Summer may be peak time to visit a national park, especially when traveling with kids who are out of school, but the best time to visit some of our nation's parks is actually during autumn when leaves start to change color.

There's something magical about watching green trees burst into bold reds, vibrant oranges and practically fluorescent yellows. To find hundreds, if not thousands, of trees transforming is enough to leave you awe-inspired.

Surround yourself in color with these very best national parks in the fall.

Peak Fall Foliage: mid-October

Poets have waxed on about falls in New England when the crisp air transforms the landscape into a vibrant sea of reds, golds, oranges and browns. It truly is spectacular.

The only national park in New England is Acadia (although New Hampshire is home to a national forest), which makes the Maine coastal spot practically perfect for peeping. The park is more than 49,000 acres, so if you time it right, you will be surrounded bu turning leaves.

When camping or a cabin won't do, Acadia's Mount Desert Island location is wrapped around Bar Harbor. Since 1887, the place to be on the island is Bar Harbor Inn.

Full of traditional New England charm, the inn sits on 8 acres just 5 miles from the park and overlooks Frenchman Bay, meaning you can enjoy ocean views during your visit. A word of warning: Reservations during the fall book up fast!

Book here.

Peak Fall Foliage: end of October, early November

During the summer months, this South Carolina riverfront park can be hot, humid and full of irritating bugs. But come fall? The humidity dies down, the temperatures drop and the lesser-known national park becomes a colorful treat.

Spread across 27,000 acres in Hopkins, South Carolina, hiking trails vary from .6 to 24 miles and includes a 2.4-mile Boardwalk Loop Trail that is perfect for anyone with a stroller or mobility issues.

Located 20 minutes outside of Columbia, the only way to stay closer to the park is camping by tent. (The park does not offer RV locations or cabins.)

Hotel options are chain properties such as the Hampton Inn & Suites, Home2Suites by Hilton, TownPlace Suites by Marriott and Holiday Inn Express. Each property provides complimentary WiFi, breakfast and comfortable accommodations all around.

Peak Fall Foliage: mid-October through early November

As its name implies, the lake of this national park is set within the crater of a dormant volcano that blew its top 7,700 years ago. The mountain's loss was our gain, and now we can take in the splendid fall colors reflected on the smooth-as-glass lake.

Plus, when you visit in the fall months, the crowds have thinned, and you'll get the photogenic park to yourself.

You'll find campgrounds, cabins, country resorts and lodges in the Crater Lake area. Although peak foliage is between mid-October and early November, the park's lodgings close in mid-October. If you can get one of the last dates available, try Crater Lake Lodge, which overlooks the lake.

Found at Rim Village, the views are not to be missed from the lodge's dining room. The property is historic and has been considered a crown jewel of the lake since it opened in 1915.

Book here.

Peak Fall Foliage: late October

Also not crowded is the lesser-known Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio, where waterfalls spill freely amongst the forest of hardwoods that make this park the prettiest during autumn months.

There are nearly 100 waterfalls within this park, including Brandywine Falls, the tallest that requires just an easy hike to reach.

Outside of the camping options, within the national park is the Inn at Brandywine Falls. The inn overlooks a 67-foot waterfall, where visitors have flocked since it first opened in 1848.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the former home of estate owners provides six rooms for guests who want to be surrounded by the 33,000-acre woodlands.

Book here.

Peak Fall Foliage: late August through early October

Leaves change earlier in Alaska, so before summer even ends, you can witness nature's colorful phenomenon. Because summer is peak season, the park shuts down its road to private vehicles and requires visitors to use the park's bus service. But once fall hits, you are free to drive in and explore again on your own.

Snow begins to fall as early as late September, so make Denali your first stop on a fall foliage tour.

Experience the park as those who first climbed Mount McKinley. Setting up camp on a 67-acre site, Camp Denali is one of only two properties located within the park.

This backcountry camp replaced the tented original accommodations with timber-framed cabins that can sleep two to six. The main camp hosts the dining hall, showers and a relaxing lodge.

Book here.

Peak Fall Foliage: mid-September to mid-October, depending on elevation

Another earlier fall can be found in Montana, where Glacier National Park begins to see its landscape change colors in September. 

As the crowds disappear, the animals become more present as they prepare for their upcoming snow-covered winter. So, you may have better luck spotting the park's year-round residents.

There are a number of lodges and cabins available within Glacier National Park, including Many Glacier Hotel, the historic property designed to resemble a Swiss Alpine resort.

Dating back to 1914, this rustic property is nestled against Swiftcurrent Lake with dining overlooking the amazing views. But when they say rustic, they mean it: no televisions and no air-conditioning. You get to enjoy the property as it was meant to be enjoyed more than 100 years ago.

