The route
The trip so far
17nights in the tent
19under a roof
6,907miles driven
20states
13parks Rhea could hike
Finished days only: tonight counts tomorrow. A night the plan doesn't pin down as tent or roof is left out.
85 days, about 13,200 miles, three legs. The first leg runs on fixed dates; after Seattle the plan stretches, and a few parks are still maybes.
Days ahead show where we expect to be and when. Campgrounds appear once the night is over. Finished days can be driven again: drive it yourself.
TWR1 East & North · Long Island's East End NY to Seattle WA · about 5,100 mi
| Day | When | Where | Mi | Night | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thu Oct 1 | Oyster Bay, NY to Stowe, VT via NY 106, I 495 West, Long Island Expressway, Hutchinson River Parkway · drive it | 346 | Friends' driveway, Stowe (rooftop tent) | Read |
| 2 | Fri Oct 2 | Stowe, VT to White Mountains, NH via Kancamagus Highway (NH-112), VT-108 through Smugglers' Notch · drive it | 147 | Dolly Copp CG, WMNF | Read |
| 3 | Sat Oct 3 | White Mountains, NH to Acadia, ME via US-2 across western Maine · drive it | 215 | Blackwoods CG, Acadia (NPS) | Read |
| 4 | Sun Oct 4 | Acadia, ME to Acadia, ME via ME 3, ME 198, Main Street · drive it | 71 | Seawall CG, Acadia (NPS) | Read |
| 5 | Mon Oct 5 | Acadia, ME to home via Main Street, ME 3, US 1, I 395 West | 421 | home | Read |
| 6 | Tue Oct 6 | home to home | home | Day page | |
| 7 | Wed Oct 7 | home to home | home | Day page | |
| 8 | Thu Oct 8 | home to home | home | Day page | |
| 9 | Fri Oct 9 | home to home | home | Day page | |
| 10 | Sat Oct 10 | home to home | home | Day page | |
| 11 | Sun Oct 11 | home to home | home | Day page | |
| 12 | Mon Oct 12 | Long Island's East End to Finger Lakes, NY via NY 27, NY 27 West, CR 111, Captain Daniel Roe Highway · drive it | 331 | Robert H. Treman SP, Ithaca | Read |
| 13 | Tue Oct 13 | Finger Lakes, NY to Niagara, NY via NY-89 up the west shore of Cayuga Lake, Letchworth State Park Road, Mount Morris to Portageville · drive it | 200 | Niagara Falls / Grand Island KOA | Read |
| 14 | Wed Oct 14 | Niagara, NY to Cuyahoga Valley, OH via I 190 South, Niagara Thruway, NY 5, South Park Avenue · drive it | 215 | West Branch SP, Ravenna OH | Read |
| 15 | Thu Oct 15 | Cuyahoga Valley, OH to Indiana Dunes, IN via Riverview Road through Cuyahoga Valley · drive it | 345 | Dunewood CG, Indiana Dunes NP | Read |
| 16 | Fri Oct 16 | Indiana Dunes, IN to Devil's Lake, WI via WI-113 and the Merrimac Ferry to Devil's Lake · drive it | 233 | Devil's Lake SP (Quartzite CG), Baraboo WI | Read |
| 17 | Sat Oct 17 | Devil's Lake, WI to Sauk Centre, MN via US 12, I 90, I 94 West, I 694 North · drive it | 374 | Lake Carlos SP, Alexandria MN | Read |
| 18 | Sun Oct 18 | Alexandria, MN to Bismarck, ND via MN 29, I 94 West, ND 1806 · drive it | 324 | Fort Abraham Lincoln SP, Mandan ND | Read |
| 19 | Mon Oct 19 | Mandan, ND to Miles City, MT via Theodore Roosevelt NP South Unit Scenic Loop Drive · drive it | 311 | Miles City KOA Journey, 1 Palmer St (verify) | Read |
| 20 | Tue Oct 20 | Miles City, MT to Bozeman, MT via MT-312 along the Yellowstone's north bank (Pompeys Pillar to Billings), Old US-10 frontage road, Reed Point to Big Timber via Greycliff · drive it | 290 | Rental (Bozeman area; Mom joins) | Read |
| 21 | Wed Oct 21 | Bozeman, MT to Bozeman, MT | Rental (Bozeman area; with Mom) | Read | |
| 22 | Thu Oct 22 | Bozeman, MT to Bozeman, MT | Rental (Bozeman area; with Mom) | Day page | |
| 23 | Fri Oct 23 | Bozeman, MT to Gardiner, MT via I 90 East, US 191 North, US 89 · drive it | 78 | Airbnb rental, Gardiner (with Mom) | Day page |
| 24 | Sat Oct 24 | Gardiner, MT to Yellowstone loop > Gardiner, MT | 148 | Airbnb rental, Gardiner (with Mom) | Read |
| 25 | Sun Oct 25 | Gardiner, MT to Yellowstone (Lamar) > Bozeman, MT via Lamar Valley on the Northeast Entrance Road · drive it | 162 | Airbnb rental, Bozeman (with Mom) | Read |
| 26 | Mon Oct 26 | Bozeman, MT to Missoula, MT via I 90 West · drive it | 209 | Gibson Mansion B&b, Missoula (dogs: Verify) | Read |
| 27 | Tue Oct 27 | Missoula, MT to Sun Lakes, WA via I 90 West, US 2 · drive it | 302 | Sun Lakes-Dry Falls SP | Read |
| 28 | Wed Oct 28 | Sun Lakes, WA to Grand Coulee > Methow Valley, WA via Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway (SR-155), Steamboat Rock to Grand Coulee Dam · drive it | 145 | Pearrygin Lake SP, Winthrop (or Winthrop Inn) | Read |
| 29 | Thu Oct 29 | Winthrop, WA to North Cascades > Seattle, WA via Whidbey Island and Deception Pass, North Cascades Highway (SR-20) · drive it | 232 | Friends in Seattle | Read |
| 30 | Fri Oct 30 | Seattle, WA to Seattle, WA | Friends in Seattle | Read |
TWR2 Pacific · Seattle WA to Los Angeles CA · about 2,490 mi
| Day | When | Where | Mi | Night | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Sat Oct 31 | Seattle to San Juan Islands (Orcas), WA via Anacortes-Orcas ferry and Mount Constitution, La Conner and SR-20 to Anacortes · drive it | 122 | Moran SP, Orcas Island (Mountain Lake or Midway loop) | Read |
| 32 | Sun Nov 1 | Orcas Island to Deception Pass > Whidbey > Port Townsend, WA via Orcas ferry, Deception Pass, Whidbey and the Keystone ferry · drive it | 74 | Fort Worden SP, Port Townsend | Read |
