Fall travel tends to follow a familiar script: Vermont for foliage, the Blue Ridge Mountains for scenic drives, or maybe a cozy weekend somewhere in the Catskills.
But some of the places attracting the most attention from travelers this fall are nowhere near the destinations that usually dominate leaf-peeping season.
A tiny town in Kansas is seeing a staggering 1,250% jump in camping demand, while lesser-known spots in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and West Virginia are surging, too. Even beach destinations in Florida and South Carolina are making the list, suggesting that travelers aren't necessarily looking for the stereotypical sweater-weather getaway.
The findings come from new Campspot booking data comparing demand for stays from Sept. 1 through Nov. 30, 2026, with the same period last year.
And while a few classic fall destinations made the cut, the biggest increases are happening in places most travelers probably wouldn't think to search first.
Here are the 16 destinations seeing the biggest surge in fall camping interest.
Yes, Kansas. The biggest increase on the entire list belongs to Anthony, a small town in southern Kansas where fall is less about crowded foliage routes and more about wide-open prairie, fishing, wildlife, and enormous skies.
Camping demand here has climbed an eye-popping 1,250% compared with last fall.
For travelers looking for a quieter alternative to the usual autumn hotspots, that may be exactly the appeal.
Pennsylvania feels a little more expected for fall, but Dover is hardly the first place that comes to mind when planning a leaf-peeping weekend.
That may be changing. Camping demand around the south-central Pennsylvania town is up 1,200% year over year. Nearby Codorus State Park surrounds Lake Marburg with more than 3,000 acres of parkland, giving travelers plenty of room to hike, fish and get out on the water. Gettysburg is also within day-trip range if you want to mix the outdoors with a little American history.
Viroqua ties Dover with another 1,200% increase, and this one makes a lot of sense once you see where it is.
The small Wisconsin town sits in the Driftless Area, a landscape of rolling hills, bluffs and winding roads that looks particularly good once fall colors arrive. Nearby Kickapoo Valley Reserve has hiking and paddling, while Viroqua itself adds farmers' markets, restaurants, and an artsy small-town feel to the trip.
This is the kind of place I'd choose when I want the fall aesthetic without feeling like I'm following everyone else to the same Instagram-famous overlook.
If mountains are non-negotiable, Princeton may be one of the strongest contenders on the list.
Demand is up 900%, and the southern West Virginia city puts travelers close to Pipestem Resort State Park, Bluestone State Park and Camp Creek State Park. Think forested mountains, waterfalls, river valleys and long drives through Appalachian scenery.
It also makes a convincing case for looking beyond better-known fall destinations like Asheville or the Smokies.
Fall camping doesn't get much quieter than Calling Lake.
This Alberta destination has seen an 800% increase in demand, and its appeal is the opposite of that of a packed foliage town. Calling Lake Provincial Park is surrounded by boreal forest, with opportunities to fish, paddle, boat, and hike around the lake.
For anyone whose ideal fall weekend involves more wildlife than nightlife, this one deserves a look.
Middletown gives travelers something many fall destinations can't: foliage and the ocean on the same trip.
Located beside Newport, Middletown is close to beaches, rocky coastal scenery, and trails at Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge. You can spend the morning outside, then head into Newport for its mansions and waterfront before returning to camp. Demand is up 800% from last fall.
If you're not quite ready to say goodbye to the beach after Labor Day, this may be the best compromise on the list.
Eventually, New Hampshire had to show up.
Ashland sits in the Lakes Region, surrounded by the kind of landscape people picture when they imagine a New England fall: lakes, mountains, forests and winding roads bursting with color.
Nearby Squam Lake is popular for kayaking and wildlife watching, while the White Mountains are close enough for bigger hikes and foliage drives. Camping demand is up 600% this year.
Hot Springs might be the destination I'd personally be most tempted by.
You can hike through Hot Springs National Park or explore the Ouachita Mountains during the day and then lean into the city's famous bathing culture afterward.
Add cooler fall temperatures and changing leaves, and suddenly Arkansas starts sounding like a pretty compelling autumn getaway. Travelers seem to agree: demand is up 600%.
Pennsylvania lands another spot on the list with Rockwood, in the state's Laurel Highlands.
The region delivers wooded hills, waterfalls and hiking trails, but one of the biggest draws is the Great Allegheny Passage, which makes this especially interesting for travelers who would rather experience fall colors from a bicycle than through a car window.
Ohiopyle State Park is also an easy day trip for hiking, waterfalls and outdoor adventure. Fall camping demand is up 600%.
Not every fall trip needs mountains and flannel.
Tabor City sits near the North Carolina-South Carolina border, putting campers within reach of Lake Waccamaw as well as the beaches around Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach.
That makes it an intriguing choice for travelers who want cooler weather without completely giving up the coast. Demand is up 583%.
New Hampshire makes the ranking for a second time with West Ossipee, where camping demand has climbed 550%.
The location is hard to beat for a classic fall weekend. Ossipee Lake provides opportunities for boating and paddling, while the White Mountains and White Mountain National Forest are close enough for hiking and serious foliage viewing.
In other words, if you came to this list looking specifically for red leaves and mountain views, this is probably one of your safest bets.
California isn't usually the first state associated with fall camping, which is exactly why Chester caught my attention.
The Northern California town sits near Lake Almanor and within reach of Lassen Volcanic National Park, so a trip can include lakes, mountain scenery and some of the state's most unusual volcanic landscapes.
Demand for fall stays is up 500%.
Huntsville may be best known for rockets, but its outdoor side is gaining attention, too.
Monte Sano State Park sits above the city, with hiking and biking trails, while the Tennessee River offers another option for getting outdoors. And for families, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center gives you a pretty fantastic backup plan if the weather doesn't cooperate.
Fall camping interest is up 500%.
Here's one for travelers whose definition of fall does not require cold weather.
Jacksonville gives campers access to beaches, kayaking, hiking, and wildlife at places like Big Talbot Island and Little Talbot Island state parks. Amelia Island is also close enough for an easy day trip.
Demand is up 450%, suggesting plenty of travelers would rather spend October near the Atlantic than bundled up around a campfire.
North Myrtle Beach follows a similar formula: summer may technically be over, but that doesn't mean beach season has to be.
The South Carolina destination offers miles of coastline along with kayaking, biking and fishing, while nearby Huntington Beach State Park adds trails and excellent birdwatching.
Fall demand has risen 450% year over year.
Wisconsin bookends the ranking with Eagle River, where fall demand is up 400%.
The northern Wisconsin destination is surrounded by lakes and forest, making it particularly appealing for fishing, kayaking, and hiking before winter arrives.
And while a 400% increase almost looks modest beside Anthony's 1,250% jump, it still represents a major shift in where travelers are looking this season.
The most interesting thing about the list isn't that Americans want to camp in the fall. Cooler temperatures, fewer peak-summer crowds and colorful scenery have always made September and October appealing times to get outside.
It's how far travelers appear willing to look beyond the usual fall hot spots.
According to Campspot, which compared demand for stays from Sept. 1 through Nov. 30, 2026, with the same period in 2025, some of the biggest gains are happening in places that rarely appear on the standard fall bucket list.
Vermont isn't No. 1. Neither is Maine. The Adirondacks don't even make the top 16.
Instead, Kansas is leading the pack. And maybe that's the real travel trend worth paying attention to this fall: the best getaway doesn't necessarily have to be the place everybody already knows.