October 5, 2026
The Best Fall Destinations To Visit and How To Get There With Points and Miles
Toni Perkins-Southam
Summer always gets the most of the attention when it comes to travel, but fall might actually be my favorite time to go somewhere new.
The crowds start to thin out and destinations completely transform for a few short weeks. But while I love a good fall foliage trip as much as the next person, colorful leaves aren’t the only reason to pack a bag. Fall also means Oktoberfest in Germany, maple season in Japan, and plenty of opportunities to explore places that become a bit more pleasant once the summer heat disappears. And with points and miles in hand, the best fall destinations become far more affordable.
Here are six places worth adding to your fall travel list, plus some of the best ways to get there using rewards.
Maine
If your idea of the perfect fall trip includes fiery red leaves, lighthouses, small coastal towns, and endless apple cider, Maine is hard to beat.
Credit: jeff-gardiner-unsplash
The trick is timing. Fall color starts in northern Maine, where peak conditions generally arrive in late September or early October. Central and western Maine typically follow around mid-October, while Portland and the southern coast tend to peak from mid- to late October—a nice and long window to plan a fall trip.
How To Get There With Points and Miles
American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, and United all fly into New England, so you have a lot of options.
One of the programs worth checking is Virgin Atlantic Flying Club for Delta-operated flights. Virgin prices Delta flights within the U.S. by distance, with economy awards starting at 7,500 Virgin points for flights up to 500 miles, 11,000 points for flights from 501 to 1,000 miles and 16,500 points for flights from 1,001 to 1,500 miles.
You can fly into Portland or Boston. If award prices into Portland are high, compare Boston before booking. Saving thousands of points could easily be worth the roughly two-hour drive to Portland, especially if you’re planning to road-trip through Maine anyway.
Québec City, Canada
Québec City comes with cobblestone streets, centuries-old architecture, French-Canadian food, and a stunningly beautiful old town reminiscent of Europe—but with no need to cross the Atlantic. Add in the fall foliage, and it becomes an especially magical destination from late September into early October.
Credit: p-c-unsplash
Spend a few days wandering Old Québec, then get outside the city. Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier is less than an hour away and has more than 60 miles of hiking trails surrounded by mountains and colorful forest. Montmorency Falls is also an impressive waterfall worth checking out just a short drive from the city.
How To Get There With Points and Miles
Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB) is served by Air Canada along with a handful of U.S. carriers who fly mostly seasonal routes.
Aeroplan is particularly useful for this trip. Flights within North America are priced partly based on distance, and under Aeroplan’s current chart, economy awards start at 6,000 points one way for flights of 500 miles or less and 10,000 points one way for flights between 501 and 1,500 miles.
You don’t need an Air Canada credit card to build an Aeroplan balance, either. Aeroplan is a transfer partner of several major rewards programs, including Chase Ultimate Rewards®, American Express Membership Rewards®, and Capital One Venture Miles.
Related: Earn More Chase Ultimate Rewards® With the Chase Ink Business Credit Cards
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Shenandoah National Park stretches through Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, with Skyline Drive running more than 100 miles through the park. During fall, the mountains turn shades of vibrant red, orange, and yellow.
Credit: becky-winner-unsplash
There’s no single perfect weekend to visit because elevation makes foliage timing vary throughout the park. Historically, however, some of the best color tends to appear around the second and third weeks of October.
Come prepared for crowds. Fall is one of Shenandoah’s busiest seasons, particularly on weekends.
How To Get There With Points and Miles
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is a good gateway for Shenandoah and puts you about 56 miles from the park’s northern entrance.
Because Washington is such a major air market, this is a great place to compare redemption options before booking. United MileagePlus can be convenient if you want to fly the airline into Dulles. You can also look for Delta flights through Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.
Related: All About the United Airlines Cards
Aspen, Colorado
Aspen gets loads of attention during ski season, but fall is also an incredible time to visit.
Credit: mike-scheid-unsplash
Before the snow arrives, the area’s namesake aspen trees turn brilliant gold. You’ll also get cool hiking weather and unreal mountain scenery.
The window can be short, though. Fall colors around Aspen generally peak in September, though weather and elevation can shift the timing from year to year.
How To Get There With Points and Miles
The easiest option is flying directly into Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE), but convenience can come at a price. United flyers can use MileagePlus miles for many itineraries into Aspen, but United doesn’t use a fixed award chart, so prices will vary. That’s why you’ll want to look into Denver International Airport (DEN), as well.
Denver has significantly more flights and gives you another useful option: Southwest® Rapid Rewards. Southwest lets members redeem points for any available seat with no blackout dates; however, award prices can vary widely because they are based on factors like fare, route, travel date, and demand.
Munich, Germany
Fall travel doesn’t have to revolve around leaves.
Credit: marlene-haiberger-unsplash
Munich hosts Oktoberfest each year from late September into early October, making it one of the world’s most iconic fall trips. In 2026, Oktoberfest runs from Sept. 19 through Oct. 4.
Even if beer tents aren’t your thing, Bavaria is beautiful in autumn. Spend a few days in Munich, then head toward the Alps, visit Neuschwanstein Castle, or tack on another European city before flying home.
Just don’t expect Oktoberfest itself to be a bargain. This is one trip where you’ll want to use points for airfare or hotels to soften the sting of peak-season prices.
How To Get There With Points and Miles
American AAdvantage can be a great option for getting to Munich. Award pricing on American-operated flights is dynamic, but economy awards to Europe can be found for around 21,000 miles one way.
One AAdvantage sweet spot is its business-class redemptions on partner airlines. AAdvantage charges just 57,500 miles one way between the U.S. and Europe in business class when partner award space is available. That gives you access to Oneworld partners like British Airways, Iberia, and Finnair.
Related: The Best American Airlines Credit Cards: Which AAdvantage® Card Is Right for You?
Kyoto, Japan
Japan’s cherry blossoms get all the attention, but autumn deserves just as much love. Kyoto’s famous temples and gardens become surrounded by red and orange maple leaves, with autumn colors typically deepening as temperatures cool in November. Some temples even offer evening illuminations during foliage season.
Credit: daniel-beauchamp-unsplash
It’s a completely different experience from visiting during spring and a good excuse to return if you’ve already seen Japan during cherry blossom season.
How To Get There With Points and Miles
Kyoto doesn’t have its own major airport, so you’ll generally fly into Osaka (KIX) or Tokyo before continuing by train.
One option you can use is Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards, which lets you redeem points for Japan Airlines flights. Depending on the distance, partner awards from the U.S. to Japan start at 30,000 to 37,500 points one way in economy or 60,000 to 75,000 points in business class.
Don’t limit your search to Osaka, either. Flying into Tokyo can open up far more award options, especially during Japan’s popular fall foliage season.
Related: All About Alaska Airlines Atmos™ Rewards Credit Cards
Bottom Line
You don’t have to wait for summer to use your points and miles on an incredible vacation. Fall brings some of the best scenery of the year to Maine, Québec, and Virginia, turns Colorado’s mountains gold, and offers seasonal experiences you simply can’t replicate at other times of year in places like Munich and Kyoto.
And because the “best” fall destination can change depending on when you’re traveling, there’s almost always somewhere entering its sweet spot.
The most important rule is the same one that applies to almost every award trip: search to verify availability before you transfer. Fall festivals, foliage weekends, and seasonal events can send both cash prices and award rates soaring. A little flexibility with your airport, dates, or loyalty program can be the difference between burning through your rewards and getting a great deal.
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