8 Best Places to See Fall Foliage in the USA 2024 (Best Time)

Fall Foliage Forecast 2024 in the USA

The following list provides the probable dates for peak fall color in each state in the USA.

You can also head to SmokyMountains.com to see The 2024 Fall Foliage Prediction Map which will help you figure out when the changing leaves are patchy at best, have peaked, or are past their peak.

How to Save Money for Your Fall Foliage Journey？

If you want to book hotels for your fall foliage journey, Sign up at Extrabux first，(What is Extrabux?) , then book through Booking.com, Orbitz.com, Expedia, Travelocity & Trip.com, So you can enjoy up to 6.5% cashback from Extrabux! Sign-Up Bonus: Free to join it & get $20 welcome bonus!

If you need to rent a car , book at Dollar Rent A Car, Europcar, Avis, Thrifty, Hertz, Sixt Rent A Car，you can also get up to 8% cashback from Extrabux!

Best Places to See Fall Foliage in USA 2024

1. Upper Peninsula, Michigan

Best Time to Go: Mid-September to mid-October

Seven million acres of tree coverage, the pristine shores of three Great Lakes, picturesque historic lighthouses, mirror-calm inland lakes, and roaring waterfalls make Upper Peninsula, Michigan a fall getaway no other U.S. destination can match. Also, USA Today’s 10Best named the Upper Peninsula as the 2024 Best Destination for Fall Foliage.

Upper Peninsula, Michigan fall colors will peak during the last two weeks of September and the first week of October. A favorite fall experience for leaf peepers is the drive on M-26 along the shores of Lake Roland and past the trees of Copper Country State Forest.

2. Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Best Time to Go: Mid-October to Early November

Autumn in Gatlinburg is a special time of year. Set against the backdrop of mountains painted with brilliant fall color, Gatlinburg is consistently recognized as one of the top places to see fall foliage in the United States.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is 1.7 miles away, some 100 species of native tree live in there, the vast majority of which are deciduous. The kaleidoscope of fall colors in the Smoky Mountains is magnificent and varied because of the amazing diversity of trees. The fall color display usually reaches peak at mid and lower elevations between mid-October and early November. This is the park's most spectacular display as it includes such colorful trees as sugar maple, scarlet oak, sweetgum, red maple, and the hickories. You can witness the Great Smoky Mountains turn into a sea of yellow, orange, and red.

3. Stowe, Vermont

Best Time to Go: Mid-September to mid-October

Vermont's fall foliage is world-renowned for its beauty and richness of color, particularly in the Green Mountains. Their state is among the most heavily forested in the U.S., and maple trees make up significant pieces of their woods, so from early September through late October，when their leaves begin to turn from green to red, orange and yellow, the landscapes become breathtaking works of art.

For the best leaf-peeping, make the drive along the Green Mountain Byway between the towns of Waterbury and Stowe. Mount Mansfield, the state’s highest peak, sits along the way.

4. The Catskills, New York

Best Time to Go: Mid-September to End of October

 Peak fall foliage varies in New York State, but the Catskills’ fall foliage generally peaks around early-to-mid October. The Catskills are a year-round destination, but it’s also one of the best places to see fall colors. Whether you find your viewpoint from atop a mountain or in a car, one thing is for sure—the fall colors will take your breath away.

If you’re looking for things to do this fall in the Great Northern Catskills, consider visiting Hull-O Farms for their annual corn maze and pumpkin picking, go on a craft beer tour at local breweries, and hit the trails for some spectular fall hiking to see the changing colors.

5. Ozark Mountain Region, Arkansas
Best Time to Go: Late October to early November

If you have more availability in late October and even early November, a trip to see foliage in the Ozarks is ideal. A variety of different tree species, including maple, hickory, sycamore and oak, paint the landscape of the Arkansas Ozarks in warm fall colors.

Another lovely place to visit is the Ozark National Forest. Ozark National Forest has more than 1.2 million acres of spectacular scenery. During October, fall foliage is at its peak, and you can find yourself strolling through the beautiful fall hues of gold, orange, and red.

6. White Mountains, New Hampshire

Best Time to Go: Late September to Early/Mid October

There are few places in the entire world where fall is so spectacular and each year, New Hampshire draws millions of visitors to see the color show.  New Hampshire's White Mountains recently ranked among the 10 best destinations for fall foliage in America by USA Today readers.  Peak foliage typically occurs up here in the White Mountains from the end of September through the second week of October.  Even after leaves reach their peak in a certain area, the colors can hang on for a week or two.

One of the best places to take it all in is along the 34-mile Kancamagus Highway as it cuts through White Mountain National Forest.

7. Laurel Highlands, Pennsylvania

Best Time to Go: Late September to mid-October.

The Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania are Heaven on Earth for fall foliage lovers. Recently USA Today recently ranked it the #3 place in the entire United States to view fall foliage.

Fall foliage in the Laurel Highlands usually peaks in mid-October,  Go for a drive along Laurel Highlands Scenic Byway with a stop to see Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater framed by colorful leaves, or take a scenic hike in Ohiopyle State Park.

8. Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina

Best Time to Go: Mid-October to Early November

The fall foliage show in the mountains and foothills surrounding Asheville in western North Carolina brings a kaleidoscope of leaf colors for many weeks. Tens of thousands of people will visit the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina to see the beautiful Fall foliage and Fall colors each year.

Blue Ridge has one of the longest autumn color seasons in the country, thanks to many 6,000-foot peaks (highest in the eastern USA), deep valleys, and varying microclimates. Fall colors begin at the highest elevations in early October and work their way down to the lower elevations in early November.

Extrabux is an international cashback shopping site, offering up to 30% cashback from 10,000+ Stores!

Booking.com, Ripley's Aquarium, Marriott, Pontins, Trip.com, Ripley's Myrtle Beach, The Brehon, ebookers, Away Resorts, Gleneagle Hotel, Agoda, Extended Stay America, Worldwide Insure, Malmaison, Scotts Hotel, Priceline, Zafiro Hotels UK, TurnKey Vacation Rentals, Discovery Cove, etc.

Join to get $20 welcome bonus now! (How does Welcome Bonus work?)