6 Best States To Visit This Fall (and 3 To Skip)

6 Best States To Visit This Fall (and 3 To Skip)

What are the best states to visit this fall and which should you skip? If the COVID-19 lockdown has you itching to hit the road for a little socially distant traveling, the folks at LawnStarter took the time to rank the best and the worst states to visit based on several factors. They only compared 47 out of 50 states due to the wildfires in California, Oregon, and Washington.

They used 16 different measures to rank the states. Among them:

• Amount of national and state park acreage
• Number of pumpkin patches
• How many wineries are available
• Scenic driving routes
• Hurricane risk
• Entertainment

The Six Best States To Visit

If you’re from the Midwestern states, you probably won’t be surprised to see that Ohio did pretty well in the rankings. Michigan and Pennsylvania also made the top 10.

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1. New York – While New York City has suffered mightily under COVID, New York is a pretty big state with plenty of gorgeous natural features including Niagra Falls, including the Adirondack Mountains, the Catskill Mountains, and part of the Appalachian Mountains.
2. Alaska – The state’s incredible amount of parks pushed this state over the top It ranks number one in the country, though it’s at the bottom of the list if you’re looking for manmade entertainment.
3. Michigan – A lot of people think of Detroit when they think of Michigan, but this Great Lakes State boasts so much more. No matter where you go in Michigan, you’re within 85 miles of one of the Great Lakes. The state has 3,000 miles of multi-use trails, the most in the country. You’ll find plenty of indoor entertainment as well.
4. Pennsylvania – With a combination of bustling cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, beautiful rolling countryside, and magnificent mountains, it’s no surprise the Keystone State is near the top of the list. Their tourism board suggests a visit to Big Poco State Park for the best view of fall foliage.
5. Colorado – While the state’s legalized pot experiment makes is possible to get legally Rocky Mountain High, the state’s natural attractions are what earned it top rankings.
6. Ohio – While most of Ohio’s fabulous fall festivals are canceled due to COVID-19, there’s still an amazing amount to do in the state, especially if you’re in the mood for fall color. Shawnee State Park, Wayne National Forest, and Hocking Hills parks in the State’s Appalachian region offer amazing viewing opportunities.  Go North to the shore of Lake Erie to experience coastal Ohio.

Three States To Skip

Now that we’ve checked out the best places to head in the United States, where should you avoid? According to this study, you may want to steer clear of these states:

• Mississippi – A lack of multi-use trails and a high risk of natural hazards sank Mississippi to the bottom of this list. The state has 23,000 acres of parks compared to Ohio’s 200,000 and Alaska’s 3 million.
• South Carolina – Normally a favorite tourist destination because of its amazing beaches, the higher risk of hurricanes, and fewer pumpkin patches seem to have dropped South Carolina to the bottom of the list. No doubt many folks will demand a rebound.
• Nevada – Poor Nevada. Another top tourist destination at the bottom of the list. I guess Vegas doesn’t bring to mind fall for these folks. With its many man-made attractions slowly reopening after COVID and a noticeable absence of pumpkin patches and other fall favorites, the state just didn’t make the grade.

Before planning a trip anywhere, make sure you check out the COVID restrictions in the state. Also, make sure to check any restrictions your state has on quarantining after travel. Stay safe!