Best Fall Foliage Estimates in Virginia, Maryland and WVA

Finding the best fall foliage in Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia can be tricky because of the weather variables from year to year. I've found the trick is checking multiple tracking websites and reports from previous years for their estimates.

A Note on This Year's Weather and Fall Foliage Estimates

Suggested as a short box near the top, since it's the kind of thing the tracker roundups don't tell you.

One thing to keep in mind for 2026: much of northern Maryland and northern Virginia was in severe drought through the summer, with pockets of extreme drought in parts of Virginia. Drought-stressed trees tend to turn early and go brown or yellow instead of that gorgeous red and orange — it's exactly what muted Maryland's colors last fall. It doesn't mean the season is a bust, but it does mean the weekly state reports are worth more than the long-range maps this year. Check them before you commit to a drive.

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Best Fall Foliage Estimates in Virginia Websites

Virginia Department of Forestry: This is the source everyone else pulls from, and their fall foliage page is where I start every year. Their 2026 regional forecast isn't up yet — they post it in late September — but the general statewide window is October 10-31. The pattern is always the same, so you can plan around it:

1. Western Third of Virginia (the mountains): earliest, usually the first half of October
2. Central Virginia (Harrisonburg to Danville): mid to late October
3. Eastern Half of Virginia: last to turn, late October into early November

Virginia also runs a fall foliage hotline at 800-424-LOVE that goes live in late September.

Shenandoah National Park: Check their Instagram and Facebook on Thursdays for updates from 3 photo spots in the park. (Since Skyline Drive is 105 miles long from north to south, there is definitely variety in peak times!)

And you can check out their webcam at Big Meadows too!

Other Fall Foliage Estimates for Virginia

• Old Farmer's Almanac: Their 2026 foliage map puts Shenandoah's brightest color between October 10 and 20.
• SmokyMountains.com: Great foliage map of the entire US that you can zoom in on! The 2026 version is live and has a week-by-week slider.
• Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge: If you're heading further south, they're recommending October 24 through November 7for the Roanoke region in 2026, and they make a good point — color around Roanoke often develops later than the national maps predict.

Personal Recommendations on where to see the leaves in Virginia:

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Best Fall Foliage Estimates in Maryland Tracking Websites

Maryland Department of Natural Resources: Still my go-to. Their Fall Foliage Report comes out every Thursday from late September into November, with a county-by-county map (green to red) plus actual observations from foresters and park rangers around the state. It won't be live until the end of September, so bookmark it now and start checking then.

When Maryland actually peaked last year — helpful for planning, since the reports don't start until the season is underway:

More Fall Foliage Maryland Estimate Websites

1. Explore Fall: A newer one I've started using — their Maryland map has a peak timing layer so you can see when a specific park or town should turn, and it updates daily based on local reports. There's a West Virginia version too.
2. SmokeyMountains.com: Great foliage map of the entire US that you can zoom in on!
3. Visit Maryland: Great list of Maryland Fall Foliage trips!

Personal Recommendations on where to see the leaves in Maryland:

One thing I love about the DNR report: the rangers write about more than just the leaves. Last year they were pointing out mushrooms, wild walnuts, asters, and glasswort on the Eastern Shore — good stuff to send the kids looking for if the colors are running late.

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Best Fall Foliage in West Virginia Tracking

West Virginia Tourism: Big change this year — their Live Leaf Map is now updated weekly through the season instead of being a one-and-done prediction, with weekly updates starting mid-September. They also flag which areas are looking best right now and suggest things to do nearby, which is handy if you're deciding on a weekend the day before you leave. The 2026 projection has the mountain counties changing first (end of September into early October), the lower Eastern Panhandle early to mid October, much of the central part of the state mid-October, and the Northern Panhandle, the rest of the Eastern Panhandle, and the southern coalfields late October into early November.

Peak windows by area for 2026 (from West Virginia Explorer) — really useful if you're picking a destination rather than a date:WhereExpected peakDolly Sods, Spruce Knob, Canaan ValleyLate September–early OctoberBlackwater Falls, Davis, SnowshoeEarly–mid OctoberGreenbrier Valley, Coopers RockMid-OctoberNew River Gorge, Babcock, FayettevilleMid–late OctoberHarpers Ferry & Berkeley SpringsLate OctoberHarpers Ferry being a late-October spot is great news for us in the DMV — it's the closest one on this list and it peaks after Shenandoah, so you get a second chance if you miss the mountains. (Things to do in Harpers Ferry with kids here!)

Other Spots to check for Fall Foliage Estimates in West Virginia

• West Virginia Division of Forestry: Worth a look for current conditions right before you head out.
• SmokyMountains.com: Great foliage map of the entire US that you can zoom in on!

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And don't forget, DC has trees too!

1. WUSA9: Article about usual peak dates usually around November 7th.
2. Washington.org: Where to go to photograph the Fall Foliage in and around DC!
3. Where to see the leaves in DC:
   1. The National Arboretum has an incredible variety including the Bonsai Museum which also changes leaves!
   2. Rock Creek Park (of course!)
   3. Theodore Roosevelt Island
   4. Book Hill Park Georgetown
   5. Tregaron Conservancy