Although summer officially ends on September 22nd, “end of summer” looks different for everyone. In early August, trails and beaches are lively, the water’s warm and inviting, and it’s the perfect time to squeeze in one last summer adventure. By September, the crowds have eased and temperatures are cooling, offering a completely different vibe as fall approaches. Whenever your summer winds down, there’s a road trip that matches the moment.
Here’s 15 end of summer road trips spanning coast to coast in the U.S. and Canada to celebrate the seasonal shift. Load up your chosen vehicle and let’s go!
August Road Trips
These trips focus on warm water, ripe harvests, and long days before seasonal changes set in.
Pacific Coast Highway, California
California’s Central Valley and inland areas get hot in August, making the coast a great escape. The marine layer from the Pacific Ocean creates a unique, moody light and keeps this stretch of Highway 1 cooler than towns just a short drive inland.
Drive past Bixby Bridge in Big Sur, one of the most photographed bridges in the country, and stop at McWay Falls, where a waterfall drops onto a beach that’s hard to reach. Hearst Castle is at the northern end of the drive, with elephant seals often lounging on the beach nearby. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park adds redwoods to the mix, showing that this coastline has more than one kind of beauty.
Nearest KOAs:
Santa Cruz / Monterey Bay KOA Holiday
Moss Landing KOA Express
Santa Margarita KOA Holiday
Ventura Ranch KOA Holiday
Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
August is peak river season in the Columbia Gorge! The wind that makes Hood River a top windsurfing spot is most reliable this time of year, and the orchards around Hood River start picking pears as the month wraps up.
Multnomah Falls is the must-see stop, but Latourell Falls and Wahkeena Falls are just as stunning with fewer visitors. Take a ride on the historic Mount Hood Railroad from Hood River into the foothills of Oregon’s tallest peak, or pull over at one of the many viewpoints to watch windsurfers on the river below.
Nearest KOA:
Cascade Locks / Portland East KOA Holiday
Zion National Park, Utah
By August, the Virgin River is at its warmest and safest levels, making The Narrows hikeable. Earlier in the season, snowmelt keeps the water high and cold, which can close the route. Late summer is the best time to wade through the canyon!
Take the shuttle down Zion Canyon Scenic Drive and hike as much of Angels Landing as you’re comfortable with, then wade into The Narrows, where the trail is the river. Kolob Canyons, the park’s quieter northern section, offers the same stunning red-rock scenery with fewer visitors, even in peak season.
Nearest KOA:
St. George / Hurricane KOA Journey
The Icefields Parkway, Alberta, Canada
Glacial meltwater peaks in mid-to-late summer, giving Bow Lake and Peyto Lake their bright turquoise color. August is when that color is most vibrant! Plus, the alpine wildflowers are still blooming at higher elevations, and all visitor facilities along the route are fully operational.
Walk out onto the Athabasca Glacier at the Columbia Icefield, or cross the Glacier Skywalk, a glass-floored platform 280 meters above the valley floor. Mistaya Canyon and Sunwapta Falls are worth the short walks, and you might spot wildlife along the roadside, so keep an eye out for elk, bighorn sheep, and the occasional bear.
Nearest KOA:
Hinton / Jasper KOA Holiday
Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier National Park, Montana
August is huckleberry season in Glacier, and you’ll find them everywhere, from roadside stands to milkshakes at the camp store! It’s also the best month to drive Going-to-the-Sun Road from start to finish. The 50-mile alpine highway crossing the Continental Divide at Logan Pass is fully open, all shuttles are running, and early snow closures are still weeks away.
Drive the full length from Lake McDonald to St. Mary, stopping at Wild Goose Island Overlook and Logan Pass, where short trails lead to views that make the drive worthwhile. With nearly 700 miles of trails in the park, there are plenty of reasons to get out of the car!
Nearest KOAs:
West Glacier KOA Resort
St. Mary / East Glacier KOA Holiday
Whitefish / Kalispell North KOA Holiday
Polson / Flathead Lake KOA Holiday
Door County, Wisconsin
Door County’s cherry harvest peaks in late July and wraps up in early August, making this the last chance to see the orchards in full swing. The water along the peninsula’s 300 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline is at its warmest, and the worst of the summer crowds have usually come and gone.
