Leaf-peeping season is almost here: Where to see spectacular fall foliage across the US in 2026

Autumn officially begins on Sept. 22, and that means leaf-peeping season will soon be here.Where and when the foliage will be most dramatic depends on location, altitude and weather. Leaves turn earlier in places with higher elevations and lower temperatures, so some parts of the northern and western U.S. are starting to see some color, while other destinations may not kick off their leaf-peeping seasons until October.If you'd like to plan a leaf-peeping trip this year, we've got you covered. Here are the best destinations you can visit over the coming weeks to see spectacular foliage.Related: Fall foliage cruises in New England, Canada and beyondWhen and where can we see fall foliage at its peak?Each fall, various forecast tools aim to predict the arrival of autumn foliage across the U.S. using precipitation and temperature statistics, historic trends for peak leaf peeping, local observations, and model outputs from previous years. Our favorites include The Old Farmer's Almanac and the Smoky Mountains Fall Foliage Prediction Map. Plus, camping app Hipcamp launched an interactive map to help you find campgrounds for leaf-peeping trips.SMOKYMOUNTAINS.COMEven with these tools, no one...