This Southern City Was Just Named the Most Affordable Fall Foliage Destination in the U.S.

There’s nothing quite like seeing fall foliage in all its glory. And while you can go leaf peeping across the country, one Southern destination stands out for offering both brilliant views and budget-friendly travel.

The North Carolina city of Asheville is the best destination in the country for combining gorgeous views of changing leaves with low-cost flights, according to a new report from the Dollar Flight Club. The city, nestled in the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains, has average roundtrip flights priced around $170, a 10 percent drop from last year. (To compile its list, Dollar Flight Club analyzed over 500,000 domestic and international airfare data points between June 15 and Aug. 1.)

“Fall foliage trips are trending earlier this year, and airfare is lining up to make them more accessible than ever,” Jesse Neugarten, the CEO of Dollar Flight Club, said in a statement shared with Travel + Leisure, adding Asheville’s “mountain air, sweeping Blue Ridge views, and a surprisingly great food and drink scene make it a perfect mix of nature and culture.”

In Asheville, the leaves begin to change in late September at the area’s highest peaks. The color then gradually progresses to lower elevations over the following six weeks, according to Explore Asheville. The tourism board offers a fall color report to help travelers plan their trip.

From there, leaf peepers can head west on a foliage-filled scenic road trip through towns like Sylva and Waynesville, where vibrant fall views meet small town charm.

Beyond Asheville, Boston came in second on the list of affordable fall foliage destinations with roundtrip flights averaging $260, followed by Burlington in Vermont with an average roundtrip flight cost of $278. The Adirondack Mountains in New York came in fourth on the list with an average roundtrip flight cost of $290, according to the report.

Overall, average airfare prices on major international routes have dropped by 15 percent to 60 percent since June. And when it comes to fall foliage specifically, the best time to fly to score low-cost flights is between Sept. 17 and Oct. 10, Dollar Flight Club noted.

Prefer sunshine over sweater weather? September or October trips to Honolulu could be ideal, with fares down 40 percent from summer prices. Or head to Miami, where travelers are saving an average fo 60 percent on flights compared to peak summer rates.