Leaf-peeping season is almost here. Here's where to catch peak fall colors
Here is everything you need to know to plan your fall foliage trip, including expected peak timing and some of the best places to see the fall colors.
FILE: Colorful comeback for Beech Mountain fall leaf-peeping season
Fall colors are in full swing for Beech Mountain, North Carolina along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
THE TAKEAWAY
- Now is the time to get ready for leaf-peeping season, with fall foliage starting as early as September.
- The timing of leaf-peeping season is largely influenced by elevation and location.
- The Southern Appalachians are home to one of the longest leaf-peeping seasons in the country.
Fall is almost here, and that means peeping season is right around the corner.
TIRED OF THE HEAT? HERE'S WHEN OLD FARMER'S ALMANAC SAYS COOLER WEATHER WILL ARRIVE
Not the kind of peeping you might be thinking of — we’re talking about leaf-peeping season, when forests across the country transform into breathtaking patches of red, orange and yellow.
It’s the perfect time to plan a scenic adventure and catch the leaves at or near their peak.
Scenic Railroad is seen during colorful fall foliage in New Hampshire, United States.
(Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Whether you’re planning a getaway to New England, the Great Smoky Mountains or a weekend adventure closer to home, here is everything you need to know to plan your fall foliage trip, including expected peak timing and some of the best places to see the fall colors.
Fall foliage forecast
In a typical year, fall foliage begins to emerge in late September across the northern states, while higher elevations can see peak color from October into early November.
But temperatures, rainfall, cold fronts and other weather conditions can all influence when leaves begin to change and those factors can shift peak foliage by several days or even weeks from one year to the next.
A maple tree displays colorful yellow-orange fall leaf colors October 26, 2024 on a residential front lawn in Charlotte, Vermont.
(Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images)
Northeast
The Northeast is typically one of the first regions in the U.S. to reach peak fall colors.
Some of the most popular leaf-peeping destinations can be found in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, where expansive forests create some of the country's most spectacular autumn displays.
Visitors leaf peeping at Jordan Pond in Acadia National Park.
(Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images)
According to the Farmer's Almanac, foliage timing in Maine has remained relatively consistent for decades. The leaves typically begin changing in late September and can remain vibrant through mid to late October, giving visitors plenty of time to take in the scenery.
FALL LEAF-PEEPING SEASON MARKS TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY'S BEECH MOUNTAIN
In New Hampshire, leaf-peeping season typically runs from late September through mid-October. The colors begin emerging in the Great North Woods before spreading through the White Mountains and toward the Monadnock Region.
The Farmer's Almanac notes the Kancamagus Highway as one of the best drives for fall colors.
An aerial view of colorful fall foliage in Vermont.
(Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images / Getty Images)
In Vermont, foliage typically begins changing in late September and continues into mid-October. The Green Mountain National Forest and Route 100 are among the top destinations for viewing vibrant colored leaves.
Mid-Atlantic
After New England reaches peak color, the leaf-peeping season typically marches south through the Mid-Atlantic.
New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia are some of the region's top destinations for fall foliage.
WHY IS THE PUMPKIN A SYMBOL OF FALL AND HALLOWEEN?
Fall foliage in full color is seen in New York City's Central Park during sunset, as vibrant red, orange, and yellow leaves blanket the park against the Manhattan skyline in the United States on November 13, 2025.
( Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images / Getty Images)
In New York, the season usually starts in the Adirondacks in late September before spreading southward throughout October. In some years, colorful foliage can linger into early November.
Pennsylvania typically sees its first fall colors in northern forests and higher elevations in late September. The changing colors then spread across the state throughout October.
Trees at the peak of Fall color are seen in the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.
(KAREN BLEIER/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)
In Virginia, peak foliage generally arrives later, with leaves beginning to change in mid-October and the best displays continuing through the end of the month.
HERE ARE 10 CRYSTAL-CLEAR LAKES IN THE US YOU'LL WANT TO DIVE INTO
Great Lakes and Midwest
Across the Great Lakes and Midwest, fall foliage typically begins in October, although the timing varies considerably from state to state.
In Michigan, the first major displays typically appear in the Upper Peninsula in late September before spreading into the Lower Peninsula in early October.
General views of fall colors on October in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
(AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images / Getty Images)
Wisconsin can see peak color in the northern part of the state in late September, followed by central Wisconsin in mid-October. The Farmer's Almanac highlights Door County and the Northwoods as some of the state's best destinations for viewing fall foliage.
In Minnesota, the season typically begins in the northern part of the state in late September before the colors gradually move south throughout October.
WHY FALL SHOULD ACTUALLY BEGIN ON SEPTEMBER 1
General views of fall colors along the lakeshore of Pickerel Lake in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
(AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images / Getty Images)
Southern Appalachians
The Southern Appalachians are home to one of the longest leaf-peeping seasons in the country, giving visitors and residents an extended window to experience the region's spectacular fall colors.
TRAVELING FOR FALL FOLIAGE? HERE'S WHERE YOU SHOULD GO AND WHEN
In the Great Smoky Mountains, the highest elevations typically begin changing in early October. The color then descends toward lower elevations through late October and into early November.
Views of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are seen in Tennessee, United States.
(Patrick Gorski/NurPhoto via Getty Images / Getty Images)
In Tennessee, fall foliage typically begins appearing in late September and continues through October. Middle and West Tennessee often see their best displays from late October into early November.
10 OF AMERICA'S HIDDEN GEM SPOTS YOU CAN'T MISS THIS SUMMER
In North Carolina, fall color begins at the highest elevations in late September before spreading through the Blue Ridge Mountains during October and into early November.
Popular destinations include the Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville and Grandfather Mountain.
Fall leaves are seen at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are seen in Tennessee.
(Patrick Gorski/NurPhoto via Getty Images / Getty Images)
West
In the West, the timing of leaf-peeping season is largely influenced by elevation and location.
In Colorado, peak fall color generally arrives from mid-September through mid-October, with higher elevations changing first. Popular destinations include Maroon Bells and the Million Dollar Highway.
FALL DRIVING WARNING: WET LEAVES CAN BE AS SLIPPERY AS ICE
Fall colors start peaking on Kenosha Pass in Park County, Colorado on Friday, September 20, 2024. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
In Utah, fall colors typically begin appearing in mid-September and continue through October. Scenic destinations such as Logan Canyon Scenic Byway, Mirror Lake Highway and Mount Nebo Loop offer some of the state's best views.
THIS EAST COAST STATE RANKS SECOND AMONG TOP 10 BEST US STATES TO LIVE IN
October is an ideal time to see fall colors in Oregon, which is known for its vibrant autumn displays.
In Washington, fall foliage generally develops throughout September and October. Mountain larches turn first, while lower-elevation maples reach their brightest colors later.
Multnomah Falls in autumn, Columbia River Gorge. Oregon, United States of America.
(Craig Tuttle/Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group via Getty Images / Getty Images)
No matter where you live, the best part of leaf-peeping season is that the show doesn't happen all at once.
WHY DEER HUNTING SEASON HAPPENS IN THE FALL
As temperatures cool, the colors move across the country, giving fall foliage fans weeks of opportunities to hit the road and capture mother nature's beauty.