Oregon Is One Of The Top 3 States To Visit In The Fall
A survey from a landscaping company rating the best fall destinations in the United States rates Oregon among the best three in the nation. LawnStarter, who undertook the survey found the west coast is the best coast to visit in fall 2024.
Oregon Is One Of The Best Places To Visit In Fall
All 48 contiguous U.S. states were surveyed based on several factors such as projected length of fall foliage and peak foliage, best scenic drives, and pumpkin patches.
California and Washington scored the number one and two spots respectively on the list overall, California for its scenic drives, number of forest trails, and the portion of land covered by national and state parks.
Here’s how the top 3 states to visit in the fall compared in the survey:
| CALIFORNIA (Total score: 64.14) | WASHINGTON (Total score: 53.77) | OREGON (Total Score: 51.18) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Projected Number of Days of Fall Foliage | 11 (Rank 13) | ||
| Projected Number of Days of Peak Foliage | 73 (Rank 2) | 57 (Rank 9) | 73 (Rank 2) |
| Number of Scenic Drives | 139 (Rank 1) | 35 (Rank 5) | 23 (Rank 6) |
| Portion of State Covered by National and State Parks | 7.49% (Rank 1) | ||
| Number of State Parks | 195 (Rank 4) | ||
| Acreage of Forest Land | 29,7 million (Rank 2) | ||
| Number of Forest Trails | 7,356 (Rank 1) | 3,785 (Rank 3) | |
| Wineries per 100,000 Residents | 18,2 (Rank 2) | 22,7 (Rank 1) | |
| Fall Festivals | 219 (Rank 7) | ||
| Special Fall Attractions | Half Moon Bay, the self-proclaimed "pumpkin capital of the world," grows over 3,000 tons of pumpkins each year. | Leavenworth, an alpine-themed village with great access to skiing and wineries | Mount Hood Railroad’s scenic Fall Train and the Halloween Train |
Best Things About Oregon In The Fall
Heading into the Pacific Northwest, Oregon ranked first for wineries per 100,000 residents, and second for the expected peak fall foliage days. The total acreage of forest land was also a factor.
Mt. Hood Railroad’s scenic Fall Train is a fall activity favorite when visiting Oregon and boarding Fall’s Halloween Train in Hood River is highly recommended.
Although Western states have a slightly shorter leaf-peeping season overall of 10 or 11 weeks, this year their trees are predicted to hold peak color for a longer period this year, although plant and foliage cycles are complex, with climate stresses like temperature, precipitation, and natural disasters affecting timing, color, and length of fall foliage.
Alaska and Hawaii were not included in the survey because of a lack of fall foliage data but Vermont, Michigan, and Virginia ranked fourth, fifth, and sixth on the list.