While there, don’t miss the chance to visit some of the peninsula’s 11 lighthouses! You can also hike or bike through Peninsula State Park and enjoy a traditional Door County fish boil, where whitefish, potatoes, and onions cook over an open fire before a dramatic boil-over finale. Tasting rooms across the peninsula offer cherry and cold-hardy grape wines, and small towns like Ephraim and Fish Creek are each an enjoyable full afternoon on their own.
Nearest KOA:
Door County KOA Holiday
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is 7,000 feet up, which makes August cooler than the desert below. It’s also when two of the city’s biggest events happen back to back! The Santa Fe Indian Market, the largest Indigenous art market in the world, takes over the historic Plaza in mid-August, attracting over a thousand Native artists from the U.S. and Canada. That same month, the green chile harvest is in full swing, with roasters busy at farm stands and markets around the city.
Spend a morning at the Plaza and the Palace of the Governors, where Native artisans have been selling jewelry and pottery for generations. Then, set aside an afternoon for Meow Wolf, a truly immersive art experience in a converted bowling alley. The Santa Fe National Forest is just minutes away, offering pine trees and fresh mountain air alongside the beautiful high desert light.
Nearest KOAs:
Santa Fe KOA Holiday
Las Vegas, New Mexico KOA Journey
Albuquerque North / Bernalillo KOA Journey
Albuquerque KOA Journey
PEI Coastal Drive, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Prince Edward Island’s red sand beaches have their warmest water in August, making it one of the best times for ocean swimming in Atlantic Canada. It’s peak season on the island, and this is the time to enjoy the water before the food festivals and cooler nights of September arrive.
A drive around the island’s coastal routes takes you past lighthouses, red cliffs, and small fishing harbors. Plan to stop in Charlottetown for its historic waterfront and in Cavendish for Green Gables Heritage Place, the farmhouse that inspired the Anne of Green Gables novels! Rent a bike for a stretch of the Confederation Trail, a former rail line running the length of the island, or spend the afternoon at a working oyster farm.
Nearest KOAs:
Borden / Summerside KOA Journey
Truro / Tidal Bore KOA Holiday
September Road Trips
This is the shoulder season everyone looks forward to! Crowds are fewer, temperatures are cooler (perfect hiking weather!), and the first signs of autumn start appearing.
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Fall color begins showing in the Rocky Mountains‘ subalpine zone in late August, and by September, it’s visible from the road. The elk rut is also beginning, with bulls bugling to gather their harems; the haunting sound echoes across meadows and draws a crowd most evenings.
This may be your last chance this year to drive Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved road in the country, while the weather is still good, since snow can close sections as early as October! Watch for elk along the Big Thompson River, and plan to spend at least one dawn or dusk near the Beaver Meadows entrance, when the bugling really picks up.
Nearest KOAs:
Estes Park / Rocky Mountain National Park KOA Holiday
Grand Lake / Rocky Mountain National Park KOA Journey
Fort Collins / Lakeside KOA Holiday
Fort Collins North / Wellington KOA Journey
Denver West / Central City KOA Holiday
Denver East / Strasburg KOA Holiday
The Black Hills Loop, South Dakota
Once schools are back in session, Mount Rushmore‘s lines get shorter, and the roads through the Black Hills become easier to enjoy. Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road, winding through Custer State Park, are narrow and twisting, full of one-lane tunnels and pigtail bridges that are much more fun without summer tour buses.
After Mount Rushmore, visit the Crazy Horse Memorial, which is still being carved after more than 70 years! Custer State Park’s free-roaming bison herd, one of the largest in the country, becomes more active as temperatures drop. Loop past Sylvan Lake and leave time for Badlands National Park, less than an hour away.
Nearest KOAs:
Mount Rushmore KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch
Hill City / Needles Highway KOA Holiday
Custer / Crazy Horse / Black Hills KOA Holiday
Rapid City / Black Hills KOA Holiday
Hot Springs SD / Black Hills KOA Holiday
Deadwood / Black Hills KOA Holiday
Spearfish / Black Hills KOA Holiday
The Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia and North Carolina
The Blue Ridge Parkway is often referred to as “America’s Favorite Drive,” and September is when it really starts to show why it has earned that title! The route climbs high enough that the first hints of color appear at elevation weeks before the lowlands, and apple season is in full swing in the orchards along the way.