| 33 | Mon Nov 2 | Port Townsend to Lake Crescent > Sol Duc, WA via US-101 along Lake Crescent · drive it | 91 | Sol Duc CG (primitive, first-come) | Read |
| 34 | Tue Nov 3 | Sol Duc to Cape Flattery > La Push > Hoh Rain Forest, WA via La Push Road and Mora Road to Rialto Beach, SR-112 Strait of Juan de Fuca Highway to Cape Flattery, La Push Road to Second Beach · drive it | 199 | Hoh Rain Forest CG (first-come) | Read |
| 35 | Wed Nov 4 | Hoh Rain Forest, WA to Seaside, OR via US-101 coastal stretch past Ruby Beach, Astoria-Megler Bridge over the Columbia, Quinault South Shore Road to the Rain Forest Nature Trail, US-101 along Willapa Bay, SR-105 Cranberry Coast, Westport to Tokeland · drive it | 249 | Coast River Inn, Seaside OR (rain night) | Read |
| 36 | Thu Nov 5 | Seaside, OR to Newport > Florence > Honeyman SP, OR via Three Capes Scenic Route: Cape Meares and Oceanside, Ecola State Park to Ecola Point · drive it | 175 | Jessie M. Honeyman SP, south of Florence | Read |
| 37 | Fri Nov 6 | Honeyman SP, OR to Dunes > Umpqua > Toketee > Union Creek > Fort Klamath, OR via Three Capes Scenic Route: Sand Lake to Pacific City · drive it | 223 | Jo's Motel, Fort Klamath OR | Read |
| 38 | Sat Nov 7 | Fort Klamath, OR to Crater Lake > North Umpqua > Roseburg, OR via Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway (OR-230 / OR-138), Crater Lake south entrance to Rim Village (OR-62, Munson Valley Rd) · drive it | 161 | Motel, Roseburg (rain night) | Read |
| 39 | Sun Nov 8 | Roseburg, OR to Bandon > Port Orford > Gold Beach > Brookings, OR via Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor, US-101 Port Orford to Gold Beach, Bandon Beach Loop Road · drive it | 161 | Harris Beach SP (pet yurt) | Read |
| 40 | Mon Nov 9 | Brookings, OR to Crescent City, CA via US 101, North Bank Road, CA 197, Redwood Highway · drive it | 34 | Curly Redwood Lodge, Crescent City | Read |
| 41 | Tue Nov 10 | Crescent City, CA to Howland Hill > Stout Grove > Drury Pkwy > Elk Prairie, CA via Howland Hill Road through Jedediah Smith Redwoods, Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway · drive it | 62 | Elk Prairie CG, Prairie Creek Redwoods SP | Read |
| 42 | Wed Nov 11 | Elk Prairie, CA to Trinidad > Ferndale > Mattole Rd (Lost Coast) > Rockefeller Forest > Burlington, CA via Lost Coast: Wildcat Rd, Cape Mendocino, Petrolia, Honeydew, Bull Creek Flats · drive it | 142 | Burlington CG, Humboldt Redwoods SP | Read |
| 43 | Thu Nov 12 | Sebastopol, CA | 217 | still here | Day page |
| 44 | Today | Sebastopol, CA | after tonight | ||
| Nov 14 | Salinas, CA flexible via Steinbeck country: Fremont Peak, Salinas, Pacific Grove | dogs: partial | |||
| Nov 15 to 16 | Santa Barbara, CA flexible via CA-1 Big Sur, Carmel to Pfeiffer, CA-1 Big Sur, Pfeiffer to San Simeon, CA-1 Cambria to Morro Bay | dogs: no | |||
| Nov 17 | Thousand Oaks, CA flexible | ||||
| Nov 18 to 27 | Los Angeles, CA flexible via Pacific Coast Highway, Point Mugu to Santa Monica | dogs: yes |
TWR3 Southwest & Home · Los Angeles CA to home · about 5,630 mi
| Day | When | Where | Mi | Night | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 28 to 29 | Death Valley National Park flexible via Baker to Death Valley Junction: CA-127 through Shoshone | dogs: yes | |||
| Nov 30 | Zion National Park flexible via Valley of Fire Highway | dogs: partial | |||
| Dec 1 | Bryce Canyon National Park flexible via Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive to Rainbow Point, Scenic Byway 12 through Red Canyon, Zion-Mount Carmel Highway through the tunnel, US-89 up Long Valley | dogs: partial | |||
| Dec 2 to 3 | Scenic Byway 12 / Escalante float day | dogs: yes | |||
| Dec 4 | Moab, UT flexible via UT-24 through Capitol Reef and Caineville | dogs: no | |||
| Dec 5 | Kayenta, AZ flexible | ||||
| Dec 6 to 7 | Grand Canyon (S Rim), AZ flexible via Desert View Drive | dogs: partial | |||
| Dec 8 | Winslow, AZ flexible via Sunset Crater-Wupatki Loop Road | dogs: yes | |||
| Dec 9 to 10 | Santa Fe, NM flexible via Petrified Forest National Park Road | dogs: yes | |||
| Dec 11 | White Sands National Park flexible via Billy the Kid Trail through Capitan, Lincoln and Ruidoso | dogs: yes | |||
| Dec 12 | Fort Davis, TX flexible | dogs: no | |||
| Dec 12 to 14 | Great Sand Dunes NP maybe Snow at 8,200 ft in mid-Nov, AND your float-day budget at Santa Fe. | +2 days | |||
| Dec 13 to 14 | Big Bend National Park float day via FM-170 River Road, Presidio to Lajitas | dogs: no | |||
| Dec 15 | Presidio, TX flexible via FM-170 River Road from Lajitas to the Big Hill | ||||
| Dec 16 | Sonora, TX flexible via TX-118 from Study Butte to Alpine | ||||
| Dec 17 | Hill Country, TX flexible | ||||
| Dec 18 | Houston area (a state park), TX flexible via US-290 Wine Road through Stonewall and Johnson City | dogs: yes | |||
| Dec 19 to 20 | New Orleans, LA flexible | ||||
| Dec 21 | Birmingham (a state park), AL flexible | ||||
| Dec 22 | Tri-Cities (Kingsport), TN flexible | ||||
| Dec 23 | Chambersburg, PA flexible | dogs: yes |
How the route has changed
- Nov 13: added Salinas, CA, Santa Barbara, CA, Thousand Oaks, CA; dropped San Mateo, CA, Big Sur, CA, Yosemite Valley, CA, Bishop, CA.
