Fall foliage near Nashvilleday trips within 250 miles

Where can I see fall foliage near Nashville?

We track 16 fall foliage places within 250 straight-line miles of Nashville, in Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi and North Carolina. The nearest is Natchez Trace Parkway, Tennessee, about 64 miles away (local timing: Oct 11–31). Cumberland Gap usually starts first (Oct 1–31) and Natchez Trace Parkway, Mississippi ends last (Oct 15–Nov 20).

Updated Sep 28. Sources: National Park Service, Natchez Trace Parkway fall colors ↗ (opens in a new tab), National Park Service, Leaf Peeping Along the Natchez Trace ↗ (opens in a new tab), National Park Service, Cumberland Gap weather ↗ (opens in a new tab)

16places within 250 miles
64 minearest: Natchez Trace Parkway, Tennessee
Oct 1earliest usual start: Cumberland Gap
Oct 15week 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 Oct 1

Usually peaking this week
Other weeks

Usually in peak the week of Oct 1

Cumberland Gap
Local timing: Oct 1–31
173 miles from Nashville
Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee
Usually Oct 1–Nov 10
186 miles from Nashville
Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina
Usually Oct 1–31
249 miles from Nashville

By distance from Nashville

Straight-line miles; roads are longer

64 miNatchez Trace Parkway, TennesseeLocal timing: Oct 11–31
80 miMammoth CaveLocal timing: Oct 21–31
120 miBig South ForkStatewide: usually well under way by late October
131 miDeSoto State ParkStatewide: usually well under way by early November
132 miShawnee National Forest, IllinoisStatewide: usually well under way by late October
136 miHoosier National Forest, IndianaStatewide: usually well under way by late October
139 miLittle River CanyonUsually Oct 21–Nov 10
159 miCherokee National Forest, TennesseeUsually Oct 11–Nov 10
169 miNatchez Trace Parkway, MississippiLocal timing: Oct 15–Nov 20
173 miCumberland GapLocal timing: Oct 1–31
186 miGreat Smoky Mountains, TennesseeUsually Oct 1–Nov 10
194 miTalladega National Forest, AlabamaStatewide: usually well under way by early November
210 miNantahala National Forest, North CarolinaStatewide: usually well under way by mid-October
224 miDaniel Boone National Forest, KentuckyStatewide: usually well under way by late October
238 miPisgah National Forest, North CarolinaStatewide: usually well under way by mid-October
249 miBlue Ridge Parkway, North CarolinaUsually Oct 1–31

See two in one trip

Nearby places whose usual fall color windows overlap

Blue Ridge Parkway + Great Smoky Mountains + Cherokee National Forest + Little River Canyon
Usually overlapping: Oct 21–31
Blue Ridge Parkway → Great Smoky Mountains (about 65 mi) → Cherokee National Forest (about 40 mi) → Little River Canyon (about 110 mi). Straight-line miles; roads are longer.
Sources (4)

Questions people ask

What's the closest fall foliage to Nashville?

Natchez Trace Parkway, Tennessee, about 64 straight-line miles away. Local timing: Oct 11–31.Sources: National Park Service, Natchez Trace Parkway fall colors ↗ (opens in a new tab), National Park Service, Leaf Peeping Along the Natchez Trace ↗ (opens in a new tab)

When is the best week for fall foliage near Nashville?

Where does the fall color season start first near Nashville?

Cumberland Gap (173 miles): local timing: Oct 1–31.Source: National Park Service, Cumberland Gap weather ↗ (opens in a new tab)

How far are these places from Nashville?

From 64 to 249 straight-line miles; roads are longer. 2 are within 100 miles.