The Most Romantic Fall Getaways, According to a Survey

Few times of year are as romantic as fall. Outdoors, lush greens give way to gorgeous reds, oranges, and golds. Cooler weather promises snuggling up fireside, hot cocoa in hand.

Getting away with your sweetheart in the fall can be seriously romantic, whether you’re wrapping up warm to walk among the autumn leaves, visiting a nearby farm to choose a pumpkin, unwinding at a natural hot spring, or building a fire in a snug mountain cabin.

So where should you go for the ideal autumn escape? To find America’s favorite fall vacation spots, we asked 3,000 couples to recommend the most romantic destinations in the country, drawing on their own experiences. These are some of the places that stood out.

Favorites From Vermont to Montana

The couples we surveyed ranked these 10 fall retreats as the most romantic:

Naturally, New England towns tend to score well as romantic fall destinations, thanks to their spectacular leaf colors. Bar Harbor has much more going for it, though, including breathtaking Acadia National Park, ideal for hiking bundled up in boots and scarves, and lovely trails around Cadillac Mountain.

Couples also gave high marks to Montana’s Glacier National Park, with its dramatic scenery of spectacular lakes, alpine meadows, and melting glaciers.

Arkansas’s Ozark National Forest was another of the most recommended spots for couples to visit in autumn. Spanning more than 1.2 million acres, it’s home to some of the tallest mountains in the state, Mount Magazine and Mount Nebo among them. Picture a cozy weekend tucked into a cabin in the woods here!

Last but not least, Grafton, a picture-perfect little village in Vermont, came out as the state’s top choice. Think snug inns with fireplaces, porches, and fresh local food, along with rustic farmsteads and charming independent shops.

More of What the Survey Found

For 46% of the couples we surveyed, the autumn scenery is what makes them pick a particular place for a romantic fall getaway.

Thirty-four percent also seek out cozy places to stay, while 10% want the destination to offer fun things to do as a couple, like wine tasting or hiking.

Asked what scenery they most hoped to see, 32% chose colorful mountains and forests, 26% picked cozy small towns, 18% wanted coastal views with fall foliage, and 16% preferred scenery by a lake.

When it came to where couples would like to stay on a fall getaway, answers leaned away from big-name hotels toward places that felt quaint, cozy, and more tucked away, the better to enjoy the season. Here’s how the results broke down:

• Rustic cabin tucked in the woods: 25%
• Charming bed-and-breakfast: 22%
• Lodge by a lake or in the mountains: 21%
• Spa or luxury resort: 20%
• Small-town boutique hotel: 12%

And what did couples want to do on their autumn escape? A few fall activities were clear favorites. These are the date ideas our respondents recommended:

• Tasting wine or cider: 28%
• Getting cozy by the fire: 22%
• Scenic foliage drives: 18%
• Hikes or walks in nature: 18%
• Browsing local towns and shops: 14%

As for the food and drink couples were most looking forward to this fall, 44% said hot chocolate with marshmallows excited them most, and 18% had their hearts set on a warm mug of mulled wine or cider.

Unsurprisingly, freshly baked pies and pumpkin-spiced lattes were among the favorites too.

How long would couples want to get away for? Most respondents (68%) said a romantic getaway should last no more than five days, and half of that group said a weekend away would suit them fine.

On the planning front, 16% of couples admitted they don’t plan their short break at all, and 44% said they prefer a blend of scheduled activities and free time.

Tips for Planning the Ideal Fall Getaway

Dreaming of a romantic escape of your own this fall? These tips and tricks will help you get the most out of your getaway:

1. Pack wisely: Fall weather can be hard to predict. To get the most from your trip and make sure you can get out and explore whatever the weather does, pack for every possibility. That means rain jackets and Wellington boots as well as your swimsuit and sun hat.

2. Look for offers: Once summer vacations and celebrations are over, your budget may be feeling stretched. Luckily, autumn tends to bring discounted accommodation. Hunt for special deals on hotels and activities, even on flights, and you could enjoy a break for a fraction of the usual cost.

3. Check the weather: To catch fall foliage at its most spectacular, you might need some flexibility in your vacation plans. Mother Nature keeps her own schedule, so track the trends at your chosen destination and catch the leaves at their peak. Arrive too early and everything will still be green; leave it too late and the branches may be bare.

4. Find local events: Apple picking, forest walks, harvest markets, and pumpkin patches are only a few of the events that fill the fall calendar. If you’d like your trip to include seasonal fun and festivities, look up what’s happening locally and build your plans around it.

5. Embrace the season: Get the most out of your vacation by treating yourselves to festive fall dishes and soaking up the season’s coziness by booking a charming cabin or boutique hotel with roaring fires and warm hot tubs on offer. Nearly one-fifth (18%) of respondents said a week would be ideal.

“Fall is one of the most romantic times of the year!” The Candid Date’s senior editor, Emma Wilson, says. “It’s an excuse to wrap up warm, get cozy, and snuggle up to your other half. Add this to the fact that nature is perhaps at its most beautiful at this time of year, and you’ve got the ultimate recipe for the best time to get away.”

Methodology

We chose 3,000 couples for this survey from a double opt-in online panel with broad geographic diversity. That selection was then narrowed to match the particular criteria each individual survey called for. For accuracy, our questions are designed to screen and verify respondents thoroughly so they match the survey’s target audience exactly.

Our data collection combines several quality control methods. On top of standard measures such as geo-verification, bot detection, digital fingerprinting, and tracking how quickly people respond, a dedicated team member reviews every response for quality and accuracy in context. We also look closely at open-ended answers, checking that they’re relevant and original and screening out anything nonsensical or possibly plagiarized.