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Chicago, Illinois fall foliage
In a typical year, fall color around Chicago peaks about 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
- Color potential
- Moderate
Updated
Typical season
Peak around October 22. Turn on JavaScript to see today’s 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 live mapNearby destinations
Trees you’ll see turning
Common questions
When is peak fall foliage in Chicago?
In a typical year, fall color around Chicago peaks about 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, red maple, shagbark hickory, white oak. 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.