As the leaves change and temperatures cool, the conditions for camping comfortably reach their peak. It’s a great time to prepare a backpack, round up friends and family, and escape into the wild together. An unforgettable fall camping trip, however, is about so much more than finding a trail and pitching a tent. Off-the-beaten-track adventures and tours help adventurers to connect more deeply with nature and the history of the site. Camp at these 8 popular hiking destinations in the US and get to know them through these unique, pulse-pounding adventures.
8 Joshua Tree National Park, California
A hike in Joshua Tree National Park is one of the great outdoors camping experiences that California has to offer. Adventure seekers can turn up the excitement of a Joshua Tree camping trip with a half-day group rock climbing session. With ample time included to learn the basics of rock climbing, this group climb is perfect for beginners. Because the climb is a half-day activity, advanced climbers may use the second half of the day to explore more advanced terrain or squeeze in a scenic hike.
- Recommended Tour: Beginner Group Rock Climbing in Joshua Tree National Park
- Duration: 4 hours
- Cost: From $225 USD
7 Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina and Virginia
Camping along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway in the fall is an unforgettable way to experience the stunning fall foliage in this region. A guided tour of towering waterfalls in North Carolina makes the camping trip even more memorable. This tour begins near Asheville and includes hiking through two forests to see several roaring waterfalls. The tour starts in Pisgah National Forest and continues in state forests nearby. The hike includes breaks to rest and enjoy snacks.
- Recommended Tour: Blue Ridge Parkway Waterfalls Hiking Tour from Asheville
- Duration: 5 hours 30 minutes
- Cost: From $97 USD
6 Acadia National Park, Maine
Because there is so much to see in and around Acadia National Park, campers would do well to take a guided tour of the area first, to identify trailheads and learn about the region. This half-day private tour offers adventurous visitors a deep dive into the area with a knowledgeable guide. Equipped with local knowledge, visitors can then make the most of their Acadia camping trip and decide the ideal routes and campsites. The trip includes Sand Beach and Great Head, Bar Harbor, and Somes Sound among other exciting off-the-beaten-track locations.
- Recommended Tour: 4 Hour Private Tour: Acadia National Park, Cadillac Summit & Somes Sound
- Duration: 4 hours
- Cost: From $700 per group ( Up to 5)
5 Big Sur, California
Camping Big Sur is one of the most iconic American outdoor experiences. To enjoy the coastline views and fantastic geographical features, campers should combine a bike tour with their camping trip. To enable travelers to cover the most ground, this tour uses e-bikes. Passing along parts of Monterrey Bay and a 17-mile drive, this ride covers over a dozen points of interest, from dramatic cliffs to shadowy groves. The tour is family-friendly, with tandem riding options available.
- Recommended Tour: Monterey, Carmel and 17-Mile Drive - Full Day Tour from San Francisco
- Duration: 11 hours
- Cost: From $105 USD per adult
4 Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina And Tennessee
The sprawling Great Smoky Mountains National Park is full of natural beauty to see and experience. A guided overnight backpacking trip into the Park is an excellent way for travelers to familiarize themselves at the beginning of an extended camping trip. This guided hiking trip is not only fun and adventurous but educational, too. While beginners benefit from learning hiking and camping basics, more experienced travelers will benefit from learning the local flora and fauna and the particular risks and best spots to see in the forests of the Great Smoky Mountains. Following the trip, campers can plan to extend their trip and put into practice the local knowledge gained in the tour.
- Recommended Tour: Overnight Backpacking in the Smokies
- Duration: 1 day 8 hours
- Cost: From $499 USD
3 Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Over 300,000 acres of moonscape desert await adventurous hikers keen on camping in Canyonlands National Park. The sheer size of this park can be daunting. Fortunately, visitors can join a day tour to learn about this unique slice of the US while hiking its heights and valleys. This expansive tour covers twenty top sites and two of Utah’s national parks. The famous Mesa Arch and otherworldly Dead Horse Point State Park are included on tour. Hikers with an eye for photography will enjoy the pace of the tour, which allows for photography at key stops.
- Recommended Tour: Discover Moab in A Day: Arches, Canyonlands, and Dead Horse Pt
- Duration: 8 hours
- Cost: From $369.49 USD
2 Channel Islands, California
A hidden jewel camping spot waits for adventurous hikers off the coast of Santa Barbara, California. The rugged Channel Islands offer breathtaking views and a sense of peaceful solitude. At the end of a camping trip to the islands, visitors can enjoy a kayaking tour of the mainland coastline. Visitors can meet local fauna up close, like seals, dolphins, and a variety of seabirds. There are also several attractions to see along the coastline, including the Santa Ynez Mountains. A safety briefing precedes the tour to welcome and prepare beginner and advanced kayakers for safe kayaking in local conditions.
- Recommended Tour: Kayak Tour of Santa Barbara with an Experienced Guide
- Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Cost: From $55 USD per adult
1 Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
In the fall, Shenandoah National Park is alight with vibrant fall colors; it’s the perfect time to hike its rolling peaks and tranquil valleys. Campers in Shenandoah can enjoy waterfalls, babbling brooks, and breathtaking woods. However, there is much to see underground as well. A tour of Luray Caverns and Skyline Drive is an unforgettable experience. Beginning in the limestone caverns of Luray, Virginia, this tour gives visitors a peak underneath the glorious landscape of the Shenandoah Valley. Travelers will learn how these magnificent caves came to exist and how the entire ecosystem is connected to them. From the caverns below to soaring Skyline Drive, the tour continues with a fall foliage drive along this iconic, scenic byway. Travelers finish the guided trip with a deep understanding of the unique ecosystem and geology of this truly special place.
- Recommended Tour: BEST Luray Caverns and Shenandoah Skyline Drive All-Day Tour
- Duration: 7 to 9 hours
- Cost: From $166 USD per adult