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 Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Explore locations and scenic byways near Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

2 to 3 hours

Scenic driveCherohala Skyway73 mi · 2 hr 2 minMile-high vistas and brilliant fall foliage in the southern Appalachian National Forests.Cherohala Skyway83 mi · 2 hr 4 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorNorth Carolina Arboretum86 mi · 2 hr 10 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorBiltmore Estate88 mi · 2 hr 12 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorBlack Balsam Knob91 mi · 2 hr 25 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorGraveyard Fields93 mi · 2 hr 28 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorBlack Rock Mountain State Park87 mi · 2 hr 31 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorCraggy Gardens106 mi · 2 hr 37 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorCherokee95 mi · 2 hr 38 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorPisgah National Forest98 mi · 2 hr 43 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorCatawba Falls108 mi · 2 hr 44 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorTallulah Gorge State Park101 mi · 2 hr 47 minGeorgiaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorMount Mitchell State Park108 mi · 2 hr 49 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorOconee County & Sumter National Forest100 mi · 2 hr 49 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorChimney Rock State Park114 mi · 2 hr 52 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorJones Gap State Park122 mi · 2 hr 52 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorCherokee Foothills Scenic Highway128 mi · 2 hr 53 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorRoan Mountain State Park134 mi · 2 hr 55 minPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorCaesars Head State Park122 mi · 2 hr 57 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early color

Over 3 hours

Scenic driveRussell-Brasstown National Scenic Byway114 mi · 3 hr 9 minA Georgia route for catching the southward shift of fall color in the Chattahoochee National Forest.Scenic driveBlue Ridge Parkway224 mi · 4 hr 39 minNicknamed "America's Favorite Drive," with high-elevation views of reds, oranges, and golds across two states.Blue Ridge Scenic Railway116 mi · 3 hr 2 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorBald Rock Heritage Preserve131 mi · 3 hr 4 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Not startedCherokee Foothills Scenic Byway110 mi · 3 hr 6 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorSassafras Mountain107 mi · 3 hr 7 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorTennessee Riverpark153 mi · 3 hr 7 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorVogel State Park122 mi · 3 hr 8 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorBlue Ridge Parkway132 mi · 3 hr 8 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberBlood Mountain125 mi · 3 hr 9 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorTennessee River Gorge153 mi · 3 hr 10 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorRussell-Brasstown Scenic Byway122 mi · 3 hr 12 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorTable Rock State Park137 mi · 3 hr 12 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorStringer's Ridge Park156 mi · 3 hr 12 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorFalls Park on the Reedy138 mi · 3 hr 13 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorLinville Gorge136 mi · 3 hr 14 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorHungry Mother State Park162 mi · 3 hr 17 minVirginiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorFall Creek Falls State Park145 mi · 3 hr 19 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorBrasstown Bald118 mi · 3 hr 21 minGeorgiaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorBlue Ridge Parkway152 mi · 3 hr 25 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorSouth Mountains State Park147 mi · 3 hr 25 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorParis Mountain State Park137 mi · 3 hr 28 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorGrandfather Mountain152 mi · 3 hr 30 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorBoone & Blowing Rock174 mi · 3 hr 38 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorCloudland Canyon State Park179 mi · 3 hr 41 minGeorgiaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorGrayson Highlands State Park173 mi · 3 hr 47 minVirginiaPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorAmicalola Falls State Park151 mi · 3 hr 49 minGeorgiaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorCrowders Mountain State Park176 mi · 3 hr 54 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorKings Mountain State Park178 mi · 3 hr 59 minSouth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorLake Norman State Park187 mi · 4 hr 3 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorGeorgia Highway 197172 mi · 4 hr 9 minGeorgiaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorGibbs Gardens168 mi · 4 hr 15 minGeorgiaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorDaniel Stowe Botanical Garden191 mi · 4 hr 15 minNorth CarolinaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorChattahoochee Nature Center187 mi · 4 hr 40 minGeorgiaPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorPrentice Cooper State Forest182 mi · 4 hr 47 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate color

Driving distance and time by road from Gatlinburg.

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Planning Your Trip to Gatlinburg

From Gatlinburg you can reach 22 fall color locations and 1 scenic byways in Tennessee, for day trips that range from a one-hour hike to a full-day drive.

When to Visit

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

Highlights around Gatlinburg

How we know when Gatlinburg 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.