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Tennessee events › Answers › Best Time for Fall Color in Tennessee
No official page gives one date for peak fall color. The National Park Service says high-elevation color in the Smokies can begin as early as mid-September, colors typically develop above 4,000 feet from early to mid-October, and the most brilliant displays below 4,000 feet usually come between mid-October and early November, though timing varies.
- Above 4,000 FtEarly-Mid Octcolors typically develop
- Below 4,000 FtMid Oct-Early Novmost brilliant displays
- StartsMid-Septemberat high elevations
- NPS Page DatedOct 23, 2025not a 2026 forecast
Last reviewed October 30, 2026.
What The Park Service Says
| Topic | What It Says |
|---|---|
| Fall color | At high elevations color changes can begin as early as mid-September. From early to mid-October, fall colors typically develop above 4,000 feet. The most brilliant displays below 4,000 feet typically occur between mid-October and early November, though timing varies yearly. Predicting exact peak dates is often difficult. |
Source: NPS fall color page, page last updated October 23, 2025. Treat it as general guidance, not this year’s forecast.
Fall Events and Hikes
- Fall events across Tennessee, rebuilt daily from our calendar
- State park hikes and programs
- Cades Cove, an 11-mile loop in the national park
- Events in October and November
Planning around the weather? September and October are the driest months in Gatlinburg; see the rainiest month in Gatlinburg.
Weather Data
Frequently Asked Questions
When is peak fall color in the Smokies?
There is no single date. The NPS says timing varies with weather and elevation, and puts the most brilliant displays below 4,000 feet between mid-October and early November.
Is there an official fall color forecast?
Not on the pages we read. We do not publish a forecast and do not turn an elevation into a date.
What We Could Not Confirm
- Fall color timing outside the Smokies (Middle and West Tennessee): not confirmed by us; we found no official page that gives it.
- The NPS page is dated October 23, 2025, so it is general guidance, not a 2026 forecast.
Sources
Read on October 30, 2026. How we check: editorial standards; spot a mistake? Tell us.
Cite this page: It's Tennessee, “Best Time for Fall Color in Tennessee”, itstennessee.com/answers/best-time-for-fall-color-in-tennessee/ (updated ). By the It's Tennessee editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.