Book here.

Peak Fall Foliage: late September to mid-October

Most people think of the canyon as just a desert landscape that won't offer the same colorful fall experience as the heavily forested parks farther north. However, the autumn sun's ability to strike the red rocks at just the right angle turns the canyon into hues of gold.

And, of course, there are trees in the park! They lose their leaves, too, but not before changing colors. This entire fall spectacle is often less-crowded than in summer months as well.

Another historic property found within the borders of a national park is the Grand Canyon's El Tovar Hotel. Operating for more than 100 years, it rests on the edge of the South Rim.

A National Historic Landmark, the property features 78 rooms and the famous Dining Room, where past presidents and celebrities have sampled some of the same dishes. The decor is a combination of log cabin chic and Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired Art Deco.

Book here.

Peak Fall Foliage: mid-September

With the Tetons' varying heights, those in Wyoming are lucky enough to witness a weeks-long event of color as the leaves turn colors at the mountain peaks and slowly descend down into the valley.

Wildlife is abundant in the Grand Tetons and you'll see elk, moose, bighorn sheep and bison perfectly backdropped by the warm hues.

When visiting Grand Teton, Jackson Hole is the largest city within its grasp and a destination unto itself. 

Stay at the Lodge at Jackson Hole just minutes from the town's Town Square filled with shops and dining. The property features a modern log-cabin atmosphere with in-room fireplaces to warm you up on cool autumn evenings.

Book here.

Peak Fall Foliage: early- to mid-October

If there was ever a place to be surrounded by thousands of leaves in a kaleidoscope of color, it would be the 520,000-acre Great Smoky Mountains. This old-growth forest spans across Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina and has long been touted as one of the best places to see fall foliage in the entire country.

The Smoky Mountains earned its name from the fog that rests in its valleys in the morning and evening, but it burns away by midday for visitors to take in the views of its rolling sea of fiery colors.

Many who visit the Smokies do so in Tennessee, staying in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. But we the views, fantastic hotels and hipster ambiance in Asheville.

The massive and beautiful stone-laid Grove Park Inn has welcomed guests to the mountain town since it opened in 1913. Multiple presidents have visited the grande dame property that is both a Historic Hotel of America and designated a National Historic property.

Book here.

Peak Fall Foliage: mid-October to mid-November

If you feel like Texas is a land of desert landscape, then you have obviously missed out on the Guadalupe Mountains in the west.

The mountainous park reaches an altitude of 8,749 feet, and hikers can climb to find overlooks of the tree-filled landscape to witness the red, orange and gold highlights. As a southwestern national park, this also means you can enjoy fall into mid-November.

There is no lodging within the park outside of your own tent, and the nearest town providing accommodations is Dell City, 40 miles away. You could also stay just over the border in New Mexico in Whites City, 35 miles away.

Both cities have limited motels, but if you head north to Carlsbad, you will find a number of chain properties like Comfort Suites, La Quinta Inn and Hampton Inn.

Peak Fall Foliage: early- to mid-October

While SoCal may be known for year-round warm weather and palm trees, Northern California gets cool in the fall and winter and is covered with a variety of trees that drop their leaves every fall.

Find the color in Lassen Volcanic National Park, home to the world's largest plug dome volcano. Mountain lakes will provide a reflection to the color you'll find in this off-the-beaten-path park.

Located "where the meadow meets the mountains," the Highlands Ranch Resort provides the rugged retreat one wants when visiting a national park, albeit with an upscale flair.

This resort is found at the gateway to the park and features cottage accommodations with fireplaces and breakfast delivered to your door every day. (Trust us, you'll never want to leave.)

Book here.

Peak Fall Foliage: early- to mid-October

With the tallest mountain peak within the continental U.S., Mount Rainier's surrounding national park beckons climbers seeking to tackle the 14,000-plus feet to the top.

But you don't need to go that far to take in the views of the Cascade Mountain Range and its autumn leaves. You'll find plenty of ways to enjoy fall in this nearly 370-square-mile park outside of Seattle.

Crystal Mountain, Washington's largest ski resort, has 50 different ski runs during the winter months. That means it has gondolas, which can also be used to take in the area's views and be used to drop visitors off at great heights in which to hike back down.

Located 6 miles from the national park, the resort features a number of accommodation styles, from inns to condos to cottages.

Book here.

Peak Fall Foliage: early October

In the same mountain range as Mount Rainier, we would be remiss to leave out this national park's autumn beauty.

Whether you explore vantage points by foot (like following Thunder Creek Trail) or by car (following scenic routes), you can't go wrong with a visit to the North Cascades. There are nearly 800 square miles of wilderness here for you to get lost within the cornucopia of color.

