When it comes to Instagram-able fall color—the kind that turns the surrounding landscape into a kaleidoscope of deep reds, fiery oranges, and brilliant yellows—skip the trip to New England and head for the mountains and foothills of Tennessee. Here, the Technicolor autumn scenery is every bit as vibrant as that of our Northern neighbors, and even though there’s enough crispness in the air to get the blood pumping, you can leave the down coats at home. So, whether you’re looking to rough it at a historic hike-in lodge high in Great Smoky Mountain National Park, celebrate a special milestone with a bucket-list escape to a luxury mountain resort, or take the whole family (Nana and Papa, too) for a Dolly-approved weekend getaway, there’s a Tennessee destination for every type of fall traveler. Find yours.
The Leaf Peeping “Camper”
Under Canvas Great Smoky Mountains
Pigeon Forge
from $179
Under Canvas Great Smoky Mountains is designed for all those travelers who love the great outdoors and like the idea of camping but not actually roughing it in a sleeping bag on rocky mountainous terrain—even for peak fall color. Situated on 128 wooded acres just outside the park entrance near Gatlinburg, this outdoor “resort,” features a collection of glam safari-style canvas tents with downy beds, luxe linens, wood-burning stoves, hot showers, and the option for a private ensuite bathroom. Details like the Stargazer cabin’s night-sky viewing window above the bed, complimentary s’mores, morning yoga, and kids’ programming makes for an unmatched outdoor experience for everyone from couples to young families.
The Southern Foodie
Franklin
From $459
Whether it’s the serene spa, where natural light filters into each of the ten treatment rooms, or the intimate dining room at January, Southall’s main restaurant, which features floor-to-ceiling views of the surrounding farm, or the cozy cottages unobtrusively tucked into the property’s rolling hills, every aspect of the Southall experience is rooted in the land. The luxury inn is situated on 325-acres of picturesque Tennessee farmland, and while it was built with the comfort of guests in mind, Southall is a true working farm—not merely the impression of one. There are orchards, greenhouses, kitchen gardens, fields planted with row crops, apiaries that produce more than 2,000 pounds of honey annually, and cut-flower gardens for good measure. With an eye toward sustainability, the bulk of the ingredients at both January and Sojourner, which is open three meals a day, are grown on-site.
The True Outdoor Adventurer
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
from $184
Perched near the summit of Mount LeConte deep in the national park, LeConte Lodge is open seasonally from early March through the end of November. In 2025, the historic lodge will celebrate 100 years since construction began on the backcountry outpost, and little has changed in the last century. There’s still no electricity or internet. Kerosene lamps and propane heaters light and warm the rustic cabins. Hearty meals are served family-style to guests who’ve worked hard for their supper. Yes, hiking is still the only way to reach the remote lodge, and at five-and-a-half-miles long, the national park’s Alum Cave trail is the most popular route to LeConte. It’s plenty steep, but the scenic setting is worth the exertion. Reservations book up fast, submit your 2025 request now or call about last-minute cancellations this fall. Day hikers are welcome, too.
The Multi-Generational Family Traveler
Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge and Resort
Pigeon Forge
from $280
Inspired by Dolly Parton’s childhood in the woods and hollers of Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains, Dollywood’s new HeartSong Lodge and Resort opened in November 2023. The upscale accommodations feature 302 guest rooms, six on-site dining options, a stunning four-story fireplace in the lobby atrium, and both indoor and outdoor pool options, including a waterfall-flanked showstopper inside The Cove, the resort’s main outdoor gathering space, where children can stop by the Imagination Library’s story hour in the morning or roast a marshmallow before tumbling into bed that evening.
Bonus: Guests at HeartSong also get door-to-door park transportation, priority park access, and complimentary TimeSaver passes for rides like the new $25 million Big Bear roller coaster—a nice perk during the park’s popular Harvest Festival, which runs through October 28.
The Special-Occasion Traveler
Walland
from $1000
With amenities like wood-burning in-cabin stoves, indoor-outdoor stone fireplaces, and heated open-air soaking tubs, Blackberry Mountain is at peak coziness come fall, making it the perfect season to celebrate an extra-special occasion with your loved ones. And when you’re not dining at one of the Relais-Chateaux property’s two outstanding on-site restaurants or sinking into the serenity of the property’s naturopathic Nest spa, guests are encouraged to explore the surrounding seasonal splendor of the resort’s 5,200 acres of private Smoky Mountain wilderness: hike miles of foliage-enveloped trails, navigate the picturesque rocky terrain on the back of a high-octane mountain bike, explore the woodland canopy at the resort ropes course, or cast a line into a remote trout stream.
Editor’s Note
Many of our Southern neighbors, especially those in the mountains of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina, were devastated by the effects of Hurricane Helene. Find ways you can help here.