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Fall foliage near Charlotteday trips within 250 miles

Plan this weekend from Charlotte →

Where can I see fall foliage near Charlotte?

We track 13 fall foliage places within 250 straight-line miles of Charlotte, in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, West Virginia and Kentucky. The nearest is Pee Dee Refuge, about 43 miles away (local timing: September to November).

Checked Sep 29. Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pee Dee NWR seasons of wildlife ↗ (opens in a new tab)

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 29

  • Usually peaking this week
  • Other weeks

Usually in peak the week of Sep 29

By distance from Charlotte

Straight-line miles; roads are longer
  1. 43 miPee Dee RefugeLocal timing: September to November
  2. 93 miBlue Ridge Parkway, North CarolinaLocal timing: October, highest elevations first
  3. 96 miCongaree National Park, South CarolinaUsually Oct 21–Nov 10
  4. 106 miPisgah National Forest, North CarolinaStatewide: usually well under way by mid-October
  5. 111 miGeorge Washington and JeffersonUsually Oct 11–31
  6. 138 miNantahala National Forest, North CarolinaStatewide: usually well under way by mid-October
  7. 155 miGreat Smoky Mountains, TennesseeUsually Oct 1–Nov 10
  8. 164 miBluestoneUsually Oct 11–20
  9. 182 miNew River GorgeAt one spot: Oct 1–31
  10. 186 miCherokee National Forest, TennesseeUsually Oct 11–Nov 10
  11. 188 miCumberland GapLocal timing: Oct 1–31
  12. 234 miBig South ForkStatewide: usually well under way by late October
  13. 246 miDaniel Boone National Forest, KentuckyStatewide: usually well under way by late October

See two in one trip

Nearby places whose usual fall color windows overlap

Questions people ask

What's the closest fall foliage to Charlotte?

Pee Dee Refuge, about 43 straight-line miles away. Local timing: September to November.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pee Dee NWR seasons of wildlife ↗ (opens in a new tab)

When is the best week for fall foliage near Charlotte?

Usually the week of Oct 20: 13 of the 13 places with timing are in their usual window then (Pee Dee Refuge, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina, Congaree National Park, South Carolina and Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina and more). A season can run early or late.Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pee Dee NWR seasons of wildlife ↗ (opens in a new tab), National Park Service, Blue Ridge Parkway fall colors ↗ (opens in a new tab), National Park Service, Congaree weather and seasons ↗ (opens in a new tab), USA National Phenology Network, colored leaves observations ↗ (opens in a new tab), US Forest Service, Fall Colors ↗ (opens in a new tab), National Park Service, Great Smoky Mountains fall color ↗ (opens in a new tab), National Park Service, Bluestone park data ↗ (opens in a new tab), National Park Service, New River Gorge: finding your way around the park ↗ (opens in a new tab), Forest Service news release, Popular scenic fall drives on Cherokee National Forest (Oct. 12, 2022) ↗ (opens in a new tab), National Park Service, Cumberland Gap weather ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Where does the fall color season start first near Charlotte?

Pee Dee Refuge (43 miles): local timing: September to November.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pee Dee NWR seasons of wildlife ↗ (opens in a new tab)

How far are these places from Charlotte?

From 43 to 246 straight-line miles; roads are longer. 3 are within 100 miles.