Month: September 2023

“Repeat It” rapper Lil Tecca is finally prepared to give fans what they want: a new full-length project.

On social media, Lil Tecca has posted a handful of clips featuring song snippets for the unreleased tracks “Rock The Boat” (where he samples the late Aaliyah’s 2001 song by the same name), “Montana,” “Road Rage,” and more. In May, he took to his official X (formerly Twitter) account to share the news that his first album since 2021’s We Love You Tecca 2 would drop in the summer months. However, plans to release Tec in June were suddenly changed without explanation. Instead of a hot summer release date, Lil Tecca’s new album Tec will drop on the eve of the fall equinox.

Here is everything you need to know about Lil Tecca’s forthcoming album, Tec, including the release date, confirmed tracklisting, and more.

Release Date

Tec is out on 9/22 via Republic Records. Find more information here.

Tracklist

1. “Yves”
2. “Hvn On Earth” Feat. Kodak Black
3. “Gist”
4. “500lbs”
5. “Fell In Love” Feat. Kenny Mason
6. “Tec”
7. “Salty”
8. “Real Discussions”
9. “Dead Or Alive”
10. “Want It Bad”
11. “U Don’t Know Tec”
12. “Used2this”
13. “Trippin On U”
14. “Either Way”
15. “Need Me”
16. “Monday To Sunday”

Singles

Ahead of the Tec’s release, Lil Tecca shared a total of three singles, namely “Need Me,” “500lbs,” and “Hvn On Earth.” According to the supplied tracklist, his previous singles “Blessing,” “Treesha,” and “Faster” will not appear on the album.

Artwork

View the official artwork for the album below.

Tour

As of Monday, September 18, Lil Tecca has not yet announced a tour to support the release of his album. However, fans are hoping that he will roll out a few pop-up performances in the coming weeks for them to experience Tec live with him.

Last Sunday, Lauren Boebert just wanted to go see the Beetlejuice musical with a date, where should would vape, loudly sing along, get aggressively handsy, etc. How was she to know it would lead to over a week of news coverage? But all good things must come to an end, and it appears the MAGA lawmaker and her companion — who happened to be a Democrat who owns a drag queen-friendly bar — are already Splitsville.

TMZ caught up with Boebert, who cheerfully offered up an update about her new beau. Alas it was not to be.

“Ultimately all future date nights have been cancelled, and I learned to check party affiliations before you go on a date,” Boebert said, suggesting that a far right figure who heckles Democratic president while they’re talking about his dead son can’t last very long with someone from the other side of the aisle.

Not that Boebert has anything bad to say about her date. Acknowledging that he’s a “private citizen,” she said that he’s “a wonderful man” and that they had “mostly a lovely time.” She joked that she “would love to know how the musical ended and I encourage people to go and see it.”

As for the two of them, they, she said, “peacefully parted” ways, though she claimed that it had “nothing to do with anything anybody reported,” such as that he may have voted for the guy she’s trying to impeach. Boebert added that he’s a “great man, great friend, and I wish him all the best.”

Perhaps it’s true what they say: Love is dead.

(Via TMZ)

The growing excitement around reuniting groups continues to set social media ablaze, whether it’s No Doubt, Destiny’s Child, or NSYNC, all of whom are back together. However, Blink-182’s reunion isn’t just online chatter but a soon-to-be reality.

Earlier Monday, September 18, the trio announced their upcoming album, One More Time…, with a touching trailer video. In the clip, the band explained the meaning behind the project and discussed their career.

“What you need to understand about Blink-182 is we didn’t come out of joyous homes. So, Blink was a way for us to force the happiness in the room,” said Tom DeLonge.

“‘One More Time’ is kinda written about why does it take these catastrophes [me being in a plane crash or Mark being sick] for our band to get back together,” added Travis Barker.

Mark Hoppus chimed in to say, “This is the best album we’ve ever written. It’s all through the healing of this band and this music and this record that I literally just cry on stage every night.”

“Coming out with One More Time is [us saying that] this is the last time we are going to f*ck this up,” said DeLonge.

You can watch the full album trailer below.

One More Time… is out 10/20 via Columbia. Find more information here.

Blink-182 is back together, and they couldn’t be happier. After weeks of teasing their long-awaited reunion album, the band released its official release date. But that wasn’t the only thing the trio divulged. Their lead single, “One More Time,” will be released soon to give the world a taste of what’s to come.