- Nov 12: added Crescent City, CA.
- Nov 9: added Klamath, CA, Miranda, CA; dropped Jedediah Smith, CA, Lost Coast, CA, Mendocino, CA.
- Nov 8: added Roseburg, OR, Jedediah Smith, CA; dropped Union Creek, OR, Bandon, OR, Redwood National Park.
- Nov 6: added Fort Klamath, OR; dropped Washburne SP, OR.
- Nov 6: added Honeyman State Park; dropped Tillamook, OR.
- Nov 4: added Forks, WA, Seaside, OR; dropped Lake Quinault, WA, Ilwaco, WA.
- Oct 30: added San Juan Islands (Orcas), WA, Port Townsend, WA, Port Angeles, WA, Yosemite Valley, CA, Houston area (a state park), TX, Birmingham (a state park), AL, Tri-Cities (Kingsport), TN, Chambersburg, PA; dropped Olympic National Park, Los Osos, CA, Carlsbad + Guadalupe, Houston area, TX, Birmingham / Meridian, AL, Great Smoky Mtns, TN, Blue Ridge Pkwy, NC, Blowing Rock, NC, Shenandoah National Park, Front Royal / north VA.
- Oct 29: added Tillamook, OR, Washburne SP, OR, Sebastopol, CA, Bishop, CA; dropped Hood River, OR, Bend, OR, Point Reyes National Seashore, Lone Pine, CA.
- Oct 26: added Missoula, MT; dropped Lolo, MT.
- Oct 25: now 85 days.
- Oct 22: added Bozeman, MT; dropped Belgrade, MT.
- Oct 21: added Belgrade, MT, Gardiner, MT, Lolo, MT; dropped Paradise Valley, MT, Bozeman, MT, Spokane, WA.
- Oct 20: added Miles City, MT, Bozeman, MT, Sun Lakes, WA, Methow Valley, WA, Lake Quinault, WA, Ilwaco, WA, Bend, OR, Union Creek, OR, Los Osos, CA, Winslow, AZ, Fort Davis, TX, Sonora, TX; dropped Little Bighorn, Yellowstone National Park, Seeley Lake, MT, Astoria, OR, Crater Lake National Park, Florence, OR, Pismo Beach, CA, Holbrook, AZ, Marfa, TX, Fort Stockton / Ozona, TX; now 84 days.
- Oct 14: added Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Indiana Dunes, Baraboo, WI, Sauk Centre, MN, Bismarck, ND; dropped East Tawas, MI, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Duluth, MN, Bemidji, MN, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Bend, OR.
- Oct 11: added Duluth, MN; dropped Catskills, NY, MN North Shore, Grand Marais, MN.
- Oct 8: dropped Freeport, ME.
Fall color along the road
Every place on the route with a fall-color reputation, when it usually peaks, and what we expect to find when we get there. Each window says what it rests on: a 2026 report from the ground, a 2026 forecast, or a typical year where nobody has published a 2026 call. 21 of the 28 places here have a 2026 source. Windows last checked Sep 27. The same dots are on the map, colored for the day we pass.
