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By Amanda Greenwood

Associate News Editor

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Americans planning a fall road trip or scenic hike can get an early look at when autumn colors are expected to peak across the country.

The Old Farmer's Almanac has released its 2026 Fall Foliage Map, showing when the leaves are expected to reach their most vibrant colors in each state. The map allows users to track the progression of autumn from the northern forests in late September to the southern regions that typically see peak color in November.

Fall foliage attracts millions of visitors each year and provides an economic boost for tourism-dependent communities, particularly across New England, the Great Lakes and Appalachian regions. The timing and intensity of autumn color depend largely on weather conditions, including temperature, rainfall and sunshine.

Read More on Weather

The Almanac's 2026 forecast suggests much of the U.S. will experience a drier-than-average fall, while temperatures are expected to be warmer across much of the nation's interior and cooler along parts of the East and West Coasts.

Although seasonal conditions vary by region, the Almanac said foliage is expected to arrive on a fairly typical schedule across most of the country this year.

When Leaf Colors Are Expected to Peak

The first signs of peak color are expected in northern New England and parts of the Rocky Mountains during mid-to-late September.

Vermont's northern regions are forecast to peak between September 24 and October 10, while parts of New Hampshire, New Mexico and New York could also see their brightest colors beginning in late September. Maine's inland regions and northern Michigan are expected to reach peak foliage during the first half of October.

By early to mid-October, the autumn color wave is expected to spread across much of the Midwest and Northeast, including Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Several states, including Colorado, Wyoming and Utah, are also forecast to experience peak color during this period.

The second half of October is expected to bring peak conditions to much of the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, including Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi.

For residents of the Deep South, the wait will be longer. Louisiana, Texas and Florida are among the states projected to reach peak foliage between November 2 and November 11.

State-by-State Peak Foliage Dates

According to the Farmers' Almanac foliage forecast, peak color is expected during the following periods:

• Alabama: October 19 to November 4
• Arizona: October 5 to October 21
• Arkansas: October 19 to November 4 (Ozarks: October 12 to October 28)
• California: October 15 to October 31
• Colorado: October 5 to October 14
• Connecticut: October 12 to October 28
• Delaware: October 19 to November 4
• Florida: November 2 to November 11
• Georgia: October 19 to November 4
• Idaho: October 5 to October 21
• Illinois: October 5 to October 21 (north), October 12 to October 28 (south)
• Indiana: October 5 to October 21 (north), October 12 to October 28 (south)
• Iowa: October 5 to October 21
• Kansas: October 5 to October 21 (north), October 12 to October 28 (south)
• Kentucky: October 5 to October 21 (east), October 12 to October 28 (west)
• Louisiana: November 2 to November 11
• Maine: October 1 to October 17 (inland), October 5 to October 21 (coast)
• Maryland: October 12 to October 28 (inland), October 19 to November 4 (coast)
• Massachusetts: October 5 to October 21 (inland), October 12 to October 28 (coast)
• Michigan: October 1 to October 17 (north), October 5 to October 21 (south)
• Minnesota: October 1 to October 17 (north), October 5 to October 21 (south)
• Mississippi: October 19 to November 4
• Missouri: October 5 to October 21 (north), October 12 to October 28 (south)
• Montana: September 28 to October 9 (central), October 5 to October 21 (west)
• Nebraska: October 5 to October 21
• Nevada: October 12 to October 28
• New Hampshire: September 28 to October 9 (inland), October 5 to October 21 (coast)
• New Jersey: October 12 to October 28 (inland), October 19 to November 4 (coast)
• New Mexico: September 28 to October 9
• New York: September 28 to October 28, depending on elevation and location
• North Carolina: October 12 to October 28 (inland), October 19 to November 4 (coast)
• North Dakota: October 5 to October 21
• Ohio: October 5 to October 21
• Oklahoma: October 26 to November 4
• Oregon: October 12 to October 28
• Pennsylvania: October 5 to October 21
• Rhode Island: October 12 to October 28
• South Carolina: October 19 to November 4
• South Dakota: October 5 to October 21
• Tennessee: October 12 to October 28
• Texas: November 2 to November 11
• Utah: October 5 to October 21
• Vermont: September 24 to October 10 (north), October 5 to October 14 (south)
• Virginia: October 12 to October 28 (inland), October 19 to November 4 (coast)
• Washington: October 12 to October 28
• West Virginia: October 5 to October 21
• Wisconsin: October 5 to October 14
• Wyoming: October 5 to October 14

While when to see the actual peak colors can shift depending on short-term weather conditions, the forecast offers a general timeline for when Americans are most likely to catch forests, mountain ranges, and parks at their most colorful.

For those hoping to plan a getaway to see the foliage themselves, monitor local weather forecasts as the season approaches, as an early frost, drought, or unusually warm temperatures can influence both the timing and vibrancy of fall colors.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: John Fitzpatrick and Sam Wilson.

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