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 Buncombe County, North Carolina

Explore locations and scenic byways near Buncombe County, North Carolina.

1 to 2 hours

Pisgah National Forest36 mi · 1 hr 7 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorGraveyard Fields37 mi · 1 hr 8 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorChimney Rock State Park29 mi · 1 hr 10 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorBlack Balsam Knob38 mi · 1 hr 11 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorJones Gap State Park44 mi · 1 hr 13 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorMount Mitchell State Park46 mi · 1 hr 14 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorCherokee Foothills Scenic Highway51 mi · 1 hr 14 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorCaesars Head State Park44 mi · 1 hr 18 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorBlue Ridge Parkway50 mi · 1 hr 19 minPeak: Late OctoberLinville Gorge54 mi · 1 hr 24 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorBald Rock Heritage Preserve54 mi · 1 hr 25 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Not startedTable Rock State Park60 mi · 1 hr 33 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorFalls Park on the Reedy61 mi · 1 hr 34 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorSouth Mountains State Park65 mi · 1 hr 35 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorFoothills Parkway68 mi · 1 hr 39 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorSassafras Mountain50 mi · 1 hr 40 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorCherokee Foothills Scenic Byway70 mi · 1 hr 49 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorParis Mountain State Park60 mi · 1 hr 49 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorBlue Ridge Parkway73 mi · 1 hr 52 minPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorRoan Mountain State Park79 mi · 1 hr 57 minTennesseePeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate color

2 to 3 hours

Scenic driveCherohala Skyway95 mi · 2 hr 11 minMile-high vistas and brilliant fall foliage in the southern Appalachian National Forests.Scenic driveRussell-Brasstown National Scenic Byway117 mi · 2 hr 49 minA Georgia route for catching the southward shift of fall color in the Chattahoochee National Forest.Grandfather Mountain74 mi · 2 hr 1 minPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorGreat Smoky Mountains National Park (Cades Cove, Newfound Gap, Kuwohi)73 mi · 2 hr 3 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorOconee County & Sumter National Forest75 mi · 2 hr 6 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorGatlinburg & Pigeon Forge88 mi · 2 hr 13 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorLake Norman State Park105 mi · 2 hr 14 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorCrowders Mountain State Park98 mi · 2 hr 15 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorBlack Rock Mountain State Park92 mi · 2 hr 17 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorBoone & Blowing Rock88 mi · 2 hr 17 minPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorGreat Smoky Mountains National Park80 mi · 2 hr 18 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberKings Mountain State Park101 mi · 2 hr 20 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorSeven Islands State Birding Park104 mi · 2 hr 23 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorTallulah Gorge State Park106 mi · 2 hr 34 minGeorgiaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorDaniel Stowe Botanical Garden113 mi · 2 hr 36 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorSharp's Ridge Memorial Park121 mi · 2 hr 36 minTennesseePeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorIjams Nature Center121 mi · 2 hr 37 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorCherokee117 mi · 2 hr 46 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorFreedom Park & Little Sugar Creek Greenway124 mi · 2 hr 48 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early color

Over 3 hours

Scenic driveBlue Ridge Parkway188 mi · 4 hr 4 minNicknamed "America's Favorite Drive," with high-elevation views of reds, oranges, and golds across two states.Norris Dam State Park143 mi · 3 hr 5 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorVogel State Park132 mi · 3 hr 7 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorBlood Mountain135 mi · 3 hr 8 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorBrasstown Bald123 mi · 3 hr 8 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorHungry Mother State Park148 mi · 3 hr 8 minVirginiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorRussell-Brasstown Scenic Byway125 mi · 3 hr 9 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorBlue Ridge Scenic Railway138 mi · 3 hr 10 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorPilot Mountain State Park154 mi · 3 hr 21 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorFrozen Head State Park159 mi · 3 hr 28 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorGrayson Highlands State Park143 mi · 3 hr 38 minVirginiaPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorHanging Rock State Park174 mi · 3 hr 41 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorCherohala Skyway145 mi · 3 hr 42 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorUwharrie National Forest169 mi · 3 hr 44 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorMorrow Mountain State Park167 mi · 3 hr 48 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Not startedAmicalola Falls State Park173 mi · 3 hr 57 minGeorgiaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorMabry Mill190 mi · 3 hr 57 minVirginiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorGeorgia Highway 197194 mi · 4 hr 17 minGeorgiaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorGibbs Gardens179 mi · 4 hr 23 minGeorgiaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorChattahoochee Nature Center202 mi · 4 hr 26 minGeorgiaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate color

Driving distance and time by road from Buncombe County.

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Planning Your Trip to Buncombe County

From Buncombe County you can reach 24 fall color locations and 2 scenic byways in North Carolina, for day trips that range from a one-hour hike to a full-day drive.

When to Visit

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

Highlights around Buncombe County

How we know when Buncombe County 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.