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 Rutherford County, North Carolina

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

1 to 2 hours

Catawba Falls27 mi · 1 hr 2 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorNorth Carolina Arboretum32 mi · 1 hr 3 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorJones Gap State Park34 mi · 1 hr 3 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorCherokee Foothills Scenic Highway41 mi · 1 hr 4 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorBiltmore Estate29 mi · 1 hr 8 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorBald Rock Heritage Preserve44 mi · 1 hr 14 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Not startedCaesars Head State Park39 mi · 1 hr 14 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorPisgah National Forest42 mi · 1 hr 21 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorTable Rock State Park50 mi · 1 hr 23 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorFalls Park on the Reedy51 mi · 1 hr 24 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorCraggy Gardens49 mi · 1 hr 35 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorCherokee Foothills Scenic Byway60 mi · 1 hr 38 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorParis Mountain State Park50 mi · 1 hr 39 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorGraveyard Fields56 mi · 1 hr 40 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorBlue Ridge Parkway54 mi · 1 hr 41 minPeak: Late OctoberBlack Balsam Knob58 mi · 1 hr 43 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorLinville Gorge59 mi · 1 hr 46 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorSassafras Mountain52 mi · 1 hr 53 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorSouth Mountains State Park71 mi · 1 hr 58 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorMount Mitchell State Park78 mi · 1 hr 59 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate color

2 to 3 hours

Scenic driveCherohala Skyway120 mi · 2 hr 50 minMile-high vistas and brilliant fall foliage in the southern Appalachian National Forests.Crowders Mountain State Park88 mi · 2 hr 5 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorKings Mountain State Park90 mi · 2 hr 10 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorBlue Ridge Parkway77 mi · 2 hr 14 minPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorFoothills Parkway93 mi · 2 hr 17 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorOconee County & Sumter National Forest81 mi · 2 hr 20 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorGrandfather Mountain79 mi · 2 hr 23 minPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorDaniel Stowe Botanical Garden103 mi · 2 hr 26 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorRoan Mountain State Park90 mi · 2 hr 36 minTennesseePeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorLake Norman State Park111 mi · 2 hr 37 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorFreedom Park & Little Sugar Creek Greenway114 mi · 2 hr 38 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorBlack Rock Mountain State Park97 mi · 2 hr 39 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorBoone & Blowing Rock93 mi · 2 hr 40 minPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorGreat Smoky Mountains National Park (Cades Cove, Newfound Gap, Kuwohi)99 mi · 2 hr 41 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorGatlinburg & Pigeon Forge114 mi · 2 hr 52 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorTallulah Gorge State Park110 mi · 2 hr 56 minGeorgiaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorGreat Smoky Mountains National Park106 mi · 2 hr 57 minTennesseePeak: Late October

Over 3 hours

Scenic driveRussell-Brasstown National Scenic Byway128 mi · 3 hr 24 minA Georgia route for catching the southward shift of fall color in the Chattahoochee National Forest.Scenic driveBlue Ridge Parkway193 mi · 4 hr 27 minNicknamed "America's Favorite Drive," with high-elevation views of reds, oranges, and golds across two states.Seven Islands State Birding Park129 mi · 3 hr 2 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorIjams Nature Center146 mi · 3 hr 15 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorSharp's Ridge Memorial Park146 mi · 3 hr 15 minTennesseePeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorCherokee143 mi · 3 hr 25 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorBrasstown Bald134 mi · 3 hr 42 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorBlood Mountain155 mi · 3 hr 43 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorNorris Dam State Park168 mi · 3 hr 43 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorPilot Mountain State Park160 mi · 3 hr 44 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorVogel State Park158 mi · 3 hr 45 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorRussell-Brasstown Scenic Byway137 mi · 3 hr 47 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorBlue Ridge Scenic Railway163 mi · 3 hr 49 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorMorrow Mountain State Park162 mi · 3 hr 49 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Not startedHungry Mother State Park179 mi · 3 hr 53 minVirginiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorUwharrie National Forest170 mi · 3 hr 55 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorHanging Rock State Park179 mi · 4 hr 3 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorFrozen Head State Park184 mi · 4 hr 7 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorGrayson Highlands State Park142 mi · 4 hr 10 minVirginiaPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorAmicalola Falls State Park174 mi · 4 hr 16 minGeorgiaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorCherohala Skyway171 mi · 4 hr 20 minTennesseePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorMabry Mill196 mi · 4 hr 20 minVirginiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorGibbs Gardens181 mi · 4 hr 30 minGeorgiaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate color

Driving distance and time by road from Rutherford County.

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Planning Your Trip to Rutherford County

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

Highlights around Rutherford County

How we know when Rutherford 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.