Fall Color - Blue Ridge Parkway (2024)

The Blue Ridge Parkway is an immensely popular destination for trips to see the leaves change in Autumn. When planning for more than a day trip during October, it is crucial to make overnight accommodation reservations well in advance to secure lodging in areas near the Parkway.

When will the leaves be at their peak Fall color on the Blue Ridge Parkway?

During the month of October, usually mid to late month, but it depends on your elevation. Leaves will begin changing first on the highest peaks and conclude in the lower elevations.

There is no simple formula for predicting Fall color. The Parkway includes east and west facing slopes, and varies in elevation from just under 650 feet at James River in Virginia, to over 6,000 feet south of Mt. Pisgah in North Carolina.

Many visitors have been frustrated trying to go to one spot on one day in October, hoping to find the leaves in full color. A far better plan is to drive some distance along the Blue Ridge Parkway, changing elevations and north-south orientation. Anyone who does this around mid to late October will likely catch at least some sections at or very near their peak color.

Why does Fall color vary year to year?

The intensity of Fall color and time of peak color vary and are determined by complex environmental factors, as well as the genetic makeup of the plants themselves. The “best” Fall color for an area occurs during the shortening days of autumn when days are bright, sunny and cool, when nights are cool but not below freezing, and when there has been ideal rainfall. Adequate rainfall also keeps the leaves on the trees longer and enhances the color. Wet, cloudy, warm weather or exceptionally low temperatures in early fall tend to mute the much anticipated autumnal display.

What does the color look like right now?

Check out the webcams or imagery at the links below to see what the color looks like along the Blue Ridge Parkway regions:

Shenandoah National Park Region

Skyline Drive MP 0 Front Royal, VA (image updated daily)

Skyline Drive MP 36.6 Pinnacles Overlook, SNP, VA (image updated daily)

Skyline Drive MP 51Big Meadows, SNP(two images updated every 15 minutes)

Skyline Drive MP 65.5 Massanutten Resort, VA

Blue Ridge Parkway

MP 13.6 Wintergreen Resort, VA

MP 241 Bluffs Restaurant, Laurel Springs, NC

MP 280.8 Boone, NC

MP 291.8 Boone, NC (image updated daily)

MP 294 Blowing Rock, NC (image updated daily)

MP 305.1 Beech Mountain Resort, NC

MP 308.9 Banner Elk, NC

MP 317.5 Burnsville, NC

MP 355 Mt. Mitchell (weather conditions and image updated regularly)

MP 384.7 Chimney Rock, NC

MP 388.8 Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC

MP 393.6 Hendersonville area, NC

MP 408.6 Pisgah Inn, NC

MP 443.1 Waynesville, NC

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Region

MP 469.1 Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Bryson City, NC

MP 469.1 Nantahala Outdoor Center Bryson City, NC

Newfound Gap, GSMNP

Clingmans Dome, GSMNP

Ober Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg, TN

Fall Color - Blue Ridge Parkway (2024)

FAQs

What is the best time to see fall colors in Blue Ridge Parkway? ›

When will the leaves be at their peak Fall color on the Blue Ridge Parkway? During the month of October, usually mid to late month, but it depends on your elevation. Leaves will begin changing first on the highest peaks and conclude in the lower elevations.

Are the leaves changing in Blue Ridge yet? ›

The fall color changes begin at the highest elevations in late September, soon after the first calendar days of fall. Look for early color at Grandfather Mountain or at Graveyard Fields on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Are leaves changing color in North Carolina? ›

With summer transitioning into fall, North Carolina's trees will soon begin to transform into various shades of orange, yellow, red and purple. Fall foliage should begin in the upper elevation of the mountains by the end of September and then gradually spread across the state.

Is mid-October too late for fall foliage? ›

California. Peak time: Mid to late October is the best time to view fall color, starting from the higher elevations in the Shasta Cascade region down to the foothills and coast.

What is the best month to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway? ›

Things to consider when driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway

An intermediate 4x4 is a good choice of vehicle, as it's more suitable for some of the steeper inclines within the national parks. The best time to drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway is from mid-May to mid-September.

Why are leaves changing color so late this year? ›

A late spring, or a severe summer drought, can delay the onset of fall color by a few weeks. A warm period during fall will also lower the intensity of autumn colors. A warm wet spring, favorable summer weather, and warm sunny fall days with cool nights should produce the most brilliant autumn colors.

How long does it take to drive Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville to Cherokee? ›

On a clear day take the time and travel the Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville to Cherokee – approximately a three hour-drive of breathtaking beauty.

What is the most photographed spot on the Blue Ridge Parkway? ›

As an iconic spot on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Mabry Mill is one of the most popular and recognized landmarks of Virginia's Blue Ridge. Located at Milepost 176, the mill is one of the most photographed places on the parkway and offers a beautiful scene during all four seasons.

Which direction is better to drive Blue Ridge Parkway? ›

Is it better to go north or south on the Blue Ridge Parkway? Since milepost 0 is at the north end, and it's closer to more big population centers, a lot of people drive the parkway north to south. The truth, however, is that the scenery is great—and the sights identical—no matter which direction you drive.

What is the weather like in the Blue Ridge Parkway in October? ›

By October, temperatures drop, and there may be hoarfrost or light snowfall. Foliage color usually peaks in the last two weeks of October, and the leaves begin to fall in late October and early November.

Where is the best place to see the fall colors in North Carolina? ›

Fall foliage along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. Both Turchin and Reinhold agree that the Blue Ridge Parkway is ideal for checking out the vibrant fall colors. “This go-to road is touted as one of America's most scenic drives, and the highest and wildest sections of it are located in Haywood County...

What is the best time to see fall colors in Asheville, NC? ›

This rich display often starts at the highest elevation in late September and early October, gradually progressing to the lowest elevation by late October and early November. Peak season occurs around mid-October to late October.

How long do fall colors last? ›

Fall Leaves – Dates and Destinations
StatesDates
California:Oct. 15-31
Colorado:Oct. 5-14
Connecticut:Oct. 12-28
Delaware:Oct. 19-Nov. 4
44 more rows

What is the best time to see peak foliage in Shenandoah National Park? ›

Most visitors come to bask in the park's undeniable beauty show. In early October, fall colors develop above 3,500 feet. The fall color display usually reaches peak at mid and lower elevations in the third week of October.

What is the best time to see fall colors in Virginia? ›

The variety in landscape and elevation provides a long fall foliage season, starting earliest in the higher elevations and moving eastward. Fall colors generally peak sometime between October 10 and October 31; however, these dates can vary from year to year, based on factors such as temperature and rainfall.

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