Show all 28 places
| Place | Peak window, and its source | When we pass | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stowe and the Mount Mansfield ridge VT · Sugar maples | Sep 30 to Oct 92026 ground report, Sep 23 | Thu Oct 1 | peak color |
| White Mountains and the Kancamagus NH · Maples, birch | Oct 1 to Oct 112026 ground report, Sep 25 | Fri Oct 2 | peak color |
| Western Maine, US-2 ME · Maples, birch | Sep 30 to Oct 82026 ground report, Sep 23 | Sat Oct 3 | peak color |
| Acadia and Mount Desert Island ME · Maples, birch, blueberry barrens | Oct 8 to Oct 202026 ground report, Sep 23 | Sat Oct 3 | turning |
| Finger Lakes NY · Maples, oaks, vineyards | Oct 12 to Oct 242026 ground report, Sep 23 | Mon Oct 12 | peak color |
| Niagara and the Lake Ontario shore NY · Maples, oaks | Oct 15 to Oct 282026 ground report, Sep 23 | Tue Oct 13 | turning |
| Theodore Roosevelt, Little Missouri cottonwoods ND · Cottonwoods, ash | Oct 1 to Oct 122026 forecast | Mon Oct 19 | past peak, fading |
| Paradise Valley and Livingston MT · Cottonwoods along the Yellowstone | Sep 30 to Oct 132026 forecast, Sep 27 | Tue Oct 20 | past peak, fading |
| Bozeman and the Gallatin MT · Cottonwoods, aspens | Sep 28 to Oct 122026 forecast, Sep 27 | Tue Oct 20 | past peak, fading |
| Yellowstone north entrance and the Gardner River MT · Aspens, cottonwoods | Sep 25 to Oct 82026 forecast, Sep 27 | Fri Oct 23 | |
| Missoula and the Bitterroot MT · Cottonwoods, then larch on the slopes | Oct 1 to Oct 182026 forecast, Sep 27 | Mon Oct 26 | past peak, fading |
| St. Regis to Lookout Pass, I-90 MT · Western larch (gold needles) | Oct 12 to Oct 282026 forecast, Sep 27 | Tue Oct 27 | peak color |
| Spokane and Coeur d'Alene WA · Maples in town, larch and aspen in the hills | Oct 10 to Oct 25typical year | Tue Oct 27 | past peak, fading |
| Seattle, the Arboretum and Japanese Garden WA · Japanese maples, ginkgo | Oct 15 to Nov 5typical year | Thu Oct 29 | peak color |
| Olympic Peninsula rain forests WA · Bigleaf maple and vine maple in the rain forest | Oct 8 to Oct 302026 forecast, Sep 27 | Mon Nov 2 | past peak, fading |
| Astoria and the lower Columbia OR · Bigleaf maple, alder | Oct 12 to Nov 2typical year | Wed Nov 4 | past peak, fading |
| Oregon coast, Newport to Bandon OR · Bigleaf maple in the coast range; the shore itself stays green | Oct 15 to Nov 52026 forecast, Sep 27 | Thu Nov 5 | peak color |
| Redwoods and the Avenue of the Giants CA · Bigleaf maple under the redwoods | Oct 25 to Nov 152026 forecast, Sep 27 | Wed Nov 11 | peak color |
| Zion Canyon, the Virgin River UT · Cottonwoods, boxelder, maples up the side canyons | Oct 28 to Nov 15typical year | Nov 30 | |
| Bryce Canyon aspens UT · Aspens at 8,000 to 9,000 ft | Sep 26 to Oct 92026 forecast, Sep 27 | Dec 1 | |
| Scenic Byway 12 and Calf Creek UT · Cottonwoods in the canyons; aspens on Boulder Mountain go in September | Oct 20 to Nov 6typical year | Dec 1 | |
| Grand Canyon South Rim AZ · Gambel oak, a few aspens | Oct 8 to Oct 242026 forecast, Sep 27 | Dec 6 to 7 | |
| Santa Fe, Aspen Vista and the Rio Grande bosque NM · Aspens above town in late September; bosque cottonwoods in November | Oct 28 to Nov 15typical year | Dec 9 to 10 | |
| McKittrick Canyon, Guadalupe Mountains TX · Bigtooth maples (no dogs on the trail) | Oct 24 to Nov 82026 forecast, Sep 27 | Dec 12 | |
| Big Bend, Rio Grande cottonwoods TX · Cottonwoods at Rio Grande Village; the desert stays desert | Nov 10 to Nov 252026 forecast, Sep 27 | Dec 13 to 14 | |
| Lost Maples and the Hill Country TX · Bigtooth maples | Nov 1 to Nov 18typical year | Dec 17 | |
| Shenandoah, Skyline Drive VA · Oaks, hickory, maples | Oct 13 to Oct 272026 forecast, Sep 27 | Dec 23 | |
| Front Royal and northern Virginia VA · Oaks, tulip poplar | Oct 20 to Nov 32026 forecast, Sep 27 | Dec 23 |
The nationwide prediction map (SmokyMountains.com)
County by county, week by week, from NOAA history and the season's weather. Their estimate, embedded from smokymountains.com.
Every page the windows cite
- Vermont Tourism Weekly Foliage Tracker (Week 2)
- New England Today (Yankee) - Where to See Fall Foliage This Weekend
- More Than Just Parks VT foliage forecast (model)
- Go Stowe - Fall Foliage
- Visit White Mountains Foliage Tracker
- Jeff Foliage - September 22 New England foliage report
- More Than Just Parks - White Mountain NF forecast (model)
- Maine DACF Fall Foliage Report #3
- WGME - Latest foliage update
- Maine DACF Historical Peak Foliage Weeks 2020-2024
- Central Maine - Northern Maine approaching peak
- More Than Just Parks - Acadia forecast (model)
- I LOVE NY Fall Foliage Report
- I LOVE NY - Fall foliage: when and where to go
- More Than Just Parks NY foliage forecast (model)
- NPS Theodore Roosevelt NP, Plants
- More Than Just Parks North Dakota foliage tracker
- AFAR, 2026 peak foliage prediction (reporting SmokyMountains.com / AccuWeather)
- More Than Just Parks Montana state page
- NBC Montana, Fall foliage to peak in coming weeks
- More Than Just Parks Gallatin National Forest forecast
- Bozeman Proper, Bozeman in October
- More Than Just Parks Yellowstone National Park forecast
- Yellowstone Forever, Plan Your Fall Trip
- More Than Just Parks Lolo National Forest forecast
- More Than Just Parks Idaho Panhandle National Forests forecast
- This Is Boise, Where to See Fall Colors
- Spokesman-Review, Falling into fall
- KXLY, When will fall colors arrive this year?
