Fall foliage near Columbusday trips within 250 miles
Where can I see fall foliage near Columbus?
We track 14 fall foliage places within 250 straight-line miles of Columbus, in West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Virginia. The nearest is Ohio River Islands Refuge, about 103 miles away (usually Oct 11–20). Canaan Valley Refuge usually starts first (Sep 21–30) and Cumberland Gap ends last (Oct 1–31).
Updated Sep 28. Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, A fall foliage tour of the Northeast ↗ (opens in a new tab), National Park Service, Cumberland Gap weather ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- 14places within 250 miles
- 103 minearest: Ohio River Islands Refuge
- Sep 21earliest usual start: Canaan Valley Refuge
- Oct 19week with the most places in their window (12)
Pick your week
Pick a week: the places usually in their window then light up. Each place's own usual window, or its region's or state's timing where it has none (labeled); not a forecast.
Week of Sep 28
- Usually peaking this week
- Other weeks
Usually in peak the week of Sep 28
- Canaan Valley Refuge
Usually Sep 21–30
202 miles from Columbus
- Cumberland Gap
Local timing: Oct 1–31
237 miles from Columbus
By distance from Columbus
- 103 miOhio River Islands RefugeUsually Oct 11–20
- 115 miCuyahoga ValleyUsually Oct 15–21
- 135 miDaniel Boone National Forest, KentuckyStatewide: usually well under way by late October
- 185 miOhiopyle State Park, PennsylvaniaStatewide: usually well under way by late October
- 194 miErie RefugeUsually Oct 11–20
- 199 miLaurel Hill State Park, PennsylvaniaStatewide: usually well under way by late October
- 202 miCanaan Valley RefugeUsually Sep 21–30
- 202 miLaurel Highlands, PennsylvaniaStatewide: usually well under way by late October
- 219 miCook Forest State Park, PennsylvaniaStatewide: usually well under way by late October
- 227 miHoosier National Forest, IndianaStatewide: usually well under way by late October
- 237 miCumberland GapLocal timing: Oct 1–31
- 238 miAllegheny National Forest, PennsylvaniaAt one spot: Oct 8–14
- 240 miGeorge Washington and JeffersonUsually Oct 11–31
- 242 miIndiana DunesUsually Oct 11–20
See two in one trip
Erie Refuge + Cuyahoga Valley + Ohio River Islands Refuge
Usually overlapping: Oct 15–20
Erie Refuge → Cuyahoga Valley (about 85 mi) → Ohio River Islands Refuge (about 130 mi). Straight-line miles; roads are longer.
Questions people ask
What's the closest fall foliage to Columbus?
Ohio River Islands Refuge, about 103 straight-line miles away. Usually Oct 11–20.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, A fall foliage tour of the Northeast ↗ (opens in a new tab)
When is the best week for fall foliage near Columbus?
Usually the week of Oct 19: 12 of the 14 places with timing are in their usual window then (Ohio River Islands Refuge, Cuyahoga Valley, Daniel Boone National Forest, Kentucky and Ohiopyle State Park, Pennsylvania and more). A season can run early or late.Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, A fall foliage tour of the Northeast ↗ (opens in a new tab), National Park Service, Best fall colors in Cuyahoga Valley ↗ (opens in a new tab), USA National Phenology Network, colored leaves observations ↗ (opens in a new tab), National Park Service, Cumberland Gap weather ↗ (opens in a new tab), US Forest Service, Fall Colors ↗ (opens in a new tab), National Park Service, Indiana Dunes things to do ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Where does the fall color season start first near Columbus?
Canaan Valley Refuge (202 miles): usually Sep 21–30.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, A fall foliage tour of the Northeast ↗ (opens in a new tab)
How far are these places from Columbus?
From 103 to 242 straight-line miles; roads are longer. 0 are within 100 miles.