Foliage map › Destinations › Georgia › Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia fall foliage
In a typical year, fall color in the Atlanta area peaks around November 2, with the best viewing from roughly November 1 to November 9.
- Typical peak
- November 2
- Best viewing
- Nov 1 – Nov 9
- Color starts
- Around Oct 21
- Leaves mostly down
- Around Nov 15
- Elevation
- 1,050 ft
2026 foliage season
Typical season
Peak around November 2. 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 Atlanta on the foliage mapWhere to see the color around Atlanta
Atlanta is known for its tree canopy, and its color comes in early November. Piedmont Park and the Atlanta BeltLine are close to downtown, and the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area follows the river through the northern suburbs, with trails at Cochran Shoals and the Palisades. East of the city, a trail climbs the granite dome of Stone Mountain, and northwest of the city, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park has trails to the summit.
Scenic drive
GA 400 and US 19 run north from Atlanta toward Dahlonega and into the north Georgia mountains, where the color comes earlier, and on to Helen and the Russell–Brasstown Scenic Byway.
If you arrive too early or too late
Too early? Still mostly green
Head higher
Highlands, NC (113 miles away, higher up) typically peaks about 16 days earlier, and Cades Cove, TN (132 miles away, higher up) typically peaks about 6 days earlier.
Too late? Already past peak
Look for lower valleys
None of the destinations we track within 150 miles of Atlanta typically peaks much later. Lower valleys nearby are your best bet: color tends to hang on about 4 to 5 days longer for every 1,000 feet lower.
Nearby destinations
- Helen, GATypical peak Oct 30, 3 days earlier. 76 miles away.
- Mentone, ALTypical peak Oct 29, 4 days earlier. 89 miles away.
- Chattanooga, TNTypical peak Nov 2, about the same time. 104 miles away.
- Highlands, NCTypical peak Oct 18, 16 days earlier. 113 miles away.
- Cades Cove, TNTypical peak Oct 28, 6 days earlier. 132 miles away.
Trees you’ll see turning
Common questions
When is peak fall foliage in Atlanta?
In a typical year, fall color in the Atlanta area peaks around November 2, with the best viewing from roughly November 1 to November 9. Weather can shift the timing by about a week either way.
How long does peak color last in Atlanta?
Near-peak color usually holds for about 9 days. Color starts to show around October 21, and most leaves are down by about November 15.
What trees color up around Atlanta?
The main fall color in this area comes from red maple, sweetgum, tulip tree, and shagbark hickory. 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.