5 Unique Places To Travel In The USA in November

Visiting the Smoky Mountains in November is perfect making it one of our favorite places to travel in the USA in November.

While October is generally the peak time for the leaves in the Smokies, we often find waiting until the first weeks of November gives us a chance to still catch a glimpse of the leaves without the massive crowds that the month of October draws.

In addition to the beautiful leaves and hikes in the Smokies in November, you can also catch several festivals including Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas.

For more information about visiting the Smokies any time of year, check out our massive guide to the Smokies.

Everglades National Park in southern Florida is a great national park to visit in November because the weather is ideal for wildlife watching! 

November is in the region’s dry season, which means winter temperatures are warm enough for shorts but cool enough to not sweat bullets, and the mosquitoes are almost non-existent.

With water levels dropping, wildlife is forced to gather at deeper watering holes which makes them easy to spot!

The park is fantastic for bird watching and one of the few places you can see both alligators and crocodiles in the wild.

Manatees are also frequently spotted and there are several boat tours you can take to explore the water portion of this park after hiking some of the trails on land.

November is one of the busiest times in the park, which means there are frequent ranger-led programs but also that you have to reserve lodging and make plans ahead of time!

Florida can be tricky to visit without crowds because it’s just a busy place.  But it’s definitely possible.  

Summer is busy because everyone is off school.  

Winter is busy because the weather is best, but November is perfect because it’s right in between, especially in Gainesville, Florida.  

Gainesville is in north central Florida, a couple of hours from Orlando, and perfect for outdoor lovers.  

Whether you like swimming or hiking, Gainesville has it.  

There are tons of great state parks near Gainesville, like Devil’s Millhopper, O’ Leno, Ichetucknee Springs, San Felasco, and Paynes Prairie.  

Newnans Lake, La Chua Trail, Sweetwater Wetlands, Bolen Bluff, and Loblolly Trail are all great trails in the area perfect for getting some fresh air.

One of the things this area is best known for is its crystal clear, 72-degree year-round springs.  

You can snorkel, dive (usually need cave diving certification), swim, and tube in the springs and rivers in the area.  

Ginnie Springs, Rum Island Springs, Gilchrest Blue Springs, Ichetucknee (springs and river), and the Santa Fe River are all great for experiencing the springs.  

If you want to spend some time off the trails, visit the downtown Gainesville area.  

Relax in cozy coffee shops, attend the fall arts festival (which takes place in November), do an art walk, and enjoy some delicious food.  

Mojo’s BBQ, Emiliano’s, The Top, and Civilization are personal favorites of mine.

The Redwood National Park is surprisingly underappreciated, despite being mentioned in one of the most iconic American anthem songs, This Land is Your Land.

The Redwoods are so massive that it is both a national and state park.

The Redwoods were established over the ancestral lands of more than twelve Native American groups along California’s Northern coast, notably the Yurok, Wiyot, and multiple Athabascan groups.

The summer and shoulder months are the busiest, generally crowded from May to October, while the winter months bring in dense fog and heavy rain.

That is why we chose the Redwoods as a great place to travel to in November to the US.

All of the park services and cafes are open, and the daylight is still long enough throughout the day for longer hikes and exploring the vast trees.

In general, the weather should be pretty dry throughout the month, though chillier in the early mornings and afternoons. Plus, November still has the lingering reds, oranges, and yellows of the fall foliage.

The park is a great destination for the whole family, from adults to younger children! Recently, the park has also added tree obstacle courses and cultural centers focusing on the Native community of the area.

But the Redwoods doesn’t need any frills.

Standing among the giant Redwood trees is breathtaking all on its own.

Many families reserve a trip to Hershey, PA for the summer months. However, November is another lovely time to visit Hershey, and specifically Hersheypark.

Each year, in mid-November, Hersheypark opens its doors for Christmas Candylane.

November is the perfect time to visit Christmas Candylane because the crowds are low but the atmosphere is incredibly festive. 

Plan to spend an entire day at Hersheypark. Most of the rides are open, including some of the rollercoasters but the lines will not be long at all. Bring your sweet tooth because… Hershey!

Seriously though, Hersheypark rolls out some amazing treats just for Christmas like gourmet hot chocolate with flavors including Reese’s Extreme, Toasted Marshmallow, and Peppermint. 

Other festive perks include a visit with Santa Claus, the actual reindeer barn where you can get close to Rudolph and the rest of Santa’s reindeer, and tons of Christmas lights.

Starting at 5 pm, Hersheypark puts on NOEL, 4 different choreographed light shows featuring over 200,000 holiday lights!

The lights are not only inside the park either. Carve out some time to experience Sweet Lights, Hershey’s drive-through lights experience. 

While in Hershey, PA, plan to spend some time at Hershey’s Chocolate World where you can see how chocolate is made, indulge in some amazing chocolate treats, and even design your own candy bar!

Don’t forget to visit The Hershey Story Museum in town where you and your kids will not only learn about Milton Hershey but can have fun experiences like tasting chocolate from around the world and finding out how chocolate is made in the Chocolate Lab.

There are tons of places to stay in Hershey, PA.

Our top picks are either Hershey Lodge (it has an indoor water park) or Tru By Hilton Hershey Chocolate Avenue.