is the place to be for a relaxing swim, hike or mountain bike ride in Texas Hill Country just outside of Austin. Fall RVers can reserve sites with water and electric hookups or hike several miles to primitive spots for a much more rewarding experience.

Niagara Falls State Park, New York

The nation's oldest state park should be on every American's bucket list and campers don't have an excuse to miss it as the region offers plenty of campgrounds within close proximity to the powerful natural wonder, including an ideal basecamp in the Niagara Falls/Grand Island KOA just a few miles away.

Hungry Mother State Park, Virginia

Hungry Mother State Park is one of Virginia's original six state parks, offering visitors an excellent option for RVing in the fall camping, including Camp Burson on one end of the park's 108-acre lake, which is surrounded by colorful woodland come fall.

Babcock State Park, West Virginia

A trip to Babcock State Park is like bringing a postcard to life. Not only is the park home to the Mountain State's most iconic landmark and located just minutes from the nearly 900-foot-tall New River Gorge Bridge, but it offers 52 camping sites and 28 cabins for vacation rentals, including more than a dozen along scenic Glade Creek.

Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park, Hawaii

OK, so you're probably not going to be RVing in the fall there, but experienced hikers and campers seeking out a challenge this fall might want to at least be aware of Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park in Kauai. Keep in mind that camping here comes with certain restrictions given the obstacles and potential dangers of the area. Hanakoa and Kalalau are the only two authorized areas for camping along the Kalalau trail and hikers must obtain permits in advance.

Mike Wendland

Published on 2020-08-10

Mike Wendland is a multiple Emmy-award-winning Journalist, Podcaster, YouTuber, and Blogger, who has traveled with his wife, Jennifer, all over North America in an RV, sharing adventures and reviewing RV, Camping, Outdoor, Travel and Tech Gear for the past 12 years. They are leading industry experts in RV living and have written 18 travel books.

2 Responses to “20 Delightful State Parks for RVing in the fall”

August 12, 2022at12:39 pm, Leaf Peeping Map 2022: Plan Your Fall RV Trips | RV Lifestyle said:

[…] 20 Delightful State Parks for RVing in the Fall […]

August 10, 2020at2:59 pm, Kathryn Swift said:

Julia Phieffer Burns SP does not have campsites for RVs. It only has 2 walk in sites. Pheiffer Big Sur does have drive in sites.

Comments are closed.

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