Fall is a beautiful time in DC. There’s nothing like that first morning when there is a chill in the air and the leaves start changing colors. If you want to the beautiful colors of fall this autumn, we put together a dreamy road trip around the DC area where you can see the best fall foliage.
To view the Google Map of the trip, just click here.
- National Arboretum
Yelp/Mudflap DC The Arboretum is the best place to start our fall foliage tour. The Arboretum is 446 acres of beautiful trees, plants and flowers. You can tour the garden on your own or you can take a tram ride around the Arboretum. It’s free to visit!
- Rock Creek Park
Flickr/Katja Schulz Next up, you have to stop into Rock Creek Park, DC’s biggest urban park. Enjoy seeing the gorgeous colors as you explore the many different hiking, biking and jogging trails in the park.
- Tidal Basin
Flickr/Carlos Lacruz The Tidal Basin gets most of its attention during the spring but it’s gorgeous in the fall as well. The leaves on the cherry trees turn orange and yellow and it’s a great spot to just sit and enjoy the season right in the the middle of DC.
- Theodore Roosevelt Island
Flickr/Mr.TinDC DC’s own little river island dedicated to outdoorsmen Teddy Roosevelt is beautiful in the fall. The island is designed to have wooded uplands and swampy bottomlands. The park is a great place to stroll around and it’s dog-friendly.
- Great Falls Park
Flickr/Kelly Williams Across the Potomac, the Virginia side of Great Falls Park is perfect for a fall hike. There are trails along the river and you can view impressive views of the Great Falls and in the fall the trees along the gorges turn yellow, orange and red, creating a fall picturesque scene.
- Seneca Creek State Park
Flickr/Nicolas Raymond Up in Maryland, Seneca Creek State Park features a 90-acre lake surrounded by stunning trees and hiking trails. The view of the reflection of the trees on the lake are absolutely stunning.
- Black Hill Regional Park
Yelp/Priscilla T. Located in Boyds, Maryland, this 2,000 park has plenty to offer visitors in the fall. You can picnic among the fall foliage, explore miles of trails and enjoy fantastic views of Little Seneca Lake.
- Harpers Ferry
Flickr/smilla4 Harpers Ferry is in West Virginia and it’s right tat the point where Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia come together. It has some of the most incredible fall foliage in the entire area. Climb the Maryland Heights trail to enjoy stunning views.
- Sky Meadows State Park
Flickr/MK Campbell Sky Meadows State Park is in Deplane Virginia. There’s miles of open space with views of the Piedmont and Bull Run mountains. There is an entire section of the park where it’s completely covered by trees and walking through it is like a magical fall wonderland.
- Burke Lake Park
Flickr/Alan Kotok Burke Lake Park in Fairfax features a 218-acre lake, open fields, wooded trails, campgrounds, a golf course and so much more. Follow the Burke Lake Loop Trail, a 4.7 mile loop around the lake that offers gorgeous views.
Keep exploring outdoors this fall in DC at these 12 natural wonders in DC!
Yelp/Mudflap DC
The Arboretum is the best place to start our fall foliage tour. The Arboretum is 446 acres of beautiful trees, plants and flowers. You can tour the garden on your own or you can take a tram ride around the Arboretum. It’s free to visit!
Flickr/Katja Schulz
Next up, you have to stop into Rock Creek Park, DC’s biggest urban park. Enjoy seeing the gorgeous colors as you explore the many different hiking, biking and jogging trails in the park.
Flickr/Carlos Lacruz
The Tidal Basin gets most of its attention during the spring but it’s gorgeous in the fall as well. The leaves on the cherry trees turn orange and yellow and it’s a great spot to just sit and enjoy the season right in the the middle of DC.
Flickr/Mr.TinDC
DC’s own little river island dedicated to outdoorsmen Teddy Roosevelt is beautiful in the fall. The island is designed to have wooded uplands and swampy bottomlands. The park is a great place to stroll around and it’s dog-friendly.
Flickr/Kelly Williams
Across the Potomac, the Virginia side of Great Falls Park is perfect for a fall hike. There are trails along the river and you can view impressive views of the Great Falls and in the fall the trees along the gorges turn yellow, orange and red, creating a fall picturesque scene.
Flickr/Nicolas Raymond
Up in Maryland, Seneca Creek State Park features a 90-acre lake surrounded by stunning trees and hiking trails. The view of the reflection of the trees on the lake are absolutely stunning.
Yelp/Priscilla T.
Located in Boyds, Maryland, this 2,000 park has plenty to offer visitors in the fall. You can picnic among the fall foliage, explore miles of trails and enjoy fantastic views of Little Seneca Lake.
Flickr/smilla4
Harpers Ferry is in West Virginia and it’s right tat the point where Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia come together. It has some of the most incredible fall foliage in the entire area. Climb the Maryland Heights trail to enjoy stunning views.
Flickr/MK Campbell
Sky Meadows State Park is in Deplane Virginia. There’s miles of open space with views of the Piedmont and Bull Run mountains. There is an entire section of the park where it’s completely covered by trees and walking through it is like a magical fall wonderland.
Flickr/Alan Kotok
Burke Lake Park in Fairfax features a 218-acre lake, open fields, wooded trails, campgrounds, a golf course and so much more. Follow the Burke Lake Loop Trail, a 4.7 mile loop around the lake that offers gorgeous views.
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