The predicted color stage on the selected date, modelled from years of fall color records. A forecast, not a live observation.When each area's color is predicted to peak this season. The date doesn't change this view.

Fall foliage near Fort Payne, Alabama

Explore locations and scenic byways near Fort Payne, Alabama.

2 to 3 hours

Scenic driveCherohala Skyway124 mi · 2 hr 46 minMile-high vistas and brilliant fall foliage in the southern Appalachian National Forests.Georgia Highway 19784 mi · 2 hr 4 minGeorgiaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: High colorFort Mountain State Park101 mi · 2 hr 16 minGeorgiaPeak: Early NovemberCullman County100 mi · 2 hr 22 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorPrentice Cooper State Forest62 mi · 2 hr 25 minTennesseePeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorCheaha State Park98 mi · 2 hr 27 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorChattahoochee Nature Center105 mi · 2 hr 29 minGeorgiaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorOak Mountain State Park (Pelham)116 mi · 2 hr 30 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorFall Creek Falls State Park114 mi · 2 hr 36 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorAmicalola Falls State Park108 mi · 2 hr 43 minGeorgiaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorBlue Ridge Scenic Railway113 mi · 2 hr 45 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorGibbs Gardens108 mi · 2 hr 45 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorCherohala Skyway124 mi · 2 hr 46 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorJoe Wheeler State Park128 mi · 3 hrPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate color

Over 3 hours

Scenic driveRussell-Brasstown National Scenic Byway136 mi · 3 hr 12 minA Georgia route for catching the southward shift of fall color in the Chattahoochee National Forest.Scenic driveWoodlands Trace240 mi · 4 hr 44 minA ridge drive between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley under an autumn canopy.Bankhead National Forest126 mi · 3 hr 1 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorLong Hunter State Park153 mi · 3 hr 4 minTennesseePeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Peak colorNashville Area (Radnor Lake, Percy Warner Park, Harpeth River)157 mi · 3 hr 9 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorRadnor Lake State Park160 mi · 3 hr 14 minTennesseePeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorSharp's Ridge Memorial Park161 mi · 3 hr 15 minTennesseePeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorIjams Nature Center164 mi · 3 hr 18 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorCherokee145 mi · 3 hr 22 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorFrozen Head State Park156 mi · 3 hr 22 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorBlood Mountain149 mi · 3 hr 28 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorVogel State Park147 mi · 3 hr 28 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorHarpeth River State Park177 mi · 3 hr 29 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorRussell-Brasstown Scenic Byway147 mi · 3 hr 31 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorBeaman Park175 mi · 3 hr 36 minTennesseePeak: Early NovemberStatus: High colorSeven Islands State Birding Park178 mi · 3 hr 37 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorCane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve159 mi · 3 hr 39 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorBrasstown Bald153 mi · 3 hr 43 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorNorris Dam State Park166 mi · 3 hr 44 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorNatchez Trace Parkway169 mi · 3 hr 46 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorMontgomery Bell State Park196 mi · 3 hr 56 minTennesseePeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorTallulah Gorge State Park195 mi · 4 hr 8 minGeorgiaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorGatlinburg & Pigeon Forge201 mi · 4 hr 8 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorTishomingo State Park183 mi · 4 hr 10 minMississippiPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorGreat Smoky Mountains National Park208 mi · 4 hr 23 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberBlack Rock Mountain State Park184 mi · 4 hr 31 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorGreat Smoky Mountains National Park (Cades Cove, Newfound Gap, Kuwohi)215 mi · 4 hr 36 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Peak colorOconee County & Sumter National Forest230 mi · 4 hr 59 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate color

Driving distance and time by road from Fort Payne.

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Planning Your Trip to Fort Payne

From Fort Payne you can reach 12 fall color locations and 0 scenic byways in Alabama, for day trips that range from a one-hour hike to a full-day drive.

When to Visit

Across the destinations we track around Fort Payne, peak color has historically landed in Late October to Early November, measured from years of fall color records at those spots.

Highlights around Fort Payne

How we know when Fort Payne peaks

Each date above comes from years of fall color records at that specific spot, checked against what observers on the ground saw — not a regional average wearing a local name. Where a location has no usable observations of its own, we withhold the date and point you somewhere nearby that does.