12 Beautiful Fall Foliage Road Trips in the World To See Nature at Its Best

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Despite signaling the end of summer and long sunny days, many, including us, welcome fall and the crisp, cool air it brings. With fall comes the promise of spectacular multi-colored autumn climates begging to be explored. Fall brings it all, from beautiful orange and red leaves to magnificent wildlife displays.

As such, fall is arguably the best time of year to go on a road trip. However, we must first solve a big problem—where should we go? Luckily, to help, we’ve compiled a list of 12 road trips for fall foliage worldwide. The selected road trips offer vibrant fall colors, breathtaking scenery, and unique experiences.

The Iceland Ring Road, Iceland

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The first road-tripping destination on our list is the Iceland Ring Road. Admittedly, Iceland is a beautiful place to visit year-round. No matter when you visit, you can expect breathtaking volcanic landscapes, unique natural attractions, and picturesque scenery. However, the nation’s landscapes look even more magnificent in fall.

Iceland’s rugged landscapes turn bright red, yellow, and orange in fall. Along the 828-mile (1,333-kilometer) Iceland Ring Road, also known as Route 1, you can see the island’s fall foliage in all its glory. You’ll encounter vast fields, dense forests, waterfalls, glaciers, and volcanoes. Significant points of interest include Gullfoss, Thingvellir National Park, and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. You might even spot the Northern Lights.

White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire, United States

New Hampshire is one of the United States’ classic destinations for fall foliage. Across the state, you’ll find mesmerizing rolling hills, forests, and charming towns with bright yellow, orange, and red colored foliage. However, most of the action is found in White Mountain National ForesEt, where the landscape glows with a kaleidoscope of colored trees.

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Road tripping is one of the most popular things to do in the White Mountains, and with good reason. Besides the epic landscapes, there are hundreds of miles of scenic roads to drive along. The 100-mile (161-kilometer) White Mountain Trail is one of the best. This picturesque trail features the Kancamagus Highway, Crawford Notch State Park, and Franconia Notch State Park, all of which look beautiful in fall.

The Million Dollar Highway, Colorado, United States

Another road trip you can take in the United States if you want to witness magical fall foliage is the Million Dollar Highway in Colorado. This road-tripping route is only 25 miles (40 kilometers) long but features some of the United States’s most impressive scenery. Interestingly, this route was given its name because it cost so much to build.

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Your road trip will start in Silverton and end in Ouray, passing through the San Juan Mountains. During the drive, you’ll drive through the middle of multi-colored forests with towering trees, with monumental snow-capped mountains serving as a magical backdrop. It’s also worth noting that this stretch of road is an excellent wildlife-watching spot. You might see deer and elk.

The Romantic Road, Germany

The Romantic Road in Southern Germany might just be the most beautiful fall foliage road trip route on our list. In fact, there’s an argument to be made about it being the most scenic road trip in the world, full stop. The Romantic Road, known as Romantische Straße in German, is a 217-mile (350-kilometer) road-tripping route that leads through the forests and mountains of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.

This spectacular route starts in Würzburg, a vibrant wine region, and ends in Füssen in the foothills of the Alps, near the iconic Neuschwanstein Castle. The entire route is jam-packed with colorful forests, charming German towns, and iconic landmarks, such as the 18th-century Residenz. What’s not to like?

Chiantigiana Road (SR222), Tuscany, Italy

Italy’s Tuscany region is renowned worldwide for its stunning scenery, vibrant landscapes, and authentic Italian towns and cities. Fall is a great time to visit the region because the landscapes change from golden to fiery red and orange. The Chiantigiana Road, also called the SR222, is one of the best places to experience Tuscany’s fall foliage.

This 43-mile (69-kilometer) road connects Florence and Siena through the picturesque Chianti region. In fall, the road is surrounded by brightly colored olive groves, vibrant meadows, and multi-colored rolling hills. Besides the epic fall views, this road trip allows travelers to explore two of Tuscany’s best cities and stop at a vineyard for a glass of wine.

Torres Del Paine National Park, Chile

If it’s only April, but you’re already craving fall and its vibrant colors, plan a trip to Torres Del Paine National Park in Chile. Torres Del Paine is located in Southern Chilean Patagonia in the Southern Hemisphere. As a result, the national park experiences fall from March to May.

