Looking for the perfect locations to go to in September USA? September is the perfect time for a visit, with gentle climate, fewer crowds, and decrease lodge charges. It’s the proper shoulder season to take pleasure in vibrant fall colours, out of doors actions, and iconic sights.
Whether you’re planning a New England foliage journey, a highway journey by the mountains, or a coastal escape, this information covers the perfect locations to profit from your September trip. From Sedona’s purple rocks to Napa’s harvest season and Maine’s rugged shoreline, there’s an ideal spot for everybody.
Why Travel in September within the USA?
September is the proper shoulder season for a US trip. You’ll take pleasure in fewer vacationers, gentle climate, decrease lodge charges, vibrant fall colours, and a mixture of summer season adventures and comfortable autumn vibes.
Quick List: Best Places to Visit in September USA
September is without doubt one of the finest months to discover the USA due to gentle climate, early fall colours, and fewer vacationers. Here are some prime locations to go to:
Santa Barbara, California: Coastal tradition & sunsets
Sedona, Arizona: Red rock hikes & non secular vitality
Lake Tahoe, California: Fall foliage & out of doors enjoyable
Bar Harbor, Maine: Coastal appeal & Acadia adventures
Chicago, Illinois: Architecture, lakefront, and festivals
Hudson Valley, New York: Apple selecting & scenic drives
Oregon Coast: Whale watching & iconic seashores
Charleston, South Carolina: Historic streets & gardens
San Diego, California: Endless summer season seashores
Taos, New Mexico: Art & Native American heritage
Moab, Utah: Hiking & desert landscapes
More Of The Best Places to Visit In The USA By Season
Introduction to September Travel
September is one among our favourite months to discover the USA. It’s an ideal mix of summer season heat and crisp fall air, providing the perfect of each worlds. You’ll dodge the heavy summer season warmth and massive crowds, making it simpler to take pleasure in widespread sights with out lengthy strains.
As the shoulder season kicks in, lodge charges drop, flights are sometimes cheaper, and also you’ll discover extra providers and experiences obtainable with out the peak-season rush. Many parks and climbing trails are nonetheless open and welcoming, making it an excellent time for out of doors actions.
Whether you’re taking a highway journey by New England to see vibrant fall colours, absorbing seaside days in California earlier than winter, or exploring the rugged great thing about Washington’s nationwide parks, September affords unbeatable selection. From apple selecting within the Hudson Valley to wine tastings in Napa Valley and epic leaf-peeping within the Smoky Mountains, there’s one thing for each sort of traveler — {couples}, households with youngsters, or solo adventurers.
So pack your layers, seize your digital camera, and reap the benefits of this candy spot earlier than winter snow and vacation crowds arrive. September is really the perfect time to hit the highway and uncover the USA in an entire new mild.
1. Sedona, Arizona
A September journey to Sedona is all about beautiful views, cooler climate, and fewer crowds. With common highs within the 70s, it’s a good time to hit the climbing trails or discover the numerous parks with out the extreme summer season warmth.
We’ll always remember climbing Cathedral Rock at golden hour, the way in which the sunshine bounced off the purple rock formations felt nearly non secular. It’s the sort of place that stops you in your tracks.
Top Things to Do
Hike to Devil’s Bridge for panoramic views
Take a jeep or ATV tour by purple rock canyons
Visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross and discover non secular vortex websites
Join guided hikes in Red Rock State Park
Try a helicopter tour for a hen’s-eye account of Sedona‘s epic surroundings
Local TipMid September is a perfect time when temperatures are snug and lodge charges start to drop.
2. Lake Tahoe, California
Lake Tahoe in September is nature’s playground. It’s nonetheless heat sufficient for swimming and water sports activities, however cool sufficient for mountain hikes. You’ll catch vibrant fall colours reflecting on the lake’s floor, making it a picture-perfect trip spot.
We rented paddleboards on a whim and ended up watching the solar set from the center of the lake. The water was glassy and nonetheless, a kind of spontaneous moments that looks like a scene from a film.
Top Things to Do
Hike the Tahoe Rim Trail or Eagle Lake Trail
Kayak, paddleboard, or swim within the lake
Attend Sample the Sierra competition for native eats and drinks
Take a scenic drive to see vibrant fall foliage
Relax at Sand Harbor Beach
Local TipSeptember is a shoulder season benefit, providing fewer crowds and higher entry to widespread spots.
