2020’s Best & Worst States to Visit This Fall

With days getting shorter, leaves changing color, and plenty of safe and fun outdoor activities still to enjoy during the pandemic, LawnStarter today released its ranking of 2020’s Best & Worst States to Visit This Fall. To help Americans plan their autumn getaways this year, LawnStarter compared 47 states — excluding California, Oregon and Washington State due to recent wildfire events — across five key categories: Parks & Forests; Entertainment; Trails; Yard Size; and Natural Hazards. In total, we looked at 16 metrics, such as the proportion of the state covered in national and state parks; pumpkin patches; wineries; scenic drives; and hurricane risk. You can find a list of our 2020 top fall destinations (and the ones to avoid) below, along with key takeaways.

Looking for a fun autumn getaway? 
 

 

Book Your Trip to One of These States:

1. New York

2. Alaska

3. Michigan

4. Pennsylvania

5. Colorado

Stay Away from These States This Fall:

43. Florida

44. Idaho

45. Mississippi

46. South Carolina

47. Nevada

Key Takeaways: 

• New York State of Mind: This state is far more than just the five boroughs of the Big Apple. Upstate New York is filled with beautiful mountains, pristine lakes, and miles of parks and trails. But in a twist, New York is also our No. 1 destination for fall entertainment: no state has more apple orchards or corn mazes, making the Empire State an ideal place to live your best outdoor life this fall.
   
• Midwest Is Best: Half of the top 10 states are in the Midwestern U.S., all with notably top marks in the Entertainment and Natural Hazards categories. If you live in the middle of the country, try Michigan, Illinois or Ohio for calming walks in the woods or to perfect the smile on your carved pumpkin. 
   
• Skip the South: Three out of the five bottom states are in the South, and they’re all on the coast, meaning they’re the biggest targets for less than ideal weather (a quick glance at the news will show you that fall is prime hurricane season). The other low performers are Idaho and Nevada — beautiful states but with less accessible outdoor activities and fewer fall entertainments like orchards, pumpkin patches and wineries.

The full study, including our rankings and analysis, are available here: https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/studies/best-worst-states-to-visit-in-fall/