5 Top College Towns to Visit in the Fall

Plan an affordable autumn getaway and enjoy rich culture at one of these academic destinations

4-minute read

By

Berit Thorkelson,

 
AARP
Published October 19, 2026
an aerial view of the University of Kansas campus
Autumn’s turning trees amp up the nostalgic charm of college towns, which make great affordable getaways. Among the compelling options across the country: Lawrence, Kansas, and its University of Kansas campus, pictured here.
David F. McKinney/The University of Kansas/Office of University Relations

Key takeaways

  • College towns can deliver big-city culture on a smaller scale, often without the crowds or high prices.
  • These destinations combine campus attractions with fall scenery, walkable downtowns and outdoor recreation.
  • Free experiences include public art, museums, wooded trails and guided Saturday hikes. 

Fall tends to stir up the back-to-school feels, even when it’s been decades since you sat in a classroom.

The good news: College towns tend to make great getaway destinations to fill that back-to-school void. The towns often have easy access to the performing arts, gardens and/or nearby nature and ample restaurants, shops and lodging. Add to that the vibrant, youthful feeling that permeates the air. 

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It’s a big-city feel sans crowds or high prices. That affordability may be aimed at college students, but anyone on a budget, such as people 50 and older, can benefit. In fact, cost is the greatest barrier to planned travel among grownups, according to AARP’s 2026 Travel Trends survey.

These five quintessential college towns showcase a laid-back vibe full of fall nostalgia and entertainment around every corner.

an aerial view of Bellingham, Washington
Luke Hollister/WWU

Bellingham, Washington (population: 96,395)

The Cascade Mountains meet the Bellingham Bay coastline in this standout Pacific Northwest city about 20 miles south of Canada. It’s a little more than a mile between downtown and the Western Washington University campus, perched on a hill overlooking the water.  

Here, works of art aren’t confined to the inside of WWU’s Western Gallery, where admission and the intern-led tours are free. Thirty-six sculptures by major 20th- and 21st-century artists, including Isamu Noguchi and Alice Aycock, draw visitors across wooded campus grounds that are bright with fall leaves. Next to campus, Sehome Hill Arboretum offers six miles of trails.

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Though Bellingham’s shops, restaurants, trails and galleries easily keep visitors occupied, consider a fall drive on the 24-mile Chuckanut Drive National Scenic Byway. Its plentiful pit stops include scenic overlooks, park tide pools and both casual and upscale restaurants selling hand-shucked oysters plucked from nearby coastal waters.

Aerial view of the town of Berea and campus of Berea College in fall
Zack Thompson/ Berea College

Berea, Kentucky (population: 16,662)

Visitors to this city tucked into the Appalachian Mountain foothills might have a hard time distinguishing the town from the college. The overlap is purposeful. Berea College was built to uplift the community, and all students receive full-tuition scholarships in exchange for weekly work that includes producing traditional crafts, such as ceramics, woven items and brooms, and working in the school-owned Boone Tavern Hotel and restaurant.

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Boone Tavern is in College Square, right next to campus, as is the new Berea College Visitor Center, which features student craftwork for sale. The 9,000-acre Berea College Forest is a fall highlight, with a recently debuted 7.2-mile network called the Pinnacle Knob Trails. It adds to a greater collection that traverses rocky outcroppings, offering stunning autumn overlooks for hikers of all abilities. The college’s Forestry Outreach Center offers free guided group hikes on Saturdays.

Massachusetts Street in Lawrence, Kansas
Vespasian / Alamy Stock Photo

Lawrence, Kansas (population: 96,376)

To anyone assuming Kansas is flat, the state’s gently rolling hills might come as a pleasant surprise — not unlike this gem of a college town. Together, the University of Kansas (KU) and Haskell Indian Nations University add to the vibe, population and tourism draw. 

KU sits on Mount Oread, the highest point in the area with views of a color-drenched river valley. There, the free Spencer Museum of Art has two floors displaying global works ranging from ancient to contemporary and hosts regular talks, performances and events. 

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Haskell unfolds about two miles to the southeast. Its attractions spotlight its status as a federally operated intertribal university, including the Haskell Cultural Center and Museum, which interprets the history of the school and the Native nations it serves. In town, historic Massachusetts Street (locals call it “Mass Street”) is a lively hub known for music venues and more, including South Park, a fine spot for a lovely fall stroll.

students walking on the campus of Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts
Nancy Palmieri/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Williamstown, Massachusetts (population: 9,186)

Whatever springs to mind when you hear the phrase “classic New England town” probably looks like Williamstown. Specifically: lots of two-story brick buildings; local coffee houses, galleries and restaurants in converted homes and other adapted century-plus structures; and a white, steepled, clapboard church. And it’s all nestled into the Berkshire Hills. Williams College is equally classic: a more than 200-year-old campus defined by tree-lined walking paths, stately stone and vine-covered brick buildings. The college’s best-known attraction is The Clark, considered one of the foremost art museums and research centers in the country. Enjoy works by 19th-century French and American artists, including Edgar Degas, Claude Monet and Winslow Homer, and outdoor reflecting pools that mirror the surrounding autumnal trees. And like many charming New England towns, there are plenty of nearby hikes and drives vying for travelers’ attention in the fall. Among them: An outing to Mount Greylock, the state’s highest point.

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people crossing a street in downtown Davis, California
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Davis, California (population: 66,110)

Less than 15 miles west of Sacramento, in northern Central California farm country, Davis bills itself as one of America’s most bike-friendly cities. Nearly 150 miles of bike paths, trails and lanes packed into its 11 square miles make it easy for cyclists to explore the sights, both downtown and on the University of California, Davis campus.

Fall is the time to enjoy blooming sage and fuchsia at the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden, a 100-plus-acre collection of gardens and walking loops that’s celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. The agricultural surroundings translate into top-notch seasonal off-campus fun. Options include farm-to-table dining, the popular Davis Farmers Market and Great Bear Vineyards, with tours, tastings and special events, located on the edge of town.

The key takeaways were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.

Berit Thorkelson is a travel writer and editor for aarp.org. She has also written for publications such as National Geographic Traveler, Better Homes & Gardens and The Minnesota Star Tribune’s travel section.

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