When do the leaves change in Maryland?
From Garrett County's sugar maple ridges peaking in early October to the oak-hickory woods around Catoctin Mountain Park and the Eastern Shore's cypress sloughs coloring into November, Maryland spans the season.
Peak: October 28–November 4
Color builds from October 22 · mostly bare by November 22
Maryland is sampled at 4 weather points, then moved 4 days later so the model agrees with 1 published peak date from smokymountains.com. Maryland is running 5 days earlier than its own average this year. Peak dates spread about 7 days inside Maryland, so the high ground turns well before the valleys. How the forecast works
Known for
Things to do in fall in Maryland
13 iconic stops, including scenic drives, farms, haunts, and the views locals plan their October around.
Swallow Falls State Park
State parkPeak October 11
Muddy Creek Falls, Maryland's highest free-falling waterfall, drops 53 feet through this 257-acre Garrett County park near Deep Creek Lake…
Cunningham Falls State Park
State parkPeak October 25
Cunningham Falls tumbles 78 feet down a rock face in the Catoctin Mountains, the largest cascading waterfall in Maryland, reached by a…
Butler's Orchard
OrchardColor nearby peaks October 28
Five generations of the Butler family have farmed this roughly 300-acre Germantown property since 1950; its Pumpkin Festival, running since…
Field of Screams Maryland
Haunted attractionColor nearby peaks October 29
A multi-haunt scream park on Olney Laytonsville Road, north of the Capital Beltway, known for its Trail of Terror, Haunted Trail and…
Original Fells Point Ghost Walk
Ghost tourColor nearby peaks October 30
An all-ages walking tour of Baltimore's waterfront Fells Point, run by Baltimore Ghost Tours since 2001 and departing from Broadway Square…
Bowles Farms
Corn mazeColor nearby peaks November 3
A Southern Maryland farm on Budds Creek Road in St.
Color nearby peaks October 29
A seasonal produce farm and market on Asbury Road in Churchville, Harford County, open April through October.
Milburn Orchards
Cider millColor nearby peaks October 29
An Elkton orchard known around Cecil County for its apple cider donuts, made fresh daily at the farm market alongside pies, fruit breads…
Understand the season in Maryland
Short explainers on why and when the color arrives here.
Frequently asked
- When do leaves peak in Maryland in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 28–November 4 (best estimate October 31). Color starts around October 22 and trees are mostly bare by November 22.
- How reliable is the Maryland forecast?
- The forecast blends recent-year weather normals with photoperiod and elevation; it tightens as the season approaches. Against published peak dates the model lands within a few days for most regions, but it can be a week or more out. Mountains and coastlines are the hardest. Higher elevations turn roughly one day earlier per 300 m.
- When is Maryland's autumn season?
- Maryland is in the northern hemisphere, so its color season is autumn (September to November). The turn takes roughly 32 days end to end, centered on October 31, and the last 13 of those are thinning canopy rather than color.
- What are the best things to do in fall in Maryland?
- The iconic stops: Swallow Falls State Park, Cunningham Falls State Park, Butler's Orchard, Field of Screams Maryland, Original Fells Point Ghost Walk, Bowles Farms. Every one is mapped on this page with its peak-color timing.
Nearby & similar
Cities in Maryland
Local peak timing and things to do in fall, computed for each city.
Season by season
2026 (forecast)
Peak October 28–November 4
October 22 → November 22