Fall in love with the USA in October

With mild weather and stunning autumn foliage taking over the landscapes, October is an awesome time to get active in the great outdoors. Discover geysers and wildlife in Yellowstone, slot canyons in Zion or giant sequoias in Yosemite. Prefer cowboy boots over hiking shoes, or neon lights over night skies? Embark on a toe-tapping, barbeque-filled adventure from Tenessee to New Orleans. Or perhaps discover the culture, history and stories of the Gullah Geechee people on an enlightening tour from Charleston to Savannah.

Top 10 United States tours in October 2023

Departing Days From USD
1 Oct 2023
Vegas to San Fran
6 1420
2 Oct 2023
Walking in California's Sierra Nevada
5 1885
1697
4 Oct 2023
Hiking in Sedona and the Grand Canyon
4 2220
6 Oct 2023
Georgia History Trail to Nashville
7 3175
2540
6 Oct 2023
Hiking Sedona's Red Rock Country
4 2390
6 Oct 2023
Best of the South: Atlanta to New Orleans
12 5935
5045
6 Oct 2023
Hiking and Camping in Zion
3 1445
7 Oct 2023
Hiking in Yosemite National Park
6 2495
2246
7 Oct 2023
Western USA National Parks Loop
5 2230
8 Oct 2023
Best of the East Coast USA
12 6875
6532
8 Oct 2023
Washington to New York City Discovery
7 3720
3534
8 Oct 2023
Hiking and Camping in Utah
6 2185
8 Oct 2023
Real LA to San Francisco
Ages 18 to 29
11 2600
2210
9 Oct 2023
Hiking and Camping in Grand Canyon - South Rim
4 1915
9 Oct 2023
Hiking the Best of Moab: Arches and Canyonlands
5 3020
9 Oct 2023
Hike Vermont: Fall Foliage
5 3040
10 Oct 2023
Hiking and Backpacking Utah's Boulder Mail Trail
5 1675
10 Oct 2023
Hiking and Backpacking Utah's Coyote Gulch
4 1775
11 Oct 2023
Hiking in the Grand Canyon: North & South Rims
5 2880
11 Oct 2023
Hiking the Best of the Grand Canyon
3 1710
12 Oct 2023
Tennessee Music Trail to New Orleans
6 3060
2754
14 Oct 2023
New York City to Boston Discovery
6 3225
2903
16 Oct 2023
Hiking and Backpacking North Carolina's Appalachian Trail
3 990
18 Oct 2023
Hike the Great Smoky Mountains: Fall Foliage
4 2920
21 Oct 2023
San Fran to LA: Ultimate National Parks
18 9260
7408
21 Oct 2023
San Fran to Vegas: Parks, Canyons, Valleys
9 4550
3640
24 Oct 2023
Hiking and Camping in Joshua Tree
4 1645
29 Oct 2023
Vegas to LA: Grand National Parks
10 4960
3968
29 Oct 2023
Hiking the best of Death Valley & Joshua Tree
6 3555
31 Oct 2023
Hiking and Camping in Death Valley
4 1670
31 Oct 2023
Hiking the Best of Great Smoky Mountains National Park
5 3180

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United States FAQs

Everyone traveling on an Intrepid trip must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of carriage. 

All travelers are required to produce: 

  • Proof of COVID-19 vaccination
  • All children aged 5 to 17 years old must provide proof of vaccination (if eligible), proof of recovery or a negative COVID-19 test.
  • If you are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons, you may apply for an exemption. Exemptions will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. To apply, you must provide a medical certificate from a medical professional. 

In all cases, you must be fully inoculated. This means you must receive the full dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine and allow enough time for immunity to take effect. Each COVID-19 vaccine has different dosages and timeframes for inoculation, so please check the relevant medical advice associated with your vaccine.

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Getting to California is relatively easy as there are a variety of options available including flying, driving, and taking public transport. You can fly into both big airports, such as LAX (Los Angeles), or small airports like Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) depending on which part of California you're traveling in. You can also drive to California if you're from a neighboring state (or want to go on an epic road trip) or you can take a bus or a train with several routes to all the popular destinations. 

Read more about getting to California

Driving is the most time-efficient and popular way of getting around Los Angeles due to the city's size. While there is public transportation in the form of a bus network and the local metro, it's sometimes unreliable and can be quite time-consuming. Los Angeles is known for its crazy traffic situations, especially during peak periods of the day, so make sure you give yourself enough time to get around. 

Read more about getting around Los Angeles

The time it takes to travel from California to Utah depends on how you're traveling and where in California you're traveling from. Flying is by far the quickest way to travel to Utah with a flight between LAX and SLC (Salt Lake City Airport) taking just under 2 hours. Alternatively, you can drive between the two states for an epic road trip that's 12 hours long. If you were to take public transport between the two states it would be longer still but is a relatively cheap option. 

Click to read more about how far Utah is from California

Yes, it does snow during winter in Salt Lake City. Snow is expected to fall between November and March but it's not unheard of to experience snowfall as early as October or as late as April. Salt Lake City is a great place to participate in winter activities such as skiing, snowboarding, and bobsledding, with neighboring mountains close to the city itself. 

Read more about snow in Salt Lake City

Due to New Orleans' geographical location, the weather can vary significantly during the year. Being near large bodies of water, such as the Mississippi River, the weather in New Orleans is often wet in the colder months and humid in spring and summer. There are lots of sunny days during June, July, and August with the average temperature being a warm 78°F. However, the weather can be quite unpredictable at times so make sure you're checking weather forecasts before you travel so you're prepared for what to expect. 

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You'll want to make sure you're as comfortable as possible while walking the many amazing hikes and trails in Yellowstone National Park so packing clothes, including hiking boots and socks, that you're familiar with is a must. Regardless of the season you're traveling in, the weather can be quite cold at nighttime so ensure you're packing a heavier jacket or coat to keep you warm. You should also pack sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and other items that will protect you from the sun during the day. 

Read more about what to pack for Yellowstone

It's hard to pinpoint the best time to visit Denali National Park as the landscapes are beautiful all year round. When to visit Denali largely depends on what kind of vacation you're looking for. If you really want to see snow on the surrounding mountains and explore the ultimate winter wonderland then winter would be the best time to go, however, spring and summer see the flowers and vegetation bloom in an array of colors.

Learn about the best time to visit Denali National Park

There are heaps of fun and exciting things to do in Zion National Park, so much so, that you could spend days there and still not see it all. Promising a uniquely unforgettable experience, Zion National Park is full of expansive landscapes just waiting to be explored. Some of the activities you can participate in include cycling, hiking, river tubing, and rock climbing. You can also camp at the park and do a little stargazing to make the most of your time in the great outdoors. 

Learn about the best things to do in Zion National Park

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