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 Helen, Georgia

Explore locations and scenic byways near Helen, Georgia.

1 to 2 hours

Scenic driveCherohala Skyway70 mi · 1 hr 43 minMile-high vistas and brilliant fall foliage in the southern Appalachian National Forests.Cherokee38 mi · 1 hr 3 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorAmicalola Falls State Park49 mi · 1 hr 17 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorTallulah Gorge State Park55 mi · 1 hr 22 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorBlack Rock Mountain State Park44 mi · 1 hr 24 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorGibbs Gardens60 mi · 1 hr 40 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorCherohala Skyway68 mi · 1 hr 43 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorChattahoochee Nature Center78 mi · 1 hr 52 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorGeorgia Highway 19790 mi · 1 hr 56 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorOconee County & Sumter National Forest64 mi · 2 hrSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate color

2 to 3 hours

Tennessee Riverpark112 mi · 2 hr 34 minTennesseePeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorCherokee Foothills Scenic Byway109 mi · 2 hr 37 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorTennessee River Gorge112 mi · 2 hr 37 minTennesseePeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorStringer's Ridge Park115 mi · 2 hr 39 minTennesseePeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorGreat Smoky Mountains National Park (Cades Cove, Newfound Gap, Kuwohi)109 mi · 2 hr 43 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorTable Rock State Park116 mi · 2 hr 45 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorFalls Park on the Reedy127 mi · 2 hr 48 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorBlack Balsam Knob109 mi · 2 hr 52 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorSassafras Mountain102 mi · 2 hr 53 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorBald Rock Heritage Preserve123 mi · 2 hr 54 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Not startedCaesars Head State Park110 mi · 2 hr 54 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorGraveyard Fields110 mi · 2 hr 55 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorGreat Smoky Mountains National Park116 mi · 2 hr 58 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberPisgah National Forest111 mi · 2 hr 59 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate color

Over 3 hours

Scenic driveBlue Ridge Parkway306 mi · 6 hr 49 minNicknamed "America's Favorite Drive," with high-elevation views of reds, oranges, and golds across two states.North Carolina Arboretum123 mi · 3 hr 5 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorBiltmore Estate125 mi · 3 hr 7 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorCloudland Canyon State Park138 mi · 3 hr 8 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorJones Gap State Park132 mi · 3 hr 8 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorIjams Nature Center126 mi · 3 hr 10 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorGatlinburg & Pigeon Forge122 mi · 3 hr 12 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorSharp's Ridge Memorial Park129 mi · 3 hr 12 minTennesseePeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorParis Mountain State Park137 mi · 3 hr 19 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorFoothills Parkway138 mi · 3 hr 26 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorFall Creek Falls State Park140 mi · 3 hr 29 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorCraggy Gardens142 mi · 3 hr 32 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorCherokee Foothills Scenic Highway152 mi · 3 hr 32 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorSeven Islands State Birding Park144 mi · 3 hr 32 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorFrozen Head State Park148 mi · 3 hr 37 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorCatawba Falls145 mi · 3 hr 40 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorNorris Dam State Park153 mi · 3 hr 42 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorChimney Rock State Park137 mi · 3 hr 47 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorMount Mitchell State Park163 mi · 3 hr 55 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorBlue Ridge Parkway168 mi · 4 hr 4 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberLinville Gorge173 mi · 4 hr 9 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorKings Mountain State Park195 mi · 4 hr 12 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorPrentice Cooper State Forest141 mi · 4 hr 15 minTennesseePeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorCrowders Mountain State Park202 mi · 4 hr 17 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorSouth Mountains State Park184 mi · 4 hr 21 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorBlue Ridge Parkway191 mi · 4 hr 37 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorRoan Mountain State Park196 mi · 4 hr 39 minTennesseePeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorGrandfather Mountain193 mi · 4 hr 46 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate color

Driving distance and time by road from Helen.

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Planning Your Trip to Helen

From Helen you can reach 12 fall color locations and 1 scenic byways in Georgia, for day trips that range from a one-hour hike to a full-day drive.

When to Visit

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

Highlights around Helen

How we know when Helen 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.