Just like leaves, fall doesn’t fall uniformly—it comes down in stages, and that’s great news for autumn lovers. No matter where you live, there’s plenty of color and enough adventure to keep you busy. You can look at leaves in cities and state parks, behold them beside highways and health spas, and pay homage from horseback and hilltop.
Pick a destination close by or one out of town for something new. And if you’re really into watching the annual Appalachian chlorophyll crashout, pack the car for a three-week, four-state road trip. Remember, nothing gold can stay, so make this brief and memorable season count.
SEVEN SPRINGS MOUNTAIN RESORT
PENNSYLVANIA
The Laurel Highlands are some of the earliest peaks to turn in the Keystone State. The ridges surrounding Seven Springs glow with brilliant scarlet maples, golden birches, and orange beeches. Mornings bring valley fog.
Seven Springs Mountain Resort is a year-round destination, and fall is a great time to make it a home base for the Laurel Highlands’ many outdoor activities. Within a 30-minute drive, visitors can come down off the mountain and make their way to Ohiopyle and Laurel Hill state parks and the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater as well as another of his homes, Kentuck Knob, are just a few miles from Ohiopyle. Both look particularly stylish dressed in color.
The resort has plenty of rooms, activities, and a spa, and there are many rental properties available on the mountain, too. In addition, October brings the annual Autumnfest, and visitors will enjoy activities like craft vendors, live entertainment, chairlift rides, and an alpine slide.
Best Dates
October 3–18
Distance from
Pittsburgh, PA 70 mi, 1.5 hrs
Washington, D.C. 190 mi, 3.5 hrs
Columbus, OH 190 mi, 3.5 hrs
Charlotte, NC 470 mi, 7.5 hrs
Pike Knob Preserve Photographed by Van Slider
PENDLETON COUNTY
WEST VIRGINIA
The high ridges of Pendleton County reach peak color in the first half of October. Expect to see red and sugar maples in scarlet, orange, and gold; oaks in burgundy; and beech, hickories, and tulip trees in vivid yellow. Framed by deep coniferous greens, the Monongahela National Forest creates one of West Virginia’s most stunning displays of autumn color.
If you’re up for it, hike the trail to the top of Seneca Rocks. Better yet, let the horses at Yokum’s Stables do the walking. For goodies, Harper’s Old Country Store sits on the corner of U.S. Route 33.
Head south and up to Spruce Knob to peep what the highest point in West Virginia has to offer. For the bold and brazen, a trip to NRocks will offer an incredible view of Pendleton County color from the Via Ferrata—if you’ve got the pebbles to look down.
Best Dates
October 8–15
Photographed by Matt Brant
Distance from
Pittsburgh, PA 135 mi, 3 hrs
Washington, D.C. 140 mi, 3 hrs
Columbus, OH 250 mi, 4.5 hrs
Charlotte, NC 330 mi, 6 hrs
ALLEGANY COUNTY
MARYLAND
Welcome to Maryland high country. Look for golds and russets on the ridges as you cross the rocky gaps, with flashes of crimson and evergreen. Keep an eye out for smoke and steam, too, as the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad’s Frostburg Flyer chugs from Cumberland to Frostburg on a 3.5-hour, 32-mile round trip. The Flyer was named one of USA Today’s 10 best scenic train rides and is a great way to experience these parts in the fall. Spend 90 minutes exploring the town of Frostburg, with a complimentary weekend shuttle. Then re-board for the return trip down the mountain, with the valley spread out before you.
Rocky Gap State Park and Green Ridge State Forest offer excellent hiking, and the Great Allegheny Passage is a nationally recognized rail-trail. Enjoy historic architecture, boutique shops, cafes, and breweries in Cumberland, or just take a drive on the Historic National Road. Stop at Dan’s Rock Overlook, a high point in Allegany County with sweeping mountain vistas, and the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park, which is devoted to “the Grand Old Ditch,” aka the C&O Canal.
Best Dates
October 15–20
Distance from
Pittsburgh, PA 135 mi, 2.5 hrs
Washington, D.C. 140 mi, 2.5 hrs
Columbus, OH 250 mi, 4 hrs
Charlotte, NC 430 mi, 6.75 hrs
Photographed by Erin Cowden Photography
BATH COUNTY
VIRGINIA
The highlands of Virginia reach peak color in early October. Bath County comes alive with fiery scarlet maples, golden hickories, glowing tulip poplars, and bronze oaks.