“‘One More Time… the new album from Blink-182 is out October 20,” wrote the band in a post on their X (formerly known as Twitter) page. The note went on to specify that the title track for the project would be dropping soon. “‘One More Time,’ the new song, is out this Thursday, September 21, at 7 am Los Angeles time / 10 am New York time / 2 pm London time.”

The band strolls down memory lane in the album trailer as they open up about their personal life before coming together as a group. They also discussed the inspiration behind their forthcoming single. “‘One More Time’ is kinda written about why does it take these catastrophes (me being in a plane crash or Mark being sick) for our band to get back together,” said member Travis Barker.

Watch the clip below.

One More Time… is out 10/20 via Columbia. Find more information here.

The vault containing guest verses from “Snooze” singer SZA has gifted supporters with another gem. This time, one featuring her and multi-genre musician Jean Dawson, called “No SZNs,” will be going live on Friday, September 22.

“‘NO SZNS.’ (A duet by SZA & myself). 9/22/23. The official cover art by my favorite fine artist, Josh Brizuela,” wrote Dawson in a post on X (formerly Twitter). The cover art features a hand-drawn, faceless SZA silhouette sitting meditatively on top of a beast, seemingly symbolic of Dawson’s animalistic approach to his creative projects.

Fans chimed in, praising the artwork for its creativity. One even likened it to author Maurice Sendak’s characters in his children’s book Where The Wild Things Are.

Dawson initially teased the track in May on his official TikTok page. In the stanza shared online, you can hear him and SZA singing the lyrics, “In the spring, you can’t hear a thing / All the birds and bees (All the birds and bees) / Nobody think in the summertime (In the summertime) / People off the brink / In California, we ain’t got no seasons / All the same to me (All the same to me) / ‘Cause In the heat, like to press repeat / Every day is every day.”

Not much else is known about the record at this time. Fans will have to hold out until its official release to experience the song for themselves.

Warning: This post contains spoilers about something that may or may not happen in John Wick: Chapter 4.

The fourth installment in the series that started with its hero avenging a slain puppy ended with him finally eating it. Or did it? John Wick: Chapter 4 concluded with a funeral, but it was no mistake that it was still ambiguous whether Keanu Reeves’ unretired assassin was really gone. Sure enough, after 4 gobbled up cash, star and filmmakers suddenly had to consider retconning said death for an unplanned Chapter 5. But it sure sounds like Reeves was ready to be done with his latest popular franchise character.

In a new interview with Collider (as caught by Deadline), franchise producer Basil Iwanyk reflected on how ready Reeves was ready to move onto something less tiring.

“After the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th movie, making these films is so exhausting and it destroys Keanu, physically and emotionally,” Iwanyk said. “By the end, he’s always like, ‘I can’t do this again,’ and we agree with him. The guy is just a shell of himself because he just goes off and goes for it. He was like, ‘I wanna be definitively killed at the end of this movie.’ We were like, ‘You know, we’ll leave a 10% little opening.’”

Alas for Reeves, that 10% won out. And so now he and series director Chad Stahleski are “getting together to figure out what that story is” for the fifth outing, which they hadn’t planned on making.

Iwanyk had sky-high praise for Reeves and Stahelski, who he compared to no less a songwriting duo than Paul McCartney and John Lennon, with him as their Ringo. (It’s not clear who’s George Harrison. Maybe Ian McShane?)

“They’ll call me and let me know, ‘All right, we’re showing up. Here’s where you show up, and here’s what our story is,’” he explained. Mind you, Iwanyk never confirmed that Chapter 5 is definitely in the offing, he did say, “We all want another John Wick. We don’t know what it looks like and when it will happen, but we love each other and we love this world.”

In the meantime, Wick heads will have to suffice with the TV spinoff The Continental and that Ana de Armas spinoff movie Ballerina.

(Via Collider and Deadline)

57 players averaged at least 20.0 points per game during the 2022-23 NBA season. One such player was veteran wing Kelly Oubre Jr., who appeared in only 48 games for the Charlotte Hornets but produced at a high level when deployed. Oubre Jr. wrapped up a two-year deal for almost $25 million in Charlotte, and he averaged 20.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game for the Hornets. However, the free agent market didn’t necessarily break in his favor, as it took until mid-September for a deal to materialize.

