Fall Colors DC: Best Places to Soak in Fall in the DC Area

Fall Colors DC: Best Places to Soak in Fall in the DC Area

As the heat of summer begins to fade and brisk fall mornings freshen the air, sights and feelings of fall abound in the DC area. Grab a thermos of hot cocoa or spiced cider, bundle up and get out there – these fall colors are as fleeting as they are spectacular.

Rock Creek Park

While epic landscapes of red, gold, yellow and orange await in the farther reaches of the DC area, you don’t have to leave the city to catch some fall colors that will leave you ready for the change of season. Located close to home in Northwestern DC, Rock Creek Park boasts some of the capital city’s finest natural scenery. The park tends to hold on to its firework fall colors longer than other areas of the city due to its valley landscape, which provides protection from the first freezes of winter. Follow the creek along Melvin Hazen Trail, take a colorful swing on the park’s public golf course, or bring the whole family along for a visit to the nature center and planetarium. See the NPS park website for more info and to plan your visit today.

National Arboretum

A national treasure and home to brilliant fall colors right in DC, The National Arboretum offers an excellent choice for a crisp fall day. A wide variety of Maples, Buckeyes, PawPaws and Chokeberries burst into flame from mid to late October, creating an exhilarating setting to welcome the changing season. Admission is free to the public and the grounds are open every day of the year except Christmas from 8 am to 5 pm. Check out the Arboretum’s fall foliage webpage to view photos from past seasons and to get excited for your next visit.

Arlington National Cemetery

Leaves of red, yellow and gold quietly fall on hallowed ground as the air turns cold at Arlington National Cemetery. Bright hues of the season add to the solemnity and opportunity for reflection at the historic military cemetery that has witnessed the passing of many seasons and has become the final resting home of thousands of honored veterans. Soak in a quiet moment at one of the cemetery’s monuments or stroll through the Memorial Arboretum while remembering a loved one.

Harpers Ferry National Historic Park

An historical, recreational and scenic gem, Harpers Ferry allows you to walk the streets of a 19^th century town seemingly untouched by time, while soaking in views of the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers among other breathtaking scenery. When the weather turns chilly, the park’s foliage comes alive in brilliant shades of red and orange. What better way to welcome in fall than to absorb some living history with a backdrop of changing leaves? Make a weekend of it by reserving a site at the park campground. See the park website for more info about how to make the most of your time at Harpers Ferry.  

Blue Ridge Parkway

Up for a road trip? The Nation’s longest linear park and fall colors guaranteed to leave you breathless are waiting. The Blue Ridge Parkway pours out 469 miles of scenic highway winding through the Blue Ridge Mountains from Highway 64 near Afton, Virginia to Highway 441 near Cherokee, North Carolina. The Parkway website features an interactive map that allows you to pinpoint hiking trails, cottage rentals, wineries, tours and more along the route. About a 3-hour drive from DC by major highways, the Blue Ridge Parkway can also be connected to the Skyline Drive (listed next) for an increasingly epic dose of scenery for those precious occasions when time is not of the essence. Fall colors vary year to year, by elevation and by north/south orientation, but are usually in their prime from mid to late October.

Skyline Drive

A bit closer to home, Skyline Drive offers plenty of fall color to go around on a 105-mile strip of scenic highway through Shenandoah National Park from Front Royal, VA to Rockfish Gap (near Afton, VA) where the route continues south onto the Blue Ridge Parkway. The National Park Service website has a designated fall color webpage with weekly color report updates based on Rangers’ observations from the previous week. The updates are usually active from the last week of September through early November when temperatures and leaves alike start to drop. The peaceful beauty of Shenandoah in fall is well worth the short 1.5-hour drive from DC to the park entrance in Front Royal.