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 Charlotte, North Carolina

Explore locations and scenic byways near Charlotte, North Carolina.

2 to 3 hours

Scenic driveBlue Ridge Parkway127 mi · 2 hr 50 minNicknamed "America's Favorite Drive," with high-elevation views of reds, oranges, and golds across two states.Pilot Mountain State Park94 mi · 2 hr 7 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorFalls Park on the Reedy104 mi · 2 hr 11 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorHanging Rock State Park111 mi · 2 hr 25 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorBoone & Blowing Rock102 mi · 2 hr 27 minPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorLinville Gorge116 mi · 2 hr 33 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorBlue Ridge Parkway116 mi · 2 hr 34 minPeak: Late OctoberJones Gap State Park116 mi · 2 hr 34 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorParis Mountain State Park104 mi · 2 hr 34 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorBlue Ridge Parkway108 mi · 2 hr 35 minPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorCatawba Falls117 mi · 2 hr 38 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorChimney Rock State Park114 mi · 2 hr 38 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorNorth Carolina Arboretum120 mi · 2 hr 39 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorBald Rock Heritage Preserve123 mi · 2 hr 40 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Not startedMabry Mill130 mi · 2 hr 43 minVirginiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorBiltmore Estate124 mi · 2 hr 47 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorGrandfather Mountain113 mi · 2 hr 47 minPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorCaesars Head State Park124 mi · 2 hr 49 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorTable Rock State Park129 mi · 2 hr 49 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorPisgah National Forest133 mi · 2 hr 57 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate color

Over 3 hours

Scenic driveCherohala Skyway209 mi · 4 hr 26 minMile-high vistas and brilliant fall foliage in the southern Appalachian National Forests.Scenic driveRussell-Brasstown National Scenic Byway211 mi · 4 hr 30 minA Georgia route for catching the southward shift of fall color in the Chattahoochee National Forest.Cherokee Foothills Scenic Byway139 mi · 3 hr 4 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorCraggy Gardens144 mi · 3 hr 5 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorMount Mitchell State Park138 mi · 3 hr 6 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorRoan Mountain State Park128 mi · 3 hr 7 minTennesseePeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorGrayson Highlands State Park138 mi · 3 hr 14 minVirginiaPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorGraveyard Fields144 mi · 3 hr 16 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorBlack Balsam Knob146 mi · 3 hr 19 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorSassafras Mountain144 mi · 3 hr 19 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorHungry Mother State Park171 mi · 3 hr 24 minVirginiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorPandapas Pond180 mi · 3 hr 34 minVirginiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorOconee County & Sumter National Forest161 mi · 3 hr 38 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorTallulah Gorge State Park189 mi · 3 hr 53 minGeorgiaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorFoothills Parkway181 mi · 3 hr 53 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorBlue Ridge Parkway182 mi · 3 hr 58 minVirginiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorBlack Rock Mountain State Park182 mi · 4 hr 9 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorGreat Smoky Mountains National Park (Cades Cove, Newfound Gap, Kuwohi)187 mi · 4 hr 17 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate color

Driving distance and time by road from Charlotte.

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Planning Your Trip to Charlotte

From Charlotte 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 Charlotte, peak color has historically landed in Early November, measured from years of fall color records at those spots.

Highlights around Charlotte

How we know when Charlotte 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.