On Monday evening, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Oubre will sign a one-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, adding intriguing depth to a team with quite a bit of uncertainty.

As far as the financials are concerned, Derek Bodner of PHLY reports that Oubre Jr.’s deal will be for the veteran’s minimum.

The 76ers are limited by being well over the luxury tax line, but Philadelphia could have used part (or all) of the taxpayer mid-level exception on Oubre Jr., and this is even more team-friendly. Regardless, Oubre Jr. is a talented player who comes at a bargain at this late stage, and he also provides some potential scoring punch that could be quite useful given the mystery of James Harden’s future in Philadelphia.

Oubre Jr. reached unrestricted free agency at the age of 27, and the former first-round pick remains a top-level athlete who can score in bunches. Oubre Jr. also brings a relatively lengthy track record, with five consecutive seasons averaging at least 15 points per game. He averaged 16.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in that sample size, peaking with 18.7 points per game on 56.0 percent true shooting for the Phoenix Suns in 2019-20.

It isn’t as if Oubre Jr. and Harden have similar games, but with real questions about the perimeter rotation if Harden is not available, the 76ers have to be thrilled with this kind of bargain acquisition. Philadelphia is now at the roster limit with a jam-packed roster, but this was an opportunistic move for a team trying to win now at the highest level.

For Oubre Jr., it will also be interesting to see if he can replicate his statistical success from Charlotte in what will almost certainly be a strongly diminished role in terms of usage and overall deployment.

“I always look at Circulate like a design firm,” says Corey Populus, the founder and main creative force behind the brand Circulate. “How do we use design to fix problems?”

Populus looks at fashion as a means of expression, a medium to tell stories, convey emotions, and create conversation, it’s part of the reason why his brand Circulate is one of our favorites and we consider him one of the most vital voices in modern streetwear. Born from the Fairfax Avenue scene in 2018, Circulate has been on a roll this decade — when lockdowns threatened the viability of small streetwear brands, Populous built an audience over social media, using direct-to-consumer sales methods to stay in conversation with the fans of the brand.

Now in 2023, the brand continues to grow and evolve. As the Uproxx Style Hotlist 2023 begins to roll out, we linked up with Populus to get an update on the brand as well as his take on what’s currently trending in streetwear, and which brands you need to be paying attention to right now.

So it’s been a minute since I talked to you. I’m just curious, where is Circulate in 2023?

Our focus right now is scaling up the business, getting into more retail doors, and just getting on the calendar. When you’re doing retail, they buy on a calendar schedule. I’m still doing a lot of collaborations. Recently, we dropped a really big collaboration with Overtime, which was really cool. And the feedback so far has been really good, so super hyped on that. And just working towards next year, man.

Just getting ahead, scaling up the business, and trying to get this thing running as a well-oiled machine.

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Has that been challenging? I know that the brand really took off when direct-to-consumer was working so well because of the pandemic. Has that been an easy transition or a hard transition?

It’s actually been really easy because we’re still getting supported by all of our DTC customers, but it’s more so just expanding the business. More hitting those places that you don’t have eyes in, or you don’t have customers in. And just having it in a local shop where someone could just walk in, and be like, “Oh, dope. What is this?” And now, you have a fan. You know what I mean?

One of the stores that I’m selling to is called Corporate in Cincinnati, Ohio, and I don’t know anyone there, and I don’t know if anyone on my site shops from there. But the owner’s really cool, and he believes in my brand.

If someone comes in, and obviously our brand is new to the store, he is like, “Yo, check this out. This is a new brand.” So that’s more so the reason that I’m opening up more retail is just to get more eyes on the brand, and it’s also just a perspective thing. When you go into cool stores, and you see newer brands, it just opens your mind to something new.

Is the brand still putting a major focus on social justice and storytelling?

Yeah. We’ll always do that, but I don’t want to get boxed into one thing. I don’t want people to just look at my brand, and be like, “Oh, it’s only about that.” You know what I mean? Because we’re capable of so much more. I always look at Circulate as a design firm. How do we use design to fix problems?

And that’s kind of the way we move when it comes to design. The ethos of our brand will always be Black culture, community, social justice, and things like that, but I also don’t want to get trapped into that. I don’t want people to just see my brand, look at it, and be like, “Oh, that’s the black brand.” You know what I mean? Because there’s so much more than that.