During this time, the park offers a fascinating contrast of multi-colored forests, snow-capped mountains, and icy glaciers. While there isn’t a dedicated Torres Del Paine road trip route, the national park still offers a remarkable experience. Besides, you can easily combine your road trip with multi-day hiking excursions in the park. Better yet, you might spot alpacas, condors, and pumas.

Haarlem-Leiden, Netherlands

Before we get into what the Netherlands offers in the way of fall foliage, let me first explain why the Netherlands is an excellent place for a road trip. Aside from having many postcard-perfect landscapes to explore, the Netherlands is relatively small, so you can drive around most of the country quickly.

Better yet, the country is known for being flat, so you don’t have to tackle any precarious roads. Finally, the roads in the Netherlands are well-maintained. Regarding fall foliage, the Netherlands’ bulb fields are a sight to behold in fall. They come to life with red, orange, yellow, and pink colors. You can see plenty of these fields on the 40-mile (64-kilometer) drive from Haarlem to Leiden.

Gilgit to Hunza, Pakistan

Pakistan might sound like a strange place for a road trip, particularly one that offers fall foliage. However, Pakistan is famed for having some of the world’s most scenic landscapes. One of the best places to experience Pakistan’s breathtaking scenery is in Hunza Valley. You’ll find dense forests with towering trees, tall mountains, and mighty rivers here.

In fall, the valley’s forests transform into fall foliage wonderland with bright orange, red, green, and yellow leaves. The Gilgit to Hunza road trip is a fantastic way to experience the area’s vibrant fall colors. This route is 61 miles (99 kilometers) and only takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete. However, that doesn’t allow for stopping to take photographs.

Bas-Saint-Laurent – Gaspésie Tour, Canada

12 Road Trips for Fall Foliage in the World Bas-Saint-Laurent - Gaspésie Tour, Canada — © Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock

If you’re searching for a fall foliage road trip that offers something extra, look no further than the Bas-Saint-Laurent – Gaspésie Tour in Quebec, Canada. Not only does this 790-mile (1,270-kilometer) road-tripping route offer exceptional fall landscapes, but it also offers drivers exceptional coastal views. If you asked us, we’d tell you that’s a match made in heaven.

This legendary drive loops around the vast Gaspé Peninsula. You’ll see lush forests with orange, yellow, red, and green leaves on one side. On the other, you can look out to sea. As you drive along the route, you’ll also pass many must-visit destinations, including Percé Rock, New Richmond, Amqui, and La Pocatière.

The N222, Douro Valley, Portugal

The penultimate road trip on our list is the N222 from Porto to the Douro Valley. Besides its world-famous wines, the Douro Valley is well known for its beautiful landscape, which features picturesque terraced vineyards, lush meadows, quaint towns, and beautiful rivers. In fall, this region comes to life with a tapestry of fall colors.

The N222 is one of the best road trips to take in the Douro Valley for several reasons. For starters, it begins in Porto, so it is easily accessible. Secondly, it follows the Douro River, so you can expect magnificent views throughout. Finally, you can take a detour along Route 322 to visit Parque Natural do Vale do Tua.

North Coast 500, Scotland

Like Iceland, Scotland is a beautiful place to explore year-round. However, the nation’s pristine coastline, dense forests, and rugged mountains look even more spectacular when autumn leaves turn red and orange. The best way to experience Scotland’s fall foliage is by taking the North Coast 500 road trip.

The United Kingdom’s most famous road trip route, the North Coast 500, or NC500, is a 516-mile (830-kilometer) route that starts and ends in Inverness, not too far from the home of Nessie, better known as the Loch Ness Monster. Along this route, you’ll pass remote fishing villages, picture-perfect coastlines, rugged mountains, and lush national parks. Falls of Shin and Rogie Falls look especially impressive in the fall.

The Baekdudaegan Route, South Korea

South Korea might not leap out as an obvious place for a road trip. However, the country’s scenic landscapes and well-maintained roads have much to offer, especially in fall when forests display a kaleidoscope of colors. There are many road trips to choose from in South Korea, but the Baekdudaegan Route is the best for natural scenery.

This road-tripping route is 485 miles (781 kilometers) long. It starts in Sokcho and ends in Jirisan National Park, passing some of the most beautiful corners of the country. When you’re not admiring the sheer size of the Baekdudaegan mountain range, you’ll find yourself falling in love with the nation’s multicolored forests. It will take you approximately 14 days to complete the entire route.