“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.”
~ Albert Camus
With fall's arrival, many of us are now anticipating one of Mother Nature’s finest displays of beauty – fall foliage. In some of the northern states, the leaves have already begun to turn and are already near their peak. We still have several weeks before we’ll see peak fall foliage here in Cobb County, Georgia, according to the Smoky Mountains website.
The Smoky Mountains site currently predicts our area’s peak fall foliage to be around October 28th, but timing can change depending on weather and other factors. [To keep up with the peak foliage predictions, you can view their 2016 fall foliage prediction map on their site here].
Regardless of your favorite place to view fall foliage, we are fortunate to live in an area where driving to see the colorful leaves is a reality. Without a doubt, there are plenty of fantastic places in the south where you can view the fall foliage without having to drive for days or hop on an airplane.
Whether you plan to take a day trip or long weekend to see the fall foliage, here is a list of some of the best places to view fall foliage in the south:
1. Tail of the Dragon (North Carolina/Tennessee border)
This is an 11-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 129 between Cherokee, NC, and Gatlinburg, TN. The roads are curvy (hence the name!), but the views and vibrant colors of the fall foliage make the drive well worth it.
2. White County (Georgia)
Located an hour north of Atlanta, White County draws thousands to the North Georgia Mountains each year because of its dazzling display of fall foliage.
3. Table Rock State Park (South Carolina)
Located in Pickens County, near the North Carolina border, Table Rock State Park has some of the best views of fall foliage South Carolina has to offer.
4. Natchez Trace Parkway (Tennessee/Alabama/Mississippi)
The Natchez Trace provides several hundred miles of southern beauty throughout its three-state path.
5. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Tennessee)
It’s hard to choose a “wrong” time to visit this area for “leaf peeping” during the fall. Visitors to the higher elevations (4,000 feet and above) may start seeing spectacular fall foliage in late September to early October. However, a huge variety of trees, (some 100 species of native trees live in the Smokies, according to the National Park Service) combined with the area’s geography and climate, provides weeks of prime fall foliage viewing.
6. Blue Ridge Parkway/Grandfather Mountain (North Carolina)
Because this mountainous area of western NC has higher elevations than some of the other places in the region, the leaves have already begun to turn. In fact, the peak may hit between the first and second weeks of October; if you want to visit this area for fall foliage, you may want to start planning your trip today.
Are you a fall foliage fan? Are any of your favorite places on this list?
Related Resources
Wide Open Country 7 Best Places to See Fall Leaves in the South
About Travel Fall Foliage in the Southeast - Typical Fall Color Peak Periods