This is a mellow destination. The Omni Homestead Resort and Spa in Hot Springs is a luxury mountain resort—the oldest in the U.S.—known for its fine accommodations, dining, golf, and the very reason for its existence: the springs. Travelers to Bath County have been taking the waters since the 1700s, including the famous 98-degree Warm Springs Pools, where Thomas Jefferson once bobbed about. The historic bathhouses have been restored and are in use today.
For a quieter stay, look to The Inn at Grist Mill Square in Warm Springs. This boutique inn and the Waterwheel Restaurant offer historic charm and a farm-to-table experience. Music lovers, the Garth Newel Music Center pairs world-class chamber music with fine dining in a mountain setting. And outdoorsy types should note that the Cowpasture River is one of Virginia’s cleanest. What goes well with fall color? Fall trout.
Best Dates
October 5–15
Distance from
Pittsburgh, PA 235 mi, 4.5 hrs
Washington, D.C. 205 mi, 3.75 hrs
Columbus, OH 315 mi, 5.5 hrs
Charlotte, NC 240 mi, 4.5 hrs
Photographed by Kyle Yates Photography
HIGHLAND COUNTY
VIRGINIA
Mid-October blankets the ridges and valleys of Highland County, Virginia, with painted brilliance, and it’s one of the earliest spots in the state to reach peak color. Thanks to the diversity of the Eastern deciduous forest, the hues run rampant throughout the season—look early for deep purple dogwoods and maroon-colored black gums to kick off the foliage fireworks.
Plan to stop at Claire’s Cakes & Cafe for breakfast or lunch and snag artisanal baked goods, too. The Curly Maple can cook up a hearty meal in its restored general store location, or you can maximize road time with a grab-and-go snack. And if pulled pork is your preference, pick Bluegrass Mercantile. Best of all—the Hands and Harvest Festival lands October 9–11 to celebrate the season. Explore working farms and follow a countywide Harvest Trail, enjoy local arts and crafts—including live entertainment and artist demonstrations—and taste all the seasonal foods. (Suggestion: Get a maple sugar fix at Sugar Tree County Store!)
Best Dates
October 10–20
Distance from
Pittsburgh, PA 205 mi, 4 hrs
Washington, D.C. 200 mi, 3.5 hrs
Columbus, OH 300 mi, 5.5 hrs
Charlotte, NC 300 mi, 5 hrs
Photographed by Mark Moody | Mon Media
TUCKER COUNTY
WEST VIRGINIA
Fall kicks off with a bang in Tucker County, West Virginia, and it’s one of the most colorful displays in the central Appalachians thanks to a mix of high-elevation hardwood forests, red spruce, peat bogs, and river valleys. Add in the burgundy blueberry barrens of Dolly Sods, and you’ll find an unmatched color spectrum.
The towns of Thomas and Davis are autumn hot spots. The Leaf Peepers Festival is an annual small-town tradition with a big following. Visitors can stop and see Blackwater Falls State Park, then eat at the Purple Fiddle, Sirianni’s Pizza, or Hellbender Burritos and sip the finest West Virginia ales at Mountain State Brewing Company, Big Timber Logging Camp, or Stumptown Ales. In Canaan Valley State Park, walk along the Blackwater River or take a scenic chairlift ride for an awe-inspiring view.
Best Dates
October 3–12
Distance from
Pittsburgh, PA 165 mi, 3 hrs
Washington, D.C. 170 mi, 3.5 hrs
Columbus, OH 250 mi, 5 hrs
Charlotte, NC 340 mi, 6 hrs
Stocksnap from Pixabay
The Science of Autumn
What drives the brilliant shifts in autumn leaves? It all comes down to weather, water, and timing.
The Perfect Recipe
Warm, wet springs Grow healthy leaves.
Mild summers Maintain tree strength.
Sunny autumn days Boost red sugars.
Cool, crisp nights Lock in vibrant pigments.
The Color Spoilers
Drought scorches and browns leaves, and they drop early.
Heavy rain Dulls colors, triggering mold and early leaf fall.
Early frost Kills leaves instantly, ending the season.
Check out state forestry agencies for current leaf-peeping conditions. Reports are written by foresters in the field and updated weekly during foliage season.
