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Fall foliage near Columbusday trips within 250 miles

Plan this weekend from Columbus →

Where can I see fall foliage near Columbus?

We track 15 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 (usually Sep 21–30) and New River Gorge ends last (at one spot: Oct 1–31).

Checked Sep 29. Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, A fall foliage tour of the Northeast ↗ (opens in a new tab), National Park Service, New River Gorge: finding your way around the park ↗ (opens in a new tab) National Park Service sources: no claim to original U.S. Government works.

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

By distance from Columbus

Straight-line miles; roads are longer
  1. 103 miOhio River Islands RefugeUsually Oct 11–20
  2. 115 miCuyahoga ValleyUsually Oct 15–21
  3. 135 miDaniel Boone National Forest, KentuckyStatewide: usually well under way by late October
  4. 181 miNew River GorgeAt one spot: Oct 1–31
  5. 185 miOhiopyle State Park, PennsylvaniaStatewide: usually well under way by late October
  6. 194 miErie RefugeUsually Oct 11–20
  7. 198 miBluestoneUsually Oct 11–20
  8. 199 miLaurel Hill State Park, PennsylvaniaStatewide: usually well under way by late October
  9. 202 miCanaan Valley RefugeUsually Sep 21–30
  10. 219 miCook Forest State Park, PennsylvaniaStatewide: usually well under way by late October
  11. 227 miHoosier National Forest, IndianaStatewide: usually well under way by late October
  12. 237 miCumberland GapLocal timing: Oct 1–31
  13. 238 miAllegheny National Forest, PennsylvaniaAt one spot: Oct 8–14
  14. 240 miGeorge Washington and JeffersonUsually Oct 11–31
  15. 242 miIndiana DunesUsually Oct 11–20

See two in one trip

Nearby places whose usual fall color windows overlap

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: 13 of the 15 places with timing are in their usual window then (Ohio River Islands Refuge, Cuyahoga Valley, Daniel Boone National Forest, Kentucky and New River Gorge 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, New River Gorge: finding your way around the park ↗ (opens in a new tab), National Park Service, Bluestone park data ↗ (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.