When do the leaves change in New York City?
Central Park's elms and maples put on a real show in late October and into early November, and the whole Hudson Valley — some of the East's best color — starts less than an hour north of the city.
Peak: October 25–November 2
Color builds from October 18 · mostly bare by November 20
Sampled at New York City’s own coordinates rather than a regional average. Dates are computed for New York City itself at 32 m elevation. Street trees vary block to block, so check locally before you plan a weekend around it.
This window comes from 27 weather points across New York, nudged 2 days later to match 2 published peak dates from smokymountains.com and almanac.com. Against New York's own climatology, the 2026 weather puts the peak 4 days earlier. Across New York the first place to turn and the last sit about 5 days apart. How the forecast works
Fall activities in New York City
Drag the date slider to see when color moves through the country around New York City, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
State park
Peak October 21
The Hudson Highlands' oak and hickory forests peak in mid-to-late October.
in New York
Garden
Peak October 20
Five hundred acres of open-air sculpture in the Hudson Valley, where monumental works sit against hillsides of turning maple, oak, and…
in New York
State park
Peak October 15
A 220-foot veterans' monument built in 1928-30 marks New Jersey's highest elevation at 1,803 feet, with panoramic Sussex County views…
in New Jersey
Mount Tammany
61 miTrail
Peak October 19
From the Dunnfield Creek lot in Worthington State Forest, a 3.5-mile loop climbs Mount Tammany for New Jersey's classic view of the…
in New Jersey
State park
Peak October 15
On the Shawangunk Ridge 90 miles north of the city, sky lakes and white quartz cliffs frame pitch pine, chestnut oak, and maple color.
in New York
Where locals go
Prospect Park
City parkPeak October 30
Olmsted and Vaux considered Brooklyn's 526-acre park their masterpiece.
Central Park
City parkPeak October 29
Olmsted's 843 acres turn late for the latitude, and the park's elms, maples, and oaks usually hold color into early November.
Fort Tryon Park
City parkPeak October 28
High on a ridge over the Hudson, Fort Tryon pairs foliage with river views: the Heather Garden's late perennials under turning oaks and…
Peak October 28
The Bronx's 250-acre garden wraps fall color around the Thain Family Forest, one of New York City's last stands of old-growth woodland…
Things to do in fall in New York City
Orchards, cider, haunts, and harvest season. These are the iconic fall stops within a day trip of New York City.
Sleepy Hollow
27 miHistoric town
Color nearby peaks October 26
Washington Irving's legendary hamlet leans fully into October: Philipsburg Manor hosts the theatrical night walk Horseman's Hollow, nearby…
in New York
Wightman Farms
28 miCider mill
Color nearby peaks October 25
A working orchard and cider mill on Route 202 outside Morristown, where the market bakes fresh donuts, pies, and cookies steps from where…
in New Jersey
Eastmont Orchards
29 miPumpkin patch
Color nearby peaks November 3
A Colts Neck farm that has closed its peach orchard for 2026 and given the season over entirely to pumpkins, open Friday through Sunday…
in New Jersey
Wemrock Orchards
35 miOrchard
Color nearby peaks November 2
A Freehold orchard that presses its own apples into cider, then fries some of that cider into cinnamon-sugar donuts made fresh at the farm…
in New Jersey
Fall festival
Color nearby peaks October 23
Twice a year historic Chester lines Main Street with vendor tents for one of the Northeast's longest-running craft shows, and the 2026 fall…
in New Jersey
Alstede Farms
37 miFarm
Color nearby peaks October 23
On 600 acres of preserved Chester farmland, Alstede's corn maze covers more than 10 acres and three miles of paths beneath a lookout…
in New Jersey
Frequently asked
- When do leaves peak in New York City in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 25–November 2 (best estimate October 29). Color starts around October 18 and trees are mostly bare by November 20. These dates are computed for New York City itself, at 32 m elevation, using the same weather model as the tracker.
- When is fall foliage season in New York City?
- New York City colors during autumn (September to November). Counting from the first turn to bare branches that is about 33 days, and the best of it falls in the week either side of October 29.
- What's the best foliage near New York City?
- Bear Mountain State Park (42 mi); Storm King Art Center (49 mi); High Point State Park (54 mi). For a longer trip: New York (171 mi, peak ~October 12); New Jersey (56 mi, peak ~November 3); Connecticut (91 mi, peak ~October 22).
- What are the best things to do in fall in New York City?
- Beyond the leaves: Sleepy Hollow (27 mi); Wightman Farms (28 mi); Eastmont Orchards (29 mi); Wemrock Orchards (35 mi); Chester Fall Craft Show (36 mi). All of them are mapped on this page.