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I wanted to talk a little bit with you about trends in streetwear right now. I feel like the last three years or so were a transitionary period. This decade trying to figure it out its footing. Now that the look of the early 2020s is a bit more solidified, what trends are you noticing that are popping off? What can we expect to see in the future?

Obviously, baggy is coming back, man. It’s crazy. We went through skinny jeans, and all of that stuff for so long. And now, you look at everyone’s pants, and they’re baggy.

What that leads to is also bigger shoes. People are wearing crazy runners and trainers. For example, someone just sent me a pair of HOKAs this morning, and they’re like huge shoes, but they match the trend of everyone’s pants that they’re wearing now.

You see shoes like Solomon, New Balance, and other runners. Even with Nike, they’ve got their version of a runner, in the Vomero. Everyone’s wearing Vomeros now, and that’s because it fits with the aesthetic of baggy pants.

I also think that big logo stuff is going to come back. I know we went a super crazy minimalistic approach for the last 10 years, but I think big logos are going to come back as people turn to maximalism.

Honestly, I’m always stuck in my own world, and when I do take the time to leave my world and go scroll the internet, those are some things that I notice. I think those ones are going to be really big trends moving forward.

Have you noticed any changes in trends regarding what the modern staple silhouettes are for sneakers?

When it comes to that it’s all about accessibility. Not everyone’s going to be able to get the newest Jordans because you have to battle it out with the SNKRS app, or you got to go to your local shop, and there’s a raffle system in place. At the end of the day, not everyone’s going to win.

So I think that’s where a lot of these brands, the Solomons and the New Balances, and all the other brands that were in the backseat to Nike or Adidas. They’re starting to thrive because their shoes are a little bit more accessible.

There’s not crazy raffle systems to get them. That’s the reason why they’re winning right now.

Independent collaborators like myself, that have brands, they’re giving us a chance to collaborate on products. And that’s also adding to the success of sales, and things like that.

What I see a lot of right now are fakes. Not everyone, but there’s a huge part of the sneaker community now that is supporting fake sneakers because they’re just fed up with not being able to access the limited hype ones. It’s a super prevalent thing right now.

But I think it comes back to my original point. It’s all related to the silhouettes of clothing that people are wearing. They want bigger sneakers. You can’t wear a pair of Vans Eras with some big baggy pants. It’s just going to eat the shoe. So you need a bigger shoe to match the silhouette of the clothes you’re wearing.

What’s the best way to style baggy? Are we doing a baggy on baggy? Are we going baggy for the top half?

It just all depends on the person. I see a lot of people go baggy on the bottom with a small T on top that hugs their body, or sometimes you’ll see the guy with the baggy pants and the big T on top.

It’s all personal preference, but I do see a lot of baggy on top.

Right. Let’s talk a little bit about designers, or brands that you think are going to really pop up, get bigger in the next few years. Let’s just start with whoever comes off the top of your head first.

Aris Tatalovich

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It’s a mixture between streetwear and high-end fashion, but dude, they make the dopest stuff, and their campaign imagery on Instagram is really dope.

They do an iPhone lock screen, but it’s the picture of the person wearing the clothes.

What they do is just as cool as Balenciaga does. They’re just super extra with everything. You got to check it out to understand what I mean.

Bricks & Wood

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I love Bricks & Wood just because of how good they are at honing in on the community beyond the product. Obviously, they make really good product, but, for instance, they’ve been celebrating their five-year anniversary this past week and the events that I’ve been going to, and how they’re able to pack it out with different people I haven’t seen in a really long time is something special.

The celebration has just shown me that they’re really good at getting the community to come together for things. Whether it be a party, or some type of in-store event.

It’s been really dope to see.

WckdThghts

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I love Wckdthghts because of Khaleel Knight — his point of view on streetwear comes from a different perspective. He’s not the Fairfax kid that grew up in that environment and was able to take those lessons and apply it to his brand.

He’s coming straight out of the hood and I love that about him. The way that he was able to build his own community based off of that, and how big it is, and how much support that he gets.

I think that’s really dope, and it just says a lot about how many different types of people are involved in streetwear. And we don’t all have to come from this Fairfax incubator to make something shake.