3. Bar Harbor, Maine
Bar Harbor is a dreamy New England getaway. September brings crisp air, colourful foliage in Acadia National Park, and decrease lodge charges. You’ll expertise the magic of early fall with out the large summer season crowds.
Top Things to Do
Hike Cadillac Mountain or the Beehive Trail for beautiful views
Kayak in Frenchman Bay
Ride the Downeast Scenic Railroad
Stroll the Shore Path at dawn
Eat lobster rolls and blueberry pie downtown
Local TipBook dawn permits for Cadillac Mountain early because it’s a preferred time for photographers.
4. Chicago, Illinois
Chicago is at its finest in September. The summer season warmth is gone, making it a good time to discover the town’s lakefront, structure, and vibrant festivals.
Top Things to Do
Stroll or bike the Lakefront Trail
Take an structure boat tour
Enjoy Chicago Jazz Festival and World Music Festival
Visit Millennium Park and the Art Institute
Try native eats at farmers markets and meals festivals
Local TipCheck for out of doors concert events and rooftop patios, as that is the final huge push earlier than winter arrives.
5. Hudson Valley, New York
Hudson Valley in mid September is all about apple selecting, winery hopping, and scenic drives. Fall colours begin popping, and native farms welcome guests with open arms.
We discovered this roadside farm stand close to Rhinebeck that offered scorching cider and apple cider donuts. Safe to say, we turned a 10-minute cease right into a full hour, and got here again the subsequent day for extra.
Top Things to Do
Go apple selecting and style recent cider
Visit artwork galleries and sculpture parks throughout Upstate Art Weekend
Drive alongside the Hudson River for stunning views
Hike in Minnewaska State Park or alongside many parks within the space
Check out charming cities and markets
Local TipSeptember is a shoulder season candy spot with fewer vacationers and nice lodge offers.
6. Oregon Coast, Oregon
The Oregon Coast affords a refreshing September journey, with gentle climate good for coastal hikes and whale watching. Cannon Beach is our favorite. WE do suggest doing sundown there, like we did.
Top Things to Do
Visit Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock
Tour Sea Lion Caves and watch migrating whales
Drive Highway 101 for scenic ocean views
Explore coastal state parks and tidepools
Eat recent seafood and pattern craft beers
Local TipPack a windbreaker as a result of coastal winds may be robust even on sunny days.
7. Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston’s charming streets and historic houses shine in September. Lower humidity and gentle temps make it a good time to wander, and the town feels vibrant with occasions and markets. We took a strolling tour, and the information sang gospel in the midst of a church courtyard. It was a kind of sudden, shifting journey moments that stays with you.
Top Things to Do
Visit Rainbow Row and the historic district
Shop at Charleston City Market
Tour Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
Take a harbor sundown cruise
Explore hidden gardens and courtyards
Local TipSeptember continues to be hurricane season so regulate forecasts and journey insurance coverage choices.
8. San Diego, California
San Diego delivers an limitless summer season vibe in September. With heat climate, clear skies, and enjoyable festivals, it’s an excellent time to go to earlier than winter rain arrives.
Top Things to Do
Relax at La Jolla Shores or Coronado Beach
Visit Balboa Park’s museums and gardens
Enjoy the San Diego Zoo and animal encounters
Go browsing or swimming within the Pacific
Check out San Diego Restaurant Week
Local TipMorning seaside visits supply the calmest water and open parking spots.
9. Taos, New Mexico
A September trip to Taos affords artwork, historical past, and out of doors journey in a shocking excessive desert setting. It is a spot you’ve in all probability by no means heard of, however belief us, you need to positively add this to the September journey listing.
Top Things to Do
Tour Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Hike in Carson National Forest
Explore Ledoux Street artwork galleries
Visit historic church buildings like San Francisco de Asis
Eat conventional New Mexican delicacies
Local TipEvenings settle down quick so layers are a good suggestion.
10. Moab, Utah
Moab’s purple rock landscapes are spectacular in September. The climate is cooler, making it a good time to hit the climbing trails and discover two iconic nationwide parks.
