When the glory of summer is subsiding and the leaves are starting to turn, most people are still unpacking from their summer vacations. Meanwhile, the savvier jet-setters among us are starting their search for the best places to travel in October.
Shoulder season – the stretch of time just after a destination’s peak tourist months – is not only the cheapest time to fly, it’s also the least crowded and most underrated time to travel. The price tags on flights to the world’s top destinations like Hawaii and London fall by generous amounts, while the throngs of tourists that usually crowd beachy hotspots like Aruba and the Italian coast have flown home.
Cozy October is a great time for autumn-lovers to hit the road in search of stunning scenery, too. Travelers in the US don’t need a passport to gaze upon some of the world’s best foliage in places like Woodstock, VT, or northern Georgia. But it’s also a great month for warm-weather enthusiasts to get in their final sunny getaways before they give in to pumping pumpkin spice directly into their veins.
Whether you’re a thespian or an equestrian, traveling by air or by car, there’s somewhere great for you to head during shoulder season. We tapped Expedia travel expert Melanie Fish for advice on where to go this fall – and ahead she shares her insights on budget-friendly options, leaf-peeping trips, warm-weather vacations, and more. The list of top October travel destinations below is sure to spark some inspiration for your next adventure.
Experts Featured in This Article
Melanie Fish is the head of Expedia Group brands public relations.
The Best Places to Travel in the US in October
- Woodstock, VT. For those seeking a classic autumnal vacation spot, Fish says you can’t go wrong with good old New England. With a car, Vermont is easy to get to from Boston, and it’s not far from other great road trip wonders like Acadia National Park in nearby Maine. Woodstock itself, with its rolling hills and red farmhouses, is about as quaint as it gets.
- Telluride, CO. The Rocky Mountains in October are a golden sight to behold – literally. Usually a hot destination in the wintertime, ski enthusiasts know Telluride well. But Fish recommends visiting in October when it’s less busy and the scenery (especially from the famed gondola) is to die for.
- Lake Oconee, GA. This underrated destination boasts drop-dead beautiful foliage and a gorgeous, moody lake. Treat yourself to a night’s stay at the five-star Ritz-Carlton Reynolds and wake up to views of the Oconee that will have you melting right back into your luxe sheets.
- Forestville, CA. Fish recommends a stay at the Farmhouse Inn in Forestville for nightly s’mores in a “cozy, upscale setting.” Just northwest of Sonoma, this town is a nature-lover’s dream, nestled among towering redwoods, rolling vineyards, and apple orchards. It’s great for hikes, strolls, horseback riding, and more.
The Best Places to Travel in Europe in October
- London. London draws crowds all summer long and mellows out a bit in October, when the weather is notably drearier but not yet unbearable.
- Dublin. Flight prices to Dublin drop by 15 percent or more in October, Fish says. Plus, the Irish capital comes to life in the fall, especially during the Dublin Theatre Festival. It begins in late September and continues into early October, “offering a rich array of performances and cultural events,” Fish says.
- Sicily and Umbria. October is the perfect time to plan that bucket-list road trip through Italy, starting in rustic Umbria, winding your way through cosmopolitan Rome, and ending on the Sicilian coast. The weather’s tamed and the crowds are dissipating, but the natural beauty – and culinary bounty – of the Italian countryside remain the same.
The Best Global Destinations to Visit in October
- Toronto. Fish recommends an October trip to Toronto before winter weather sets in, so you have a chance to stroll the city’s vibrant, diverse streets (which are packed with awesome food). It’s an easy two-hour drive from the city to Niagara on the Lake, a town near the falls without all the tourist traps.
- Tokyo and Osaka. There’s no better time to visit Japan’s big cities than October. “Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka are all seeing double-digit search increases for fall,” Fish says. So, while you might have some company from other tourists during your stay, it’s popular this time of year for a reason: gorgeous foliage and mild weather.
- Aruba. According to Expedia’s Fall Travel Outlook, October 20 is the cheapest day to travel internationally, and travelers are taking advantage of warm-weather spots like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Punta Cana. Aruba falls slightly off that well-beaten path, but is still “the perfect blend of sun, sea, and relaxation before embracing cooler fall temperatures,” Fish says.
The Cheapest Places to Travel in October
- Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, TN. Two much-overlooked fall destinations in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, these towns are cozy and charming without the hefty price tags of better-known foliage hotspots.
- Myrtle Beach, SC. While Myrtle Beach is famous for spring break shenanigans, in October it’s much more relaxed. Vrbo rental prices here drop significantly during shoulder season – which also happens to be peak hurricane season in South Carolina. Just be sure to check the weather before you hit the road.
- Honolulu. As the leaves fall, so do flight prices. Just like Dublin, Fish says ticket fares to Honolulu decrease more than 15 percent in October. While no trip to Hawaii is going to be “cheap” per se, this is the best time to go if you want to be kind(er) to your wallet.
Emma Glassman-Hughes is the associate editor at PS Balance. Before joining PS, her freelance and staff reporting roles spanned the lifestyle spectrum; she covered arts and culture for The Boston Globe, sex and relationships for Cosmopolitan, travel for Here Magazine, and food, climate, and agriculture for Ambrook Research.
