You do not have to drive all the way to Vermont to experience an incredible fall road trip. Instead, you can drive approximately six hours from Memphis to Pigeon Forge and see layers of colorful mountain ridges, winding roads and some of the prettiest fall views in the South. Even closer to home, you can see golden cypress trees at Reelfoot Lake, travel beneath the hardwood canopy along the Natchez Trace Parkway or wind through the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains.
For me, a great fall road trip is about more than the final destination. The road, the overlooks and the little towns you pass along the way are part of the experience. These trips include everything from easy day drives to long-weekend getaways, and each section tells you exactly which road, route or area offers the best views.
Pack snacks, make a playlist and leave room in the schedule to pull over when something catches your eye. These are 10 of the best scenic fall drives within approximately six hours of Memphis, Tennessee.
1. Reelfoot Lake, Tennessee
Approximate drive time from Memphis: 2 hours
Best scenic drive: Great River Road from Memphis to Tiptonville
The fall scenery begins before you ever reach Reelfoot Lake State Park. Follow Tennessee’s Great River Road north from Memphis toward Tiptonville for a drive through river communities, farmland, forests and the Chickasaw Bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River floodplain.
Once you reach Reelfoot Lake, bald cypress trees rise directly from the water and turn shades of rust and gold. Drive the roads around the lake, stop at the boardwalks and visit the state park for a closer view. If seasonal fall pontoon tours are available, the water is one of the best places to see the foliage reflected across the lake. This is an easy day trip, but staying overnight gives you time to catch a Reelfoot sunset too.
2. Natchez Trace Parkway near Tupelo, Mississippi
Approximate drive time from Memphis: 2 hours
Best scenic drive: Natchez Trace Parkway north from Tupelo
The Natchez Trace Parkway is a 444-mile scenic and historic road running through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. From Memphis, Tupelo is the easiest place to join the Parkway. Head north toward the Tennessee section for a quiet drive beneath a canopy of hardwood trees.
The Parkway has a lower speed limit, no commercial development and plenty of pull-offs for short walks and historic stops. If you continue north, Fall Hollow, the Meriwether Lewis site, Metal Ford and Baker Bluff Overlook are some of the best fall stops. You can drive a short section and return to Tupelo or continue toward Nashville for a longer weekend.
3. Land Between the Lakes, Tennessee and Kentucky
Approximate drive time from Memphis: 3 hours
Best scenic drive: Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway from Dover to Grand Rivers
Woodlands Trace is a 43-mile paved scenic byway running through Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. It begins near Dover, Tennessee, and travels north to Grand Rivers, Kentucky, through one of the largest undeveloped forested areas in the eastern United States.
Colorful woods line the road, and side routes lead to Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, picnic areas and trails. Add the three-mile Elk & Bison Prairie loop, where cooler weather makes the animals more active and October gives you the chance to hear elk bugling. The Homeplace 1850s Working Farm and Kentucky Lake Drive are other worthwhile stops. Stay in a cabin or near the water to turn the drive into a peaceful fall weekend.
4. Hot Springs and the Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas
Approximate drive time from Memphis: 3 hours
Best scenic drive: Arkansas Scenic 7 Byway and Hot Springs Mountain Drive
Hot Springs is already one of my favorite easy getaways from Memphis, and it is even prettier when the Ouachita Mountains begin to change. Follow Arkansas Scenic 7 into the area, then take Hot Springs Mountain Drive for wooded curves and access to the Hot Springs Mountain Tower.
For more lake views, continue toward Lake Ouachita State Park or drive around Lake Hamilton. You can spend the morning enjoying the scenery and still have time for Bathhouse Row, downtown shopping and a thermal bath. Hot Springs is a great choice when you want a fall road trip with plenty to do once you park the car.
5. Petit Jean State Park, Arkansas
Approximate drive time from Memphis: 3 hours
Best scenic drive: Highway 154 across Petit Jean Mountain and the park’s mountaintop driving tour
Petit Jean State Park is one of Arkansas’s prettiest fall destinations. Highway 154 climbs onto Petit Jean Mountain and leads through forest to overlooks, trails and historic Civilian Conservation Corps structures.
Follow the park’s mountaintop driving tour and stop at Stout’s Point, Cedar Falls Overlook, Palisades Overlook and Red Bluff Drive. The views across Cedar Creek Canyon and the Arkansas River Valley are beautiful when the leaves change. Stay at Mather Lodge or reserve one of the bluff-side cabins if you want a cozy fall weekend with a fireplace and canyon views.
6. Talimena National Scenic Byway, Arkansas and Oklahoma
Approximate drive time from Memphis: 4.5 hours to Mena
Best scenic drive: Highway 88 from Mena to Talihina, Oklahoma
If your main goal is dramatic mountain foliage, the Talimena National Scenic Byway is one of the best choices on this list. The 54-mile road follows the crest of the Ouachita Mountains from Mena, Arkansas, to Talihina, Oklahoma.
