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Virginia Fall Colors

Fall is one of the most colorful times to explore the natural beauty of Virginia. The deep reds, yellows, oranges and greens are on full display among the mountains, valleys and historic cities and towns in the state. While the vibrant colors are visible in most of the state, there are a number of driving and hiking tours that will take sightseers into the heart of the fall display in Virginia.

Skyline Drive/Shenandoah National Park
- Skyline Drive has meandered through Shenandoah National Park for more than 70 years, winding through lush forests up, down and around the Blue Ridge Mountains. In the fall, visitors can experience the vast colors of the changing leaves through either a driving tour of Skyline Drive (which offers panoramic views of surrounding mountains and valleys) or while hiking more than 500 miles of trails in the Shenandoah, just off the main road. A fee of $15 per non-commercial vehicle is charged to park visitors from March through November.
Greene County
- Located among the foothills surrounding Charlottesville, Greene County offers visitors rolling hills and forest tunnels in which to experience Virginia's fall colors. This pastoral setting is best experienced through a driving tour. The Virginia Department of Forestry recommends starting the tour at the intersection of Route 33 and Route 230 in Stanardsville and following Route 230 north to Route 29. Travelers should then turn left onto Route 29, following the road into the town of Madison. Finally, follow Route 231 along the Blue Ridge Turnpike to Sperryville. Several wineries dot the area, allowing visitors to sip Virginia wine outdoors while reveling in the array of colors surrounding them.
Bedford County
- The Roanoke area offers drives along ancient rivers, where red-, yellow- and orange-leaved trees line the banks. In Bedford County, visitors can take a winding 35-mile drive through the fall foliage in Bourassa State Forest and Smith Mountain Lake State Park. The round-trip tour starts at Route 460 in Bedford and continues through Route 122 South in Moneta. Route 608 East takes drivers to Bourassa, and after doubling back along Route 608, drivers can take Route 626 to Smith Mountain Lake.
Prince William Forest Park
- Located 35 miles south of Washington, D.C., Prince William Forest Park offers 37 miles of hiking trails and 21 miles of bicycle-accessible roads for travelers to experience the fall colors within the canopy of the forest. Scenic Drive, which winds through the park, allows drivers and bicyclists to take a slow tour through the different colors of Virginia's forests, and several hiking trails jut off this road. The park also offers cabins and campgrounds for visitors who wish to spend multiple days among the fall foliage.

Nature