Lafayette in USA Today’s Best Place to Visit for Fall Contest
After placing fourth in 2024 and third in 2025, see the places Lafayette is up against for 2026 and its current progress.
Lafayette, La. – Lafayette was nominated for Best Place to Visit for Fall in USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
Lafayette is up against 20 places nationally for the title of Best Place to Visit for Fall, all of which were selected by an expert panel for their beautiful scenery, fantastic weather and wealth of seasonal activities and events, according to USA Today.
The full list of nominees:
- Allegany County, Maryland
- Aspen, Colorado
- Boone, North Carolina
- Branson, Missouri
- Burlington, Vermont
- Estes Park, Colorado
- Fayetteville, West Virginia
- Gatlinburg, Tennessee
- Greenville, South Carolina
- Knoxville, Tennessee
- Lafayette, Louisiana
- Mackinac Island, Michigan
- Rochester, New York
- San Francisco, California
- Saratoga County, New York
- Sleepy Hollow, New York
- Stillwater, Minnesota
- Stowe, Vermont
- Woodstock, Georgia
- Yakima Valley, Washington
Over the next four weeks, the public can vote for their favorite destination once per day until voting closes on Monday, Sep. 7, at 10:59 a.m.
At the time I voted on Friday, Aug. 14, at 2:30 p.m., Lafayette was ranked at #4.
Lafayette’s progress on Friday, Aug. 14
Help Lafayette secure its spot as a top fall destination by voting daily at https://10best.usatoday.com/qr/63730/.
The top 10 winners will be revealed on Wednesday, Sep. 16, at 11 a.m.
Why Lafayette?
This year marks the third consecutive year Lafayette has been nominated for USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Award for Best Place to Visit for Fall. Lafayette placed fourth in 2024 and third in 2025.
“For three consecutive years, Lafayette has earned national recognition as one of America’s best destinations to experience fall–a testament to the culture, hospitality and quality of life that make our community unique,” said Lafayette Mayor-President Monique B. Boulet.
Here’s the description of Lafayette’s nomination from the USA Today contest:
“Fall is a lively season in Lafayette. The Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Festival showcases the unique music of the region while Gulf Brew serves up over 200 types of beer each October. While the trees aren’t known for vibrant colors in Louisiana, there are plenty of other reasons to take a trip to the bayou this fall.”
Organizers share that Lafayette is proud to be recognized for its unique blend of culture, food and outdoor activities, making it an ideal destination for fall travelers.
“Fall is a great time to visit the area with many of our wonderful festivals taking place,” said President and CEO of Lafayette Travel Ben Berthelot. “We appreciate USA Today’s 10 Best for recognizing that, and we encourage everyone to vote daily so the rest of the world can know what a special place this is.”
Also explore three family-friendly neighborhoods outside Lafayette.
