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Things to Do in Korea in Autumn: 3 Best Road Trip Routes
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Korea's autumn — September through November — is the season when blazing foliage, silver pampas grass, and golden fields sweep across mountains, coastlines, and ancient cities.
Ask most travelers when the best time to visit South Korea is, and autumn is the answer you'll hear again and again. It's that good.
The catch, however, is that the most impressive autumn scenery isn't in the cities — it's scattered across mountain valleys, coastal ridges, and small towns that are genuinely hard to reach by public transportation.
Bus schedules are thin, the best viewpoints sit at the end of winding mountain roads, and the foliage peak shifts week by week as it rolls south.
That's exactly why a rental car changes the trip. It lets you chase the Korean fall foliage peak on your own schedule, stop wherever the view demands it, and move freely between regions a train would never connect.
This guide covers three fall drive routes by travel style, plus the practical tips you'll want for navigating Korea's most popular — and most crowded — driving season.
What Makes Fall the Best Season for a Korean Road Trip?
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Fall is widely considered the best season for a Korean road trip because the country's foliage peaks in stages from late September to early November, rolling north to south over about six weeks.
Add comfortable 15–22°C driving weather, clear skies, and thinner crowds than summer, and it's the ideal time to chase the color by car — reaching mountain parks and coastal roads that public transport barely serves.
1) Foliage Peaks & Scenic Routes
Korea's autumn color doesn't arrive all at once. It starts in late September up at Seoraksan, the country's earliest spot, and finishes in early November down at Naejangsan — drifting across the peninsula over roughly six weeks.
That slow north-to-south spread is the whole reason a car is so useful: you can follow the color as it moves rather than hoping you've timed a single destination right.
Most of the marquee foliage spots sit inside national parks or along mountain roads that are inconvenient — sometimes nearly impossible — to reach without your own wheels. And the drive itself becomes part of the experience.
Seoraksan's Jinburyeong Pass, the South Sea coastal road, Jeju's mid-mountain highway — these are destinations in their own right, not just the route to one.
2) Fewer Crowds Than Summer
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Visitor numbers drop noticeably compared to summer, and the weather is far more comfortable — especially on Jeju, around Gangneung, and along the South Sea routes. You get the scenery without the July heat or the August beach crowds.
One honest caveat: peak foliage weekends in October are among the busiest domestic travel periods in all of Korea.
Everyone has the same idea at the same time. If your schedule allows it at all, visit on a weekday — the difference in crowds (and traffic) is dramatic.
3) Perfect Driving Weather
Daytime temperatures of 15–22°C and clear, dry skies make for some of the best driving conditions of the year. Mornings and evenings are a different story, though — temperatures drop sharply once the sun's down, and mountain areas can fall to 5–10°C. Layering isn't optional.
Here's the quick picture for Seoul weather in October, your likely starting point:
How to Choose Your South Korean Fall Drive: 3 Routes
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Three routes, three completely different trips. Find the one that matches your travel style — and where you're flying in.
1) Route 1 — Seoraksan Foliage Drive: Sokcho & Yangyang
Best for: Travelers who want Korea's earliest foliage, or a classic East Coast drive.
Region: Northern Gangwon (Sokcho, Yangyang, Inje).
Pickup: Seoul Station or Gangneung Station branch.
Seoul to Sokcho is about 184 km — roughly 2.5 to 3 hours on the Seoul-Yangyang Expressway off-peak, mostly a smooth highway once you clear the city. That puts Korea's first big foliage of the season within an easy half-day's reach.
Key stops:
Seoraksan National Park — the headline. The Biryong Falls trail is a manageable walk to a dramatic waterfall, and Heundeul Rock (the famous "rocking stone") is a short, rewarding climb.
Naksansa Temple — a clifftop temple perched above the East Sea, where autumn color meets ocean views.
Surfyy Beach, Yangyang — quieter than its summer self, with better light and emptier sand in fall.
National Route 7 coastal drive — the Sokcho-to-Gangneung section is one of the prettiest stretches of coast road in the country.
Recommended duration: 2–3 days.
Recommended vehicle: sedan or SUV.
⚠️ Foliage timing: Color begins at Seoraksan in late September — earliest in Korea — but the true peak lands mid-to-late October (around October 23 in a typical year). Book your car 1–2 weeks ahead; for peak weekends, give yourself 2–3 weeks minimum.
2) Route 2 — Jeju Autumn Loop
Best for: Photography travelers, and anyone who wants Jeju in autumn without the summer crowds.
Region: Jeju Island.
Pickup: Jeju Airport (Jeju Auto House).
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Jeju in autumn trades summer's beach mobs for golden pampas grass, clear skies, and trailheads you can actually park at.
It's the most photogenic version of the island, and a car is essential — the best oreum (volcanic cones) and coastal pull-offs are spread right around the ring road.
Key stops:
Saebyeol Oreum & Ttarabi Oreum — two of the island's top pampas grass spots, silver and swaying in the autumn wind.
Hallasan National Park — the Eorimok and Yeongsil trails serve up Jeju's mountain foliage without demanding a full summit push.
Seongsan Ilchulbong — the "Sunrise Peak," and an autumn morning here, with cool air and clear skies, is hard to beat.
Jeju coastal circumference road — the loop that ties it all together, with an ocean view around nearly every bend.
Recommended duration: 3–4 days.
Recommended vehicle: EV or sedan.
⚠️ Foliage timing: Pampas grass peaks mid-to-late October; Hallasan's foliage lands around the end of the month (~October 30).