Top Things to Do
Hike to Delicate Arch in Arches National Park
Explore Canyonlands’ viewpoints and trails
Bike the well-known Slickrock Trail
Raft the Colorado River
Camp underneath star-filled desert skies
Local TipSeptember is a well-liked time so e book campsites and excursions early.
11. Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara combines luxurious and laid-back seaside life in September. It’s heat sufficient for swimming and seaside days and funky sufficient for wine tasting and festivals.
Top Things to Do
Sail or kayak alongside the coast
Explore State Street retailers and artwork galleries
Visit native wineries and tasting rooms
Check out the Santa Barbara Sea Glass and Ocean Arts Festival
Enjoy sundown views at Butterfly Beach
Local TipWeekends e book up shortly so plan forward.
12. Napa Valley, California
Napa Valley shines in September throughout harvest season. Crisp mornings and sunny afternoons create good circumstances for winery excursions and out of doors actions. We unintentionally timed our go to with the grape harvest, and let’s simply say the free tastings and crisp morning walks by the vineyards turned us into early-rising wine lovers.
Top Things to Do
Attend grape harvest and wine tasting occasions
Ride the Napa Valley Wine Train
Try a scorching air balloon experience for panoramic views
Enjoy farm-to-table eating places
Bike by scenic winery routes
Local TipSeptember is the preferred time to go to so tasting reservations are important.
13. Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a incredible September journey thought with early hints of fall colour and a energetic arts scene.
Top Things to Do
Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway for beautiful views
Visit Biltmore Estate and gardens
Hike in Pisgah National Forest
Attend meals and artwork festivals like Goombay
Enjoy native breweries and music venues
Local TipSeptember weekdays are quieter for leaf peeping and trails.
14. Great Smoky Mountains, TN/NC
The Smoky Mountains are good for a September journey, with cooler days and fewer guests. One of our favourite September mornings began with fog drifting by the timber on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. The quiet, the colour, and the scent of damp forest made us decelerate and simply breathe all of it in.
Top Things to Do
Hike Chimney Tops or Alum Cave
Bike or drive Cades Cove Loop
Watch sundown from Clingmans Dome
Go fly fishing in mountain streams
Explore Gatlinburg’s harvest festivals
Local TipStart early to see wildlife and beat afternoon rain showers.
15. Boston, Massachusetts
Boston in September feels alive with fall vitality. Mild days are perfect for strolling excursions and out of doors sights earlier than the snow and winter chill set in.
Top Things to Do
Walk the Freedom Trail
Visit Fenway Park or catch a Red Sox sport
Take a Boston Harbor cruise
Check out Boston Arts Festival
Explore markets and historic neighborhoods
Local TipBook excursions forward as September weekends are widespread.
16. Denver, Colorado
We’ve all the time discovered Denver to be a kind of cities that surprises you, in the easiest way. September hits that candy spot between summer season warmth and fall crispness, making it good for rooftop dinners, day hikes simply outdoors the town, or catching a Rockies sport with out melting within the solar. Once, we ended up at a neighborhood bluegrass competition in RiNo and ended the night time two-stepping with strangers. Denver is aware of the right way to make guests really feel like locals.
Top Things to Do
Day journey to Rocky Mountain National Park
Hike Red Rocks Park or Mount Falcon
Visit Great American Beer Festival
Explore artwork districts like RiNo
Enjoy Denver Botanic Gardens
Local TipSeptember weekends are a good time for mountain cabin getaways earlier than winter snow arrives.
17. Finger Lakes, New York
The Finger Lakes area is magical throughout September. With the grape harvest underway and waterfalls flowing, it’s an ideal spot for a calming trip. We came across a small winery providing wood-fired pizza and wine flights on the patio, no reservation wanted. By sundown, we have been swapping journey tales with the proprietor over a glass of rosé. We love moments like these.
Top Things to Do
Taste wine alongside Seneca and Keuka Lake trails
Hike round Taughannock Falls State Park
Kayak or sail on the lakes
Visit Naples Grape Festival
Explore small cities like Skaneateles
Local TipBook lakeside cabins early as fall is a well-liked time for romantic escapes.
18. New Orleans, Louisiana
September is a good time to go to New Orleans, when the summer season warmth lastly breaks and competition season kicks in. Having visited New Orleans on a number of events, you may be certain there shall be no scarcity of issues to see and do.
