5 Best Places to Go on an Autumn Drive with the Top Down

We all know the scene: a convertible effortlessly zips around a coastal mountain road, sun shining in the perfectly blue sky on a crisp day. Unfortunately, for the majority of us, these are usually images that stay within the confines of our television screens. This fall, as the temperatures drop, we at Auto Tops Direct are encouraging all of our readers and customers to get out and take that road trip you’ve been thinking about. We have assembled a list of some of our top picks for autumn road trip destinations with the top down:

Green Mountain Byway, Vermont
Nowhere is as celebrated for its foliage as Vermont. Every year, swarms of “leaf peepers” come to Vermont to see its unrivaled and dazzling displays of color. Although the Green Mountain Byway may only stretch 11 short miles, it has especially notable beginning and end points. You can start your drive in Stowe, one of the most famous ski areas in the Northeast, and end in Waterbury, home of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. Thanks to Vermont’s Fall Foliage Hotline and interactive map, you can be sure that you are visiting during peak leaf viewing, which typically stretches from the end of September through the middle of October.

Pacific Coast Highway, California to Oregon
Although most will associate the Pacific Coast Highway with the California coast, it actually runs all the way from Mexico to Canada. In California, the 100-mile stretch around Big Sur gives some of the best views from the cliffs over the coast. Most of Big Sur has been protected from developers, so the pristine drive is not interrupted by looming apartment buildings like other areas of the coast. Don’t stop in California, some of the best panoramic views on the Pacific Coast highway, as well as enviable foliage, are on the Oregon Coast. Stop in Cannon Beach, where Lewis and Clark notably ended their cross-country expedition in 1805.

Million Dollar Highway, Colorado
If you like driving down hairpin turns in the mountains, there is no place better place to cruise than Colorado. Predominantly reaching over the tree line, the aptly named Million Dollar Highway is one of the highest roads in the country. The best stretch of this road is the section between the Uncompahgre Gorge and the Red Mountain Pass, an especially hazardous passage for thrill seekers. Its steep cliffs, narrow lanes, and lack of guardrails make it a challenging drive. As easy as it would be to be distracted by the beautiful mountain foliage, we recommend keeping both eyes on the road.

Kancamagus National Scenic Byway, New Hampshire
If you are looking for a quintessential New England drive to feel the crisp fall air in your hair, “The Kanc” is the perfect stroll for you. Passing through the White Mountains, you will see picturesque colonial farmhouses, idyllic covered bridges, and the trees that have helped the Kancamagus Highway be noted as the most colorful fall drive in the United States for multiple years.

The Catskills, New York
The Catskills in southeastern New York has been heralded for centuries for its collection of winding roads, beautiful rivers, and vibrant fall colors. With a wide selection of fabled bed and breakfasts, if you take a drive to the Catskills in the fall you are almost guaranteed to find a harvest celebration in any of its collection of picture-perfect towns.