Asheville, North Carolina is another good place to spend a few days where you can take in some wonderful scenic drives through the colorful Blue Ridge Parkway and Smoky Mountains. From Asheville head toward Mount Mitchell. At a whopping 6,684 feet, Mount Mitchell is the highest mountain peak in the Eastern United States. Though frequently covered in mist atop, at the observation deck, the combination of rock and fall foilage is said to be exceptionally vibrant during mid to late October.

Grandfather Mountain near Linville, NC has an elevation of 5,946 ft and features the Mile High Swinging Bridge which can be accessed at the mountain entrance road at Blowing Rock Highway, Linville, N.C. A fee between $15-18 is charged to walk the bridge, but the breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge mountain range against the colorful hues of autumn will be worth every penny. Maggie Valley, Waynesville and Cherokee are also interesting places to visit and view the season's colors while driving through the mountains of western North Carolina.

Tennessee also boasts some of the most beautiful scenic drives. From Ocoee, TN take the winding U.S. Hwy 64 East to the entrance of the Cherokee National Park and Parksville Lake. The entrance to Chilhowee Mountain will take you three of four levels where drivers can stop and take in the sights or maybe take a nature hike. Once at the top, there can be found a lake with a small beach.

Continuing on Hwy 64 east along the Ocoee River, famous for its Whitewater Rafting, you will come to a waterfall around mile marker 17 well worth stopping for. Further along is an antique flume that can be seen in the side of the mountain.

Another alternative from Ocoee, TN would be to take Hwy 411 North toward Maryville. Now a four lane highway, 411 is a fast, easy route to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Passing by the scenic Hiwassee river National Park you will be surrounded by the mountains where fall colors should reach their best toward the latter part of October.

From Maryville on 411, take Hwy 321 toward Townsend. From there, either continue on 321 by turning left up the mountain to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, or carry straight on into the mountains via Cade's Cove, then through the narrow winding roads by wallowing creeks and energizing waterfalls of the Great Smoky Mountain National Forest and entering directly into Gatlinburg. With numerous affordable hotels or log cabin rentals, Gatlinburg makes for a good base to plan your fall color sight-seeing trips in many of the Appalachian Mountain regions.