American Airlines Makes It Easy To Reach the Best U.S. Fall Foliage Destinations This Year

My favorite season is here: fall. That time when the temperature isn’t so hot, Halloween decorations start coming out, and that magical feeling brought by the changing colors of the leaves is here — it’s special.

According to data from American Airlines, bookings to destinations focused on fall foliage are up 11% from last year. Whether you’re heading to the Northeast, the Rockies, or the Midwest, American wants to be the airline that takes you to see fall’s vibrant colors.

If you’re planning a short-notice getaway for some leaf-peeping, here’s what the data says about this year’s popular destinations — plus how you can get there without spending a fortune.

Where People Are Flying for Fall Foliage Trips This Year

According to new data from American Airlines, trips to see the leaves changing colors are up this year, but not everyone is going to the same place. Generally speaking, Millennials are heading to the Rockies, while Gen Z is heading to the northeast.

But the data breaks down even further, with the following types of travelers choosing different destinations:

• Solo travelers are choosing western destinations like Denver, Colorado, and Spokane, Washington, where outdoor activities and local activities combine well with the foliage element.
• Couples are heading to destinations with outdoor scenery, such as Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Portland, Maine.
• Families are flocking to cities that offer both activities and natural displays within close proximity, with New York City and Boston leading the way.

How To Reach These Destinations

Let’s look at how you can reach these destinations, whether that’s with American Airlines or another carrier. We’ll move from West to East, covering the destinations mentioned above.

To visit Spokane (GEG), you’ll find nonstop flights from multiple locations in California, as well as flights from major cities in the western U.S. If you’re east of the Mississippi, there are also nonstop flights from Chicago with Southwest, United, and American and from Atlanta with Delta.

Flights to Jackson Hole (JAC) are available from multiple cities in California, as well as from Seattle, Salt Lake City, Denver, and a pair of cities in Texas. You’ll also find flights here from Minneapolis, Chicago, New York City, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and Charlotte, North Carolina.

Flying to Denver (DEN) is simple, because it’s such a massive airport and offers numerous connections. You can fly here from nearly any point in the U.S., and it’s a main hub for both United Airlines and Frontier.

Flights to New York City (EWR, JFK, and LGA airports) are also numerous. You can reach one of these 3 airports from nearly any point in the U.S.

To visit Boston (BOS), there are numerous options from the eastern half of the U.S. — especially with JetBlue, as it’s a major hub for the airline. You’ll still find flights from the western U.S., though, including options from Texas, Colorado, Arizona, California, and even Kansas City and Bozeman, to name a few.

Lastly, flights to Portland, Maine (PWM) are available from multiple airports between New York City and Florida along the Atlantic coast. You’ll also find flights from places like Columbus, Ohio, Nashville, Minneapolis, and even as far west as Denver.

Depending on where you want to go, compare the cost of flights with the cost of using an airline’s loyalty program. Flying during popular periods can lead to more expensive fares, so using points or miles to get there can help you save money.

Final Thoughts

American Airlines is out with new data saying that trips to visit fall foliage are more popular this year than last year — part of a years-long increase in popularity for U.S. travelers to go see the leaves as they change colors. Popular destinations this year feature some classic favorites like Maine, while also showing some new data about couples, families, and solo travelers picking different destinations for different reasons.

If you haven’t booked your trip yet, there are some good recommendations here — both for destinations and how to get there without breaking the bank.