Try a unique hotel with a stay at Ross Lake Resort. Yes, you'll be overlooking a lake but not from a standard hotel room. These are 12 cottages built above the lake on log floats.

These cabins are rustic, but when you're floating on the lake and taking in sunsets from your Adirondack chairs, you won't mind a bit.

Book here.

Peak Fall Foliage: mid- to late-October

One more Washington State park that provides a plethora of colorful leaves is Olympic National Park. Nearly a million acres in size in the Olympic Mountains, visitors can climb the about 8,000-foot Mount Olympus, discover waterfalls and experience Pacific Ocean views coupled with the red and gold leaves that blanket the area like a fall carpet.

Occupying a peninsula opposite Seattle, Tacoma and Olympia, this park is an amazing Pacific-Northwest getaway that provides both city and park adventures.

The National Park Service provides accommodations within Olympic National Park, including the Lake Crescent Lodge. Only open through the end of October, this turn-of-the-century resort will have you deep within the park before the colors disappear for the winter.

Listed on the National Historic Register, the lodge also offers cabins with fireplaces that get booked up quickly, so move fast.

Book here.

Peak Fall Foliage: mid- to late-September

Spend fall along the Continental Divide within the Rocky Mountain National Park, and you'll find 358 square miles of rocky landscape and lakes that seem to glow when hit by the autumn sun.

Aspens, willows, cottonwood and maples transform into a collection of reds, yellows and oranges amidst the towering evergreens that also dot the mountains. You're sure to fall in love with autumn in Colorado.

Just outside of the park and with views of the mountains looming in the distance, Estes Park Resort is a lakefront property that rests alongside a crisp, clean lake. 

Guests can enjoy guestrooms or, if you prefer, you can rent a cabin for a more authentic mountain getaway at the sister Mountain Village at Lake Estes. Either way, you can't go wrong.

Book here.

Peak Fall Foliage: early October

Although the towering sequoia trees are coniferous trees that will not turn color during the fall, the forest found in Northern California (not far from Yosemite) is filled with more than just sequoias and will provide an array of colors.

There will be less traffic by cars and on foot, giving you the space you need to hike and seek waterfalls under some of the world's largest trees.

The favorite lodging spot for Sequoia visitors is the Wuksachi, which opened in 1999. Found at 7,200 feet, the lodge is Sequoia's signature property and is a timber and stone structure that blends perfectly into its backdrop.

The remote location helps you feel as if you are getting away from it all (you may not even be able to get WiFi or cell service), but you won't need to sleep on the ground to do so.

Book here.

Peak Fall Foliage: late October

One of the most beautiful old-growth forests in the country can be found in Virginia. The Shenandoah of folk song and folklore is home to the Appalachian Trail. Even those not hiking can take in the beauty from the scenic Skyline Drive that runs the entire length of the park — 105.5 miles.

The parkway offers 75 overlooks for you to stop and take in the expansive views and see the colors at their peak. Give yourself about 4 hours to complete the drive because you won't be able to help yourself from stopping again and again to capture photos of the foliage.

There are many hotels, lodges, cabins and camping options along the Skyline, including Skyland, which operates across 27 acres of the national park.

Skyland features 28 buildings of rooms with a view as well as small cabins and remains open for visitors through the end of November.

Book here.

Peak Fall Foliage: mid- to late-October

One of the busiest and oldest national parks is the mighty Yosemite, home to towering waterfalls and sequoias. Photographer Ansel Adams captured Yosemite's beauty in black and white, but you can visit in the fall and see it fully alive in color.

The northern California park spans more than 1,169 square miles with giant monoliths and mountains, rivers and lakes (3,200 of them!), and waterfalls dropping more than 2,400 feet.

Considered the crown jewel of all national park lodges across the U.S., the Ahwahnee is a National Historic Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Yosemite lodge formerly known as the Majestic Yosemite Hotel opened to park visitors in 1927. Like others on this list, the hotel incorporated stone and woodwork into its structure to blend into its natural environment.

Book here.

Peak Fall Foliage: late October to early November

So popular is Zion that visitors can wait in traffic for a parking space to open and then still have to take the park shuttles multiple stops to various areas to explore. That's during the summer. Come fall, the crowds dissipate, and you are free to drive along the roads to do your own thing.

River-carved sandstone creates exotic-looking canyon trails, and hikes across the red rocks become even more colorful with trees turning yellow, orange and red.

The only lodge found within Zion carries the same name and is surrounded by the park's sandstone. Offering both hotel rooms or cabins, the historic lodge (debuted in 1924) is open year-round.

Onsite dining means you never have to leave the park, and even when the park comes to a close at dusk, you'll get to stay inside and catch the night's starlit sky.

Book here.