What’s better than a pumpkin spice latte and unlikely to go out of fashion? Autumn foliage. Nearly every state goes through a dramatic, multicolored transformation as temperatures drop in the fall. (Here are 40 charming small towns to visit this fall.)
24/7 Tempo dug up the best spots to view fall foliage in each state –with the exception of Hawaii, where there is no discernible autumn color change — and the timeframe when you’re likely to see the colors peak. Each bioregion within a state will vary, as will year to year fluctuations based on temperature, so while there’s no way to predict the exact dates of peak foliage, many states have foliage hotlines or tourism boards that you can contact for better estimates.
Unless you live in Hawaii, there’s little reason to travel out of state to witness the colorful display of deciduous trees as they prepare to drop their leaves for winter.
Click here for the best fall foliage in every state
Alabama
> Best location: Little River Canyon
> Peak color: Late October to early November
> State foliage hotline: 334-242-4169
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Alaska
> Best location: Parks Highway through Broad Pass
> Peak color: August to late October
> State foliage hotline: Email [email protected] for more
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Arizona
> Best location: Oak Creek Canyon
> Peak color: Early to mid October
> State foliage hotline: 334-242-4169
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Arkansas
> Best location: Ozark National Forest
> Peak color: Late October to early November
> State foliage hotline: 800-NATURAL
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California
> Best location: Gold Lake Highway, Plumas County
> Peak color: Mid to late October
> State foliage hotline: 800-354-4595
Colorado
> Best location: Trail Ridge Road
> Peak color: September
> State foliage hotline: 800-COLORADO
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Connecticut
> Best location: Mohawk State Forest
> Peak color: Late September to early November
> State foliage hotline: 800-CTvisit
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Delaware
> Best location: Brandywine Valley National Scenic Byway
> Peak color: Mid October to early November
> State foliage hotline: 800-441-8846
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Florida
> Best location: Falling Waters State Park
> Peak color: November
> State foliage hotline: 888-735-2872
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Georgia
> Best location: Tallulah Gorge State Park
> Peak color: Early to mid November
> State foliage hotline: 800-864-7275
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Idaho
> Best location: Selkirk Loop
> Peak color: Early to Mid October
> State foliage hotline: 800-847-4843
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Illinois
> Best location: Starved Rock State Park
> Peak color: Mid to late October
> State foliage hotline: 800-2CONNECT
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Indiana
> Best location: Brown County State Park
> Peak color: Early to mid October
> State foliage hotline: 800-289-6646
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Iowa
> Best location: Driftless Area Scenic Byway
> Peak color: Mid October
> State foliage hotline: 515-233-4110
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Kansas
> Best location: Glacial Hills Scenic Byway
> Peak color: October
> State foliage hotline: 913-296-2009
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Kentucky
> Best location: Lake Cumberland State Resort Park
> Peak color: Late October to early November
> State foliage hotline: 800-225-8747
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Louisiana
> Best location: Jimmie Davis State Park
> Peak color: Late October to early November
> State foliage hotline: 800-677-4082
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Maine
> Best location: Baxter State Park
> Peak color: Early to mid October
> State foliage hotline: 888-MAINE-45
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Maryland
> Best location: Brookside Gardens
> Peak color: Late October to early November
> State foliage hotline: 800-LEAVES-1
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Massachusetts
> Best location: Mohawk Trail
> Peak color: Early to mid October
> State foliage hotline: 800-227-MASS
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Michigan
> Best location: Gold Coast
> Peak color: Late September to mid October
> State foliage hotline: 800-644-3255
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Minnesota
> Best location: North Shore of Lake Superior
> Peak color: Late September to mid October
> State foliage hotline: 800-657-3700
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Missouri
> Best location: Table Rock Lake State Park
> Peak color: Mid October
> State foliage hotline: 573-751-4115
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Mississippi
> Best location: Homochitto National Forest
> Peak color: Late October to mid November
> State foliage hotline: 866-733-6477
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Montana
> Best location: Glacier National Park
> Peak color: Late September to mid October
> State foliage hotline: 800-847-4868
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Nebraska
> Best location: Ponca State Park
> Peak color: Mid to late October
> State foliage hotline: 888-444-1867
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Nevada
> Best location: Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway
> Peak color: Mid to late October
> State foliage hotline: 800-NEVADA-8
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New Hampshire
> Best location: Kancamagus Highway
> Peak color: Late September to mid October
> State foliage hotline: 800-262-6660 or 800-258-3608
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New Jersey
> Best location: Palisades Interstate Park
> Peak color: Mid October to early November
> State foliage hotline: 800-VISIT-NJ
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New Mexico
> Best location: Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway
> Peak color: Mid October to early November
> State foliage hotline: 505-827-7336
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New York
> Best location: Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway
> Peak color: Late September to late October
> State foliage hotline: 800-CALL-NYS
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North Carolina
> Best location: Blue Ridge Parkway
> Peak color: Mid October to early November
> State foliage hotline: 800-VISIT-NC
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North Dakota
> Best location: Pembina Gorge
> Peak color: Early to mid October
> State foliage hotline: 800-435-5663
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Ohio
> Best location: Hocking Hills State Park
> Peak color: Mid to late October
> State foliage hotline: 800-BUCKEYE
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Oklahoma
> Best location: Talimena Scenic Byway
> Peak color: Late October to early November
> State foliage hotline: N/A
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Oregon
> Best location: Columbia River Gorge
> Peak color: Mid to late October
> State foliage hotline: 800-547-5445
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Pennsylvania
> Best location: National Longhouse Scenic Byway
> Peak color: Early to mid October
> State foliage hotline: 800-FALL-INPA
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Rhode Island
> Best location: Roger Williams Park
> Peak color: Mid to late October
> State foliage hotline: 800-556-2484
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South Carolina
> Best location: Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway
> Peak color: Late October
> State foliage hotline: 803-734-0124
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South Dakota
> Best location: Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway
> Peak color: Early to mid October
> State foliage hotline: 800-732-5682
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Tennessee
> Best location: Newfound Gap Road
> Peak color: Late October to late November
> State foliage hotline: 800-697-4200
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Texas
> Best location: Garner State Park
> Peak color: Mid to late October
> State foliage hotline: 800-792-1112
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Utah
> Best location: Alpine Scenic Loop Byway
> Peak color: September through November
> State foliage hotline: 800-200-1160
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Vermont
> Best location: Mount Mansfield Auto Toll Road
> Peak color: Late September to early October
> State foliage hotline: 800-828-3239
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Virginia
> Best location: Skyline Drive
> Peak color: Mid October to early November
> State foliage hotline: 800-434-LEAF
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Washington
> Best location: White Pass Scenic Byway
> Peak color: Late September to mid October
> State foliage hotline: 800-354-4595
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West Virginia
> Best location: Blackwater Falls State Park
> Peak color: Late September to late October
> State foliage hotline: 800-CALL-WVA
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Wisconsin
> Best location: Whitefish Dunes State Park
> Peak color: Early to mid October
> State foliage hotline: 800-432-TRIP
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Wyoming
> Best location: Beartooth Highway
> Peak color: Early to mid October
> State foliage hotline: 800-225-5996
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