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Fall Foliage Viewing 2024 Coast to Coast

Get ready to leaf through the season's best colors coast-to-coast from early September to later November.

With cool, crisp mornings turning into warm afternoons, just make sure you :

• dress in layers

• bring a small first-aid kit, along with plenty of snacks, fruit juice or water for fall foliage hiking

• ...pack the camera!

Ready? We hit the road In New England, where the State o' Maine provides the earliest viewing of the season beginning in early September. Meanwhile, October provides prime-time leaf peeping in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont - and all of it awesomely beautiful.

Then again, New York also boasts Autumn scenery that's second-to-none...

Colder mountainous regions like the western Rockys and the eastern Adirondacks see the first of the
year's fall foliage in September followed by the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and western Plains in October.
Most of California and the deep South enjoy peak fall foliage in early November.

...and then there's New Jersey and its Garden State reputation for some of the best scenic drives on the East coast - followed closely by the Pennsylvania Pocono Region and Maryland with its scenic fall wonders. By the way, if you're in the area don't overlook the big fall spectacular in little Delaware.

In the South, be sure to explore the Shenandoah National Park in Ol' Virginia following Skyline Drive through the park for a spectacular fall overview.

Further south, the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina is a 105-mile drive filled with color. In Tennessee, the Cades Cove Loop Road and Newfound Gap Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park also inspires family outings by the carload each year. Note: leave early in the morning to avoid the crowds.

In the Midwest, some of the best fall foliage can be viewed in Minnesota by traveling the "Rainbow Routes" along Lake Superior north of Duluth, and along the Mississippi River from Red Wing to LaCrescent. Door County is also a popular destination in Wisconsin. Otherwise, in Missouri you can't beat the Ozarks for a blaze of color in mid-October.

Out West, sunny California blazes golden yellow in October along scenic routes in Yosemite National Park. Or trip lightly through Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado and - if you have a few days - seriously consider not missing Maroon Bells in Aspen...

Did we mention the Pacific Northwest? Seattle is a good home base for exploring the fall foliage spectacular in Washington State, with Wenatchee a popular favorite for weekend drives, and don't miss an opportunity to cruise the Loop in the Northern Cascades.

Heading south to Oregon, take the drive along the Historic Columbia River Highway for more breathtaking Autumn color.

How to ID Fall Foliage

Meanwhile, here are the names of common forest trees, with examples of their leaves decked out in autumn colors, to help identify fall foliage you'll encounter along the way:

US Fall Foliage Quick Links

Fall Foliage Photo Tutorials

More about photographing fall foliage around the Web:

5 Tips for Better Fall Foliage Photos

Fall Foliage Photography Tips