Outdoors

Here's When Fall Foliage Colors Are Predicted to Peak in Your State


Family at the airport terminal
Carl Unger
Aerial view of fall foliage in Main

    Autumn is many travelers' favorite season of the year. Moderate temperatures, fun seasonal activities, pumpkin-flavored everything, and, of course, the foliage that makes fall a great season for road trips and weekend getaways. But, timing these excursions to coincide with "peak" fall foliage is always tricky, and this year looks to be trending later than usual in some areas.

    Related: The 7 Best U.S. Cities and Towns to See Fall Foliage

    AccuWeather predicts a mild autumn, with the warmer temperatures likely to delay foliage displays in popular leaf-peeping destinations. When they do arrive, however, they predict a riot of color in the Northeast, Great Lakes and the mid-Mississippi Valley regions.

    Map of the United States showing the difference from average seasonal temperatures for each region for fall 2022
    AccuWeather

    Related: The 10 Best American Small Towns to Visit This Fall

    NewEngland.com shares a similar outlook, citing the drought experienced this past summer by areas of the Northeast as a contributing factor to the later foliage in the area. Similarly, higher temperatures in the Southeast may cause a slight delay. 

    SmokyMountains.com offers an interactive foliage map of the United States, showing when fall colors are predicted to peak in your region. Peak time across the country overall seems to be set firmly in mid-October for 2022, depending on the area you're looking to visit.

    Carol McPherson contributed to this article.