CUMBERLAND — Allegany County has again been nominated by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards as one of the nation’s Best Places to Visit for Fall. The 2026 nomination marks the fourth straight year that the county has been recognized among the country’s premier fall travel destinations.
Public voting is open at 10Best.com and continues through Sept. 16. Winners will be announced in the fall.
“Receiving this recognition for the fourth consecutive year is an incredible honor and speaks to what makes Allegany County such a special place to experience autumn,” said Ashli Workman, the county’s tourism director. “From vibrant mountain landscapes and nationally recognized trails to historic downtowns, scenic train rides and unforgettable seasonal events, fall truly comes alive here. We’re proud to represent Maryland on a national stage and invite everyone to cast their vote.”
A panel of travel experts partnered with USA Today’s 10Best editors to select the initial 20 nominees, which include 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; Saratoga County, New York; Sleepy Hollow, New York; Stillwater, Minnesota; Stowe, Vermont; Woodstock, Georgia; and Yakima Valley, Washington.
USA Today’s travel editors, together with a panel of travel experts, selected 20 destinations from across the country for this year’s competition. Allegany County joins an elite group of nationally recognized fall destinations, further solidifying its reputation as one of America’s premier places to experience the season.
Workman said the nomination adds to a growing list of recent USA Today accolades for the region, including:
• Best Historic Small Town — Cumberland.
• Best Outdoor Concert Series — Levitt AMP Cumberland Music Series.
• Best Recreational Trail —Great Allegheny Passage.
• Best Scenic Train Ride — Western Maryland Scenic Railroad.
• Best Small College Town – Frostburg.
• Best Small Town Museum — Allegany Museum.
Supporters can vote once per day throughout the contest.
For more information, visit www.mdmountainside.com.