Smoky Mountain Fall Colors: Best Drives, Overlooks & Trails for 2025 Foliage
Every fall, I pack up the car and head to Gatlinburg because there is nothing like watching the Smoky Mountains put on their autumn show.
Living in Murfreesboro means I get to see the Smoky Mountain fall colors every single year, and it never gets old.
By late September, the first hints of red and orange start to peek through, and by October, the mountains are glowing with fiery golds, deep reds, and every shade in between.
I have spent years chasing the perfect views, from cruising along Newfound Gap Road to biking through Cades Cove to stopping at overlooks where the whole valley looks painted by hand.
The trick is knowing when to go because the leaves don’t change all at once. If you visit too early, you will miss the peak colors, and if you wait too long, the trees will already be bare.
That is why I created this Smoky Mountain Fall Foliage Guide for 2025.
I want you to know the best time to visit, where to find the most stunning views, and how to plan your trip so you can see the Smoky Mountains dressed in their brightest autumn colors.
Pack your sweater, grab your drone, and get ready to be amazed by the fall colors of the Smoky Mountains.
👉Smoky Mountains Newfound Gap Jeep Tour
👉Cades Cove Tours
👉Gatlingburg Accommodations
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When Is Peak Fall Foliage in the Smoky Mountains?
If you are trying to find out when the fall colors will be at their peak in the Smoky Mountains, I am here to help you figure out when to travel to Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge to experience the fall foliage.
According to the Fall Foliage Map from Farmers Almanac, the fall colors are expected to peak around the first week of November.
I suggest taking a road trip to the Smokies shortly after Halloween to see the fall foliage in the Smokies because the colors are in full bloom.
The leaves will start to change around mid-October when the Smoky Mountains’ fall colors are the most vibrant.
The temperatures are in the 70s during the day and drop into the low 50s and low 40s at night.
As the temperatures in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge get cooler, the leaves turn into an amazing array of bright reds, oranges, and yellows!
The highest elevations of the Smoky Mountains will be most vibrant around the end of October, and leaves in the surrounding area are expected to peak about a week later, making this the perfect time to take a road trip to the Smokies.
You can expect to see the fall colors when they are at their best in early through mid-November!
2025 Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge Fall Foliage Guide
This 2025 Smoky Mountain Fall Foliage Guide will show you the best time to visit in October and November so you can experience the mountains at their peak color.
Newfound Gap Road
Newfound Gap is only one mile high and this is the first stop along the scenic route to see the fall colors in the Smoky Mountains.
The color palette is just as stunning at the beginning of the route as it is at the top of Clingman Dome, but I suggest arriving early because traffic is absolutely horrible as the morning progresses.
Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge Parkway is on the North Carolina side of the Smoky Mountains and will require a road trip.
This portion of the Smoky Mountains is well worth the drive. If you want to experience the fall colors, then consider driving this famed stretch of highway.
Because of the high elevation on the North Carolina side, there are tons of opportunities to take photos, especially early in the season, when the fall colors are in full bloom.
If you have time, I suggest stopping at a few hiking trails to get a closer look at the colors and take a few epic photos.
Foothills Parkway
Avoiding vehicle congestion along the parkway is paramount which can cause miles and miles of cars to back up along the parkway. Traffic is the last thing you need while trying to see the Smoky Mountains fall foliage.
Once you arrive, you will be rewarded with a beautiful and stunning drive that is filled with autumn colors of red, orange, brown, and tints of purple and yellow.
While Cades Cove is one of the most popular spots, I suggest taking the Roaring Fork route and making a few stops to see the fall beauty of the Smoky Mountains. This includes a self-guided nature walk and a 2.6-mile hike to Grotto Falls.
Clingmans Dome
The highest point in the Smoky National Park offers a phenomenal panoramic view of the entire Smoky Mountain landscape.
Clingmans Dome sits 6,643 feet above sea level, and if you visit mid-to late September, you will be surrounded by beautiful fall colors.
The road to Clingmans Dome is filled with photo opportunities, and you will be tempted to stop repeatedly. However, don’t stop too often, or you will not reach the top.
Make sure you dress in layers because it will be cold AF, even in the summer!
