Where and When to View Fall Colors in Tennessee State Parks
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  • Autumn forest with golden yellow leaves and dark tree trunks.

    • While areas like the Great Smoky Mountains are popular for enjoying fall colors, Tennessee State Parks offer lots of spectacular spots for experiencing autumn foliage, along with campsites, cabins, and lodge rooms. Whether you're planning a day trip or booking a cozy overnight getaway, these tips can help you decide where and when to visit these beautiful destinations:

    When should you plan to travel?

    Figuring out when the fall colors will peak is tricky. Weather, moisture levels, and other factors determine the timing and intensity of the colors. As a general rule:

    • East Tennessee: leaves in East Tennessee begin to change color in early October and peak around the third week of the month.
    • Middle and West Tennessee: color change begins in mid-October and peaks by Halloween. Deciduous trees (those that lose their leaves annually) are usually bare by Thanksgiving.
    Graphic titled “Fall Color Predictions” showing a map of Tennessee shaded from west to east in progressing autumn colors, with major cities labeled including Memphis, Jackson, Clarksville, Nashville, Murfreesboro, Chattanooga, and Knoxville. The color bands correspond to peak fall foliage timing moving across the state from east to west. The far eastern region, including the Smoky Mountains and Knoxville area, is shown in the darkest color and corresponds to October 14–28 with peak around October 21. East-c

    Check out the fall foliage prediction map below. This visual tool can help you plan according to the annual progressive changing of the leaves. While no tool can be 100% accurate, this tool is meant to help travelers better time their trips to have the best opportunity of catching peak color each year.

    Prediction Map

    Where is the best place to see these colors change?

    We asked park staff for some of their favorite places to view the fall colors, and the parks in the list below are among some of the best places to see the leaves change. Here are our "Parks' Picks" where you will get a great view of the leaves changing color:

    East Tennessee

    • Scenic view of layered mountain ridges covered in vibrant fall foliage, with trees displaying shades of red, orange, yellow, and green. Low clouds or fog drift through the valleys between the hills, while a partly cloudy blue sky stretches above.

    Roan Mountain State Park

    Suggested time to visit: Mid October

    If a cozy cabin with a wood-burning stove and stunning mountain views sounds like your ideal fall vacation spot, head to Roan Mountain State Park. Not only are their cabins top of the line, but there are also peaceful campsites for tents and RVs located by the rushing Doe River. The views you'll find at Roan Mountain rival the Smokies. Whether you're hiking at the top of the mountain or fishing at the river, you'll be surrounded by incredible foliage in every direction.

    Plan Your Trip
    • Wide view of a forested mountain valley in autumn, with hillsides covered in mixed fall colors of orange, red, yellow, and green. The scene is framed by trees in the foreground, while distant ridgelines are softly lit by warm sunset light under a clear, fading sky.

    Rocky Fork State Park

    Suggested time to visit: Mid October

    Looking for Blue Ridge Mountain views without the crowds? This is the perfect destination to find peace and quiet while taking in the fall colors that blanket the surrounding mountain ranges. Approximately 30 minutes from both Johnson City and Asheville, N.C., Rocky Fork State Park offers incredible hiking and mountain biking trails past clear, rushing rivers, cascades, and waterfalls. Experienced backpackers will love the park's secluded backcountry campsites.

    Plan Your Trip

    The Cumberland Plateau

    • Stone arch bridge spanning a calm body of water, surrounded by vibrant fall foliage in shades of red, orange, and gold. The bridge’s multiple arches are reflected clearly in the still water below, while trees with autumn leaves frame both sides of the scene under a partly cloudy blue sky.

    Cumberland Mountain State Park

    Suggested time to visit: Late October

    Cumberland Mountain is located 45 minutes southeast of Cookeville in Crossville, TN. Centered around Byrd Lake, the park offers paddling, hiking, golfing, mountain biking, and fishing. The park is located near Ozone Falls State Natural Area and sections of the Cumberland Trail State Scenic Trail that offer additional opportunities for recreation and color viewing. Cabins and RV and tent campsites are available.

    Plan Your Trip
    • Colorful autumn trees in shades of orange, yellow, green, and red reflected on the still surface of a lake.

    Standing Stone State Park

    Suggested time to visit: Late October

    Standing Stone is located 40 minutes north of Cookeville, Tennessee. The park offers hiking, paddling, fishing, birding, and cozy cabins. There are multiple cabin types offered. Historical Works Progress Administration cabins are amongst some of the newest renovated cabins at the parks, offering modern amenities and charming history.

    Plan Your Trip
    • Suspension bridge over a calm lake surrounded by colorful autumn trees under a partly cloudy sky.

    Pickett CCC Memorial State Park

    Suggested time to visit: Late October

    Pickett is located near the Tennessee/Kentucky border in Jamestown, Tennessee. The park offers a lake, hiking trails, paddling, fishing, overlooks at nearby Pogue Creek Canyon, and incredible dark sky viewing. The park offers cabins and RV and tent campsites.