3) Route 3 — Gyeongju & Andong: Heritage & Foliage Drive
Best for: History and culture travelers — anyone who wants foliage alongside UNESCO heritage.
Region: Gyeongju → Andong (North Gyeongsang Province).
Pickup: Gyeongju Station, Gimhae Airport, or Busan Station branch.
This is the route where autumn color drapes over a thousand years of history. Gyeongju was the capital of the Silla kingdom, and its tombs, temples, and grottoes look their best framed by turning leaves.
Key stops:
Daereungwon, Gyeongju — the grassy royal tombs of Silla, especially atmospheric in low autumn light.
Bulguksa Temple & Seokguram Grotto — a UNESCO temple complex whose grounds turn brilliant shades in fall.
Hahoe Folk Village, Andong — a UNESCO World Heritage village wrapped in a bend of the Nakdong River, ringed by ancient trees.
Andong jjimdak — the local braised-chicken dish, and the perfect reward after a day of walking through heritage sites.
Recommended duration: 2–3 days.
Recommended vehicle: sedan or SUV.
⚠️ Foliage timing: Peak is mid-to-late October.
💡 Bonus extension: If you have the time, push west to Naejangsan in North Jeolla — late October to early November brings Korea's most intense foliage, including the legendary maple tunnel leading to Naejangsa Temple.
Pair it with the Damyang Metasequoia Road, a celebrated avenue of towering trees that turns golden in fall. Pick up or return at the Gwangju Songjeong or Jeonju KTX branch.
4) Which Route Is Right for You?
Flying into Incheon or Seoul? → Seoraksan foliage drive (2–3 hours from the city).
Nature and resort focus? → Jeju autumn loop.
Landing at Busan or Gimhae Airport? → Gyeongju & Andong heritage drive.
Longer trip, a week or more? → Combine Seoraksan + Gyeongju, or Jeju + the South Coast.
※ Foliage peak dates and weather are approximate and shift year to year. Check the Korea Forest Service foliage forecast or Naver's foliage map for current-season timing.
5 Practical Tips for Fall Driving in South Korea
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Autumn driving in Korea is gorgeous — and it rewards planning. Nail the timing, dodge the weekend gridlock, and pack for cold mornings, and the rest of the trip takes care of itself. Five tips:
1) Know the Foliage Calendar
The single most important thing to get right is timing — and because the peak moves south week by week, a little planning goes a long way.
Before you lock in dates, check Naver's foliage map or the Korea Forest Service foliage tracker — peak shifts a few days each year with the weather.
2) Beat the Weekend Crowds
October foliage weekends are, without exaggeration, Korea's busiest driving season. Weekday visits to Naejangsan and Seoraksan are strongly recommended, and you'll want to leave early — before 8 AM — to get ahead of the rush.
Top tip: Expect multi-hour traffic jams near major national parks on peak weekends. It's the one thing that can sour an otherwise perfect day, and it's almost entirely avoidable with a weekday trip and an early start.
3) Book Early — Fall Is Peak Season
Demand for rental cars spikes hard in autumn, so reserve well ahead. With LOTTE rent-a-car, reservations open 90 days in advance for Jeju and 120 days for all other regions — and it's worth using that window. SUVs and popular models sell out fast in October, and late October is the absolute peak, when domestic and international travel overlap.
4) Dress in Layers
Mountain-area mornings can sit at 5–10°C, while daytime highs in early October still reach around 20°C in southern regions. The trails on Seoraksan and Hallasan feel significantly colder than the coast, so layers let you adjust as the day warms and cools.
5) Parking at National Parks
Seoraksan and Naejangsan car parks fill up before midday on peak weekends. Arrive before 7 AM, or use the shuttle bus service from outlying lots. On Jeju, oreum trailhead parking is limited too — another reason an early start pays off.
Why LOTTE rent-a-car for Fall Travel?
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Chasing color across the country only works if pickup, coverage, and support are sorted. That's where LOTTE rent-a-car earns its place on a fall road trip:
Korea’s No. 1 rental car brand — with branches covering every major autumn travel hub: Seoul Station, Gangneung Station, Jeju Airport, Gimhae Airport, and Busan Station. You can pick up and drop off exactly where your route starts and ends.
Zero Excess CDW — a ₩0 deductible for international customers, so an unfamiliar mountain road doesn't have to come with financial worry. (Just add it at the time of booking.)
24-hour accident line — +82-2-1588-1230, any time, day or night.
English and Chinese support — multilingual staff and booking pages take the guesswork out of the counter.
Book direct for the best rate — the Global Special Discount and Buy Now, Pay at the pick-up are available on the official site.
One more travel tip that applies to every route above: most rental vehicles are equipped with English navigation, so you do not need to worry about finding your way in Korea. For extra convenience, we also recommend downloading Naver Map or KakaoMap before you set off, so you can use them as helpful references during your trip.
The Most Flexible Way to See Korea's Autumn
Korea's autumn connects blazing mountain valleys, silver pampas grass ridges, ancient heritage sites, and quiet coastal drives — all within reach of a single rental car.
And because the foliage peak shifts week by week as it travels south, a car is simply the most flexible way to follow the color wherever it's brightest.
With LOTTE rent-a-car's nationwide branch network, international-friendly insurance, and direct-booking benefits, you can explore Korea's most beautiful season entirely on your own terms. Book through LOTTE rent-a-car's English site and start planning your route.