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North Carolina fall foliage
In a typical year, fall color in North Carolina peaks from about October 7 around Mount Mitchell (6,684 ft) to about November 3 around Raleigh (320 ft).
Based on a typical season
North Carolina fall foliage map
- Mostly green
- Starting to turn
- Moderate color
- Near peak
- Peak color
- Past peak
- Leaves down
Dots show the 7 North Carolina destinations we track, colored by today’s estimated stage. Select one for its forecast, or open the full foliage map to check any city or ZIP code.
Peak calendar
Bars show the typical best-viewing window for each destination. The dark mark is the typical peak. The last column shows today’s estimated status.
How fall color moves through North Carolina
North Carolina’s season is driven almost entirely by elevation, and it runs nearly a month from the highest peaks to the Piedmont. Mount Mitchell, the highest summit in the East at 6,684 feet, typically peaks around October 7. The high valleys follow in mid-October: Highlands around October 18, Blowing Rock around October 19, and Boone around October 20. Asheville, at about 2,100 feet, peaks around October 26. The Piedmont is last, with Charlotte around November 2 and Raleigh around November 3.
Best places for North Carolina fall foliage
- Mount Mitchell, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, is the highest summit east of the Mississippi and the first place in the state to peak.
- Blowing Rock is a mountain town on the Blue Ridge Parkway, near Grandfather Mountain and Moses H. Cone Memorial Park.
- Boone, home of Appalachian State University, is the hub of the High Country.
- Highlands sits on a high plateau in the state’s far southwest, near the waterfalls of the Cullasaja Gorge.
- Asheville, the largest city in the North Carolina mountains, is ringed by ridges along the Parkway.
- Charlotte and Raleigh, in the Piedmont, get their color in early November, after the mountains have gone bare.
Scenic drives
The Blue Ridge Parkway runs through the North Carolina mountains past Blowing Rock, near Mount Mitchell, and around Asheville, and is the region’s signature foliage drive; sections can close, so check its status before you go. The Cherohala Skyway crosses the mountains between Robbinsville, North Carolina, and Tellico Plains, Tennessee. Near Highlands, US 64 follows the Cullasaja Gorge toward Franklin.
Planning around elevation
In the North Carolina mountains, color moves down the slopes over several weeks. Mount Mitchell typically peaks about 19 days before Asheville, only about 20 miles away. Early in the season, look for color on the highest ridges; later, the valleys and lower slopes take over.
Visiting from early October to early November
Early October. Only the highest ground has turned. Mount Mitchell is typically at its best from about October 3 to 11, along with the highest stretches of the Blue Ridge Parkway nearby.
Mid-October. The High Country peaks. Highlands, Blowing Rock, and Boone are typically at their best from about October 14 to 24.
Late October. Come down to Asheville, typically at its best from about October 22 to 30. Across the state line, Gatlinburg, TN is at its best from about October 26 to November 3.
Early November. The Piedmont is last. Charlotte is typically at its best from about October 29 to November 6, and Raleigh from about October 30 to November 7.
Trees behind the color
National park and forest guides
Scenic drive guides
Common questions
When is peak fall foliage in North Carolina?
In a typical year, fall color in North Carolina peaks from about October 7 around Mount Mitchell (6,684 ft) to about November 3 around Raleigh (320 ft). Timing can shift by about a week in either direction depending on the weather.
Where does fall color peak first in North Carolina?
Mount Mitchell is usually first among the North Carolina destinations we track, with peak around October 7. Higher and more northern spots turn before lower and more southern ones.
Where is the latest fall color in North Carolina?
Raleigh usually peaks last, around November 3. Later color here is usually found lower down, so if you miss peak in the higher country, head toward places like Raleigh.
What trees give North Carolina its fall color?
The biggest contributors at the destinations we track include red maple, tulip tree, shagbark hickory, sourwood, sweetgum, and American beech.
Check any city or ZIP code in North Carolina.
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