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Chicago, Illinois fall foliage
In a typical year, fall color in the Chicago area peaks around October 22, with the best viewing from roughly October 21 to October 29.
- Typical peak
- October 22
- Best viewing
- Oct 21 – Oct 29
- Color starts
- Around Oct 10
- Leaves mostly down
- Around Nov 4
- Elevation
- 600 ft
2026 foliage season
Typical season
Peak around October 22. 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 Chicago on the foliage mapWhere to see the color around Chicago
Chicago’s color is in its parks and forest preserves. Lincoln Park follows the lakefront on the North Side, and Jackson Park has the Wooded Island on the South Side. West of the city, the Morton Arboretum has forests and collections of trees from around the world. About 90 miles southwest, Starved Rock State Park has sandstone canyons along the Illinois River.
Scenic drive
Sheridan Road runs north from the city along the lakeshore through Evanston and the North Shore suburbs, past ravines, old trees, and views of Lake Michigan.
If you arrive too early or too late
Too early? Still mostly green
Head farther north
Milwaukee, WI (81 miles away, farther north) typically peaks about 5 days earlier, and Madison, WI (122 miles away, farther north) typically peaks about 10 days earlier.
Too late? Already past peak
Nothing nearby turns later
None of the destinations we track within 150 miles of Chicago typically peaks much later.
Nearby destinations
Trees you’ll see turning
Common questions
When is peak fall foliage in Chicago?
In a typical year, fall color in the Chicago area peaks around October 22, with the best viewing from roughly October 21 to October 29. Weather can shift the timing by about a week either way.
How long does peak color last in Chicago?
Near-peak color usually holds for about 9 days. Color starts to show around October 10, and most leaves are down by about November 4.
What trees color up around Chicago?
The main fall color in this area comes from sugar maple, northern red oak, bur oak, 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.