- More Than Just Parks Washington state page
- FOX 13 Seattle, peak fall colors
- Portland Japanese Garden 2026 Fall Colors Tracker
- Seattle Japanese Garden events calendar
- More Than Just Parks Olympic National Park forecast
- More Than Just Parks Olympic National Forest forecast
- National Park Reservations, Fall Colors: Olympic NP
- Oregon Coast Weekend, Fall Foliage Drives
- Travel Oregon, Oregon Fall Foliage
- More Than Just Parks Oregon state page
- More Than Just Parks Siuslaw National Forest forecast
- Eugene, Cascades & Coast, Oregon fall foliage
- Oregon Essential, When Do Leaves Change in Oregon
- More Than Just Parks Redwood National Park forecast
- California Fall Color, Avenue of the Giants Goes Gigantic
- California Fall Color, Redwood Highway
- NPS Zion - Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
- NPS Zion video 'Fall Colors'
- More Than Just Parks - Zion forecast
- KSL.com - Fall is almost here
- More Than Just Parks - Bryce Canyon forecast
- Bryce Canyon Country - Fall colors
- BackRoadsWest - Fall colors in Southern Utah
- More Than Just Parks - Grand Canyon forecast
- Grand Canyon Natural History - Gambel Oak
- Explore the Canyon - Fall travel guide
- Visit Albuquerque - Leaf peeping
- More Than Just Parks - Santa Fe NF forecast
- New Mexico True - Fall colors
- NPS Guadalupe Mountains - Fall Colors are Coming
- NPS Things To Do - GUMO fall colors
- More Than Just Parks - Guadalupe Mountains forecast
- More Than Just Parks - Big Bend forecast
- TPWD Lost Maples - Nature
- TPWD Lost Maples - Foliage Reports (2025 season)
- More Than Just Parks - Texas county map
- More Than Just Parks - Shenandoah forecast
- Alexandria Living (citing Virginia DOF)
- NPS Shenandoah - Fall
- More Than Just Parks - Virginia county map
- Virginia DCR - Northern Virginia state parks foliage report
- Lake Placid foliage report
- Ontario Parks fall colour report
- ontariofall.com Ontario Fall Colour Forecast
- More Than Just Parks Michigan foliage tracker
- My Michigan Beach and Travel, Michigan Peak Fall Colors 2026
- UP Travel (UPTRA) Fall Color Report
- Minnesota DNR Fall Color Finder
- Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, When and Where to See Minnesota's Fall Colors in 2026
- More Than Just Parks Minnesota foliage tracker (conflicting)
- North Shore Visitor fall color report
- More Than Just Parks Glacier National Park forecast
- Glacier National Park Conservancy, Fall in Glacier
- Distinctly Montana, Larch Madness
- More Than Just Parks Flathead National Forest forecast
- More Than Just Parks Bighorn Canyon NRA forecast
- KTVQ, Billings professor on fall foliage
- More Than Just Parks Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie NF forecast
- Alpine Lakes Lodge, Fall Foliage Near Snoqualmie Pass
- More Than Just Parks - GSMNP forecast
- NPS GSMNP - Fall Colors
- WataugaOnline - Neufeld Fall Color Report
- Explore Asheville - Fall color forecast
- Garden & Gun - Fall leaves 2026
Dark skies along the road
There are 152 certified dark-sky places in the United States, and all of them are on the map. These are the ones the route passes or comes close to, with the moon on the nights we're nearby. The moon figures are estimates for the evening, and for nights still ahead they cover the dates we expect to be there.
Show all 85 places
| Place | Designation | When we pass | Moon |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMC Maine Woods ME | Dark Sky Park | Sat Oct 3 a short detour | 41% dark until the moon rises around midnight |
| Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument ME · national park unit | Dark Sky Sanctuary | Sat Oct 3 a detour | 41% dark until the moon rises around midnight |
| Cherry Springs PA | Dark Sky Park | Tue Oct 13 a detour | 13% little or no moon |
| Fry Family Park OH | Urban Night Sky Place | Wed Oct 14 on the route | 21% little or no moon |
| Geauga Observatory Park OH | Dark Sky Park | Wed Oct 14 on the route | 21% little or no moon |
| Beverley Shores IN | Dark Sky Community | Thu Oct 15 on the route | 30% the moon sets in the evening |
| Dr. T.K. Lawless County Park MI | Dark Sky Park | Thu Oct 15 on the route | 30% the moon sets in the evening |
| Lake Hudson Recreation Area MI | Dark Sky Park | Thu Oct 15 on the route | 30% the moon sets in the evening |
| Potawatomi IN | Dark Sky Park | Thu Oct 15 a short detour | 30% the moon sets in the evening |
| Hawthorn Woods IL | Dark Sky Community | Fri Oct 16 on the route | 40% the moon sets around midnight |
| Homer Glen IL | Dark Sky Community | Fri Oct 16 on the route | 40% the moon sets around midnight |
| Middle Fork River Forest Preserve IL | Dark Sky Park | Fri Oct 16 a detour | 40% the moon sets around midnight |
| Palos Preserves IL | Urban Night Sky Place | Fri Oct 16 on the route | 40% the moon sets around midnight |
| Medicine Rock State Park MT | Dark Sky Park | Mon Oct 19 a detour | 71% the moon sets around midnight |
| Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge MT | Dark Sky Sanctuary | Tue Oct 27 a detour | 92% the moon is up most of the night |
| Oregon Outback OR | Dark Sky Sanctuary | Fri Nov 6 a detour | 5% little or no moon |
| Anza-Borrego Desert State Park CA | Dark Sky Park | Nov 28 to 29 a detour | 64 to 74% dark until the moon rises around midnight |
| Death Valley National Park CA · national park unit | Dark Sky Park | Nov 28 to 29 on the route | 64 to 74% dark until the moon rises around midnight |
| Joshua Tree National Park CA · national park unit | Dark Sky Park | Nov 28 to 29 a detour | 64 to 74% dark until the moon rises around midnight |
| Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument AZ | Dark Sky Park | Nov 30 a short detour | 53% dark until the moon rises around midnight |
| Pipe Spring National Monument AZ · national park unit | Dark Sky Park | Nov 30 on the route | 53% dark until the moon rises around midnight |
| Springdale UT | Dark Sky Community | Nov 30 on the route | 53% dark until the moon rises around midnight |
| Thunder Mountain Pootsee Nightsky AZ | Dark Sky Community | Nov 30 on the route | 53% dark until the moon rises around midnight |
| Zion National Park UT · national park unit | Dark Sky Park | Nov 30 on the route | 53% dark until the moon rises around midnight |
| Bryce Canyon National Park UT · national park unit | Dark Sky Park | Dec 1 on the route | 43% dark until the moon rises around midnight |
| Cedar Breaks National Monument UT · national park unit | Dark Sky Park | Dec 1 on the route | 43% dark until the moon rises around midnight |
| Kodachrome Basin State Park UT | Dark Sky Park | Dec 1 on the route | 43% dark until the moon rises around midnight |
