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Nothing heals the spirit quite like time in nature, especially when it can wrap you in warm colors. Imagine a private cabin rental nestled within the best regions for leaf-peeping exploration. Take in this annual burst of color by car, bike, foot—or simply from the rocking chair on your cabin’s front porch. Here are some standout rentals to consider as a home base, each one bookable on Orbitz and among thousands of private rental homes available across the country.
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New England
Stowe, Vermont
This is way more than a “simple” cabin, it’s a custom timber-frame barn and silo home that’s been retrofitted with all the amenities you need for a fall getaway in Vermont’s renowned Green Mountains. Located 15 minutes outside of Stowe, the 4-bedroom, 4-bath home has a treehouse feel and offers plenty of room to spread out. Drive the Green Mountain Byway (Route 100) between Stowe and Waterbury, home of the world-famous Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory, where fall colors light up meadows, farmland and forest framed by majestic mountains.
The White Mountains, New Hampshire
Be surrounded by trees in this New Hampshire log cabin near Bretton Woods and White Mountain National Forest. After sipping your morning beverage from the porch or balcony of this 4-bedroom property, head out to cruise the Kancamagus Highway (a.k.a. The Kanc), a legendary leaf-peeping road that slices through White Mountain forest ablaze in autumn hues of scarlet, orange and gold. It’s considered by many the prettiest drive in New England and takes travelers to covered bridges and stunning scenic areas where footpaths lead to waterfalls and more.
The Catskills, New York
This former one-room schoolhouse built in 1901 underwent a massive restoration to make it the 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom Catskills vacation home it is today. Walking paths adjacent to the property will take you through five acres of private forest that lead to a creek bordering a 4th-generation farm. Beyond the home, drives through the Hudson Valley and Catskills are a colorful cornucopia for the eyes in autumn, but you might also consider hopping aboard The Catskill Mountain Railroad that boards at Phoenicia Station for a leaf-peeping experience by rail.
The Berkshires, Massachusetts
A 19th-century barn that’s been fully renovated into a modern vacation home in the The Berkshires, this charming 3-bedroom home-away-from-home in Cheshire positions you for the best of this region. Gorgeous autumn scenery awaits on U.S. Route 7, which passes through the quaint Massachusetts towns of Great Barrington, Lenox and Pittsfield. Hitting the trails of Mount Greylock, the highest point in the state at 3,491 feet, can reward you with views up to 90 miles away—that’s some epic leaf-peeping!
Bar Harbor, Maine
Described as a “Treehouse near Bar Harbor,” this private vacation home is perched high among the trees, with forest views welcoming you at pretty much every window. Located in Hancock, this 3-bedroom property puts you close to the 47,000-acre Acadia National Park. Its 27-mile Park Loop Road is an ideal place from which to marvel at and photograph the spectacle of New England foliage on display through October.
The South
Asheville, North Carolina
Position yourself close to one of the most beautiful fall foliage drives in the country, The Blue Ridge Parkway, with a stay at this Asheville-area cabin with mountain views. The 1-bedroom cabin—nicknamed “Sparrow’s Nest”—features vaulted ceilings, a patio/garden and outdoor fire pit that could set the stage for family and friendship bonding time, or re-ignite the flames of romance for couples on a fall foliage getaway.
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
This 1-bedroom, 2-bath cabin near Great Smoky Mountain National Park sleeps up to 6 people. In between hikes into the surrounding woods and scenic drives to take in the colorful tapestry of crimson and amber leaves, you’ll have a home base with a private pool, spa tub, barbecue grills and fireplace. When the feet get tired, make the short drive to Bryson City for a scenic 4-hour excursion aboard a classic steam train along the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.
Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
Stay in a log home on a private farm in Virginia, a retreat described as an “unplug and unwind getaway.” Providing a launching pad to the natural bounty of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, the 2-bedroom cabin features a wrap-around porch (great for sipping your morning coffee) and a fireplace (great for snuggling up at night). The cabin is surrounded by a 900-acre farm that backs up to the George Washington National Forest. The stunning Skyline Drive, a 105-mile drive along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah National Park, is a nearby must in fall.
The Midwest
Saugatuck, Michigan
Situated in one of the cutest lakefront communities in Michigan, this log cabin vacation home—nicknamed the Coyote Cabin—offers an ideal base to exploring the fall foliage of Pure Michigan. Not only does the rustic-meets-modern home reside in a community that includes 17 acres of woods, complete with nature trails and Lake Michigan boardwalks, but it places you near the West Michigan Pike (US-31), a 500-mile route that connects Lake Michigan towns and U-pick apple orchards as it weaves through a kaleidoscope of orange, yellow and crimson in fall.
Starved Rock State Park, Illinois
Bring the whole crew. This luxury family cabin near Starved Rock State Park can sleep up to 14 people. Just 80 miles from Chicago, this region of Illinois begins bursting with color in late September as oaks and elms turn brilliant shades of yellow, red and orange. Starved Rock offers free daily guided hikes to explore the beautiful setting by foot, or you might opt to drive into nearby Ottawa to experience the autumn splendor aboard a mule-drawn canal boat ride.
The West
Taos, New Mexico
This adobe-style vacation home sits on the outskirts of town and offers serenity and privacy wrapped in mountain views. If you love cozying up to the fire during a crisp autumn evening, you’re in luck: The 4-bedroom private hacienda boasts two outdoor fireplaces and three indoor fireplaces. With a position at the base of the Sangre de Cristo range of the Southern Rockies, Taos is a great starting point for leaf-peeping adventures via hiking treks, chairlift rides and train rides. The Enchanted Circle, an 85-mile loop that winds through mountains, canyons, ranches and a gold-mining ghost town, is a must.
Aspen, Colorado
Private rental homes in ritzy Aspen can be hard to find, if not insanely expensive (especially in peak ski season), but we found an autumn option that is economical without sacrificing on luxury: The Barbee Cottage. This 5-bedroom home can accommodate up to 9 people, so join forces with your family, friends or couples for a fall foliage getaway in the Rockies at this historic mountain home dating from the late 1880s. Aspen is home to some of the most stunning leaf-peeping locales, from Maroon Bells to Independence Pass. Watch as Aspen transforms from green to a brilliant gold, set against blue skies and snow-capped mountain peaks.