Menace

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I really love MENACE because Steven Mena is putting on for the Latino culture of streetwear. The way that he showcases that in his designs and uses that as inspiration in the design represents a different perspective.

Recently, he did a collab with the LA Galaxy. From what I understand, Steven hasn’t done a lot of bigger corporate collabs. They’re a really big direct to consumer brand, and to see him starting to move in the space of big corporate is really cool. LA Galaxy is huge, and for it to be a soccer team, something that meant so much to him, is special. I know Chicharito (Javier Hernández) is a huge figure in soccer and Latino culture, to see how hype Steven was on that, and how it meant so much to his brand feels very authentic.

He’s built a whole brand off of being direct to the consumer, to see him doing collaborations with brands that resonate really well with what Menace does, is really dope to see. Recently he did a collaboration for the new DC superhero film. Blue Beetle.

Blue Beetle is a Latino superhero so it’s cool to see him building his brand that way, and I’m super proud of him.

Infantry Collective

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I met George Jenkins working on Fairfax. He worked at The Hundreds, and I think he’s a bit younger than me. But lately, he’s building his brand, and I really love to see the grind of it. It kind of reminds me of myself when I was first starting out, and he’s doing it bigger than I ever did. He’s bought his own embroidery machine, which I’m sure is really hard to learn but every day, I see them on Instagram just churning out new designs. Not waiting for anybody to get stuff done, and I really admire that.

I hate waiting around for people to get stuff done, or to help grow my brand, or waiting around to do things that are going to help grow my brand. Lately, I’ve just been seeing him every single day just churning out new designs, new made-to-order stuff.

I think that’s a really cool way to grow your brand because you can make new stuff every day if you really want to, and get it into the hands of people, and that really helps grow your brand.

Seeing his dedication to it every day… he’s not asking for nothing, and that work ethic is really what I’m super excited about, and proud of. And I feel like that’s going to help him grow a lot.

Carrots By Anwar

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I always love what Anwar is doing. He’s been around forever. He’s one of the first dudes that I always looked up to looking in at Fairfax because he’s always been so ahead of everybody.

I love Anwar for the way that he’s able to maneuver through the collaboration space. He can collaborate with Sketchers, and the next day, he could collaborate with some crazy Japanese brand. It’s always very true to his brand, and very true to him. The way that he’s able to maneuver through all of that, I really respect, and I admire.

Hypland

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I love Hypland. Jordan is another one of those guys with a big direct-to-consumer fan base, but he’s also carved out his own niche in streetwear.

Jordan was one of the first people to start collaborating and using anime licenses. The way that he’s been able to do that before anyone was even hip to that stuff, has been amazing to watch. He’s done Hello Kitty, and Dragon Ball Z, and I want to say he’s done Pokemon, and just a bunch of that type of stuff.

When he first started doing all of that stuff, no one was really using that lane. For him to carve out his own lane within streetwear by making all of those licenses cooler, is really cool.

It’s not like stuff you’d see at a merch store, or a Walmart or whatever. He’s just making that stuff cooler with his spin, and I think that’s really admirable, and he’s kind of set the trend now.

Everybody’s trying to do stuff like that, and I really respect that he did it before everyone. And his business is huge. He does really big activations with those licenses, I think that’s super cool.

This weekend, Format Festival 2023 is preparing to plant its roots in Bentonville, Arkansas’ Ozark Mountains. Beginning Friday, September 22, through Sunday, September 24, three major recording artists are slated to headline, namely Leon Bridges (9/24), Alanis Morissette (9/23), and LCD Soundsystem (9/22).

Over the three days, dozens of entertainers will perform across the five performance spaces (North Of OZ, South Of Oz, Drag Me To The Disco, Next Door, and Rode House). Below, you will find the set times, which were announced by the organizer. Notable acts listed across the lineup include Modest Mouse, Poolside, Tash Sultana, Little Simz, Channel Tres, Kari Faux, Madeline Edwards, Serpentwithfeet, and Sudan Archives.

Similar to last year, in addition to the primary and secondary stages, there are also unconventional spaces on the grounds, such as forest enclaves, pavilions, barns, and speakeasies for more intimate performances. Outside of the musical performances inside the Fermentation Hall, geared toward video art programming. Featured visual artists include Jeremy Deller, Jon Rafman, and Ragnar Kjartansson x The National.

