40 Best Fall Date Ideas

Publish date: 2024-08-02
1

Grab some coffee.

black couple drinking coffee from travel thermoses in a park fall date ideasLWA/Dann Tardif//Getty Images

This becomes a free fall date idea if you bring your java in a thermos from home! Link up in a nearby park and enjoy the fresh air while you sip.

2

Head to a small town.

aerial shot of lambertville new jersey in fallJoe Polillio

Adventure makes the heart grow fonder (that's how the saying goes, right?), and there's nothing more charming than strolling the streets of a new-to-you small town—especially a small town that's known for leaf peeping.

3

Hit up a hot air balloon festival.

two hot air balloons rising over beautiful natural scenery fall date ideasBusakorn Pongparnit

Fall is prime time for this totally romantic (and, okay, splurge-worthy) bucket list date idea, as hot air balloon festivals are happening in Mississippi, Tennessee, and more.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

4

Roast a chicken.

roast chicken with lemon and basil in a white enamel trayMartin Poole//Getty Images

If your relationship is ready to head to the next level it might just be time to cook up an "engagement chicken." (You know, what Meghan was roasting the night Harry proposed.) Want to put your own spin on the dish? Try one of our best chicken dinner recipes.

5

Book a cabin weekend.

small cabin in autumn woods fall date ideasShobeir Ansari//Getty Images

Get off the grid and really reconnect with a low-key cabin weekend in the woods. Cook leisurely breakfasts, play board games, and just hang out!

RELATED: Charming Cabin Rentals in the U.S.

6

Peep some leaves.

fall date ideas leaf peepingDaniel Grill//Getty Images

Are you fortunate enough to live in a place where the leaves change color? Check out a fall foliage map to figure out when the trees in your area will be looking their most vibrant, then plan a romantic drive or foliage train ride to peep those leaves.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

7

Cheer your hearts out at a football game.

fall date ideas watch a football gameNoSystem images//Getty Images

From college games to professional ones, football games are always a thrill to watch, whether you do so from a bar, a stadium, or your living room. Make your game day date even more fun by making your best tailgate food recipes.

8

Make your own apple cider donuts.

fall date ideas apple cider donutsSuzanne Tucker//Getty Images

It may be easier to just buy apple cider donuts, but it's way more fun (and satisfying) to make them yourself. Apple cider donuts are one of the best parts of fall, and there are plenty of apple cider donut recipes to help you and your date make some incredible treats of your own.

9

Ride bikes.

fall date ideas ride bikesskynesher//Getty Images

Autumn may just be the best time of year to go bike riding, and even if you don't own a bike, you can rent one pretty inexpensively from a local store. Use TrailLink to find the best bike trail near you and get pedaling!

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

10

Sip seasonal brews at a fall beer festival.

fall date ideas attend a beer festivalVladimir Vladimirov//Getty Images

Craft beer season really peaks in the fall, and you can check out BeerFests.com to find a beer festival in your area. If you're feeling creative, you and your date can even create a craft beer crawl of your own to taste a variety of seasonal brews.

11

Visit a cidery.

fall date ideas visit a cideryKanawa_Studio//Getty Images

If you and your date are more into hard cider than beer, then you should spend the day tasting different flavors at a cidery. Use CiderScene to find a cidery or cider bar near you and get ready to get your sip on.

12

Get spooked at a haunted house.

fall date ideas haunted housekali9//Getty Images

Whether you scare easily or not, a haunted house is still sure to get your heart racing. You can check out Fright Find to find the scariest haunted houses by state or simply visit one of the most haunted places in America, but make sure you and your date know what you're getting yourselves into before you step inside.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

13

Play a round of Frisbee golf.

fall date ideas frisbee golfDonNichols//Getty Images

Unlike regular golf, Frisbee golf requires little skill and far less walking around, and there's no better time of year to do it than the fall. Visit Disc Golf Course Review to see where you and boo can test out your aim.

14

Sit through a scary double feature.

fall date ideas scary double featureKlaus Vedfelt//Getty Images

Nothing gets the heart pumping quite like a horror movie double feature. Look at drive-in and old-school theaters in your area to see who's offering a deal on back-to-back scary movies (and be sure to offer your date your hand if they get too freaked).

15

Have a scary movie marathon at home.

fall date ideas watch scary movies-Sasa-Delic-SD//Getty Images

To save money (and to have the option of stopping the movie if it gets too scary), have a scary movie viewing party from the comfort of home. Check out all the scariest movies available on Netflix right now for a chilling night in.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

16

Check out an open mic night.

fall date ideas open mic nightWestend61//Getty Images

Nothing's cozier on a chilly fall night than an open mic night at a bookstore or coffee shop. Find nearby events with the help of Eventbrite, and if you're feeling bold, you can even serenade your date with a song or a reading.

17

Go Halloween costume shopping.

fall date ideas halloween costume shoppingAdolescent Content/Nhi Nguyen//Getty Images

Whether you and your date are planning a couples costume or doing your own thing, it's always more fun to get the job done together. Check out a thrift shop and add a competitive element by seeing who can put together the best costume for the least amount of money.

18

Plan a picnic.

fall date ideas picnicProstock-Studio//Getty Images

Fall weather is fabulous for al fresco dining. Pack a blanket, a bottle of wine, and lots of cheeses and bread, and you and your date can spend a leisurely afternoon snacking and chilling in a park.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

19

Attend a jack-o'-lantern festival.

fall date idea jack o lantern festivalTanja Streuber / EyeEm//Getty Images

Pumpkin patches are fun and all, but if you really want to impress your date, then you should take them to a jack-o'-lantern festival. If you can find an annual festival in your area (like New York's Great Jack-O'-Lantern Blaze), you and your date can marvel at tons of intricately carved pumpkins together.

20

Hang out on a hayride.

fall date ideas hayridebmcent1//Getty Images

Who said hayrides are just for kids? You're never too old to go for a hayride around a farm, and for a spooky Halloween twist, you can search for the best haunted hayrides available near you.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pLvUp6ursZyew6q6xmeaqKVfmru1sdGtmKKmmaO0cLOScGltamhohnCywKWjZpyRqbJutcOemKxn