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Washington, D.C. fall foliage
In a typical year, fall color around Washington peaks about October 31, with the best viewing from roughly October 30 to November 7.
- Typical peak
- October 31
- Best viewing
- Oct 30 – Nov 7
- Color starts
- Around Oct 19
- Leaves mostly down
- Around Nov 13
- Elevation
- 50 ft
- Color potential
- Strong
Updated
Typical season
Peak around October 31. 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 Washington on the live mapNearby destinations
- Baltimore, MDTypical peak Oct 31, about the same time. 35 miles away.
- Skyland (Shenandoah NP), VATypical peak Oct 15, 16 days earlier. 76 miles away.
- Richmond, VATypical peak Nov 2, about the same time. 97 miles away.
- Charlottesville, VATypical peak Oct 30, about the same time. 99 miles away.
- Cape May, NJTypical peak Nov 6, 6 days later. 115 miles away.
Trees you’ll see turning
Common questions
When is peak fall foliage in Washington?
In a typical year, fall color around Washington peaks about October 31, with the best viewing from roughly October 30 to November 7. Weather can shift the timing by about a week either way.
How long does peak color last in Washington?
Near-peak color usually holds for about 9 days. Color starts to show around October 19, and most leaves are down by about November 13.
What trees color up around Washington?
The main fall color in this area comes from red maple, sweetgum, tulip tree, 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.