AmbientGirl

I am planning a drive from Connecticut to California and would like to time it with the onset of the fall foliage. I am not interested in any stops other than for re-fueling, eating and sleeping. My goals are to get to California and enjoy the changing colors along the way. I would like to do the trip in about 7-9 days but am flexible.

I found this article of interest: http://www.fodors.com/news/great-fal...ntry-5913.html

I am hoping for input from the forum to help me "knit together" a route that will provide the best views along the way.

sparkchaser

Driving straight from CT to CA, yproposing to cover over 3000 miles in 7-9 days. If you actually want to see real Autumn colors, you'll want to not take the interstate so that leaves state roads, most of which have a max speed of 55 mph, but your actual speed will be less since these roads do run through cities and towns. Still, assuming 55mph, you are proposing driving around 55 hours which assuming 8 hours a day of solid driving comes out to be 7 days. In reality once you factor in slower speed limits, stops, etc., it will be closer to 9 days.

Now...from the article you posted, omitting Texas and and the Michigan Upper Peninsula, that makes for 5100 miles of driving. Simply not doable within your proposed time frame if you want to enjoy yourself.

http://goo.gl/maps/84Wg5

Ponder that a bit. Then decide how much time per day you want to spend driving and what places from that article that you absolutely must see.

sparkchaser

Forgot to say that The Blue Ridge Parkway is pretty damn spectacular in the Fall. And the Chautauqua Valley is worth a visit too -- the roads around Westfield smell like Welches Grape Juice and the Fall colors are nice.

The best Fall colors are found when the Spring and Summer have had adequate rain, there are no early frosts, air pollution is at a minimum (which is why you should avoid interstates and busy state routes), and the Autumn is fairly dry. So some research on local conditions will be needed to ensure you don't drive 1000 miles for sad gray leaves.

tomfuller

IMO you can see all the fall leaves you need to see between Maine and North Carolina. By all means see the Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway.
I would not go all the way to Sonoma to see yellow grape leaves in a vineyard.
If this is a solo trip, try riding the Amtrak Empire Builder from Chicago to West Glacier Montana to see Glacier NP. The mountains and glaciers are more of an attraction to me than the trees.
Continue west on the Empire Builder to Seattle. Get on the Coast Starlight from Seattle to Sacramento and rent a car there to see Yosemite which is much better than Sonoma IMO.
Take the car back to Sacramento and get on the California Zephyr to Grand Junction Colorado to see western Colorado and southeastern Utah with a rental car. Arches is amazing even if it doesn't have too many trees.
Fly home from Denver.

boom_boom

In California the best colors are the Aspens on the east side of the Sierra. Most of the canyons running off of US 395 north of Lone Pine will have nice Aspen groves. In particular, Lone Pine Creek, Lee Vining Creek (SR 120) and Lundy Lake. Also, the area just north of Conway Summit between Lee Vining and Bridgeport on 395 can be spectacular.