Ideal time and best places to visit around Smoky mountains area for Fall colors (Knoxville: house)

[spalam01]

I am considering visiting Smoky mountains area with my family during the Fall... Please suggest what would be the ideal time during the Fall to visit this area for Fall colors and what would be the best places around that area for enjoying the Fall colors...

[PhxBuckeye]

I've been thinking about this too. My wife, daughters and I will be in Knoxville house hunting for a week in md-October. I'm wondering how the colors will be at that time.?


TIA

[arabus]

FYI:

Autumn color in the Smokies

http://www.gatlinburgtnguide.com/new...oliage-report/

[hiknapster]

Best bet is almost always the very end of October, very beginning of November. Could vary by a week or so and, obviously, higher elevations will peak earlier.

If you are looking for places to stay around the Smokies, I highly suggest https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-...Vacations.html

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by spalam01

I am considering visiting Smoky mountains area with my family during the Fall... Please suggest what would be the ideal time during the Fall to visit this area for Fall colors and what would be the best places around that area for enjoying the Fall colors...

In one year, I went to Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park 3 times in October: 10/16, 10/24 and 10/30. In my opinion 10/24 was the best for fall foliage photo-wise in the cove. If you go there be prepared for a lot cars. Go on a weekday. Be there when the sun rises (and they open the gate - it's free) to have the best opportunity to see horses, turkey, deer, etc. If you plan to go to higher elevations, go earlier in the month.

[llsmith42]

I agree. Foliage is definitely better towards the end of October, NORMALLY. However, this year has been quite dry that may affect the colors, timing, etc.

[indy_317]

I thought about going this year, but we took a pass. The fall color peaks are different from year to year. The best thing to do is check out the air quality webcams located at Look Rock and Purchase Knob. These are higher elevation webcams.

The webcam links are located here:

NPS: Explore Nature » Air Resources » Air Quality Webcams

This would be a good thing to use for those who can take quick vacations from work. There is plenty of lodging options in the area, so last minute trips shouldn't be too difficult. For those who want a true idea of the best time to visit, once you click on the camera you want to view, the window viewer will come up in a new page. Under the window will be a clickable "Archives" link. They have sixteen years of photos available. This will allow one to see when the color change was during a specific year.

As others have said, get an early start. The earlier the better. The best is to find a trail to hike in the higher elevations if one wants to get away from the crowds. Within the last few days, people were posting the snow at Clingman's Dome and there were reports of traffic being so bad it was taking hours to get from Clingman's Dome to Gatlinburg. Traffic in Gatlinburg is bumper to bumper during the weekend. It is best to get up early, eat breakfast, pack a lunch to go, get in the park, take your time, eat lunch, hit some trails or check out the visitor centers, eat a snack, then head out after traffic has thinned out.

[hiknapster]

We're in the middle of a drought and so far the colors are awful. That could change.

[SkyNSea55]

Finally sold our house in Loudon and took one last ride along Foothills Parkway earlier this week. Weather was gorgeous and there were some impressive patches of color along the way, but in general, color seemed very weak this year. Kept thinking, maybe I'm just early, but a lot of leaves had already fallen. Still, a beautiful ride to take in the fall with barely any traffic and beautiful Smokey Mountain views to one side and Knoxville and the Cumberlands to the other. Plenty of places to pull off and take pictures. Was always one of my favorite drives.