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
Source: gatorinsc / Getty Images
Alabama
> Best location: Little River Canyon
> Peak color: Late October to early November
> State foliage hotline: 334-242-4169
See all stories featuring: Alabama
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Source: Daxis/ Flickr
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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Source: equigini / Getty Images
Arizona
> Best location: Oak Creek Canyon
> Peak color: Early to mid October
> State foliage hotline: 334-242-4169
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Source: tomofbluesprings / Getty Images
Arkansas
> Best location: Ozark National Forest
> Peak color: Late October to early November
> State foliage hotline: 800-NATURAL
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Source: Mr. Leeds/ Flickr
California
> Best location: Gold Lake Highway, Plumas County
> Peak color: Mid to late October
> State foliage hotline: 800-354-4595
Source: SeanXu / Getty Images
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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Source: Public Domain/ Wikimedia Commons
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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Source: jimfeng / Getty Images
Florida
> Best location: Falling Waters State Park
> Peak color: November
> State foliage hotline: 888-735-2872
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
Georgia
> Best location: Tallulah Gorge State Park
> Peak color: Early to mid November
> State foliage hotline: 800-864-7275
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Source: Public Domain/ Wikimedia Commons
Idaho
> Best location: Selkirk Loop
> Peak color: Early to Mid October
> State foliage hotline: 800-847-4843
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Source: benkrut / Getty Images
Illinois
> Best location: Starved Rock State Park
> Peak color: Mid to late October
> State foliage hotline: 800-2CONNECT
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Source: Kenneth_Keifer / Getty Images
Indiana
> Best location: Brown County State Park
> Peak color: Early to mid October
> State foliage hotline: 800-289-6646
See all stories featuring: Indiana
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Source: Jimmy Emerson, DVM/ Flickr
Iowa
> Best location: Driftless Area Scenic Byway
> Peak color: Mid October
> State foliage hotline: 515-233-4110
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Source: Jimmy Emerson, DVM/ Flickr
Kansas
> Best location: Glacial Hills Scenic Byway
> Peak color: October
> State foliage hotline: 913-296-2009
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Source: Thomas Dwyer/ Flickr
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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Source: Frank Ezelle/ Flickr
Louisiana
> Best location: Jimmie Davis State Park
> Peak color: Late October to early November
> State foliage hotline: 800-677-4082
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Maine
> Best location: Baxter State Park
> Peak color: Early to mid October
> State foliage hotline: 888-MAINE-45
See all stories featuring: Maine
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Source: blightylad-infocus / Getty Images
Maryland
> Best location: Brookside Gardens
> Peak color: Late October to early November
> State foliage hotline: 800-LEAVES-1
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Massachusetts
> Best location: Mohawk Trail
> Peak color: Early to mid October
> State foliage hotline: 800-227-MASS
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Source: bitsorf/ Flickr
Michigan
> Best location: Gold Coast
> Peak color: Late September to mid October
> State foliage hotline: 800-644-3255
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Source: jimkruger / Getty Images
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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Source: Eifel Kreutz / Getty Images
Missouri
> Best location: Table Rock Lake State Park
> Peak color: Mid October
> State foliage hotline: 573-751-4115
See all stories featuring: Missouri
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Source: Tony Webster/ Flickr
Mississippi
> Best location: Homochitto National Forest
> Peak color: Late October to mid November
> State foliage hotline: 866-733-6477
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Source: Dean_Fikar / Getty Images
Montana
> Best location: Glacier National Park
> Peak color: Late September to mid October
> State foliage hotline: 800-847-4868
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Source: Ali Eminov/ Flickr
Nebraska
> Best location: Ponca State Park
> Peak color: Mid to late October
> State foliage hotline: 888-444-1867
See all stories featuring: Nebraska
Source: Travel Nevada/ Flickr
Nevada
> Best location: Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway
> Peak color: Mid to late October
> State foliage hotline: 800-NEVADA-8
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
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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Source: tbabasade / Getty Images
New Jersey
> Best location: Palisades Interstate Park
> Peak color: Mid October to early November
> State foliage hotline: 800-VISIT-NJ
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Source: Elisa.rolle/ Wikimedia Commons
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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Source: Chris Ford/ Flickr
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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Source: jaredkay / Getty Images
North Carolina
> Best location: Blue Ridge Parkway
> Peak color: Mid October to early November
> State foliage hotline: 800-VISIT-NC
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Source: Pembina Gorge State Recreation Area/ Facebook
North Dakota
> Best location: Pembina Gorge
> Peak color: Early to mid October
> State foliage hotline: 800-435-5663
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Source: Ron and Patty Thomas / Getty Images
Ohio
> Best location: Hocking Hills State Park
> Peak color: Mid to late October
> State foliage hotline: 800-BUCKEYE
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Source: Tamara Harding / Getty Images
Oklahoma
> Best location: Talimena Scenic Byway
> Peak color: Late October to early November
> State foliage hotline: N/A
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Source: DaveAlan / Getty Images
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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Source: kickstand / Getty Images
Rhode Island
> Best location: Roger Williams Park
> Peak color: Mid to late October
> State foliage hotline: 800-556-2484
See all stories featuring: Rhode Island
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Source: formulanone/ Flickr
South Carolina
> Best location: Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway
> Peak color: Late October
> State foliage hotline: 803-734-0124
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Source: Ali Eminov/ Flickr
South Dakota
> Best location: Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway
> Peak color: Early to mid October
> State foliage hotline: 800-732-5682
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Source: tonda / Getty Images
Tennessee
> Best location: Newfound Gap Road
> Peak color: Late October to late November
> State foliage hotline: 800-697-4200
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Source: Richard McMillin / Getty Images
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
See all stories featuring: Utah
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Source: Szoki Adams/ Flickr
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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Source: OGphoto / Getty Images
Virginia
> Best location: Skyline Drive
> Peak color: Mid October to early November
> State foliage hotline: 800-434-LEAF
See all stories featuring: Virginia
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Source: turcottes78/ Flickr
Washington
> Best location: White Pass Scenic Byway
> Peak color: Late September to mid October
> State foliage hotline: 800-354-4595
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Source: tristanbnz / Getty Images
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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Source: Photo Phiend/ Flickr
Wisconsin
> Best location: Whitefish Dunes State Park
> Peak color: Early to mid October
> State foliage hotline: 800-432-TRIP
See all stories featuring: Wisconsin
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Source: Tim Lumley/ Flickr
Wyoming
> Best location: Beartooth Highway
> Peak color: Early to mid October
> State foliage hotline: 800-225-5996
See all stories featuring: Wyoming
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