Travelers searching for their next autumn getaway are finding Allegany County, the Mountain Side of Maryland, near the top of the list this year. Mountain Maryland was recently named the No. 2 Best Place to Visit for Fall in the United States in the 2026 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. The recognition marks the county’s fourth consecutive nomination in the national competition and moves Allegany County up from its No. 3 finish in 2024.
Ashli Workman, Director of Tourism for Allegany County Tourism, says the ranking showcases something larger about the community and the growing confidence surrounding it.
“I think for so long, we’ve gotten stuck in the mentality of what we’ve lost or what we don’t have,” Workman said. “There has been a shift in our community, a real renaissance and a new generation of people with an opportunity-focused mindset.”
This new mentality is becoming increasingly visible to both Allegany County residents and visitors. Before the public votes in the USA TODAY 10Best competition, destinations must make the first cut. A panel of travel experts and USA TODAY 10Best editors selects the initial nominees, and readers then vote. For 2026, Allegany County was one of 20 destinations chosen to compete and ultimately finished second behind Mackinac Island, Michigan. For Workman, earning a place among those initial nominees carries its own significance, proving that national travel experts are becoming increasingly familiar with Mountain Maryland and see it as competitive alongside destinations across the country. The public vote is yet another measure of how strongly visitors, businesses, and residents are willing to rally around the place.
