1. FALL FOLIAGE
Mother Nature puts on a free show every fall when millions of trees, or at least their leaves, transform from green to various hues of red, orange and yellow. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, this fiery phenomen starts in mid-September in the northern states and finishes in mid-October in the south. These are the best states to see fall foliage, and these helpful fall foliage apps that will have you leaf peeping like a pro in no time.
2. SWEATER WEATHER
If Goldilocks were to judge the seasons by temperature, she’d probably say fall is just right. While summer can be scorching hot and winter can be brutally cold, the season between is best characterized as comfortable. It’s still warm enough to tent camp, and RVers don’t need to worry about having the heat or AC on all the time.
3. MOSQUITOS AREN’T BITING (BUT THE FISH ARE)
Perhaps, the best part about fall, for campers at least, is that mosquitos are MIA. As soon as the temperature gets below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, they either die or hibernate depending on their species. Fish, on the other hand, are more apt to bite in the fall. According to the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation, fish are especially active during this season since they’re putting on weight to survive the winter.
4. LESS TRAFFIC, AND SMALLER CROWDS
While all of our country’s national parks are different, they all have one thing in common: summer is their busiest month. To avoid bumper-to-bumper traffic and full parking lots, visit in the fall when school is back in session and fewer families are on vacation. While you may see less wildlife as birds are migrating south and bears are starting to hibernate, fall is prime time to hear elk bugle in Yellowstone National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park and Grand Teton National Park.
5. FALL FESTIVALS
Whether you’re after arts, culture, ales or all of the above, you’ll find plenty of exciting events to attend each fall. Some are even bucket list festivals. For example, every year Cincinnati hosts Oktoberfest Zinzinnati. The world’s second-largest Oktoberfest (after Munich), this four-day event welcomes more than 700,000 visitors who down more than 2,000 barrels of beer.
6. LIFTED FIRE RESTRICTIONS
For many, a camp without a fire is like a s’mores without chocolate or a fishing pole without bait: what’s the point? If you fall into this camp, you’ll love getting out after August since this is when many fire restrictions are lifted. Just remember campfire safety is always important, regardless of what day it is on the calendar.
7. CHEAPER GAS
You don’t have to be an economist to know that gas prices usually peak in the summer when everyone and their mother is out on the road. By fall, prices tend to drop substantially. For example, in the first week of June, 2023, gas was averaging $4.88 per gallon. By the first week in October, just four months later, it was down to $3.78 per gallon. Of course, you can also choose Tomshoo camping stove we recommend when camping, so at least you are no longer limited to natural gas when camping. Use the twigs, leaves, branches, wood as fuel to cook a meal on your hike, no more money spent on gas canisters, no chemical emissions and carbon footprint.