When do the leaves change in New Jersey?
Oaks, maples, and sassafras color the Kittatinny Ridge and Delaware Water Gap by early-to-mid October, while the sandy Pine Barrens hold pitch pine and blueberry-bush red into November farther south.
Peak: October 31–November 6
Color builds from October 24 · mostly bare by November 25
New Jersey is sampled at 4 weather points, then moved 5 days later so the model agrees with 1 published peak date from smokymountains.com. Against New Jersey's own climatology, the 2026 weather puts the peak 4 days earlier. Peak dates spread about 7 days inside New Jersey, so the high ground turns well before the valleys. How the forecast works
Known for
Things to do in fall in New Jersey
11 iconic stops, including scenic drives, farms, haunts, and the views locals plan their October around.
Terhune Orchards
OrchardColor nearby peaks October 29
Farmed since the 1920s and family-run as an orchard since 1975, this roughly 200-acre Princeton-area farm and winery holds Fall Festival…
Alstede Farms
FarmColor 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…
Mount Tammany
TrailPeak 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…
High Point State Park
State parkPeak 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…
Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest
Haunted attractionColor nearby peaks November 3
Six Flags Great Adventure trades daytime crowds for fog-lit scare zones once Fright Fest starts, with live shows and pay-to-enter haunted…
Wightman Farms
Cider millColor 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…
Eastmont Orchards
Pumpkin patchColor 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…
Black River & Western Railroad Pumpkin Train
Scenic railwayColor nearby peaks October 27
Board a vintage train at the Ringoes station and ride out to Everitt Farms for pumpkin picking and a hayride before looping back through…
Frequently asked
- When do leaves peak in New Jersey in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 31–November 6 (best estimate November 3). Color starts around October 24 and trees are mostly bare by November 25.
- How reliable is the New Jersey 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 New Jersey's autumn season?
- New Jersey is in the northern hemisphere, so its color season is autumn (September to November). The turn takes roughly 33 days end to end, centered on November 3, and the last 13 of those are thinning canopy rather than color.
- What are the best things to do in fall in New Jersey?
- The iconic stops: Terhune Orchards, Alstede Farms, Mount Tammany, High Point State Park, Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest, Wightman Farms. Every one is mapped on this page with its peak-color timing.
Nearby & similar
Season by season
2026 (forecast)
Peak October 31–November 6
October 24 → November 25