Fall Getaways: City, Slopes Or Beach — Take Your Pick With These Trips

Temperatures are cooling in much of the country and fall foliage is peaking in many destinations, but there is still plenty of autumn left to enjoy.

Thanksgiving is a month away, and though you may have travel plans for the holiday (if you haven’t booked holiday flights yet, do that now), there’s still time to get one more trip in before the trees are bare and the snow moves in.

That is, unless you’re looking forward to the snow and ski season. And if that’s the case, we have something for you, too.

Airfare may be trending higher, but there are still deals to be had for a quick getaway. We recommend widening your search parameters to find the best prices. Below are some of the best round-trip fares we found.

Fall flights to Miami in mid-November

Hoping to catch a bit of warmth this fall? Enjoy some time on the beach just before Thanksgiving with a trip to Miami and South Florida. The key to getting the best airfare, though, is to leave for your trip when everyone else is returning.

Make the most of your Sunday, and take a couple of days off (or work remotely) on Monday and Tuesday to get this $98 round trip from Newark/Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Miami aboard United Airlines.

Arriving mid-morning and returning late Tuesday night, allows you to maximize your time in Florida even on the days you are flying.

If you’re traveling from the Washington, D.C. area, we found an itinerary out of Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL) aboard United Airlines for $138.

You can get the same price point on a similar Sunday-Tuesday getaway out of Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Miami (MIA) aboard Delta Air Lines.

Early season skiing in Colorado and Utah

Ski resorts are starting to open up in parts of the country, and more will be ready for guests to hit the slopes in the coming weeks.

Chicago travelers can get in some early season runs in Colorado with this $158 round trip to Denver International Airport (DEN).

It’s definitely a long weekend itinerary that should allow you to skirt the biggest crowds at the airports, departing Wednesday morning and returning Monday evening.

If you still have energy to travel just after Thanksgiving or if you’re staying home for that holiday, there are some good prices for long weekend trips in early December, too.

San Francisco travelers can miss just one day of work, and a Friday at that, with this Thursday evening flight to Denver and a Sunday morning return — this trip goes for $158 on United.

If you’re visiting from Seattle, ease out of one work week with your early December trip to Denver. For $148, you’ll depart Friday afternoon and return Monday evening aboard Delta.

And if you’re looking to travel from southern California to get some ski runs in, the prices right now suggest that you might be better off considering a Utah skiing destination like Park City, which is a car ride or shuttle away from Salt Lake City. This early November weekend getaway involves a late afternoon Friday departure, with a Monday night return aboard JetBlue for a cool $103.

Washington, D.C. fall flights

After peak fall foliage in New England, catch some changing colors in the mid-Atlantic with a hike or a visit to wineries outside Washington, D.C., or visit the newly-reopened Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in the city.

For $158 round-trip just two weekends from now, you can avoid too much time away from work — and the biggest crowds while you’re at it — by flying from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) mid-morning on Saturday and returning mid-morning Monday. The price tag aboard Delta Air Lines goes for $158 round trip.

If you can forgo the fall foliage portion of the trip in favor of everything else D.C. has to offer, from its monuments and museums to its great hotels and restaurants, the weekend after Thanksgiving could work.

Here’s a Friday-to-Sunday round-trip from Atlanta for $98 aboard Delta; note that you’ll be flying into Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). If that 11:00 p.m. departure on Friday is too late, I saw earlier options at the same price point which are available if you’re willing to travel during the day.
For $158, you can fly to Dulles International Airport (IAD) Friday from Miami and return Monday morning.

Bottom line

It’s not always easy to find a good flight deal in 2022, but with a bit of flexibility in your travel dates and destination, there are affordable options out there — whether you’re hoping to sit on a beach, take in some foliage, tour a big city or get in some ski runs this fall.