OP here, thanks all the feedback.
We are traveling with elementary school aged kids and planning to rent a house (no resort).

What’s the budget? Is the place you stay a factor, or is it just about general location?

Montreal. Great foliage on the way and won’t be that cold yet. Feels like you’re in a mix of America and Europe.

Charleston is 8 hours but an easy 8 hours. We did it last fall and really enjoyed it.

I was going to suggest New England but it’s more than 5-7 hours. The White Mountains in NH are really pretty in the fall though.

Primland offers a number of activities and is far enough away to feel like you have actually gone somewhere different.

One of the Omni resorts? Homestead might be nice. We enjoyed a trip to the Omni Bedford Springs last fall, but unless you play golf it probably wouldn't be interesting for an entire week.

Finger Lakes - Ithaca or Skaneateles.

It's a little over 7 hours, but Great Smoky Mountains is supposed to have wonderful colors by October depending on the elevation.

Hudson River Valley or the Berkshires?

We live in DMV and are looking for a place to go in October when our kids are off from school and we need to be out of our house for a reno demo.
Somewhere with nice fall foliage within 5-7 hours drive. We are pretty well travelled in the eat coast but want to brainstorm for possible new ideas.

TIA