New England - Vermont
Vermont enjoys a long fall season allowing you to maximize the time spent camping in the red, gold, orange, yellow and purple maple leaves. The Lone Pine Campsite is 30 minutes north of Burlington and is centrally located to the Green Mountains, Lake Champlain and myriads of hiking trails. The campground offers RV and tent camping, allows pets, has full hookups, including 30- or 50-amp electric, water, sewer, cable TV and Wi-Fi.
In addition to basking in the grand colors of Vermont's Green Mountains, drive 10 minutes to Lake Champlain and look west for a spectacular view of the Adirondacks covered in full fall colors.
Lone Pine Campsites
52 Sunset View Rd
Colchester, VT 05446
802-878-5447
lonepinecampsites.com
Mid Atlantic - Adirondacks
The Adirondack Mountains hosted the Winter Olympics twice, testimony to their ruggedness and outdoor recreation opportunities. When the maples turn colors in the Adirondack's high peaks you get to see a palette of deep reds, yellows, golds and reds. The Keene Valley just outside Lake Placid seems to glow with color during the autumn. Drive the rural bi-ways and see triathletes in training as the region is a popular road cycling and triathlon training destination, made so because Lake Placid hosts an Ironman each summer. Look for road side apple pie and cider stands.
Try camping at the Adirondack Club's Adirondack Loj campground. The campground is set deep in the pines and maple trees and campsites have water, sewer, and electric hookups for RVs. Tent sites have fire rings and picnic tables. The camping area is within a 1/4 mile of the Mount Marcy trailhead, New York State's highest mountain.
Adironack Loj
Adirondack Loj Road
Lake Placid, NY 12946-0867
518-523-3441
adk.org
Mid West - South Dakota's Black Hills
Imagine seeing aspen and birch trees glowing bright amber and gold with the coniferous green pines contrasting them. Now imagine that with the majesty of Mount Rushmore beaming through the colors. This is what you get for fall color viewing and camping around Keystone, South Dakota. This area is in the heart of the Black Hills. Hiking, fly fishing, horseback riding and mountain biking in the autumn aspens and birch gives outdoor recreation lovers opportunities to go out and enjoy the region. Make sure to drive down to Custer State Park, 45 minutes from Keystone, and drive the wildlife loop. Keep your eyes out for elk, bison, prairie dogs, eagles, and pronghorn.
Camp at Kemp's Kamp out of Keystone. RV and tent sites are available and there are hot showers, toilets, fire rings, picnic tables and playgrounds. Pets are allowed. Check with the manager about outside fire wood as there are restrictions placed to help prevent bug infestations in the forests of the region.
Kemp's Kamp
1022 Old Hill City Road
Keystone, SD 57751
888-466-628
kempskamp.com
Rocky Mountains - Montana
The region around Bozeman and Big Sky, Montana gives views of the Gallatin River, mountains and a melange of gold, yellow and orange leaves when fall comes around. Drive from Bozeman to Big Sky through the canyon, with the Gallatin River on your right and watch the aspen groves glow in color. When in Big Sky try your hand at some fly fishing, going for trout in the early morning air. Watch for elk, bear, fox and coyote in the mountains and along the river.
Try the Bozeman KOA for camping. The campground enjoys a central location between Bozeman and Big Sky and is right next to the Bozeman Hot Springs Spa where, for a modest entry fee, you get to enjoy indoor or outdoor pools fed by the geothermal waters of the region. Soak in the outdoor pool surrounded by aspen and birch dressed in their fall colors. The KOA serves RV and tent campers, pets are allowed, and offer full hookups from electric and water to sewer services.
Bozeman KOA
81123 Gallatin Road (US Hwy 191)
Bozeman, MT 59718
406-587-3030
koa.com
Alaska - Denali National Park
For a real adventure in fall colors, look at Denali National Park. Here, you don't get major tree color changes, instead you get the tundra turning rich shades or red, orange and yellow. This gives the ground and mountains the appearance of glowing embers. It does get chilly at night during the fall color camping season, but picture the trade-off being herds of caribou sticking out in grand contrast to the tundra's color change. Watch fat grizzly bears getting ready to head into the high country with the advent of winter. Listen to the wolves bay at night and wake in the morning to frozen ground and autumn Tundra.
Denali National Park operates campgrounds into the fall season, which at this latitude takes place in late August into early September. With any luck you may get to wake up to a fresh coat of "termination dust," the first snows of the season. The campground offers tent and RV campsites with fire rings, picnic tables and secure food storage lockers. Adhere to the food storage policies as this is bear country. Pets must be leashed and have to remain off the trails.
Denali National Park
P.O. Box 9
Denali Park, AK 99755-0009
907-683-2294
nps.gov