There are a limited amount tickets that are still available for Format Festival 2023. For more information, click here.

The schedule is subject to change. For an up-to-date timeline, visit the official Format Festival website.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The Uproxx 2023 Fall Travel Hot List is live! Visit here for the full experience!

The autumnal equinox is somehow already upon us, bringing us not just pumpkin-flavored everything, seas of plaid shirts, and Octoberfests – but what serious National Park travelers look forward to all year — shoulder season. Crowds are lessening; temperatures are dropping; accommodations are lowering their rates and. bonus, the leaves are turning to vibrant yellows, reds, and oranges in many of the most iconic National Parks.

Fall is an incredible time to see some of the United States’ most photographed and revered landscapes through a golden lens. As someone who has visited nearly every one of them in multiple seasons, I strongly agree on which should be highest on your fall travel priority list. I considered a few things in creating this ranking:

FALL COLORS:

Fall foliage is essential for any fall traveler, and US National Parks have much to offer. So, while not every park on this list is “known” for fall colors, many, if not all, do see foliage changes – and the top-ranking parks are in a league of their own.

CROWDS:

Shoulder season, in most destinations, automatically means fewer crowds. As National Parks have continued to explode in visitation and popularity, this is a significant consideration. Crowds contribute not just to sometimes a frustrating experience in a park but also increase accommodation costs and create situations where reservations and timed entry permits are necessary.

BEAUTY:

All National Parks are beautiful in their own way. But some stand out – crowds or not. Encountering beauty is a large part of travel – so it superseded all other considerations for some of the rankings. Now, onto the list:

10 – YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK – WYOMING

To say Yellowstone is legendary is an understatement because almost no words convey its magic. As the first National Park established in the United States (and many would argue, the world) over 150 years ago, Yellowstone’s geothermal features, abundant wildlife, incredible vistas, and hiking trails have long made it one of the most bucket-list-worthy trips one could take – and the summer crowds make that abundantly clear. With nearly one million visitors in July alone, the crowds are ever-increasing in the summer months – which is why fall is the move if you want any peace or quiet here.

WHAT TO DO:

Despite the crowds, I always visit Old Faithful to watch an eruption (with a brew on the balcony of the Old Faithful Inn) before heading to hike Fairy Falls for a great view of Grand Prismatic Spring, visiting the impressive Yellowstone Lake and West Thumb areas.

WHERE TO STAY:

There are ample accommodations in West Yellowstone, Jackson, the Teton Valley, and Gardiner, Montana – depending on which entrance you choose and what else is on your itinerary for the area.

BOTTOM LINE:

Yellowstone is the first National Park and is still just as impressive as 150 years ago. A fall visit will help those visitors looking for more solitude while viewing the impressive landscape.

9 – VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK – MINNESOTA

As one of the least visited national parks in the United States, you’re not likely to be inundated with crowds in Voyageurs National Park in any season – especially not in the short but beautiful fall season. While there isn’t much time to enjoy the changing fall foliage in this far north park, that’s what makes it such a unique experience worth any hassle.

WHAT TO DO:

The water-based park is definitely in “off-season” outside of the summer, but the solitude makes it a particularly unique fall destination for the intrepid traveler. Hike, fish, or boat during the short fall window in the park.

WHERE TO STAY:

Rent a van or an RV with RVShare and head to one of the many campgrounds that will still be operational during the fall season. Camping within the park during the early fall is possible – but note that all front and backcountry campgrounds require a boat to access.

BOTTOM LINE:

Voyageurs is a less-visited National Park that is uniquely water-based. Fall is an incredible time to visit as a self-supported, intrepid traveler looking for fall colors and a bit more of an adventure.

8 – YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK — CALIFORNIA

Is there ever a wrong time to visit Yosemite? I don’t think so, but fall is incredibly charming in this breathtaking California oasis. With fewer crowds, unique opportunities to view wildlife, striking fall foliage, and cooler temperatures, this is a great time to visit the Yosemite Valley and beyond.

WHAT TO DO:

Check out the famous Tunnel View before heading into the valley to hike, picnic, or participate in the annual clean-up event “Yosemite Face Lift,” which occurs each year in late September. Tioga and Glacier Point Road are known for incredible fall foliage and the views you can’t find anywhere but in Yosemite.

