Follow the yellow forest: How American Airlines can get you to the season’s best leaf-peeping spots

There's something about fall that feels like nostalgia in motion. The air turns cool and sweet and the sun hangs a little lower, casting that perfect golden light in the evening. Forests put on a show, country roads curl past orchards bursting with apples and cafes feel cozy and inviting from the early fall chill.

Leaf peeping isn't just about the leaves - it's about chasing that fleeting, cozy magic. American Airlines can help travelers reach the heart of autumn's most dazzling displays across America's leaf-peeping hotspots.

Cooling down is warming up

After a summer of tanning on the beaches of Greek islands, savoring gourmet pasta in Italy and taking in the vibrant cities of Spain, travelers are now turning their attention to cozy fall where nature puts on a spectacular show. Compared to 2024, bookings for fall foliage destinations are up 11% on American.

Leading the charge are millennials and Gen Z travelers who make up more than 40% of fall foliage chasers this year. While Gen Z is after the Northeast with Boston and New York as top destinations, millennials are turning their attention to the Rocky Mountains and their shimmering slopes.

Looking for inspiration? Here's what American's data says about different travelers:

• Solo travelers: Most likely to flock to western gateways like Denver and Spokane, Washington, where they can choose between making new friends at craft breweries or enjoying solace in a mountain hike.
• Couple-cations: Couples are heading to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, or Portland, Maine, for fall weather amid unique and stunning outdoor scenery.
• Family-friendly fall: For families, New York and Boston stand out as offering the best of both worlds: a bustling city filled with activities and a short drive to see some of nature's best displays.

Western shimmering slopes

Autumn in the Colorado Rockies shimmers with quaking aspens and hillsides turning gold as far as the eye can see. American connects travelers to Colorado, where alpine hikes end with cocoa by a roasting lodge fire. Montana's Big Sky Country brings a quieter leaf season. Landscapes painted in burnished yellows and russet browns, star-filled skies and first hints of snow - bringing autumn's drama on a grand scale featuring fewer crowds.

For the fastest way to the scenery in Colorado, fly into Denver (DEN), Aspen (ASE) or Vail (EGE). Also, American's flights to Bozeman, Montana (BZN), or Jackson Hole, Wyoming (JAC), offer convenient ways to see the fall foliage coupled with a national park adventure.

Pacific Northwest mist and maples

A tapestry of emerald evergreens laced with crimson and golden big-leaf maples, the Pacific northwest is the epitome of fall vibes. Morning fog drifting across mountain lakes and the scent of rain on cedar is unmistakably cozy. Flights to Seattle (SEA) and Portland, Oregon (PDX), put travelers who love urban vibes within reach of scenic drives along the Columbia River Gorge and waterfalls framed in copper and gold, while exploring seasonal markets and tree-lined neighborhoods.

Great Lakes and golden shores

In Michigan, a kaleidoscope of sugar maples meets steel-blue water. Scenic drives around Traverse City (TVC) or the Upper Peninsula's Marquette (MQT) spill into lakeside towns where travelers can sip on warm cider by the docks.

Looking to pair chasing the fall color with delicious cheese curds or apple cider donuts in hand? Traveling to Minneapolis, Minnesota (MSP), or Appleton, Wisconsin (ATW), offers travelers the chance to sample the local cuisine, relaxing scenery and charming midwestern towns.

The storybook charm of the Northeast

Vermont's Green Mountains and New Hampshire's White Mountains deliver iconic foliage every September through October. Stone walls frame winding roads with trees putting on a show and farm stands pile high with pumpkins and fresh cider donuts. With its own kind of romance, the Hudson Valley offers vineyards and apple orchards draped in amber, colorful river views and historic towns featuring autumn festivals.

American makes it easy to reach the heart of fall with flights into Albany, New York (ALB), or New York City (LGA) to enjoy a scenic drive along the Hudson Valley. For a classic New England fall getaway, consider a flight to Burlington, Vermont (BTV); Manchester, New Hampshire (MHT); or Boston (BOS) for a road trip to visit storybook Stowe, Vermont.

The Blue Ridge slowdown

For a longer foliage window, head south to Asheville, North Carolina (AVL), or Roanoke, Virginia (ROA). With either the Great Smoky Mountains or the Blue Ridge Parkway, autumn is at its most soulful with mist across ridges at dawn and maples glowing red against a backdrop of smoky blue peaks. The elevation changes keep colors popping from late September into early November, offering panoramic overlooks.

Whether planning a quick road trip across Vermont's Route 100 or a weeklong Blue Ridge Parkway drive, American Airlines gets travelers closer to the vibrant reds and golds that define fall in the U.S.

Autumn only lingers for a heartbeat, so grab your cardigans and follow the colors as they put on a show.

Fall travel data is internal American Airlines data as of Sept. 9, 2025 for booked travel in September and October. Travel comparisons are made against the same period in 2024.