THIS FALL FOLIAGE MAP PREDICTS WHEN THE LEAVES WILL CHANGE IN EVERY STATE

Ah, the fall season. There's so much to take in: the crisp air, the pumpkin-spiced everything, and of course, the fall foliage. If you're an avid leaf peeper, there's nothing quite like the trees changing into vibrant kaleidoscopes of color. But each year, exactly when the leaves change and how bright they will be changes depending on the weather.

Thankfully, there's a handy dandy interactive map from SmokyMountains.com that is updated every year where you can track the best weeks between September and November in the entire country. So if you are planning an epic scenic drive to some of the top destinations for fall foliage, now's your time to check it out!

As the site says, "While no tool can be 100% accurate, this tool is meant to help travelers better time their trips to have the best opportunity of catching peak color each year." All you have to do is slide the bar across the bottom and it will update the map by week accordingly.

And according to Accuweather, 2024 may be a little different than previous years, so you'll definitely want plan ahead. "Displays of fall foliage may emerge in regions beyond the usual hotspots that have captivated leaf-peepers in recent years." The top spots for the brightest colors? According to meteorologist Paul Paselok, "I think the best places to go are parts of the Midwest."

But if you don't happen to live in that area, don't fret. Those peak colors can reach as east as upstate New York and as southern regions of Oklahoma and Texas (take note, Drummond family!). And while there are dull pockets throughout the country, remember there's a possibility things could change depending on the weather.

Regardless of where you go, there's one tip you should follow if you're going to be a traveling leaf peeper. "Plan your trip ahead of time. Get to those places because they fill up fast," Pastelok said. So now that you have not one but two maps to follow this year, now's the time to book that adventure. Happy fall!

2024-09-06T12:04:20Z dg43tfdfdgfd