The Best State Parks for Fall Camping in 2020

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, camping has offered travelers an excellent alternative to hotel stays, air travel and cruising. As summer gives way to fall, there's never been a better time for Americans to reconnect with nature while still practicing social distancing. As the leaves begin to turn, here are 10 one-of-a-kind state parks where campers will feel right at home this autumn.

Renowned for its abundance of trails (more than 200 miles) and unparalleled scenery, even in the colorful Northeast, Maryland's Patapsco Valley State Park just west of Baltimore is the ideal place to hike, bike, fish, canoe and, of course, camp this fall. The Hollofield campground here features more than 70 campsites surrounded by eye-popping foliage come autumn.

Located on the western edge of Lookout Mountain just 30 miles southwest of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Georgia's Cloudland Canyon State Park's fall colors are complemented by dramatic canyons, impressive cliffs and caves and mesmerizing waterfalls and creeks. The park also offers plenty of different ways to camp, including more than a dozen cottages, yurts, a slew of tent, trailer and RV sites, numerous walk-in sites, backcountry sites and several pioneer sites.

Just over the Pennsylvania-New York border lies Allegany State Park, a destination that comes alive during the fall, offering campers tens of thousands of acres of natural wonder in the form of hills, ponds, rock formations and a whole lot more. You can't beat the fall color here, regardless of whether you decide on the Red House Area or Quaker Area.

There's nothing underrated about Tennessee's Fall Creek Falls State Park as its one of the state's largest and most-visited. Plus, it's named after Fall Creek Falls, which at a height of 256 feet is one of the highest waterfalls in the eastern U.S. The expansive park is home to more than 220 campsites as well as 16 primitive sites and a handful of cozy cabins so fall campers won't be limited.

There's nothing quite like autumn in Virginia's Shenandoah National Park but Hungry Mother State Park to the southwest is a phenomenal alternative for campers looking to ditch the crowds as its beautiful woodlands present endless fall colors that are only enhanced by the 100-plus-acre namesake lake situated among the legendary Appalachian Mountains.

To the northwest of Denver is where campers will discover Golden Gate Canyon State Park, which is at its busiest during the fall season when visitors flock to watch the aspens change colors. Campers can choose from dozens of scenic RV and tent sites in addition to comfortable cabins in yurts.

Pronounced "tet-a-gooch," this overlooked state park along Minnesota's scenic Highway 61 about an hour northeast of Duluth combines dazzling autumn colors with the superb backdrop of Lake Superior. The park's camping facilities are available year-round so Midwest campers aren't limited to the vibrant fall season.

Arguably the most scenic place in Pennsylvania, Ricketts Glen State Park is home to nearly two dozen named waterfalls, including the towering 94-foot Ganoga Falls. Regardless of their hiking prowess, autumn campers will absolutely fall in the love with the Falls Trail System as well as the inviting Lake Jean.

Visitors to the Ozarks this fall won't want to miss Devil's Den State Park in Arkansas' Lee Creek Valley. This charming park boasts tons of history on display at every turn and offers no shortage of places to camp, including 17 cabins with kitchens and fireplaces and a half-dozen camper cabins.

Pedernales Falls State Park is located about an hour west of Austin in Texas Hill Country and offers visitors a seemingly endless array of outdoor activities, including hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, birding, tubing and so much more. Meanwhile, campers will find primitive sites as well as those with water and electricity hookups.