Top Autumn Road Trip Destinations Around the World
Autumn might just be the most underrated season for a road trip. The air is crisp, trails are quieter, and the changing colors create landscapes you’ll remember long after the drive is done. Whether you’re climbing alpine trails, chasing waves, or throttling down endless highways, the right shades can turn a good trip into a great one. We’ve lined up four destinations around the world, each matched with a pair of VALLON sunglasses built for the journey.
1. The Dolomites, Italy – For the Heron Mountain
Few places rival the Dolomites in autumn: golden larch forests, dramatic limestone peaks, and winding passes perfect for pulling over and lacing up your boots. Hiking routes like the Tre Cime di Lavaredo are quieter this time of year, giving you a front-row seat to alpine grandeur without the summer crowds.
Heron Mountain
The Heron Mountain is your essential alpine companion. With Cat. 3 lenses to cut glare and protect against UV rays, they’re built for long days hiking ridgelines and scanning distant summits. Style meets mountain function.
2. Pacific Coast Highway, California – For the Howlin’
There’s nothing like a coastal road trip when the summer fog lifts and the cliffs of Big Sur glow in autumn light. The Pacific Coast Highway snakes along rugged oceanfront, with endless pull-offs for camping and surf checks. It’s the kind of drive that calls for sunglasses that can flex between behind-the-wheel comfort and spontaneous detours down to the beach.
Howlin’
With their rounded aviator shape and polarized VALLON V52® optics, the Howlin’ are versatile enough for driving long stretches or scrambling down to tidepools. The detachable headstrap keeps them secure if you turn the trip into a surf session.
3. Route 66, USA – For the Moto Aviators
The mother road. Route 66 remains an enduring symbol of freedom. Stretching from Chicago to Santa Monica, past neon diners, desert motels, and dusty straightaways where your bike eats up the horizon. Autumn means cooler rides and open highways, perfect for putting serious miles behind you.
Moto Aviators
Born for the open road, these 70s-inspired shades feature Z87 shatterproof lenses and an anti-reflective coating. They’re built to keep your vision sharp whether you’re riding at dawn, midday, or under glowing desert sunsets.
4. Patagonia, Argentina & Chile – For the Waylons
Patagonia in autumn is a wild frontier: burnt-orange lenga forests, jagged peaks dusted with early snow, and vast open spaces where guanacos roam. Torres del Paine or Los Glaciares National Park make for an unforgettable mix of trekking, camping, and long scenic drives between mountains and glaciers.
Waylons
The Waylons are the ultimate hybrid: polarized optics, handcrafted acetate frames, and a secure fit with the optional headstrap. Whether you’re hiking in windblown valleys or relaxing by a campfire, these sunglasses merge style with rugged practicality.
