Posted in Florida October 11, 2017 by Victoria W

Here Are The Best Times And Places To View Fall Foliage In Florida

Although it could definitely be a little cooler, we’re starting to finally feel the onset of fall in (some parts of) the Sunshine State. Whether you’re planning a visit or you’re just a curious resident, the 2017 Fall Foliage Prediction Map from SmokyMountains.com is here to help.

We all know Florida's fall season starts a lot later than other parts of the country, and the creators of this map have done their best to predict when exactly we will start seeing minimal to peak fall foliage in every state.

As the legend on the right-hand side explains, the degrees of foliage change include none, minimal, patchy, partial, near peak, peak, and past peak.

The colors somewhat coordinate to what colors you would expect to see at that time, but obviously there's no way it could be exact.

Even the same leaf can have multiple colors!

So let's check out this awesome interactive map and see what it predicts for fall this year. Although the rest of the country has begun experiencing some degree of change, Florida is still green.

According to the map, we should experience the first tiny sign of change ("minimal" change) around October 15th. You can also see that by the time ours is barely beginning, New England's more obvious autumn is already coming to an end.

Around Halloween, we can expect to experience partial fall foliage, but nothing drastic.

So when can we expect our fall foliage to become as beautiful as possible before turning brown? According to the map, we should reach "near-peak" foliage around November 5th and "peak" foliage around mid-November.

By that time, almost every other state in the country will be past its fall foliage peak, at least in some areas.

For all you naysayers out there who will say there's no fall in Florida (and I know you're out there), I have to beg to differ. Depending on where you live, you might have to travel north to get the best view, though.

North Florida especially has many areas with moderate to drastic fall color changes. Check out these gorgeous red leaves in Washington County.

The Morningside Nature Center in Gainesville can have some nice fall foliage as well.

Even Central Florida gets some pretty fall scenery, as you can see in this photo of Wekiwa Springs State Park in Apopka.

So basically, if you really want to see the best fall foliage in the Sunshine State, wait until mid to late November and explore some of our stunning state and county parks in North Florida. Torreya State Park in Bristol, for example, has an especially wonderful view from its scenic bluffs.

You can check out the fall foliage map for yourself here. There’s also some neat information on the science behind the changing and falling leaves. What’s your favorite place to see fall foliage in Florida? Send us your photos!

Here Are The Best Times And Places To View Fall Foliage In Florida

Newsletters Mentioned:

Florida In Your Inbox

Love Florida?