| Arches National Park UT · national park unit | Dark Sky Park | Dec 4 on the route | 15% little or no moon |
| Black Canyon of the Gunnison CO · national park unit | Dark Sky Park | Dec 4 a detour | 15% little or no moon |
| Canyonlands UT · national park unit | Dark Sky Park | Dec 4 on the route | 15% little or no moon |
| Capitol Reef National Park UT · national park unit | Dark Sky Park | Dec 4 on the route | 15% little or no moon |
| Castle Valley UT | Dark Sky Community | Dec 4 on the route | 15% little or no moon |
| Fremont Indian State Park UT | Dark Sky Park | Dec 4 a short detour | 15% little or no moon |
| Goblin Valley State Park UT | Dark Sky Park | Dec 4 on the route | 15% little or no moon |
| Helper UT | Dark Sky Community | Dec 4 a short detour | 15% little or no moon |
| Moab UT | Dark Sky Community | Dec 4 on the route | 15% little or no moon |
| Torrey UT | Dark Sky Community | Dec 4 on the route | 15% little or no moon |
| Goosenecks State Park UT | Dark Sky Park | Dec 5 on the route | 8% little or no moon |
| Hovenweep National Monument UT · national park unit | Dark Sky Park | Dec 5 on the route | 8% little or no moon |
| Mesa Verde National Park CO · national park unit | Dark Sky Park | Dec 5 a short detour | 8% little or no moon |
| Natural Bridges National Monument UT · national park unit | Dark Sky Park | Dec 5 on the route | 8% little or no moon |
| Norwood CO | Dark Sky Community | Dec 5 a short detour | 8% little or no moon |
| Nucla-Naturita CO | Dark Sky Community | Dec 5 a short detour | 8% little or no moon |
| Rainbow Bridge UT · national park unit | Dark Sky Park | Dec 5 a short detour | 8% little or no moon |
| Ridgway CO | Dark Sky Community | Dec 5 a detour | 8% little or no moon |
| Top of the Pines CO | Dark Sky Park | Dec 5 a detour | 8% little or no moon |
| Grand Canyon National Park AZ · national park unit | Dark Sky Park | Dec 6 to 7 on the route | 1 to 3% little or no moon |
| Big Park/Village of Oak Creek AZ | Dark Sky Community | Dec 8 a short detour | 0% little or no moon |
| Camp Verde AZ | Dark Sky Community | Dec 8 a short detour | 0% little or no moon |
| Cottonwood AZ | Dark Sky Community | Dec 8 a short detour | 0% little or no moon |
| Flagstaff AZ | Dark Sky Community | Dec 8 on the route | 0% little or no moon |
| Flagstaff Area National Monuments AZ · national park unit | Dark Sky Community | Dec 8 on the route | 0% little or no moon |
| Sedona AZ | Dark Sky Community | Dec 8 a short detour | 0% little or no moon |
| Chaco Culture National Historical Park NM · national park unit | Dark Sky Park | Dec 9 to 10 a short detour | 1 to 5% little or no moon |
| El Morro National Monument NM · national park unit | Dark Sky Park | Dec 9 to 10 on the route | 1 to 5% little or no moon |
| Fort Union National Monument NM · national park unit | Dark Sky Park | Dec 9 to 10 a short detour | 1 to 5% little or no moon |
| Petrified Forest National Park AZ · national park unit | Dark Sky Park | Dec 9 to 10 on the route | 1 to 5% little or no moon |
| Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge NM | Urban Night Sky Place | Dec 9 to 10 on the route | 1 to 5% little or no moon |
| Valles Caldera National Preserve NM · national park unit | Dark Sky Park | Dec 9 to 10 on the route | 1 to 5% little or no moon |
| Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument NM · national park unit | Dark Sky Park | Dec 11 on the route | 10% little or no moon |
| Big Bend National Park TX · national park unit | Dark Sky Park | Dec 13 to 14 on the route | 27 to 36% the moon sets in the evening to the moon sets around midnight |
| Black Gap Wildlife Management Area TX | Dark Sky Sanctuary | Dec 13 to 14 on the route | 27 to 36% the moon sets in the evening to the moon sets around midnight |
| Devil's River State Natural Area TX | Dark Sky Sanctuary | Dec 16 a short detour | 57% the moon sets around midnight |
| Greater Big Bend TX | Dark Sky Reserve | Dec 16 on the route | 57% the moon sets around midnight |
| Horseshoe Bay TX | Dark Sky Community | Dec 17 on the route | 68% the moon sets around midnight |
| South Llano River State Park TX | Dark Sky Park | Dec 17 a short detour | 68% the moon sets around midnight |
| Bee Cave TX | Dark Sky Community | Dec 18 on the route | 77% the moon is up most of the night |
| Blanco TX | Dark Sky Community | Dec 18 on the route | 77% the moon is up most of the night |
| Dripping Springs TX | Dark Sky Community | Dec 18 on the route | 77% the moon is up most of the night |
| Fredericksburg TX | Dark Sky Community | Dec 18 on the route | 77% the moon is up most of the night |
| Jonestown TX | Dark Sky Community | Dec 18 on the route | 77% the moon is up most of the night |
| Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park TX · national park unit | Dark Sky Park | Dec 18 on the route | 77% the moon is up most of the night |
| Milton Reimers Ranch Park TX | Dark Sky Park | Dec 18 on the route | 77% the moon is up most of the night |
| UBarU Camp and Retreat Center TX | Dark Sky Park | Dec 18 on the route | 77% the moon is up most of the night |
| Wimberley Valley TX | Dark Sky Community | Dec 18 on the route | 77% the moon is up most of the night |
| Mayland Earth to Sky Park and Bare Dark Sky Observatory NC | Dark Sky Park | Dec 22 a short detour | 99% the moon is up most of the night |
| Obed Wild and Scenic River TN · national park unit | Dark Sky Park | Dec 22 on the route | 99% the moon is up most of the night |
| Pickett Civilian Conservation Corps Memorial State Park TN | Dark Sky Park | Dec 22 a short detour | 99% the moon is up most of the night |
| Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute NC | Dark Sky Park | Dec 22 a detour | 99% the moon is up most of the night |
| James River State Park VA | Dark Sky Park | Dec 23 a short detour | 100% the moon is up most of the night |
| Natural Bridge State Park VA | Dark Sky Park | Dec 23 on the route | 100% the moon is up most of the night |
| Rappahannock County Park VA | Dark Sky Park | Dec 23 on the route | 100% the moon is up most of the night |
| Sky Meadows State Park VA | Dark Sky Park | Dec 23 on the route | 100% the moon is up most of the night |
| Staunton River State Park VA | Dark Sky Park | Dec 23 a detour | 100% the moon is up most of the night |
| Watoga State Park WV | Dark Sky Park | Dec 23 a short detour | 100% the moon is up most of the night |
Where the list comes from
DarkSky International certifies these places. Its own list can't be read by a program, so this one is merged from copies of it plus news of recent certifications. It is complete through 2024 and partial for 2025 and 2026, so check DarkSky before planning around one.
