The arrival of autumn means a return to leaf peeping.
Explore Fall's interactive map allows users to view an updated color report and uncover peak timing for destinations across the country.
Users can view the entire U.S. mainland and pinpoint their ideal leaf peeping destinations based on current conditions or peak color estimates or search a specific place to uncover the current hue status and the best time to see the most colors.
"Two primary factors control the timing of fall foliage: daylight and temperature. This means that the further north and the higher in elevation a tree is, the earlier it will reveal its colorful canopy," according to Explore Fall.
Read on to get a better idea of when you can expect peak fall colors in your specific travel region.
New England
Scenic New England is perennially one of the first regions to see changing colors and 2026 will be no different, as travelers will notice seasonal foliage by the start of October, with colors peaking in Vermont's Green Mountains and New Hampshire's White Mountains early in the month.
The same timetable goes for northern Maine.
By mid-October, all three states, along with tourist sites like The Berkshires in western Massachusetts, will reach peak, with states to the south needing a couple more weeks. By Halloween, cities like Portland, Boston and Hartford will be at or nearing peak fall foliage.
Fall colors in Brattleboro, Vermont (Photo Credit: Patrick Clarke)
Mid-Atlantic
Places throughout Upstate New York will see fall colors peak in the first couple weeks of October, while the vast majority of the Mid-Atlantic, including Pennsylvania, West Virginia and northwestern Virginia, will see peak fall foliage in late October.
States like Maryland and New Jersey will see colors changing throughout October, with visuals peaking around Halloween and early November.
Southeast
In the Southwest, states like Tennessee and North Carolina will achieve peak timing the earliest, with regions like the Great Smoky Mountains leading the way.
As travelers make their way further south into states such as South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi, peak colors aren't expected until mid to late November, just before the holidays kick off.
The Christ of the Ozarks in fall. (Photo Credit: Eureka Springs, Arksansas)
Midwest
Much of the Midwest is set to experience peak fall colors in late October in 2026, except for the northern parts of Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin, which will peak in mid-October.
Southern parts of states such as Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio likely won't see autumn hues peak until early November this year.
Great Plains
Travelers who don't want to wait for peak colors will want to consider heading to the Rocky Mountains, where higher elevations will see fall foliage peak as early as September in places like western Colorado and Wyoming as well as eastern Idaho and southern Montana.
Outside of Alaska, this swath of the Great Plains is the first to experience fall colors, making it a popular shoulder season travel destination for leaf peepers sticking to the Lower 48.
Southwest
Areas of California where it's possible to see changing colors most likely won't see peak fall foliage until mid to late November, while Utah, northern Arizona and northern New Mexico will see colors reach their climax about a month earlier in October.
Popular leaf-peeping places in Texas like Guadalupe Mountains National Park won't peak until late November, according to the latest forecast.
Fall colors at Guadalupe Mountains National Park. (photo via Laurence Parent/NPS) ((photo via Laurence Parent/NPS))
Pacific Northwest
Some parts of the Pacific Northwest will experience peak fall foliage by early or mid-October, including the Cascades in western Washington and Oregon.
Much of Idaho will see plentiful colors by this point as well, which is good news for autumn visitors to scenic destinations like Coeur d'Alene.
Places like Boise and Spokane will peak by late October, while major cities such as Seattle and Portland will likely have to wait until early November for autumn foliage to reach its climax.
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