In Maryland, your best bet for catching peak fall colors is the week starting on October 26.
Ah, fall ... as summer fades away, some of us are already getting out our flannel shirts and day-dreaming about long drives through the mountains. The question is, how do you know when to plan for the most colorful trip?
Check out this interactive fall foliage map to find the best time to go leaf-peeping. In Maryland, your best bet for catching peak fall colors is the week starting on October 26.
Photo by Craig Adderley
If you can't make it out right then, don't worry; there are plenty of other places to catch the fall colors nearby a week earlier or later. Just take a look at the map, created by the good folks at smokymountains.com, and slide the date selector around.
Don't wait too long, though; it looks like the majority of the country will be past peak around the first week in November. Maryland is full of great ways to enjoy the fall foliage, including trips to the local pumpkin patches, wineries, and orchards. Hiking trails are always good for enjoying the views firsthand as well!
Remember, these peak predictions are just estimates. Leaves change color due to the diminishing sunlight hours and slow-down of photosynthesis in the fall. You can click here to get an idea of which leaves will turn red, orange, and yellow before they drop.
Will you be heading out to see the leaves turn this year? Where do you like to go to catch the fall colors? Let us know in the comments!