Great Smoky Mountains
Famous color, usually peaking in mid-to-late October at lower elevations.
37 prime · 14 good · September
Best National Parks to Visit in September
September may be the single best month to visit the national parks. Families are back in school, the mountain parks are still open, elk are bugling in the Rockies, and the Southwest starts to cool down.
Top picks for September: Great Smoky Mountains, Haleakalā, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes, Yosemite, Cuyahoga Valley. After Labor Day, crowds drop sharply while the weather often stays excellent.
Prime in September (37)
Haleakalā
Shoulder season and the best value.
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes
Shoulder season, with good weather and fewer crowds.
Yosemite
September and October bring warm days, fewer people and golden oaks.
Cuyahoga Valley
Spectacular color, usually peaking in mid-October.
Bryce Canyon
September and early October are clear and crisp, perfect for hiking below the rim.
Rocky Mountain
Aspens peak in late September and the elk rut draws crowds to the meadows at dusk.
Gateway Arch
Comfortable riverfront weather and easier tram tickets.
Sequoia
Crisp, uncrowded and beautiful, with dogwoods turning red in the Giant Forest.
New River Gorge
Spectacular color in mid-October.
Yellowstone
September is exceptional, with elk bugling, fewer people and golden light.
Capitol Reef
Apples and pears are ripe in the orchards, cottonwoods turn gold and the weather is ideal.
Grand Teton
Aspens turn gold in late September, the elk bugle and crowds thin.
Acadia
The best season.
Badlands
Great weather, golden grasses and calm crowds.
Carlsbad Caverns
Bat flights continue into October before the colony migrates to Mexico.
Great Sand Dunes
Calm, crisp and golden, with aspens turning in the mountains above.
Mesa Verde
September is ideal: mild weather, fewer crowds and many tours still running.
Mount Rainier
Huckleberry and mountain ash turn the meadows red and gold in late September.
Indiana Dunes
Warm September water, fall color in the woods and far fewer people.
Channel Islands
September and October often have the clearest water and calmest days of the year, which makes this a great time to kayak the sea caves.
Olympic
Early fall is still lovely.
Crater Lake
September is the best month: clear skies, warm days and thinner crowds.
Glacier
September is superb: fewer people, larches and aspens turning, and the road open until mid-October.
Kings Canyon
Quiet and golden, until the scenic byway closes, usually in mid-November.
Redwood
Often the clearest weather on the coast.
Theodore Roosevelt
Quiet and golden in September.
Wind Cave
Elk bugling and golden prairie.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Scrub oak and aspens turn color, and crisp weather makes rim hikes ideal.
Lassen Volcanic
Quiet and crisp.
Voyageurs
September is quiet, with fall color and calm water.
Great Basin
Aspens turn gold in late September and the stargazing is superb.
North Cascades
Late September into early October brings golden larches along the highway near Washington Pass and Maple Pass, just outside the park boundary.
Katmai
September brings fat bears feeding on spawned-out salmon in the river and fewer people.
Isle Royale
September is the best month: fewer bugs, fall color and moose activity.
Kobuk Valley
Late August and September bring the caribou migration across the Kobuk River at Onion Portage.
National Park of American Samoa
Still pleasant into October, before the wet season returns.
Season opens in September
Yosemite Opens
Bryce Canyon Opens
Capitol Reef Opens
Mesa Verde Opens
Grand Teton Opens
Yellowstone Opens
Great Sand Dunes Opens
Badlands Opens
Wind Cave Opens
Acadia Opens
Cuyahoga Valley Opens
Gateway Arch Opens
Great Smoky Mountains Opens
Katmai Opens
Haleakalā Opens
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes Opens
Last chance in September
Crater Lake Last call
Mount Rainier Last call
North Cascades Last call
Olympic Last call
Channel Islands Last call
Lassen Volcanic Last call
Kings Canyon Last call
Sequoia Last call
Great Basin Last call
Glacier Last call
Grand Teton Last call
Yellowstone Last call
Black Canyon of the Gunnison Last call
Great Sand Dunes Last call
Rocky Mountain Last call
Theodore Roosevelt Last call
Indiana Dunes Last call
Isle Royale Last call
Voyageurs Last call
Katmai Last call
Kobuk Valley Last call
National Park of American Samoa Last call
Also good in September (14)
Guadalupe Mountains
The best season.
Denali
The tundra turns red and gold in late August and early September.
Hot Springs
Pleasant hiking and fall color in the Ouachita Mountains.
Kenai Fjords
Rainier and quieter.
Lake Clark
Bears feed on salmon in August and early September.
Mammoth Cave
Fall color on the surface and easier tour bookings.
Petrified Forest
Calm and pleasant, the best time for the longer hikes into the wilderness area.
Wrangell–St. Elias
Early September brings fall colors and the end of the tourist season.
Canyonlands
Superb.
Glacier Bay
Early September is still good, and rainy.
Shenandoah
Peak color in mid-to-late October.
Arches
Arguably the best season: warm, golden and steady.
Grand Canyon
Arguably the best time.
Zion
The best season.
September by region
Skip these in September
Death Valley, Big Bend, Dry Tortugas, Everglades, Virgin Islands. These parks are largely closed, snowbound or dangerously hot in September.
September questions
What are the best national parks to visit in September?
The top-rated national parks for September are Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Haleakalā National Park, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Yosemite National Park, Cuyahoga Valley National Park. In total, 37 parks are rated prime and 14 more are rated good this month.
Which national parks are least crowded in September?
Haleakalā, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes, Carlsbad Caverns, Great Sand Dunes, Indiana Dunes, Wind Cave are at their best in September without big crowds.
Which national parks should I avoid in September?
Death Valley, Big Bend, Dry Tortugas, Everglades, Virgin Islands are rated poor in September, usually because of closures, snow or extreme heat.
Is September a good time to visit national parks?
September may be the single best month to visit the national parks. After Labor Day, crowds drop sharply while the weather often stays excellent.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026. Ratings are editorial. Rules and road openings change each year, so confirm on the official NPS site before you go.