Fall colors schedule by month in the Great Smoky Mountains
Fall in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is unlike anything you will ever experience. The beautiful array of fall colors, the diverse plant life, towering trees that look magnificent, and picturesque and Instagram-worthy.
Over 100 species of native trees are home to the Smokies, which hover 4,000 feet above the clouds.
Clingman Dome allows you to see the leaves turning yellow, American beech, mountain maple, hobblebush, and pin cherry for miles and miles.
The fall color display usually reaches a peak at middle and lower elevations between mid-October and early November.
The Smoky Mountains offer visitors a beautiful display of trees, including sugar maple, scarlet oak, sweetgum, red maple, and hickories.
September in The Smoky Mountains
By the end of September, when temperatures are cooler at night, mixed with rain, a spectacular display of the Great Smoky Mountain fall foliage will be produced.
As fall approaches, the days will grow shorter, and nights will grow longer and become much cooler, which will cause the leaves to paint a beautiful portrait of art featuring splashes of nature’s palette across the Smoky Mountains.
Sourwood, dogwood, maple, sassafras, and birch trees are the first to make the change, turning red, orange, and yellow. At this point, there is just a hint of fall color change among those early autumn starters.
If you are visiting the Smoky Mountains in September, I suggest the following scenic drives for seeing fall colors in the Smoky Mountains:
- Parsons Branch Road
- Newfound Gap Road
- Clingmans Dome Road
September’s suggested hikes for seeing the Smoky Mountains in autumn, Albright Grove and Sugarland Mountain Trail, as well as high-elevation hikes to Andrews Bald or Mt. LeConte, would be time well spent.
Another colorful fall foliage opportunity includes a motor tour of the recently reopened Parson Branch Road, an eight-mile one-way narrow, low-speed byway.
The road allows motorists to drive through a large area of mature second-growth forest and experience the quiet and solitude of a back-in-the-woods journey.
October Colors in The Smoky Mountains
By the beginning of October, trees in the Smoky Mountains high country are now showing bright fall colors: the yellows of American beech and yellow birch and different shades of reds on mountain ash, pin cherry, and mountain maple.
In the lower elevations, a few early color-changing species, such as sourwood and sumac, are showing bright reds now but are scattered.
Some dogwood and maples are also beginning to turn different colors in some areas.
Fall wildflowers such as goldenrod and asters are colorful throughout the park. Some blueberry and blackberry shrubs, as well as the Virginia creeper plant, are also changing color.
Bright golds and yellows of American beech, yellow birch, yellow buckeye, and different shades of red on mountain ash, pin, black cherry, and mountain maple are painting the landscape.
Fall wildflowers such as mountain gentian, black cohosh, and goldenrod are colorful throughout the park. Some blueberry and blackberry shrubs, as well as the Virginia creeper plant, are also colorful.
By mid-October at the lower elevations, fall colors are finally expanding, and sunny days and cooler nights help the colors begin to change.
The peak of color at the lower elevations is over a week away. In the valleys, black gum, dogwood, sumac, and sourwood trees continue to show vivid reds. Golds are coming along on tulip trees, black walnut, birch, beech, and hickories.
As the leaf color increases, so does the number of people who are traveling to the Smoky Mountains. While scenic drives are a good way to see fall colors in the Smoky Mountains, hiking is also a great way to see and explore the autumn in the Smokies.
November Fall Foliage Colors in the Smoky Mountains
As October begins to fade away up top, autumn colors at mid-elevations, from 3,000-5,000 feet, are at or slightly past peak and are very impressive.
Reds are more pronounced now than in recent years, especially on the North Carolina side of the park. Colors at the very highest elevations (above 5,500) are now past the peak.
Fall colors are quickly developing at the Smoky Mountains’ lower elevations. The season’s first frost occurred this week in the low elevations, so the remaining leaves should change color within a few days.
Black gum, dogwood, sumacs, and sourwood trees continue to show vivid reds. Golds are present on tuliptree, black walnut, birch, beech, spicebush, and hickories.
By mid-November, the fall colors are past peak in the Smoky Mountains, and many trees have already shed their leaves. There are a small number of trees that might still be showing color.
Oak trees are just beginning to change color, although their hues are somewhat muted compared to maple, hickory, and other trees.
