When do the leaves change in Chicago?
Chicago's lakefront parks and boulevard oaks turn gold and russet through the second half of October, with bigger maple color in the ravines of the North Shore and the woods of southern Wisconsin and Michigan close behind.
Peak: October 17–October 21
Color builds from October 11 · mostly bare by November 9
Sampled at Chicago’s own coordinates rather than a regional average. Dates are computed for Chicago itself at 241 m elevation. Street trees vary block to block, so check locally before you plan a weekend around it.
Illinois is sampled at 27 weather points, then moved 2 days later so the model agrees with 1 published peak date from smokymountains.com and almanac.com. Illinois is running 7 days earlier than its own average this year. Peak dates spread about 6 days inside Illinois, so the high ground turns well before the valleys. How the forecast works
Fall activities in Chicago
Drag the date slider to see when color moves through the country around Chicago, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
Morton Arboretum
23 miArboretum
Peak October 17
Salt magnate Joy Morton founded this 1,700-acre living museum in 1922; it now holds over 4,300 plant varieties across 16 miles of trails…
in Illinois
Where locals go
Things to do in fall in Chicago
Orchards, cider, haunts, and harvest season. These are the iconic fall stops within a day trip of Chicago.
Pumpkin patch
Color nearby peaks October 18
Chicagoland's favorite fall festival and pumpkin patch since 1981, this Homer Glen farm packs 14 themed mechanical rides and 25-plus…
in Illinois
Fall festival
Color nearby peaks October 17
Long Grove's antique shopping village turns over to apple everything for a weekend: pies, doughnuts, candied and caramel apples, apple wine…
in Illinois
Pumpkin patch
Color nearby peaks October 16
A 40-acre fall destination northwest of Chicago where the fields fill with pig races, corn mazes, wagon rides, an Animal Land petting barn…
in Illinois
Haunted attraction
Color nearby peaks October 17
A multi-level haunted mansion in Lockport laced with secret passages, giant slides and zombie-infested woods, reached by a shuttle from…
in Illinois
Historic town
Color nearby peaks October 16
A Fox River town of boutiques, wineries and restaurants along Third Street, with the Herrington Inn overlooking the water and a Metra stop…
in Illinois
Kuipers Family Farm
48 miOrchard
Color nearby peaks October 16
A 230-acre working farm in Maple Park, far west of Chicago, growing apples, pumpkins, tulips and sunflowers.
in Illinois
Guides
Frequently asked
- When do leaves peak in Chicago in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 17–October 21 (best estimate October 19). Color starts around October 11 and trees are mostly bare by November 9. These dates are computed for Chicago itself, at 241 m elevation, using the same weather model as the tracker.
- When is fall foliage season in Chicago?
- Chicago colors during autumn (September to November). Counting from the first turn to bare branches that is about 29 days, and the best of it falls in the week either side of October 19.
- What's the best foliage near Chicago?
- Morton Arboretum (23 mi). For a longer trip: Indiana (152 mi, peak ~October 18); Illinois (153 mi, peak ~October 23); Wisconsin (224 mi, peak ~October 8).
- What are the best things to do in fall in Chicago?
- Beyond the leaves: Bengtson's Pumpkin Farm (24 mi); Long Grove Apple Fest (28 mi); Goebbert's Farm - South Barrington (30 mi); HellsGate Haunted House (32 mi); Downtown Geneva Historic District (35 mi). All of them are mapped on this page.