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 McDowell County, North Carolina

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

1 to 2 hours

Chimney Rock State Park27 mi · 1 hr 2 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorNorth Carolina Arboretum33 mi · 1 hr 3 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorBlue Ridge Parkway33 mi · 1 hr 6 minPeak: Late OctoberCraggy Gardens38 mi · 1 hr 10 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorLinville Gorge38 mi · 1 hr 11 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorSouth Mountains State Park50 mi · 1 hr 23 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorCherokee Foothills Scenic Highway48 mi · 1 hr 23 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorJones Gap State Park49 mi · 1 hr 23 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorCaesars Head State Park51 mi · 1 hr 30 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorPisgah National Forest50 mi · 1 hr 34 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorBald Rock Heritage Preserve59 mi · 1 hr 34 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Not startedBlue Ridge Parkway56 mi · 1 hr 39 minPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorGraveyard Fields57 mi · 1 hr 40 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorBlack Balsam Knob59 mi · 1 hr 42 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorMount Mitchell State Park55 mi · 1 hr 42 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorTable Rock State Park65 mi · 1 hr 43 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorFalls Park on the Reedy66 mi · 1 hr 44 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorGrandfather Mountain58 mi · 1 hr 48 minPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorCherokee Foothills Scenic Byway75 mi · 1 hr 59 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorParis Mountain State Park65 mi · 1 hr 59 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorRoan Mountain State Park69 mi · 2 hrTennesseePeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate color

2 to 3 hours

Scenic driveCherohala Skyway115 mi · 2 hr 43 minMile-high vistas and brilliant fall foliage in the southern Appalachian National Forests.Lake Norman State Park90 mi · 2 hr 1 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorBoone & Blowing Rock71 mi · 2 hr 4 minPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorSassafras Mountain64 mi · 2 hr 7 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorCrowders Mountain State Park83 mi · 2 hr 9 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorFoothills Parkway88 mi · 2 hr 10 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorKings Mountain State Park86 mi · 2 hr 14 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorDaniel Stowe Botanical Garden106 mi · 2 hr 25 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorOconee County & Sumter National Forest89 mi · 2 hr 34 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorGreat Smoky Mountains National Park (Cades Cove, Newfound Gap, Kuwohi)94 mi · 2 hr 35 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorFreedom Park & Little Sugar Creek Greenway117 mi · 2 hr 37 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorGatlinburg & Pigeon Forge109 mi · 2 hr 45 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorBlack Rock Mountain State Park113 mi · 2 hr 49 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorGreat Smoky Mountains National Park101 mi · 2 hr 50 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberSeven Islands State Birding Park124 mi · 2 hr 55 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: High color

Over 3 hours

Scenic driveRussell-Brasstown National Scenic Byway138 mi · 3 hr 21 minA Georgia route for catching the southward shift of fall color in the Chattahoochee National Forest.Scenic driveBlue Ridge Parkway172 mi · 3 hr 52 minNicknamed "America's Favorite Drive," with high-elevation views of reds, oranges, and golds across two states.Tallulah Gorge State Park126 mi · 3 hr 6 minGeorgiaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorPilot Mountain State Park139 mi · 3 hr 8 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorSharp's Ridge Memorial Park141 mi · 3 hr 8 minTennesseePeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorIjams Nature Center141 mi · 3 hr 9 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorCherokee138 mi · 3 hr 18 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorHanging Rock State Park158 mi · 3 hr 28 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorUwharrie National Forest154 mi · 3 hr 31 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorGrayson Highlands State Park120 mi · 3 hr 34 minVirginiaPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorMorrow Mountain State Park151 mi · 3 hr 35 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Not startedNorris Dam State Park164 mi · 3 hr 37 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorBlood Mountain156 mi · 3 hr 39 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorVogel State Park153 mi · 3 hr 39 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorHungry Mother State Park168 mi · 3 hr 39 minVirginiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorBrasstown Bald143 mi · 3 hr 40 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorRussell-Brasstown Scenic Byway146 mi · 3 hr 41 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorBlue Ridge Scenic Railway158 mi · 3 hr 42 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorMabry Mill174 mi · 3 hr 44 minVirginiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorFrozen Head State Park179 mi · 4 hrTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorCherohala Skyway166 mi · 4 hr 13 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorAmicalola Falls State Park193 mi · 4 hr 29 minGeorgiaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorGibbs Gardens196 mi · 4 hr 50 minGeorgiaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate color

Driving distance and time by road from McDowell County.

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Planning Your Trip to McDowell County

From McDowell 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 McDowell County, peak color has historically landed in Late October, measured from years of fall color records at those spots.

Highlights around McDowell County

How we know when McDowell 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.