Some pockets of green can still be seen at middle to lower elevations, so if mild weather continues, some new color will still appear in these isolated areas.
Best Hikes in the Smokies for Beginners:
- Lower Mount Cammerer
- Baskins Creek Falls
- Little River
- Old Settlers
- Porters Creeks Trails
Best Hikes for Outdoor Enthusiasts:
- Sugarlands Mountain
- Low Gap
- Appalachian
- Mt. Sterling
- Goshen Prong Trails
Additional Hikes to see the fall colors
- Rich Mountain Loop
- Chestnut Top Trail
- Smokemont Loop
- Kanati Fork
- Sutton Ridge Overlook
- Lower Mt. Cammerer Trail
Best Places to see the Smoky Mountain fall colors:
- Newfound Gap Road
- Alum Cave Trailhead
- Kephart Prong Trailhead
- Blue Ridge Parkway
- Foothills Parkway East & West
- Heintooga Ridge Road
- Balsam Mountain Campground
Best Driving Routes to See the Fall Colors:
- Foothills Parkway (East and West side of the Park)
- Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441)
- Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
- Balsam Mountain Road
- Cove Creek Road
Smoky Mountain Webcam:
- View from Clingmans Dome
- View from Look Rock
- View from Purchase Knob
- View from Newfound Gap
Driving directions to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Traffic in the Smokies can get heavy, especially along Highway 66 during peak travel seasons (July and October are the highest travel months).
Take one of these less-traveled and scenic routes to Gatlinburg and you’re well on your way to seeing the fall foliage in the Smoky Mountains.
There are three main entrances to The Great Smoky Mountains National Park:
Gatlinburg, TN entrance
I-40 takes Exit 407 (Sevierville) from the interstate highway to TN-66 South. At the main intersection in Sevierville, continue straight onto US-441 South. Follow US-441 through Sevierville and Pigeon Forge into the park.
From Sevierville and Pigeon Forge: Stay straight on US-441 South and continue into the park.
Townsend, TN entrance
From the north: From the interstate highway, I-40 in Knoxville, take Exit 386B to US-129 South to Alcoa/Maryville. At Maryville proceed on US-321 North/TN -73 East through Townsend. Continue straight on TN-73 into the park.
From the south: I-75 takes Exit 376 to I-140 E towards Oak Ridge/Maryville from the interstate highway. Merge onto I-140 E via Exit 376B towards Maryville.
Turn onto US-129 South (Alcoa Highway) at Exit 11A and travel towards Alcoa. Turn onto TN-35 and follow it to US-321 North. Follow US-321 North/TN -73 East through Townsend. Continue straight on TN-73 into the park.
From Pigeon Forge: Turn at red light #3 and take US-321 south into Townsend. Then take 73 East into the National Park.
Cherokee, NC entrance
From the north: From the interstate highway, I-40, take Exit 27 to US-74 West towards Waynesville. Turn onto US-19 and proceed through Maggie Valley to Cherokee. Turn onto US-441 North at Cherokee and follow the road into the park.
From the south: Follow US-441/US-23 North. At Dillsboro, merge on US-74 West/US-441 North. At Exit 74 merge onto US-441. Follow US-441 through Cherokee and into the park.
Where to Stay In Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
1. MARGARITAVILLE ISLAND HOTEL
Visitors have been drawn to the unspoiled and protected majesty of the Great Smoky Mountains for generations.
Whether you fully immerse yourself in active outdoor adventures or just sit back and soak up the awe-inspiring scenery, you will take the mountains with you when you travel home from your getaway.
A perfect blend of mountain latitude and island attitude, the Margaritaville Island Hotel brings a new perspective to the Smoky Mountains experience with its contemporary, mountain-luxe surroundings, high level of service, and attention to detail.
Inspired by the lyrics and lifestyle of singer, songwriter, and author Jimmy Buffett, Margaritaville Island Hotel is the perfect setting to escape the daily routine, discover a new outlook, and just chill.
Just beyond the lobby seating area is Latitude Bar and guess what? They offer a FREE complimentary beverage upon check-in.
The bar shares a giant see-through fireplace with the lobby, with additional seating for you to enjoy your cocktail before exploring the Island.
