On sun-dappled trails stained amber under the ruddy canopies of fall, travelers to Tennessee's thick forests will experience some of the best foliage in the U.S. this year. Specifically, the glorious Smoky Mountain trails that wind past wildflowers, bridges, and sweeping views of Tennessee make the state's wildly popular national park the best destination to visit this fall. Speaking to Travel + Leisure, a collection of experienced travel pros have spelled out why the South's lofty mountain park is the best place to travel in fall 2025. Planning a Tennessee fall escape is made even easier when you use the Smoky Mountains' foliage map. This handy tool predicts which areas will come alive with autumnal colors on which dates, making it easy to organize an amber-awned road trip through the dense forests that swathe Great Smoky Mountains National Park.