- DarkSky International, all International Dark Sky Places
- NPCA: certified dark-sky parks in the National Park System
- Continental Divide Trail Coalition: dark skies on the CDT
- World list of dark sky places (DarkSky UMCS, ArcGIS; DarkSky rows through 2024)
- Wikipedia: Dark-sky preserve
- Wikidata: US places with a DarkSky designation
- Black Mesa State Park (2025)
- Browns Canyon National Monument (2025)
- Chimney Rock National Monument (Dec 2025)
- Frisco, Colorado (2026)
The night sky at each stop
The moon at each stop: how much of it is lit, when it rises and sets, and how many hours of full darkness are left once twilight ends and the moon is down. Times are local and rounded to 15 minutes. For nights still ahead, the figures cover the dates we expect to be there.
Show every stop (56)
| When | Where | Moon | Moonrise | Moonset | Full darkness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu Oct 1 | Friends' driveway, Stowe (rooftop tent) | 60 to 70% lit waning | 9:15 pm | during the day | about 1 hour Dark until the moon rises |
| Fri Oct 2 | Dolly Copp CG, WMNF | 50 to 60% lit waning | 10:15 pm | during the day | about 2 hours Dark until the moon rises |
| Sat Oct 3 | Blackwoods CG, Acadia (NPS) | 40 to 50% lit waning | 11:15 pm | during the day | about 3.5 hours Dark until the moon rises |
| Sun Oct 4 | Seawall CG, Acadia (NPS) | 30 to 40% lit waning | 12:30 am | during the day | about 5 hours Dark until the moon rises |
| Mon Oct 12 | Robert H. Treman SP, Ithaca | 0 to 10% lit waxing | during the day | 7 pm | about 9.5 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky |
| Tue Oct 13 | Niagara Falls / Grand Island KOA | 10 to 20% lit waxing | during the day | 7:45 pm | about 9.5 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky |
| Wed Oct 14 | West Branch SP, Ravenna OH | 10 to 20% lit waxing | before noon | 8:45 pm | about 9.5 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky |
| Thu Oct 15 | Dunewood CG, Indiana Dunes NP | 20 to 30% lit waxing | during the day | 8:45 pm | about 8.5 hours Dark after the moon sets |
| Fri Oct 16 | Devil's Lake SP (Quartzite CG), Baraboo WI | 30 to 40% lit waxing | during the day | 9:45 pm | about 8 hours Dark after the moon sets |
| Sat Oct 17 | Lake Carlos SP, Alexandria MN | 40 to 50% lit waxing | during the day | 11 pm | about 7 hours Dark after the moon sets |
| Sun Oct 18 | Fort Abraham Lincoln SP, Mandan ND | 50 to 60% lit waxing | during the day | 12:30 am | about 6 hours Dark after the moon sets |
| Mon Oct 19 | Miles City KOA Journey, 1 Palmer St (verify) | 60 to 70% lit waxing | during the day | 1 am | about 4.5 hours Dark after the moon sets |
| Tue Oct 20 to Thu Oct 22 | Rental (Bozeman area; Mom joins) | 70 to 90% lit waxing | during the day | 2:30 am to 5 am | 1.5 to 3.5 hours Dark after the moon sets |
| Fri Oct 23 to Sat Oct 24 | Airbnb rental, Gardiner (with Mom) | 90 to 100% lit waxing | during the day | 6 am to 7:15 am | none The moon is up most of the night |
| Sun Oct 25 | Airbnb rental, Bozeman (with Mom) | 90 to 100% lit waning | during the day | during the day | none The moon is up most of the night |
| Mon Oct 26 | Gibson Mansion B&b, Missoula (dogs: Verify) | 90 to 100% lit waning | during the day | during the day | none The moon is up most of the night |
| Tue Oct 27 | Sun Lakes-Dry Falls SP | 90 to 100% lit waning | 6:15 pm | during the day | none The moon is up most of the night |
| Wed Oct 28 | Pearrygin Lake SP, Winthrop (or Winthrop Inn) | 80 to 90% lit waning | 7 pm | after noon | none Dark until the moon rises |
| Thu Oct 29 to Fri Oct 30 | Friends in Seattle | 60 to 80% lit waning | 8:15 pm to 9:30 pm | during the day | 0.5 to 2 hours Dark until the moon rises |
| Sat Oct 31 | Moran SP, Orcas Island (Mountain Lake or Midway loop) | 50 to 60% lit waning | 11 pm | during the day | about 3.5 hours Dark until the moon rises |
| Sun Nov 1 | Fort Worden SP, Port Townsend | 40 to 50% lit waning | 11:15 pm | during the day | about 4.5 hours Dark until the moon rises |
| Mon Nov 2 | Sol Duc CG (primitive, first-come) | 30 to 40% lit waning | 12:45 am | during the day | about 6 hours Dark until the moon rises |
| Tue Nov 3 | Hoh Rain Forest CG (first-come) | 20 to 30% lit waning | 2 am | during the day | about 7.5 hours Dark until the moon rises |
| Wed Nov 4 | Coast River Inn, Seaside OR (rain night) | 10 to 20% lit waning | 3:15 am | during the day | about 8.5 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky |
| Thu Nov 5 | Jessie M. Honeyman SP, south of Florence | 0 to 10% lit waning | 4:15 am | during the day | about 10 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky |
