Fall Road Trip Ideas from Atlanta, Chicago, LA, San Francisco and NYC

Fall is the perfect time for a road trip, and there are so many incredible destinations within a few hours of America’s biggest cities.  So pack up your tent, or rent an RV and hit the road!  Here are some of our favorite destinations.

San Francisco Road Trips

Antioch, CA

Highlights

• Paddle the Antioch Delta on a kayak or SUP, where the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers join before flowing to the Pacific
• Explore beautiful waterways and take in the picturesque views
• Guided tours or self-guided rental options

Perfect for

• Water sports enthusiasts
• Nature lovers
• A quick getaway less than an hour the hustle-bustle of city life
• All seasons

Budget

Starts from $18 per hour

Distance from San Francisco

45 miles

Napa, CA

Highlights

• Explore Napa’s lush vineyards and popular scenic roads
• Cool off from the California heat with a guided paddle board or kayak tour along the Napa River
• Indulge with a glass of delicious Napa wine after a day paddling the Napa River

Perfect for

• Wine lovers
• Nature enthusiasts
• Vineyard dates
• Bachelorette parties

Budget

Starts from $25 per day

Distance from San Francisco

50 miles

Santa Rosa, CA

Highlights

• Cycle the scenic backcountry roads of Sonoma County and Napa Valley
• Visit popular vineyards and taste their classic wines
• Paddle the Russian River in Napa Valley

Perfect for

• Wine and adventure lovers
• Romantic trips
• Family events

Budget

Starts from $139 per day

Distance from San Francisco

55 miles

Truckee, CA

Highlights

• Mountain bike the famous Tahoe Rim trail perched above Lake Tahoe
• In winter, shred at one of Tahoe’s 4 incredible ski resorts
• Get your ski and snowboard equipment delivered right to your accommodation

Perfect for

• Family bike rides around Lake Tahoe
• Shredding downhill MTB trails at Northstar Resort
• Sunset Lake Tahoe kayak or SUP adventures
• Ski and snowboard aficionados

Budget

Starts from $20

Distance from San Francisco

185 miles

Santa Cruz, CA

Highlights

• The moderate climate and beautiful Pacific coastlines
• Sunset kayaking or standup paddleboarding 
• Discover marine life and witness otters, sea lions and seals
• Introductory SUP lessons & SUP Yoga

Perfect for

• Exploring the Pacific Coast
• Learning to SUP with the family
• Romantic couples adventures

Budget

Starts from $30

Distance from San Francisco

70 miles

New York Road Trips

Raymond, ME

Highlights

• Explore the rocky shores of Maine by kayak, SUP or canoe
• Guided kayak, SUP and canoe tours on Sebago Lake
• SUP and kayak lessons

Perfect for

• Romantic Maine sunsets aboard a kayak or SUP
• Wildlife sightings like deer, ducks, blue herons, and loons

Budget

Starts from $29

Distance from New York

330 miles

 

Boston, MA

Highlights

• Bike tours of Boston, Cambridge, and the surrounding areas
• Rent a bike to explore Boston’s trails or roads: choose from a mountain, hybrid, road or electric bike for a self-guided tour!

Perfect for

• Exploring more of the beautiful city on two wheels
• History buffs

Budget

Starts from $40

Distance from New York

215 miles

 

Atlanta Road Trips

Destin, FL

Highlights

• Paddle the blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico, dune lakes or beautiful bayous
• Join a SUP excursion or SUP Yoga along the Emerald Coast
• Rent a bike to explore the panhandle of northwest Florida

Perfect for

• Looking for dolphins, rays, schools of fish, sea turtles and other marine life
• Romantic outings
• Family fun at the beach

Budget

Starts from $30

Distance from Atlanta

335 miles

Dauphin Island, AL

Highlights

• Kayak tours to explore the beautiful Gulf beaches
• See dolphins, sea turtles, alligators, many species of birds including red-headed woodpeckers, hawks, egrets, storks, and possibly even a pirate or two

Perfect for

• A peaceful getaway to uncrowded beaches
• Wildlife enthusiasts
• Eco Adventures
• Nature photography

Budget

Starts from $39

Distance from Atlanta

362 miles

 

Los Angeles Road Trips

Malibu, CA

Highlights

• Beautiful views of the Pacific
• Unforgettable surfing adventures on the beautiful beaches of Malibu

Perfect for

• Learning to surf
• Day trip or weekend getaway to the beach

Budget

Starts from $90

Distance from  Los Angeles

33 miles

San Diego, CA

Highlights

• Paddle the protected waters of America’s Cup Harbor looking for seals, sea lions, and sea turtles
• Views of the stunning San Diego Skyline and Coronado Island
• Pedal to San Diego’s beaches, parks, and restaurants

Perfect for

• Family getaways
• All seasons

Budget

Starts from $18

Distance from Los Angeles

120 miles

Santa Barbara, CA

Highlights

• Learn to surf on the central coast
• Rent a SUP and discover California sea lions, seals, brown pelicans, and more

Perfect for

• Wildlife photographers
• Family surfing lessons

Budget

Starts from $25

Distance from Los Angeles

95 miles

Chicago Road Trips

 

Boundary Waters, MN

Highlights

• Over 1,000 lakes and hundreds of miles of portage trails provide a one-of-a-kind canoeing, portaging and camping adventure
• Opportunities to see moose, bear, deer, pine martens, beavers, otters and more

Perfect for

• Wilderness camping
• Learning how to portage a canoe
• Family canoe packing adventures
• Teaching kids about nature and the need to protect this incredible place

Budget

Starts from $39

Distance from Chicago

472 miles

 

Door County, WI

Highlights

• Explore Door County peninsula’s off-shore islands, caves and wave-worn limestone cliffs by kayak or SUP
• Discover the peninsula effortlessly with an electric bike rental
• 300 miles of stunning shoreline and tucked away bays, bluffs, lighthouses and more

Perfect for

• Exploring Lake Michigan
• Family adventures
• Weekend getaways

Budget

Starts from $30

Distance from Chicago

245 miles

Copper Harbor, MI

Highlights

• Guided 1/2 day, full-day, and multi-day kayak tours of Lake Superior
• Rent a premium full suspension, hardtail or fat bike to experience some of the best mountain biking in the Midwest at Copper Harbor’s renowned mountain bike trail network

Perfect for

• Discovering Lake Superior’s barrier islands, finger bays, sea caves, cliffs, and spiny ridgelines
• Visiting Isle Royale National Park

Budget

Starts from $18

Distance from Chicago

462 miles

No matter where you choose to visit this fall, make sure you follow Leave No Trace principles, and recreate responsibly outdoors to ensure our wilderness areas stay pristine for generations to come.