Top Things to Do
Attend Beignet Fest and Fried Chicken Festival
Take a riverboat cruise on the Mississippi
Listen to jazz on Frenchmen Street
Explore the Garden District
Check out native artwork galleries and markets
Local TipBook early as competition weekends fill quick.
19. Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe in September has this golden glow, just like the adobe partitions are absorbing the solar and radiating calm. On our final go to, we wandered right into a courtyard through the Fiesta de Santa Fe and located ourselves consuming roasted chiles and dancing with a mariachi band. It’s not simply in regards to the artwork galleries (although they’re unimaginable), it’s the scent of piñon wooden within the air, the nice and cozy hospitality, and the way in which the city pulses with tradition.
Top Things to Do
Attend Wine and Chile Fiesta
Visit Canyon Road galleries
Hike Santa Fe National Forest trails
Tour adobe church buildings and museums
Browse native farmers markets
Local TipSeptember is shoulder season so you may take pleasure in decrease lodge charges and more room.
20. Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
There’s one thing soul-soothing about driving Skyline Drive in mid-September earlier than the leaf-peeping crowds arrive. We spent a full day hopping between overlooks and climbing trails, chasing mild by the timber. One morning, we watched deer graze beside our cabin as fog rolled by the valley. If you’re craving crisp mountain air and a slower tempo, this is without doubt one of the most peaceable corners of the East Coast.
Top Things to Do
Drive Skyline Drive for colourful vistas
Hike Old Rag or Stony Man
Visit Luray Caverns
Join ranger-led wildlife walks
Stargaze at Big Meadows
Local TipPlan a midweek go to to take pleasure in quieter trails and providers.
21. Portland, Maine
Every time we go to Portland in September, it looks like the town is in its component. Food vehicles are buzzing, the air smells like espresso and pine, and everybody’s out biking or climbing earlier than the rain returns. One afternoon, we biked the Springwater Corridor and ended up at a craft cider competition we didn’t even know was taking place. Portland thrives on this in-between season, and it’s the proper mixture of city cool and Pacific Northwest nature.
Top Things to Do
Try native seafood at Harvest on the Harbor
Visit Casco Bay Islands by ferry
Tour Portland Head Light
Explore Old Port’s retailers and eating places
Sip native craft beers open air
Local TipSeptember is a perfect time to strive lobster rolls earlier than seasonal spots shut.
22. Acadia National Park, Maine
Acadia affords crisp air and rugged shoreline, making it probably the greatest locations for a September journey. We as soon as wakened at 4:30 am simply to catch the dawn from Cadillac Mountain. Totally value it. There’s one thing particular about being one of many first individuals within the U.S. to see the solar rise that day.
Top Things to Do
Hike Cadillac Mountain or Gorham Mountain
Bike the car-free carriage roads
Paddle in Frenchman Bay
Drive Park Loop Road
Join ranger stargazing packages
Local TipGet dawn permits for Cadillac Mountain nicely prematurely.
We love September as a result of it feels just like the nation is taking a deep breath after the summer season rush. The trails are quieter, the sunsets are golden, and there’s a sure magic within the air as fall begins to roll in.
Whether you’re highway tripping by New England, catching the final heat days on the seaside, or chasing mountain views, there’s no higher time to get on the market and discover. Trust us — you’ll come dwelling with tales (and photographs) you’ll be speaking about all yr.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Places to Visit in September in The USA
What are the perfect locations to go to within the USA in September?
Top picks embrace Sedona, Lake Tahoe, Bar Harbor, Hudson Valley, Asheville, Napa Valley, and Acadia National Park.
Where is the perfect fall foliage in September USA?
Hudson Valley, Acadia National Park, and the Smoky Mountains present vibrant fall colours beginning mid September.
Is September a very good month to go to US nationwide parks?
Yes. It’s a good time due to fewer crowds, open trails, and gentle climate throughout many parks like Acadia, Shenandoah, and Mount Rainier.
Are these locations budget-friendly in September?
Yes. Lower lodge charges and shoulder season offers make it extra reasonably priced than peak summer season.
What festivals occur in September USA?
Wine harvest festivals in Napa and Finger Lakes, jazz in Chicago and New Orleans, meals festivals in Santa Fe and San Diego, and artwork occasions in Boston.