10 Fun Fall Date Ideas for Couples
When my husband, Perry, and I first moved to South Carolina, it was just the two of us in a brand‑new city, starting a new season of life. It was scary, exciting, and everything in between. We quickly learned that in our new city fall activities are taken very seriously. Fall festivals abound, and the countryside is full of apple orchards and pumpkin patches.
Even with all the options at our fingertips, we still struggled to view our weekend adventures as dates when we spent every day together. Maybe your life looks similar. Whether you both work full time and spend evenings together, or you are engulfed in parenthood and struggle to find the time and energy to connect, being intentional about continuing to date your spouse helps build oneness.
Why dating your spouse matters
Dating your spouse can feel silly sometimes because you’re already married. So, why the need to date? Because dating your spouse brings a playful intentionality meant to take you out of the mundane routines. It’s incredibly valuable in every season of life and God speaks on the beauty of laughter in relationships (Psalm 126:2) and how both spouses seeking God, and then one another, bear fruit (John 15:5).
Perry and I now have a young son and not a lot of family nearby. Our version of “dating” each other often looks like watching a show together or playing a game after our son goes to bed. We have more one‑on‑one dates when our families visit and we can get out of the house by ourselves. If you are in a similar situation, it’s important to soak up every opportunity you can to let your focus be only on one another.
With this list of fun fall date ideas, the planning comes easily. Get the babysitter, put it on the calendar, and allow yourself to look forward to time between just the two of you.
10 fun fall date ideas for couples
Wanting to pursue your spouse this fall, but need some help being intentional about it? Here are 10 fun fall date ideas to get you started.
1. Plan an afternoon at an apple orchard or pumpkin patch.
Look at the calendar to see what weekends are available for you and your spouse. Fall is such a short season of the year, you want to make sure you check all the fun fall date ideas off the list. Depending on how far the drive is, ask each other some of these questions to get the conversations flowing.
2. Find a pretty spot in town and watch the sunset together.
With the weather usually being cool enough in the evening, grab your blanket, pick up a sweet treat and a warm drink, and take in the views together. Bring a card or board game to play while you wait for the sunset.
3. Pick a scenic hike and get outside.
Whether you live somewhere flat or are surrounded by mountains, there is beauty all around you to explore. Find a hiking or walking trail nearby and take in the color of the changing leaves and the uniqueness of the landscape where you live. You can play games along the hike like picking a leaf color and seeing who can find the most.
4. Have a campfire and s’mores.
Whether you have your own firepit, want to visit a local park with one, or just want to make oven s’mores, make this an excuse to dive deeper as a couple. Unsure of what to talk about, we’ve got you covered.
5. Get your taste buds ready for some coffee shop hopping.
If you are anything like me, you love all the fall flavors local coffee shops offer this time of year. Create a list of coffee shops nearby with categories to rank and spend a Saturday morning out and about. You’ll be well caffeinated, which hopefully brings meaningful (and sometimes silly) conversations.
6. Plan your own movie marathon at home.
Are you in a season that makes it harder to get out for a date night? Gather a list of all the fall‑inspired movies (“You’ve Got Mail,” “Remember the Titans,” “Planes, Trains, & Automobiles,” etc.) and begin checking them off your list.
7. Visit your local farmer’s market or fall festival.
On Saturday and/or Sunday mornings, many towns host farmer’s markets or fall festivals. This is a fun fall date idea because not only do you get to support local businesses, but you get to spend the morning together.
8. Go to a corn maze.
Want more quality time together? Nothing says quality like solving a corn maze map together. This is a great time of year to plan a visit. Depending on how popular it is, you may want to book your tickets ahead of time.
9. Go to or watch a local, college, or NFL football game together.
This time of the year is full of football, football, football in many households (including mine). Whether you go to a local football game in your town, visit your favorite college team’s stadium, or even make it to an NFL game, soak up this fun fall date idea just the two of you.
10. Sit on the back porch and talk and pray about your future.
Oftentimes, in the busyness of life we don’t slow down enough. We get in our routines and even with an occasional date night, we don’t talk about the future. We don’t know each other’s hopes and dreams for marriage and for family. Take time to truly listen to one another as you share and pray together at the end.
Fun fall date ideas don’t have to be overly complicated or cause stress in your marriage. They can instead bring laughter, playfulness, and connection in the best way possible. Even if you don’t get to all of these this fall, keep the ideas to help build memories in the future.
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Brooke Wilson is a content writer, editor, and digital designer for FamilyLife. She serves remotely in Greenville, South Carolina. She and her husband, Perry, have an adorable little guy named Parker. You’ll often find her at a coffee shop with a friend or on a hike, bringing their chocolate lab, Willow, along for the adventure.