Foliage map › Destinations › Maine › Portland
Portland, Maine fall foliage
In a typical year, fall color in the Portland area peaks around October 19, with the best viewing from roughly October 18 to October 26.
- Typical peak
- October 19
- Best viewing
- Oct 18 – Oct 26
- Color starts
- Around Oct 7
- Leaves mostly down
- Around Nov 1
- Elevation
- 60 ft
2026 foliage season
Typical season
Peak around October 19. Turn on JavaScript to see today’s estimated status and the five-week outlook.
The season at a glance
Bar height shows how good the viewing typically is on each day, from September 1 through November 30. Colors show the stage, from green through peak red to bare.
Open Portland on the foliage mapWhere to see the color around Portland
Portland sits on a peninsula in Casco Bay, and its color comes late, after most of inland Maine has passed peak. The Eastern Promenade looks out over the bay and its islands, and the Back Cove Trail loops about 3.5 miles around the cove with views of the city. Deering Oaks and Baxter Woods add old trees close to downtown. Just south in Cape Elizabeth, Fort Williams Park surrounds Portland Head Light on its rocky point.
Scenic drive
Shore Road runs south from South Portland through Cape Elizabeth to Fort Williams Park and Portland Head Light, and Route 77 continues to Two Lights State Park on the open ocean. Inland, US 302 heads northwest to Sebago Lake, the deepest lake in Maine, ringed by woods.
If you arrive too early or too late
Too early? Still mostly green
Head higher
North Conway, NH (51 miles away) typically peaks about 9 days earlier, and Jackson, NH (57 miles away, higher up) typically peaks about 11 days earlier.
Too late? Already past peak
Head farther south
Boston, MA (99 miles away, farther south) typically peaks about 5 days later, and Hyannis (Cape Cod), MA (139 miles away, farther south) typically peaks about 9 days later.
Nearby destinations
- Portsmouth, NHTypical peak Oct 21, 2 days later. 48 miles away.
- North Conway, NHTypical peak Oct 10, 9 days earlier. 51 miles away.
- Jackson, NHTypical peak Oct 8, 11 days earlier. 57 miles away.
- Bethel, METypical peak Oct 8, 11 days earlier. 58 miles away.
- Camden, METypical peak Oct 16, 3 days earlier. 70 miles away.
Trees you’ll see turning
Common questions
When is peak fall foliage in Portland?
In a typical year, fall color in the Portland area peaks around October 19, with the best viewing from roughly October 18 to October 26. Weather can shift the timing by about a week either way.
How long does peak color last in Portland?
Near-peak color usually holds for about 9 days. Color starts to show around October 7, and most leaves are down by about November 1.
Is Portland early or late compared with the rest of Maine?
Portland typically peaks about 10 days later than the Maine average of Oct 9. It ranks 7 of 7 Maine destinations from earliest to latest.
What trees color up around Portland?
The main fall color in this area comes from red maple, paper birch, northern red oak, and sugar maple. See the leaf guide to identify them.
Estimates come from the Leaves.com model of typical years, based on latitude, elevation, and distance from large bodies of water. They are not live observations. How it works.