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 McLean, Virginia

Explore locations and scenic byways near McLean, Virginia.

1 to 2 hours

Scenic driveSkyline Drive69 mi · 1 hr 23 minRuns 105 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia.Sugarloaf Mountain39 mi · 1 hr 1 minMarylandPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorAnnapolis43 mi · 1 hr 4 minMarylandPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Early colorPatapsco Valley State Park44 mi · 1 hr 9 minMarylandPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorHistoric National Road46 mi · 1 hr 12 minMarylandPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorDruid Hill Park49 mi · 1 hr 13 minMarylandPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorCunningham Falls State Park55 mi · 1 hr 16 minMarylandPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorWashington Monument State Park54 mi · 1 hr 18 minMarylandPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorSweet Run State Park53 mi · 1 hr 18 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorFalls Road54 mi · 1 hr 20 minMarylandPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorWestern Maryland (Garrett & Allegany Counties)55 mi · 1 hr 30 minMarylandPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorOregon Ridge Park63 mi · 1 hr 31 minMarylandPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorGunpowder Falls State Park71 mi · 1 hr 44 minMarylandPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorGettysburg76 mi · 1 hr 44 minPennsylvaniaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorEastern Shore Waterways81 mi · 1 hr 58 minMarylandPeak: Late OctoberStatus: High color

2 to 3 hours

Scenic driveBlue Ridge Parkway134 mi · 2 hr 59 minNicknamed "America's Favorite Drive," with high-elevation views of reds, oranges, and golds across two states.Rocks State Park84 mi · 2 hr 2 minMarylandPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorChestertown87 mi · 2 hr 7 minMarylandPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorLewis Ginter Botanical Garden107 mi · 2 hr 10 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorLibby Hill Park115 mi · 2 hr 21 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorWhite Clay Creek State Park109 mi · 2 hr 22 minDelawarePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorMaymont113 mi · 2 hr 22 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorVirginia Capital Trail116 mi · 2 hr 23 minPeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorWilmington & Western Railroad115 mi · 2 hr 27 minDelawarePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorAlapocas Run State Park120 mi · 2 hr 31 minDelawarePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorKillens Pond State Park104 mi · 2 hr 33 minDelawarePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorGreen Ridge State Forest116 mi · 2 hr 34 minMarylandPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorBrandywine Creek State Park123 mi · 2 hr 36 minDelawarePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorNemours Estate121 mi · 2 hr 36 minDelawarePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorWinterthur Museum & Gardens122 mi · 2 hr 37 minDelawarePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorMt. Cuba Center119 mi · 2 hr 39 minDelawarePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorLongwood Gardens122 mi · 2 hr 42 minPennsylvaniaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorGreat Allegheny Passage134 mi · 2 hr 45 minMarylandPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorPocahontas State Park131 mi · 2 hr 45 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorShenandoah National Park102 mi · 2 hr 45 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Early colorLancaster County124 mi · 2 hr 50 minPennsylvaniaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorBombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge111 mi · 2 hr 52 minDelawarePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorJohn Heinz National Wildlife Refuge138 mi · 2 hr 53 minPennsylvaniaPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorTrap Pond State Park120 mi · 2 hr 55 minDelawarePeak: Late OctoberStatus: High colorRidley Creek State Park138 mi · 2 hr 59 minPennsylvaniaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorPrime Hook National Wildlife Refuge120 mi · 3 hrDelawarePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate color

Over 3 hours

Veritas Vineyards & Winery135 mi · 3 hr 5 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorJunction & Breakwater Trail128 mi · 3 hr 10 minDelawarePeak: Early NovemberStatus: Moderate colorCape Henlopen State Park130 mi · 3 hr 16 minDelawarePeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorAwbury Arboretum154 mi · 3 hr 21 minPennsylvaniaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorValley Forge National Historical Park151 mi · 3 hr 22 minPennsylvaniaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorWissahickon Valley Park154 mi · 3 hr 24 minPennsylvaniaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorBear Creek Lake State Park162 mi · 3 hr 24 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorLaurel Highlands167 mi · 3 hr 26 minPennsylvaniaPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorRoute 30171 mi · 3 hr 42 minPennsylvaniaPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorHigh Bridge Trail State Park180 mi · 3 hr 45 minPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorBelleplain State Forest173 mi · 3 hr 50 minNew JerseyPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorOhiopyle State Park182 mi · 3 hr 54 minPennsylvaniaPeak: Mid OctoberStatus: Moderate colorTyler State Park176 mi · 3 hr 56 minPennsylvaniaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate colorNockamixon State Park182 mi · 4 hr 1 minPennsylvaniaPeak: Late OctoberStatus: Moderate color

Driving distance and time by road from McLean.

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Planning Your Trip to McLean

From McLean you can reach 21 fall color locations and 3 scenic byways in Virginia, for day trips that range from a one-hour hike to a full-day drive.

When to Visit

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

Highlights around McLean

How we know when McLean 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.