Oct 1, 2025 - News
Map: Fall foliage arrives late in New Orleans
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New Orleans has almost everything you need for fall — except leaf-peeping.
Why it matters: South Louisiana is among the last places in the country to get any fall foliage.
The big picture: Trees in the rest of the country are currently turning brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow.
- In New Orleans, the trees are still green — or turning brown from drought.
- We won't see real color until at least mid-November, according to SmokyMountains.com, which puts together annual foliage prediction maps.
Zoom out: Warmer-than-average temperatures could delay foliage this year across the South, writes Axios' Carly Mallenbaum.
- But, South Louisiana, South Texas and South Florida are usually the last places in the U.S. to get fall color anyway.
The bottom line: We rock at spooky season, but you'll need to hit the road for leaf-peeping. Here are some in-state suggestions.
- Roadtrip option — take the Natchez Trace Parkway to Nashville.