WHERE TO STAY:

You can camp in the fall within Yosemite, book a room at one of the park lodges, or head into a gateway community. I have always loved staying at Sierra Sky Ranch just outside the park boundaries in Oakhurst.

BOTTOM LINE:

Yosemite is legendary for a reason, and you won’t be disappointed any time of year. Fall is excellent for leaf peeping, lessened crowds, and lower temperatures.

7 – GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK – ARIZONA

You’ll notice a theme here, but the lessened crowds of fall are a great time to visit the “Marquee” parks in the US National Park system – like the Grand Canyon in Arizona. The storied park is a sight everyone should see at least once in their lifetime, and it’s a lot more fun to do it when thousands of others don’t surround you. Besides the consideration of crowds, the weather is much more tolerable in the fall, as summer temps can often become dangerous for hiking in the canyon.

WHAT TO DO:

Head to the South Rim for fewer crowds than the busy summer season to catch a sunrise or sunset. Hike into the canyon on Bright Angel Trail and enjoy a cocktail at the historic El Tovar.

WHERE TO STAY:

Many lodges within the park will be open into the fall season, including El Tovar and Grand Canyon Lodge – offering the opportunity for discounted rates compared to the summer season. Head to Williams and stay at Backland, a luxurious “glampground” with many amenities.

BOTTOM LINE:

Grand Canyon should be on every traveler’s list regardless of the season – but fall is great for those interested in lessened crowds and lower temperatures.

6 – GLACIER NATIONAL PARK – MONTANA

Many of the most popular parks – including Glacier National Park in Montana – have instituted vehicle reservation and permitting procedures to mitigate overcrowding within the National Park system. While the reservation systems are necessary to protect the natural beauty of this expansive park for years to come – it can be a hassle to navigate. So, if you have the flexibility, I recommend visiting Glacier in the early fall after reservation systems expire but before the jaw-dropping Going-To-The-Sun Road closes for the season (roughly September 10 to mid-October).

WHAT TO DO:

The iconic Going-To-The-Sun road generally does not close for the season until into October, so that should be the first on your to-do list. Stop at Logan Pass and hike Hidden Lake or Highline Trail before heading to Lake McDonald, St. Mary’s, or Many Glacier.

WHERE TO STAY:

Fall in Glacier is trickier, with many lodgings operating seasonally and closing shortly into October. I recommend renting a van or RV, camping in the park or nearby KOA’s, or staying in Whitefish.

BOTTOM LINE:

In my extensive US and National Park travels, nothing is as spectacular in the lower 48 states as Glacier National Park. It is inspiring in any season, but the colors, fewer crowds, and the ending of reservation systems make fall a great season in the park.

5 – ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK – COLORADO

While we don’t have the same variety of fall foliage in Colorado – where I live – as in other parts of the United States, we have something that might be even better: Aspens. The prevalent Aspen trees change quickly from green to gold for a very short period in the higher elevations of the Rocky Mountains, making a trip to see them at peak feel like you’ve been let in on a secret. The legendary park is the perfect place to get in on the leaf peepin’ action, with aspens dotting the trails around the beautiful alpine lakes and imposing mountains it is known for.

WHAT TO DO:

September is prime festival season in the gateway community of Estes Park, with Autumn Gold Festival and Elk Fest taking place in later September. While in the park, drive Trail Ridge Road for incredible views and golden colors. Emerald Lake Trail, Glacier Gorge Trail, and Alberta Falls are perennial favorites (if you have a timed entry reservation for Bear Lake Corridor) if you want to get your heart pumping.

WHERE TO STAY:

Estes Park has ample lodging available in the fall. Try the classic Stanley Hotel (maybe attend The Shining Ball in October – if you dare), or head over to the Grand Lake side and book a room at the perfectly appointed Grand Lake Lodge.

BOTTOM LINE:

Rocky Mountain National Park in the fall is a bucket list-worthy escape, with lessened crowds, golden aspens, and ample wildlife. Just remember your timed entry reservation through October 22.

4 – GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK – TENNESSEE AND NORTH CAROLINA

You may be surprised that not only is Great Smoky Mountains National Park the most visited National Park in the system but that it is by a long shot. In 2022, the park had nearly 13 million visitors – almost three times the Grand Canyon numbers, the second-highest park by visitation. And while visitors flock to this centrally located park in Tennessee and North Carolina throughout the year – fall is genuinely something special here. Known for vibrant foliage on its rolling hills – this is the move if you travel in the later months of fall.