Plan your route around Mabry Mill (Milepost 176), one of the most photographed spots on the Parkway, and stop in small towns like Floyd, Virginia, known for its Friday night bluegrass jamboree, and Mount Airy, North Carolina, the real-life inspiration for The Andy Griffith Show’s Mayberry. If you have time for one longer stop, Peaks of Otter (Milepost 85.6) has a lake, a rustic lodge, and a summit trail with stunning valley views.
Nearest KOAs:
Floyd / Blue Ridge Parkway KOA Holiday
Fancy Gap / Blue Ridge Parkway KOA Journey
Wytheville KOA Holiday
Greensboro KOA Journey
The Niagara Parkway and Wine Country, Ontario, Canada
September is harvest season in the Niagara Peninsula, one of Canada’s largest wine regions, and the country’s largest wine festival takes over downtown St. Catharines with tastings, a grape stomp, and a parade!
Niagara Falls draws its biggest crowds in July and August, so by September, the region’s main attraction is much less crowded. Take a boat tour into the heart of the Falls, and enjoy the beauty of the area as the summer crowds fade away. Other popular destinations in the Niagara Peninsula include Fort Erie, an important War of 1812 site, and Welland, known for its historic namesake canal and numerous murals.
Nearest KOAs:
Niagara Falls KOA Holiday
Niagara Falls North / Lewiston KOA Journey
Niagara Falls / Grand Island KOA Holiday
Medina / Wildwood Lake KOA Holiday
Acadia National Park, Maine
Acadia has something special that few other national parks can claim. Depending on the season, Cadillac Mountain is one of the first places in the country to see the sunrise, making it worth getting up early. By mid-September, Acadia’s mix of rocky coastline and northern forests often shows beautiful fall colors while much of the country is still enjoying summer.
Park Loop Road connects the crashing waves at Thunder Hole, the stunning views from Cadillac Mountain, and the Jordan Pond House – where afternoon tea and popovers have been a tradition for over a hundred years! You can rent a bike to explore some of the 45 miles of car-free carriage roads built by John D. Rockefeller Jr., and make sure to enjoy a meal featuring lobster, which is still in season this time of year.
Nearest KOAs:
Bar Harbor / Oceanside KOA Holiday
Bucksport / Fort Knox KOA Holiday
Bangor / Holden KOA Holiday
The Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire
The Kancamagus can get really crowded during busy leaf-peeping weekends in early October, but the weeks leading up to that are much quieter! Trails and waterfalls along the Kanc are even more beautiful with fewer people around, and though it’s still warm enough to swim at lower elevations, you can already start to see autumn colors higher up.
Make sure to stop at Sabbaday Falls for an easy walk to a great photo spot, then head over to Franconia Notch State Park for the Flume Gorge boardwalk and the tram ride up Cannon Mountain. If you’re up for a bit of adventure, the Mount Washington Auto Road lets you drive (as long as the weather is good) to the top of the highest peak in the Northeast!
Nearest KOAs:
Littleton / Franconia Notch KOA Holiday
Twin Mountain / Mount Washington KOA Holiday
Lincoln / Woodstock KOA Holiday
Chocorua KOA Holiday
Naples KOA Holiday
The Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia, Canada
Few drives in Canada change as much with the seasons as the Cabot Trail. By the third week of September, the maple and birch trees along Cape Breton’s highlands are just starting to turn, offering some of the first fall colors in the country!
The trail winds through Cape Breton Highlands National Park, climbing along coastal cliffs with scenic stops every few miles. Hike the Skyline Trail for a boardwalk that leads to a breathtaking overlook above the Gulf of St. Lawrence from which you can spot whales. Stop in Cheticamp for Acadian food and culture on the western side, and visit Ingonish for beaches and a historic coastal golf course on the eastern side.
Nearest KOAs:
Halifax West KOA
Truro / Tidal Bore KOA Holiday
Capture the Best of the Season
August’s harvests and warm waters don’t last long, and as September cools down, crowds start to return with fall breaks and long weekends. These 15 road trips help you squeeze in one last great trip before the season changes. Even one, taken with purpose instead of waiting until next year, can help make your summer feel complete.
Leslie is a freelance travel and health/wellness writer who gets butterflies from telling stories and sharing information with readers across the globe. Her voice comes from a place filled with passion and dreams.
With over 10 years of experience in crafting words and years of embarking on travels that have taken this Montana girl to some incredible places, Leslie loves the adventures of both body and mind that her writing takes her on.
To see what Leslie’s up to in the writing and design world, visit her website here.
