2024 Fall Foliage Color Map: When is Peak Foliage?

Prepare for leaf-peeping season! When will the fall colors reach their peak? Find out with our 2024 fall foliage map! Plus, here’s a list of 21 great places to see autumn’s colors.

When Do Fall Leaves Change Color?

Leaves can change their color from as early as mid-September all the way through early November. Typically, the second and third week of October are the peak times, but it shifts depending on where you live and your local weather conditions.

• Foliage starts to change in the northern-tier states out West and in the Midwest by late September. By October 4, the leaves in some areas will be past their prime.
• Much of New England as well as the Pacific Northwest, will be at or near peak fall color by October 11.
• A little further south in the Blue Ridge Mountains, it looks like mid-October is your best bet.

Fall Foliage Color Map

Below is an animated map showing the progression of fall colors across the U.S. based on foliage reports from Almanac readers. Of course, past results do not necessarily indicate what will happen this year, but it should give you a fairly good idea of how fall leaves typically progress. In this depiction, yellow marks the beginning of foliage season, orange and red are peak season, and brown is past peak.

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Where Do the Fall Leaves Change Color?

Here are some of the best places to see fall foliage in the United States. Perhaps some of these destinations are near you! We welcome your tips on other great places to see fall’s colors. Please comment below.

1. Acadia National Park, Maine
2. Ozark Mountains, Arkansas
3. Adirondack and Catskill Mountains, New York
4. Traverse City, Michigan
5. Black Hills, South Dakota
6. Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia and North Carolina
7. Kancamagus Highway, White Mountains, New Hampshire
8. Pere Marquette State Park, Illinois
9. Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia
10. Jackson, Wyoming
11. Connecticut River Valley, S.E. Connecticut
12. Logan Canyon Scenic Byway, Utah
13. Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio
14. Buckhorn Lake State Park, Kentucky
15. Vogel State Park and Chattahoochee National Forest, Georgia
16. Door County, Wisconsin
17. Poconos, Pennsylvania
18. Green Mountain Byway, Vermont
19. Gatlinburg & Smoky Mountains, Tennessee
20. The Berkshires, Massachusetts
21. Taos, New Mexico

What is Fall Foliage?

“Foliage” simply refers to the leaves of a tree or plant. “Fall,” of course, refers to the Autumnal Equinox when the day length shortens (marking toward the shortest day of the year: the Winter Solstice).

“Fall foliage” is the time when the leaves start changing colors from green to beautiful shades of red, orange, and yellow. However, here are a couple of surprises:

1. Those vivid leaf colors were actually hidden underneath the green all along! As sunlight decreases and cold increases, tree growth slows, and the production of green chlorophyll in their leaves begins to slow, revealing fall leaves’ brilliant yellow, orange, and red.
2. Not all tree leaves change color. It’s “deciduous trees” (oak, birch, beech) with broad leaves that show off those gorgeous reds, yellows, oranges, and even purples.

Want to read more about fall leaves? Check out this article: Why Do Leaves Change Color?

How Weather Affects Leaf Color

Another important part of leaf-peeping is knowing the right time to go! For the best experience, not only should leaves be near their peak colors, but the weather should be agreeable, too.

• Avoid rainy, windy days, when the leaves (and you) will be soggy. Strong wind in late fall can even result in prematurely bare trees, so keep that in mind while planning.
• Some say that a lightly overcast day actually improves the colors of the leaves, making them pop against the somber skies.
• Others prefer to bask in autumn’s brilliance under blue skies and full sun—and we can’t say we blame them!

Now, you’re ready to enjoy the fall colors. Share your leaf-peeping tips in the comments!

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana. Read More from Catherine Boeckmann

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Melinda Adams (not verified)

If you're in the Black Hills in South Dakota, Spearfish Canyon in late September to early October, Spearfish Canyon is absolutely spectacular. You may even see a Mountain Goat or two near the falls. The drive through the canyon even has many pull-over spots to take stunning pictures!

Terrycloth (not verified)

1 week 3 days ago

The yellow maple turns a butter yellow almost every year in North Jersey on Nov 4-5.it isn't gradual,and is amazing that it happens in less than 48 hours.

Surya (not verified)

2 months 2 weeks ago

I strongly believe you should add Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It is way too beautiful

Anthro (not verified)

10 months 3 weeks ago

Do not travel to the Ozarks in Missouri unless dried up brown leaves from drought appeals to your taste best?
As of the 25th of Oct, rain has reached us and soon in a few days colder weather. Winds have increased. This is
kind of typical annual weather, and with early leaf falls from drought and now windy conditions, I would venture
to say Leaves will be over after this weekend, largely so in Missouri. Another disappointing season for color enthusiast,
maybe the jet stream won't dip ? Best bets in Missouri are in and around sheltered by steep hills wooded areas, low lying
and near water Hickory Canyons, probably a mix of colors like few places . but it too extremely dry

Bob Phoenix (not verified)

It just finished raining here in Southeastern Connecticut.

This Monday through Thursday October 16th through the 19th should be a great time to visit the "Quiet Corner" of Connecticut and South.
Coming in on Route 169 from Massachusetts (Southbound and off the major highway. ) will take you through Sturbridge, MA, Woodstock CT, past Thompson and North Grosvenordale, into Pomfret, which will have the best Foliage for the week. If you're antiquing or an architecture buff. these will be "must stops". If you just want foliage. keep going south and get on country Route 44 (East) to connect with historic Route 12 in Putnam.

Route 12 will take you through the small New England towns of Brooklyn, Canterbury and Lisbon. Then, continuing on rural Route 12, it will take you into Norwich, Ledyard, Gales Ferry then Groton (Where they make the Submarines.
This last leg takes you down the rural highway the runs along the east side of the Thames River and into New London.

Southern New England offers some great foliage peeking and once you are on the shore. Terrific New England Seafood.
Worcester Mass to New London Connecticut, only takes about two and a half hours to travel on the back roads via Rts. 169, Rt. 44 and Rt. 12.
It's the best way to see the Foliage and Old New England!

Then, for your ride back North, you could head over to Rhode Island and Back North on

Jill (not verified)

We just went to Acadia in Maine. I can assure you the fall foliage was underwhelming to say the least. No brilliant colors, lots of trees that had 1/2 the leaves gone and what was left was brown or drab green. Pretty disappointing for most of Maine this year due to all the rain

Donna Mac (not verified)

11 months 3 weeks ago

Brockway Mountain in Copper Harbor Michigan. Half Lake Superior and Half Trees. it is breathtaking!!

Beth (not verified)

11 months 3 weeks ago

Brown County State Park in Brown County, Indiana is unbelievably beautiful in the fall.

Maggie (not verified)

Letchworth State Park in Western New York. Basically my backyard, beautiful waterfalls and fall foliage!

BRYAN (not verified)

In reply to Letchworth State Park in… by Maggie (not verified)

LOVE THIS PARK. I LIVE IN BUFFALO AND TRY TO VISIT A FEW TIMES A YEAR.