WHAT TO DO:

Driving through the Smokies in the fall will put your jaw on the floor and maybe even a tear in your eye. The changing colors are vibrant and all-encompassing. The park experiences fall color for several weeks at varying elevations, so you’ll see some gorgeous displays whenever your fall visit commences. Head to Cades Cove or Clingmans Dome for views, and hike Mount LeConte for something more challenging.

WHERE TO STAY:

Stay in Gatlinburg, the gateway city to the park in Tennessee. There are lots of lodging options for any traveler. I’d love to go complete kitsch on my next visit and stay at Dolly Parton’s nearby Dollywood Dream More Resort & Spa.

BOTTOM LINE:

The Smokies and autumn are synonymous for a reason – and you must see it to believe. The park is easy for much of the country to visit, with many accommodations, trails, and activities nearby.

3 – GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK – WYOMING

I’ve made my love for Grand Teton National Park no secret. After visiting 59 of the 63 major US National Parks, it is still the one I return to most often, and – when pressed – I would say it is my “favorite.” While every season is magical with a Teton view, fall is extraordinary. With lessened crowds, changing leaves, crisp air, abundant wildlife, and greater ease in securing accommodations – it is always my recommended time frame for a visit.

WHAT TO DO:

Hike String Lake Loop, Taggart Lake, or Cascade Canyon. Take a scenic drive on the park road and watch the sunset over Jackson Lake. You can’t go wrong with a Teton view.

WHERE TO STAY:

Stay in a lodge at the park or in Jackson at the newly opened Mountain Modern Motel or more upscale The Cloudveil, located on the historic town square just a short walk from the iconic Million Dollar Cowboy Bar.

BOTTOM LINE:

Truthfully, I’ll never leave this park off of any “best of” National Park list. It is incredible in all seasons and truly a wonder of our world. That said, fall offers a unique experience for travelers looking for a Teton view with slightly fewer crowds.

2 – NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL PARK – WEST VIRGINIA

As the newest recipient of simply the “National Park” name and redesignation, New River Gorge National Park may not yet be on many park lovers’ radar. But it should be – especially during the fall. I have visited the park in summer and fall, and while they were both incredible, the fall foliage took this underrated park to the next level. The hiking trails, river access, and quaint towns that dot the area around the park are the perfect place for a long weekend getaway – it is also prime time for rafting the nearby Gauley River during the world-class Gauley Season rapids.

WHAT TO DO:

New River Gorge comes alive in the fall season – with incredible foliage and outdoor adventure. Gauley Season brings whitewater enthusiasts worldwide to this West Virginia park, along with the legendary “Bridge Day,” where BASE jumpers hurtle into the gorge beneath the New River Gorge Bridge and takes place on the third Saturday in October.

WHERE TO STAY:

I loved staying at River Expeditions during my fall visit. They offer many options for onsite lodging, from tents to luxury homes, along with a zip line, bar and restaurant, beautiful grounds, and guided river trips.

BOTTOM LINE:

New River Gorge is the “newest” National Park in the NPS system – but it has already proved one of the best. From fall foliage to great weather, friendly people, and heart-stopping adventure – fall here is next level.

1 – ACADIA NATIONAL PARK – MAINE

This ranking should surprise no one, and a part of me almost didn’t want to seem cliche by giving this park the top spot – but it’s known for fall for a reason y’all. There is simply nothing else like Acadia National Park in Maine during the fall months, with incredible foliage covering the small park, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, hiking trails that feel like a fairytale, and water always nearby – it is worth braving the crowds that will be with you here this (and any) fall.

WHAT TO DO:

Head up to the summit of Cadillac Mountain (with a timed entry reservation) for sunrise or sunset. Hike or bike the carriage roads, follow the Jordan Pond Path and hike the Beehive and Precipice Trails for more of an adventure.

WHERE TO STAY:

Stay in the quaint Bar Harbor in a traditional hotel, resort, or one of the many quaint bed and breakfasts. I always come back to The Elmhurst Inn.

BOTTOM LINE:

It will be crowded, but once you catch a glimpse of Acadia in the fall, you won’t even mind the traffic – it’s that enchanting.