👉 My top pick: Check rates and availability at Margaritaville Hotel
2. MARGARITAVILLE ISLAND INN
The Margaritaville Island Hotel is mountain-luxe at its finest. Its upgraded guestroom amenities include a Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Maker in every room, fireplaces, private balconies, and spacious walk-in dual rain showers.
This property, also featuring a rooftop bar, pool, and comfortable gathering spaces, is the perfect getaway in the heart of The Island.
Continue your Margaritaville escape in the mountains with a visit to The Island in Pigeon Forge, just a short hop, skip, and a flip-flop away from the Island Inn.
Margaritaville has many offerings on the island that will entertain you from sunup to sundown. We recommend stopping by the Margaritaville Coffee Shop on your way out to seize the day and enjoy a classic dish from the Margaritaville Restaurant.
Click here if Margaritaville Island Inn is right for you.
ColorBlind View Finder
The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, in partnership with the Tennessee State Parks, installed a new Colorblind ViewFinder at Radnor Lake State Park and Natural Area.
There are 13 Viewfinders throughout Tennessee:
- Big South Fork National River & Recreation East Rim Overlook
- Ober Gatlinburg
- I-26 Westbound Scenic Overlook
- Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park
- Chickasaw State Park
- Ruby Falls Lookout Mountain – Blue Heron Overlook
- Standing Stone State Park
- South Cumberland State Park
- Fall Creek Falls State Park – Millikins Overlook
- Veterans Overlook at Clinch Mountain
- TN-111 Sequatchie Valley Overlook
- Cherohala Skyway – Lake View Scenic Overlook
- Radnor Lake State Park
Frequently Asked Questions About Smoky Mountain Fall Colors
Peak fall colors in the Smoky Mountains vary by elevation. High elevations like Clingmans Dome usually peak in late September through early October. Mid elevations such as Cades Cove peak in mid to late October. Lower elevations including Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge reach peak colors from late October into early November.
Newfound Gap Road is one of the most popular drives because it takes you from Gatlinburg all the way into North Carolina with endless overlooks along the way. Roaring Fork Motor Trail and Little River Road are also favorites for seeing vibrant foliage without a strenuous hike.
Some of the most breathtaking views are from Clingmans Dome, Morton Overlook, and the Foothills Parkway. Each spot offers sweeping mountain vistas that light up with fiery reds and golds during peak season.
Yes, October is the busiest time of year in the Smokies. Weekends in particular can be very crowded in Gatlinburg and Cades Cove. If possible, plan your trip for weekdays or early mornings to avoid the heaviest traffic.
Weather can change quickly in the mountains. Bring layers, a warm sweater or jacket for cooler mornings, comfortable hiking shoes, and of course your camera. If you plan to visit overlooks or trails, pack snacks and water as some areas have limited services.
Yes, fall is one of the best times to spot wildlife. Cades Cove is famous for black bears, white-tailed deer, and wild turkeys. Always observe from a distance and never feed the animals.
Conclusion: Smoky Mountain Fall Colors
Every October and November I’m reminded why I never get tired of living so close to the Smoky Mountains.
The fall colors here aren’t just something you see, but they’re something you feel. From the quiet drives through Cades Cove to the sweeping overlooks on Newfound Gap Road, there is nothing like watching the Smokies come alive in shades of red, gold, and orange.
If you are planning your own trip, use this guide to find the best time to visit and the best places to catch peak fall foliage in 2025.
Whether you want an easy drive, a hike through fiery maples, or a photo-worthy stop in Gatlinburg, the Smokies will deliver.
So pack your sweater, grab your camera, and get ready to experience the beauty of the Smoky Mountains in full color.
And when you are ready to book, make sure you choose a hotel that keeps you close to the action so you can soak up every moment of fall in Tennessee.
Turn your fall foliage trip into a full getaway by staying at Margaritaville Hotel.
ADDITIONAL ARTICLES FOR EXPLORING TENNESSEE
The Best Places To See The Fall Foliage in Arkansas
Best Places to Visit in October
Best Places to Visit in November
11 Fall Getaways You Must Visit This Year
Are you planning your fall vacation to the Smoky Mountains to see the fall foliage?
I would love to hear your thoughts on the Smoky Mountains’ fall foliage and if you plan on visiting Gatlinburg or Pigeon this fall so leave me a comment on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
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