Foliage map › Destinations › Virginia › Richmond
Richmond, Virginia fall foliage
In a typical year, fall color in the Richmond area peaks around November 2, with the best viewing from roughly October 31 to November 8.
- Typical peak
- November 2
- Best viewing
- Oct 31 – Nov 8
- Color starts
- Around Oct 21
- Leaves mostly down
- Around Nov 15
- Elevation
- 170 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 Richmond on the foliage mapWhere to see the color around Richmond
Richmond sits at the falls of the James River, where the river runs over rapids right through the city. The James River Park System follows the river with trails, islands, and Belle Isle, connected by a footbridge. Hollywood Cemetery sits on a bluff above the river, and Libby Hill Park has the view of the river bend said to have given Richmond its name. Maymont has old trees and gardens on the bluffs.
Scenic drive
Virginia Route 5 runs east from Richmond along the James River toward Williamsburg, through woods and farmland past historic plantations, a designated Virginia Byway.
If you arrive too early or too late
Too early? Still mostly green
Head higher
Skyland (Shenandoah NP), VA (89 miles away, higher up) typically peaks about 17 days earlier.
Too late? Already past peak
Try these nearby
Ocean City, MD (139 miles away, farther north) typically peaks about 5 days later.
Nearby destinations
- Charlottesville, VATypical peak Oct 30, 3 days earlier. 66 miles away.
- Skyland (Shenandoah NP), VATypical peak Oct 15, 17 days earlier. 89 miles away.
- Washington, DCTypical peak Oct 31, about the same time. 97 miles away.
- Baltimore, MDTypical peak Oct 31, 2 days earlier. 129 miles away.
- Roanoke, VATypical peak Oct 29, 3 days earlier. 139 miles away.
Trees you’ll see turning
Common questions
When is peak fall foliage in Richmond?
In a typical year, fall color in the Richmond area peaks around November 2, with the best viewing from roughly October 31 to November 8. Weather can shift the timing by about a week either way.
How long does peak color last in Richmond?
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.
Is Richmond early or late compared with the rest of Virginia?
Richmond typically peaks about 6 days later than the Virginia average of Oct 26. It ranks 5 of 5 Virginia destinations from earliest to latest.
What trees color up around Richmond?
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.