Most of the route travels through Ouachita National Forest with frequent overlooks across layer after layer of colorful ridges. Stop at Queen Wilhelmina State Park near the top of Rich Mountain for lunch, a hike or an overnight stay at the lodge. Services are limited along the road, so fill up the car before starting and leave plenty of time for overlooks.
7. The Pig Trail and the Arkansas Ozarks
Approximate drive time from Memphis: 4.5 hours
Best scenic drive: Highway 23 through Ozark National Forest
The Pig Trail Scenic Byway is only about 17 miles long, but it is one of Arkansas’s most famous scenic roads. Highway 23 twists through Ozark National Forest beneath a tunnel of trees and beside bluffs, streams and the Mulberry River.
Stop at Pig Trail Falls or Turner Bend and then continue toward Fayetteville, Eureka Springs or the Buffalo National River. If you have time, add Highway 21 through Boxley Valley and Ponca for even more foliage and the chance to see elk in the fields around sunrise or sunset. The curves can be sharp, so enjoy it slowly and avoid driving this stretch for the first time after dark.
8. Fall Creek Falls and the Sequatchie Valley, Tennessee
Approximate drive time from Memphis: 4.5 hours
Best scenic drive: Highway 111 through the Sequatchie Valley and Scenic Loop Road inside Fall Creek Falls State Park
The drive becomes more beautiful as Highway 111 climbs toward the Cumberland Plateau. Pull-offs along the route give you elevated views across the Sequatchie Valley before you continue into Fall Creek Falls State Park.
Inside the park, follow Scenic Loop Road to Fall Creek Falls Overlook and other viewpoints above the forested gorges. Add a short hike if the weather is nice or stay at the lodge or in a cabin for the weekend. Because of the higher elevation, fall color here often arrives earlier than it does in Memphis.
9. Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain, Tennessee
Approximate drive time from Memphis: 5 hours
Best scenic drive: Scenic Highway across Lookout Mountain and Lookout Mountain Parkway
Chattanooga gives you mountain scenery plus plenty of restaurants, family attractions and places to stay. Begin downtown and drive up Lookout Mountain on Scenic Highway. Continue past Ruby Falls and Point Park for overlooks across Chattanooga and the Tennessee River.
From there, follow Lookout Mountain Parkway toward Rock City and Cloudland Canyon State Park in northwest Georgia. The route passes wooded communities, mountain overlooks and stretches of colorful forest. This is an ideal long-weekend drive because you can pair the foliage with the Tennessee Aquarium, downtown Chattanooga and other family-friendly activities.
10. Pigeon Forge and the Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee
Approximate drive time from Memphis: 6 hours
Best scenic drive: Wears Valley Road and Foothills Parkway West
Instead of driving all the way to Vermont for a classic fall getaway, you can reach Pigeon Forge and the Great Smoky Mountains in about six hours. This is the farthest trip on the list, but the mountains, valleys and rolling farmland surrounding Pigeon Forge make it one of the best choices when you want a true fall-foliage weekend without flying or spending multiple days in the car.
From Pigeon Forge, take the 15-mile Wears Valley Road toward Townsend. This quieter route passes farms, old barns, locally owned shops and wide views of the mountains. From the Townsend area, connect to Foothills Parkway West. The Walland-to-Wears Valley section stretches nearly 15 miles and climbs to almost 2,500 feet with multiple overlooks across Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
If you have another day, add Little River Road or the 11-mile Cades Cove Loop. Both are beautiful, but they can be extremely busy during October. Start early, allow much more time than you think you will need and check current park road conditions before leaving.
When Is the Best Time for a Fall Road Trip from Memphis?
Peak fall color changes based on elevation, temperatures and rainfall. The higher elevations around Pigeon Forge, Fall Creek Falls and the Ozarks often begin changing in early to mid-October. The Ouachita Mountains usually follow later in October, while West Tennessee, North Mississippi and the Memphis area are often at their best from late October into early November.
That difference in timing means you can plan more than one fall road trip. Start with the higher mountain destinations earlier in October and follow the color back toward Memphis as the season continues.
Before leaving, check official foliage reports, weather forecasts and road closures. Download maps before entering areas with limited cell service, keep the gas tank full on remote byways and avoid packing too many miles into one day. Mountain roads are more enjoyable when you have time to stop at the overlooks instead of watching the clock.
You do not have to wait for a huge vacation or travel halfway across the country to experience fall. Pick a weekend, load up the car and enjoy the beautiful places already within reach of Memphis.
Which fall road trip would you take first?
