Foliage map › Destinations › Virginia › Roanoke
Roanoke, Virginia fall foliage
In a typical year, fall color in the Roanoke area peaks around October 29, with the best viewing from roughly October 28 to November 5.
- Typical peak
- October 29
- Best viewing
- Oct 28 – Nov 5
- Color starts
- Around Oct 17
- Leaves mostly down
- Around Nov 11
- Elevation
- 940 ft
2026 foliage season
Typical season
Peak around October 29. 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 Roanoke on the foliage mapWhere to see the color around Roanoke
Roanoke sits in a valley ringed by the Blue Ridge, and the Blue Ridge Parkway runs right along the edge of the city. On Mill Mountain, the overlook beneath the Mill Mountain Star looks out over the whole valley and the mountains around it, and from the Parkway, the Roanoke Mountain Loop climbs to a summit overlook of its own. West of the city, the Appalachian Trail climbs to McAfee Knob, a rock ledge jutting out over the Catawba Valley.
Scenic drive
The Blue Ridge Parkway heads northeast from Roanoke along the crest of the Blue Ridge, with overlooks on both sides, to the Peaks of Otter, where Sharp Top rises above Abbott Lake. To the south, the Parkway continues through the rolling high country toward Mabry Mill and North Carolina. Sections of the Parkway can close, so check its status before you go.
If you arrive too early or too late
Too early? Still mostly green
Head higher
Blacksburg, VA (26 miles away, higher up) typically peaks about 5 days earlier, and Snowshoe, WV (79 miles away, higher up) typically peaks about 19 days earlier.
Too late? Already past peak
Head farther south
Raleigh, NC (126 miles away, farther south) typically peaks about 5 days later.
National park and forest guide
Nearby destinations
- Blacksburg, VATypical peak Oct 24, 5 days earlier. 26 miles away.
- Snowshoe, WVTypical peak Oct 10, 19 days earlier. 79 miles away.
- Fayetteville (New River Gorge), WVTypical peak Oct 24, 5 days earlier. 83 miles away.
- Charlottesville, VATypical peak Oct 30, about the same time. 96 miles away.
- Boone, NCTypical peak Oct 20, 9 days earlier. 120 miles away.
Trees you’ll see turning
Common questions
When is peak fall foliage in Roanoke?
In a typical year, fall color in the Roanoke area peaks around October 29, with the best viewing from roughly October 28 to November 5. Weather can shift the timing by about a week either way.
How long does peak color last in Roanoke?
Near-peak color usually holds for about 9 days. Color starts to show around October 17, and most leaves are down by about November 11.
Is Roanoke early or late compared with the rest of Virginia?
Roanoke typically peaks about 3 days later than the Virginia average of Oct 26. It ranks 3 of 5 Virginia destinations from earliest to latest.
What trees color up around Roanoke?
The main fall color in this area comes from red maple, tulip tree, shagbark hickory, and black gum. 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.