Brown County State Park
State park · Indiana
Indiana's largest state park, 15,696 acres opened in 1929 near Nashville, earned the nickname 'Little Smokies' for ridge-and-hollow scenery that rivals the real thing. Overlooks like Hesitation Point draw crowds for peak color, typically the second and third weeks of October.
Don’t miss
Peak: October 20–October 24
Color builds from October 14 · mostly bare by November 13
Sampled at Brown County State Park’s own coordinates and elevation (200 m) rather than a regional average.
This window comes from 19 weather points across Indiana, nudged 2 days later to match 1 published peak date from smokymountains.com. This year's weather has the peak running 7 days earlier than a normal year. How the forecast works
When to go to Brown County State Park
You get about 17 days of color here, from the first turn through to roughly October 31. Against Indiana overall, that is 4 days later.
It is roughly 40 mi out of Indianapolis. Louisville is about 70 mi out.
Brown County State Park on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of Indiana, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
More things to do in Indiana
Farms & harvest
Plan from a city
Frequently asked
- When does Brown County State Park peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 20–October 24 (best estimate October 22). Color starts around October 14 and is mostly bare by November 13.
- How do I get to Brown County State Park?
- The closest city is Indianapolis, about 40 mi away. It's part of Indiana's fall lineup.
Own or manage Brown County State Park? Update your listing or get in touch.