Top 10 US Shoulder Season Destinations for Fall Travel
Lonely Planet has identified the top 10 shoulder season travel spots in the U.S. for visits between the busy summer months and the quieter winter season. Featured locations are: Rapid City, SD (home to Mount Rushmore, celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025); Madison, WI (known for its farmers' market and Taliesin); Tucson, AZ (featuring the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and Saguaro National Park); Anchorage, AK (offering views of the aurora borealis and glacier cruises); Newport, RI (renowned for its Gilded Age mansions); Alabama's Gulf Coast (with Gulf State Park and the National Shrimp Festival); Albuquerque, NM (site of the International Balloon Fiesta and Petroglyph National Monument); Lake Placid, NY (rich in Olympic history); Bluffton, SC (showcasing Lowcountry charm); and Missoula, MT (ideal for mountain hikes). Travelers are advised to plan ahead and remain flexible due to limited fall schedules and the ongoing hurricane season until November.
Key facts
- Lonely Planet lists 10 best US shoulder season destinations.
- Rapid City, SD: Mount Rushmore 100th anniversary in 2025.
- Madison, WI: Dane County Farmers' Market on Capitol Square runs Saturdays through early November.
- Tucson, AZ: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum spans 98 acres.
- Anchorage, AK: Aurora borealis visible from mid-August through mid-April.
- Newport, RI: The Breakers is the largest Gilded Age mansion.
- Alabama's Gulf Coast: National Shrimp Festival in October.
- Albuquerque, NM: International Balloon Fiesta in early October.
- Lake Placid, NY: Hosted Winter Olympics twice (1932 and 1980).
- Bluffton, SC: Gullah culture traces back to West African traditions.
- Missoula, MT: Smokejumper Visitor Center at nation's largest smokejumper base.
- Hurricane season along Gulf Coast runs through November.
Entities
Institutions
- Lonely Planet
- Mount Rushmore
- Badlands National Park
- Custer State Park
- Dinosaur Park
- Firehouse Brewing Company
- Dane County Farmers' Market
- Wisconsin State Capitol
- Olbrich Botanical Gardens
- Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin
- Monona Terrace
- Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
- Saguaro National Park
- Pima Air & Space Museum
- San Xavier del Bac Mission
- Tucson Bike Tours
- Anchorage Museum
- Alaska Native Heritage Center
- Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
- Wildbirch Hotel
- The Breakers
- Marble House
- Rosecliff
- Fort Adams State Park
- The Sailing Museum and National Sailing Hall of Fame
- White Horse Tavern
- Gulf State Park
- Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
- Dolphins Down Under
- National Shrimp Festival
- The Hangout
- Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
- New Mexico Wine Studio
- Petroglyph National Monument
- Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
- Sandia Peak Tramway
- ABQ BioPark
- Lake Placid Olympic Museum
- Adirondack Carousel
- Church of the Cross
- May River Excursions
- Wine Time Bluffton
- Burnt Church Distillery
- Hunting Island State Park
- St. Phillips Island
- Smokejumper Visitor Center
- The Resort at Paws Up
- Ranch at Rock Creek
Locations
- Rapid City
- South Dakota
- Mount Rushmore
- Custer State Park
- Badlands National Park
- Black Hills
- Madison
- Wisconsin
- Lake Mendota
- Lake Monona
- Capitol Square
- Spring Green
- Tucson
- Arizona
- Saguaro National Park
- Anchorage
- Alaska
- Seward Highway
- Beluga Point
- Whittier
- Prince William Sound
- Knik Glacier
- Colony Glacier
- Newport
- Rhode Island
- Cliff Walk
- Brenton Point State Park
- Fort Adams State Park
- Alabama
- Gulf Coast
- Gulf State Park
- Lake Shelby
- Orange Beach
- Albuquerque
- New Mexico
- Old Town
- Piedras Marcadas Canyon Trail
- Cibola National Forest
- Lake Placid
- New York
- Adirondack Mountains
- High Falls Gorge
- Mirror Lake
- Saranac Lake
- Bluffton
- South Carolina
- May River
- Old Town Bluffton
- Hunting Island State Park
- St. Phillips Island
- Missoula
- Montana
- Mount Sentinel
- Mount Jumbo
- University of Montana
Sources
- Quartz —