| Fri Nov 6 | Jo's Motel, Fort Klamath OR | 0 to 10% lit waning | 5:15 am | during the day | about 10.5 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky |
| Sat Nov 7 | Motel, Roseburg (rain night) | 0 to 10% lit waning | 6:30 am | during the day | about 10.5 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky |
| Sun Nov 8 | Harris Beach SP (pet yurt) | 0 to 10% lit waxing | during the day | during the day | about 11 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky |
| Mon Nov 9 | Curly Redwood Lodge, Crescent City | 0 to 10% lit waxing | during the day | during the day | about 11 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky |
| Tue Nov 10 | Elk Prairie CG, Prairie Creek Redwoods SP | 0 to 10% lit waxing | during the day | 5:30 pm | about 11 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky |
| Wed Nov 11 | Burlington CG, Humboldt Redwoods SP | 0 to 10% lit waxing | during the day | 6:30 pm | about 11 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky |
| Nov 14 | Salinas, CA | 20 to 30% lit waxing | before noon | 9:15 pm | about 8 hours Dark after the moon sets |
| Nov 15 to 16 | Santa Barbara, CA | 30 to 50% lit waxing | during the day | 10:15 pm to 11:15 pm | 6 to 7 hours Dark after the moon sets |
| Nov 17 | Thousand Oaks, CA | 50 to 60% lit waxing | during the day | 12:15 am | about 5 hours Dark after the moon sets |
| Nov 18 to 27 | Los Angeles, CA | 60 to 100% lit near full | 5:45 pm to 8:15 pm (in daylight some nights) | 1 am to 5:30 am (in daylight some nights) | 0 to 4 hours The moon is up most of the night |
| Nov 28 to 29 | Death Valley National Park | 60 to 80% lit waning | 9:15 pm to 10:15 pm | during the day | 3 to 4.5 hours Dark until the moon rises |
| Nov 30 | Zion National Park | 40 to 50% lit waning | 12:15 am | during the day | about 5.5 hours Dark until the moon rises |
| Dec 1 | Bryce Canyon National Park | 30 to 40% lit waning | 1:15 am | during the day | about 6.5 hours Dark until the moon rises |
| Dec 2 to 3 | Scenic Byway 12 / Escalante | 20 to 30% lit waning | 2:15 am to 3:15 am | during the day | 7.5 to 8.5 hours Dark until the moon rises |
| Dec 4 | Moab, UT | 10 to 20% lit waning | 4:15 am | during the day | about 9.5 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky |
| Dec 5 | Kayenta, AZ | 0 to 10% lit waning | 5:15 am | during the day | about 10.5 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky |
| Dec 6 to 7 | Grand Canyon (S Rim), AZ | 0 to 10% lit waning | 6:30 am to 7:30 am | during the day | about 11 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky |
| Dec 8 | Winslow, AZ | 0 to 10% lit waxing | during the day | during the day | about 11 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky |
| Dec 9 to 10 | Santa Fe, NM | 0 to 10% lit waxing | during the day | 5:15 pm to 6:15 pm | about 11 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky |
| Dec 11 | White Sands National Park | 0 to 10% lit waxing | during the day | 7:15 pm | about 10 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky |
| Dec 12 | Fort Davis, TX | 10 to 20% lit waxing | during the day | 9:15 pm | about 9 hours Little or no moon: a dark sky |
| Dec 13 to 14 | Big Bend National Park | 20 to 40% lit waxing | during the day | 10 pm to 11 pm | 7 to 8 hours Dark after the moon sets |
| Dec 15 | Presidio, TX | 40 to 50% lit waxing | during the day | 12 am | about 6.5 hours Dark after the moon sets |
| Dec 16 | Sonora, TX | 50 to 60% lit waxing | during the day | 12:45 am | about 5.5 hours Dark after the moon sets |
| Dec 17 | Hill Country, TX | 60 to 70% lit waxing | during the day | 1:30 am | about 4.5 hours Dark after the moon sets |
| Dec 18 | Houston area (a state park), TX | 70 to 80% lit waxing | during the day | 2:15 am | about 3.5 hours Dark after the moon sets |
| Dec 19 to 20 | New Orleans, LA | 80 to 90% lit waxing | during the day | 3 am to 4:15 am | 1 to 2.5 hours Dark after the moon sets |
| Dec 21 | Birmingham (a state park), AL | 90 to 100% lit waxing | during the day | 5:15 am | none The moon is up most of the night |
| Dec 22 | Tri-Cities (Kingsport), TN | 90 to 100% lit waxing | during the day | 7:30 am | none The moon is up most of the night |
| Dec 23 | Chambersburg, PA | 90 to 100% lit waning | during the day | during the day | none The moon is up most of the night |
| Today | Sebastopol, CA | 20 to 30% lit waxing | during the day | 8:15 pm | about 9 hours Dark after the moon sets |
Steinbeck's route, 1960
The dashed line on the map is Steinbeck's own loop, rebuilt from the book and later research. It's approximate: a literary route, not a GPS record. More on that.