Central Park
City park · New York
Olmsted's 843 acres turn late for the latitude, and the park's elms, maples, and oaks usually hold color into early November. The Mall's American elm cathedral and the wooded paths of the Ramble are the classic circuits.
Don’t miss
Peak: October 27–October 31
Color builds from October 18 · mostly bare by November 20
Sampled at Central Park’s own coordinates and elevation (36 m) rather than a regional average.
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. How the forecast works
When to go to Central Park
You get about 20 days of color here, from the first turn through to roughly November 7.
It sits inside New York City, so you can fit it into an afternoon.
Central Park on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of New York, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
More things to do in New York
Leaves & views
- Prospect ParkCity park · Peak Oct 30
- New York Botanical GardenGarden · Peak Oct 28
- Fort Tryon ParkCity park · Peak Oct 28
- Bear Mountain State ParkState park · Peak Oct 21
- Storm King Art CenterGarden · Peak Oct 20
- Minnewaska State Park PreserveState park · Peak Oct 15
- Letchworth State ParkState park · Peak Oct 11
Plan from a city
Frequently asked
- When does Central Park peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 27–October 31 (best estimate October 29). Color starts around October 18 and is mostly bare by November 20.
- How do I get to Central Park?
- The closest city is New York City, about 5 mi away (it's right in town). It's part of New York's fall lineup.
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