When do the leaves change in Oklahoma?
Oak-hickory forests in the eastern hills flare red and orange along the Talimena Scenic Drive through the Winding Stair Mountains, with Beavers Bend State Park a favorite base. Peak color typically arrives in late October.
Peak: November 1–November 5
Color builds from October 26 · mostly bare by November 26
26 weather points cover Oklahoma, and the model shifts their answer 1 day earlier, which is what it takes to match 1 published peak date from smokymountains.com. Oklahoma is running 7 days earlier than its own average this year. Oklahoma does not turn all at once, and the gap from the earliest corner to the latest runs about 4 days. How the forecast works
Known for
Things to do in fall in Oklahoma
9 iconic stops, including scenic drives, farms, haunts, and the views locals plan their October around.
Talimena National Scenic Byway
Scenic drivePeak November 3
Oklahoma State Highway 1 runs 36 miles along the crest of the Winding Stair and Kiamichi Mountains inside Ouachita National Forest, with…
State Fair of Oklahoma
Fall festivalColor nearby peaks November 2
Eleven days of midway, livestock barns and fried everything at OKC Fair Park, September 17 to 27, 2026.
Orr Family Farm
Pumpkin patchColor nearby peaks November 2
South Oklahoma City's fall festival farm, advertising 25+ attractions across a season that runs on select dates from mid-September into…
The Hex House
Haunted attractionColor nearby peaks November 2
Tulsa's best-known haunt, themed on the real 1944 "Hex House" occult case, packs three attractions into one site: HexHouse, Haunted…
Pumpkinville
Pumpkin patchColor nearby peaks November 2
Myriad Botanical Gardens fills its downtown Oklahoma City grounds with pumpkins, gourds, cornstalks, and mum displays each October, plus…
Red Earth FallFest
Fall festivalColor nearby peaks November 2
Scissortail Park hosts this free Native art market and community celebration on October 17, 2026, with a youth powwow, food trucks, and the…
Oklahoma City Ghost Tour
Ghost tourColor nearby peaks November 2
A self-guided, app-based walk through downtown Oklahoma City covers six stops tied to local hauntings, from the Overholser Mansion to the…
Fright Fest at Frontier City
Haunted attractionColor nearby peaks November 2
Six Flags' Oklahoma City park turns into a haunted maze and scare-zone gauntlet on select nights from September 26 to October 31, 2026…
Towns & rides
Frequently asked
- When do leaves peak in Oklahoma in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for November 1–November 5 (best estimate November 3). Color starts around October 26 and trees are mostly bare by November 26.
- How reliable is the Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma's autumn season?
- Oklahoma 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 November 3, and the last 15 of those are thinning canopy rather than color.
- What are the best things to do in fall in Oklahoma?
- The iconic stops: Talimena National Scenic Byway, State Fair of Oklahoma, Orr Family Farm, The Hex House, Pumpkinville, Red Earth FallFest. Every one is mapped on this page with its peak-color timing.
Nearby & similar
Cities in Oklahoma
Local peak timing and things to do in fall, computed for each city.
Season by season
2026 (forecast)
Peak November 1–November 5
October 26 → November 26