Sep 1Dec 31
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 Lexington, Kentucky
Explore locations and scenic byways near Lexington, Kentucky.
In Lexington
1 to 2 hours
Taylorsville Lake State Park58 mi · 1 hr 13 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Peak colorMy Old Kentucky Home State Park60 mi · 1 hr 15 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorNatural Bridge State Resort Park60 mi · 1 hr 15 minPeak: Late OctoberRed River Gorge62 mi · 1 hr 19 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Peak colorDaniel Boone National Forest66 mi · 1 hr 28 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Peak colorE.P. 'Tom' Sawyer State Park68 mi · 1 hr 29 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Peak colorBernheim Arboretum and Research Forest76 mi · 1 hr 36 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorSmale Riverfront Park84 mi · 1 hr 41 minOhioPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Peak colorIroquois Park81 mi · 1 hr 45 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorJefferson Memorial Forest84 mi · 1 hr 46 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorApple Hill89 mi · 1 hr 47 minCaliforniaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorMt. Airy Forest90 mi · 1 hr 52 minOhioPeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorGreen River Lake State Park90 mi · 1 hr 52 minPeak: Late OctoberAult Park92 mi · 1 hr 54 minOhioPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Peak color
2 to 3 hours
Carter Caves State Resort Park94 mi · 2 hr 1 minPeak: Mid OctoberShawnee Lookout99 mi · 2 hr 2 minOhioPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Peak colorCumberland Falls State Park104 mi · 2 hr 5 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorDawkins Line Rail Trail105 mi · 2 hr 6 minPeak: Mid OctoberSharon Woods102 mi · 2 hr 8 minOhioPeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorOtter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area106 mi · 2 hr 14 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorClifty Falls State Park93 mi · 2 hr 27 minIndianaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Peak colorO’Bannon Woods State Park113 mi · 2 hr 31 minIndianaPeak: Late OctoberVersailles State Park120 mi · 2 hr 35 minIndianaPeak: Late OctoberShawnee State Forest108 mi · 2 hr 38 minOhioPeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorMiamisburg Mound127 mi · 2 hr 40 minOhioPeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorHoosier National Forest130 mi · 2 hr 43 minIndianaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorNorris Dam State Park150 mi · 2 hr 53 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: High color
Over 3 hours
Scenic driveHocking Hills Scenic Byway180 mi · 4 hr 1 minDramatic gorges and waterfalls framed by some of the best fall colors in the Midwest.Scenic driveWoodlands Trace247 mi · 4 hr 45 minA ridge drive between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley under an autumn canopy.Scenic driveCherohala Skyway250 mi · 5 hr 4 minMile-high vistas and brilliant fall foliage in the southern Appalachian National Forests.Spring Mill State Park137 mi · 3 hr 8 minIndianaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Peak colorSharp's Ridge Memorial Park168 mi · 3 hr 16 minTennesseePeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorBrown County State Park163 mi · 3 hr 17 minIndianaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorIjams Nature Center175 mi · 3 hr 26 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorFrozen Head State Park168 mi · 3 hr 29 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorHocking Hills State Park183 mi · 4 hr 7 minOhioPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Peak colorClear Creek Metro Park180 mi · 4 hr 19 minOhioPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Peak color
Driving distance and time by road from Lexington.
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Planning Your Trip to Lexington
From Lexington you can reach 20 fall color locations and 1 scenic byways in Kentucky, for day trips that range from a one-hour hike to a full-day drive.
When to Visit
Across the destinations we track around Lexington, peak color has historically landed in Late October to Early November, measured from years of fall color records at those spots.
Highlights around Lexington
Old Frankfort Pike
Pro. by M. P. Linney Co., Lexington, KY. · Public domain
Red River Gorge
A. E. Crane, U.S. Department of Transportation · Public domain
Daniel Boone National Forest
US Forest Service - Southern Region · Public domain
Hoosier National Forest
Huw Williams (Huwmanbeing) · Public domain
How we know when Lexington 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.