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Virginia fall foliage
In a typical year, fall color in Virginia peaks from about October 15 around Skyland (Shenandoah NP, 3,680 ft) to about November 2 around Richmond (170 ft).
2026 foliage season
Virginia fall foliage map
- Mostly green
- Starting to turn
- Moderate color
- Near peak
- Peak color
- Past peak
- Leaves down
Dots show the 5 Virginia 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 Virginia
Virginia’s color starts on the crest of the Blue Ridge and moves downhill and east to the coastal plain. Skyland, at about 3,680 feet in Shenandoah National Park, typically peaks around October 15. Blacksburg, in the southwest highlands, follows around October 24, then Roanoke around October 29 and Charlottesville around October 30. Richmond is last, around November 2.
Scenic drives
Skyline Drive runs 105 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge through Shenandoah National Park, with dozens of overlooks. At its southern end near Waynesboro, it meets the Blue Ridge Parkway, which continues south past Roanoke toward North Carolina. Around Charlottesville, the foothills of the Blue Ridge and the surrounding wine country make for easy back-road drives.
Planning around elevation
Skyland, on Skyline Drive, sits more than 3,000 feet above Charlottesville, about 40 miles away, and typically peaks about two weeks earlier. If the valleys are still green, the ridge is where the color is.
If you miss peak
If the Blue Ridge is past peak, head down into the valleys. Roanoke and Charlottesville typically hold color to the end of October, and Richmond into early November.
Trees behind the color
National park and forest guides
Scenic drive guide
Common questions
When is peak fall foliage in Virginia?
In a typical year, fall color in Virginia peaks from about October 15 around Skyland (Shenandoah NP, 3,680 ft) to about November 2 around Richmond (170 ft). Timing can shift by about a week in either direction depending on the weather.
Where does fall color peak first in Virginia?
Skyland (Shenandoah NP) is usually first among the Virginia destinations we track, with peak around October 15. Higher and more northern spots turn before lower and more southern ones.
Where is the latest fall color in Virginia?
Richmond usually peaks last, around November 2. Later color here is usually found lower down, so if you miss peak in the higher country, head toward places like Richmond.
What trees give Virginia its fall color?
The biggest contributors at the destinations we track include red maple, tulip tree, shagbark hickory, black gum, and sweetgum.
Check any city or ZIP code in Virginia.
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