    Plan Your Trip
    • Waterfall cascading into a forested gorge surrounded by colorful fall foliage under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

    Fiery Gizzard State Park

    Suggested time to visit: Late October

    Fiery Gizzard is located an hour and a half southeast of Nashville. The park offers hiking, backpacking, waterfalls, overlooks, paddling, and rock climbing. One primitive tent campground and multiple backcountry sites are available.

    Plan Your Trip

    Middle Tennessee

    • Wooden bridge crossing a calm lake with vibrant autumn trees reflected in the water and stairs leading down through the forest.

    Montgomery Bell State Park

    Suggested time to visit: Mid to Late October

    Montgomery Bell is located 40 minutes west of Nashville in Burns, Tennessee. This location is ideal for anyone looking to experience the outdoors and Nashville in one trip. The park offers three lakes, hiking, paddling, fishing, golfing, birding, and mountain biking. The park offers overnight accommodations and dining at The Lodge, along with cabins.

    Plan Your Trip
    • Red truss bridge spanning a lake, surrounded by colorful fall trees under a partly cloudy sky.

    Tims Ford State Park

    Suggested time to visit: Mid to Late October

    Tims Ford is located an hour and a half southeast of Nashville in Lynchburg, Tennessee, home to the Jack Daniel's distillery. The park sits on Tims Ford Lake and offers paddling, boating, fishing, hiking, golfing, mountain biking, and hunting on nearby hunting lands. Spend the night at one of the RV or tent campsites.

    Plan Your Trip
    • Leaf-covered forest trail winding through trees with vibrant fall foliage and sunlight filtering through.

    Radnor Lake State Park

    Suggested time to visit: Mid to Late October

    Radnor Lake is located 20 minutes south of downtown Nashville. This day-use park is also a natural area known for abundant wildlife viewing opportunities. The park is centered around a lake and offers both paved and natural hiking trails. Find overnight accommodations at nearby Montgomery Bell or Cedars of Lebanon State Park.

    Plan Your Trip

    West Tennessee

    • Wooden dock extending into a calm lake, framed by trees with early fall foliage under a cloudy sky.

    Chickasaw State Park

    Suggested time to visit: Late October to Early November

    Chickasaw is located 30 minutes south of Jackson, Tennessee, in Henderson. The park offers paddling, hiking, fishing, horseback riding, rentals, and birding. Surrounding the park is over 14,000 acres of state forestry land that offers hunting, ATV riding, horse trails, and additional hiking. The park's cabins received a renovation in 2021 and offer easy access to Lake Placid. The park also offers tent, RV, and wrangler campgrounds. The wrangler campground is designed for campers with horses.

    Plan Your Trip
    • People paddling canoes on a calm lake surrounded by colorful fall trees under a partly cloudy sky.

    Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park

    Suggested time to visit: Late October to Early November

    Meeman-Shelby is located 25 minutes north of downtown Memphis. The park offers paddling, hiking, boating, fishing, disc golf, biking, birding, and horseback riding. Cabins are available with views of the lake, as well as RV and tent campsites.

    Plan Your Trip
    • Person walking along a leaf-covered forest path surrounded by warm autumn foliage and tall trees.

    Natchez Trace State Park

    Suggested time to visit: Late October to Early November

    Natchez Trace is located 40 minutes northeast of Jackson, Tennessee. The park offers an authentic wilderness retreat with paddling, hiking, boating, fishing, archery, firing range, horseback riding, and nearby opportunities for hunting and ATV riding on wildlife management land. For overnight accommodations, the park offers cabins, camping cabins, and tent/RV campsites.

    Plan Your Trip
    • ,,

    Planning Tips

    If you're making plans to hunt for leaves, we have a few things to consider to make your planning easier:

    1. Plan a mid-week trip

    As a general rule, you will experience smaller crowds in our parks if you visit during a weekday. This is especially true during busy seasons like October.

    2. Find other activities at parks that you'll enjoy

    What's better than a beautiful view of the changing leaves? Enjoying that view while doing something you love! Maybe it's hiking to a waterfall at Fall Creek Falls or South Cumberland, or hitting the mountain bike trails at Roan Mountain or Cumberland Mountain. Check out the Find a Park page for a map of the state and filters that help you find the best park to meet your needs.

    Find a Park

    3. Take part in events while at the park

    We offer hundreds of events every month to connect you with the outdoors and foster a love for adventure in guests of all ages. Every park has an event calendar on its homepage. You can also find a full list of events across all of our parks on our main events calendar.

    Events Calendar

    4. Reduce your impact on the park during your visit.

    Remember to take care of the beautiful places you visit this fall.

    • Carry out or properly dispose of your trash during each visit.
    • Be respectful of wildlife and other visitors by giving them space.
    • Practice fire safety.
    • Stay on designated trails.

    View more tips on responsible recreation.

     


     

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    Colorblind Viewfinders

    Do you or someone you know suffer from color blindness? The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development and Tennessee State Parks have partnered to install “color blind” viewfinders at several state park locations across the state. See the full list of parks and the locations of the viewers.

    Learn More

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