09/08/2026
2026 East Coast Fall Foliage Pocket Guide 🍂🍁
EARLY TO MID-OCTOBER
Frederick, MD: Catoctin Mountain Park, Chimney Rock Trail, Catoctin Orchard
Stay: Visitation Hotel
Hudson Valley, NY: Cold Spring, Beacon & Bear Mountain (peaks much earlier than NYC).
MID-OCTOBER TO EARLY NOVEMBER
Boston, MA: Beacon Hill, Boston Public Garden, Emerald Necklace
Stay: The Whitney Hotel Boston, Boston Harbor Hotel, The Envoy Hotel
Cape Cod, MA: Route 6A drive, Beebe Woods, Cranberry Bog tours
Stay: Sea Crest Beach Resort
LATE OCTOBER TO EARLY NOVEMBER
New York City: Central Park, Prospect Park, brownstone streets
Stay: Hotel 48LEX New York, Aliz Hotel Times
Square, NU Hotel
Philadelphia, PA: Wissahickon Valley Park, Rittenhouse Square, Route 32
Stay: The Rittenhouse
Annapolis, MD: City Dock waterfront, Quiet Waters Park, Naval Academy
Stay: Annapolis Waterfront Hotel
Washington, DC: Rock Creek Park, Georgetown, National Mall
Stay: Hotel Madera, The Morrow Hotel, Capitol Hill Hotel
📌 Rule of thumb: Head to high elevations early in October, and save city parks or coastal escapes for late October into November.
Find an Independent Collection hotel for your stay and read more in our 2026 East Coast Fall Foliage Guide at https://www.independentcollection.com/blog/2026/08/28/2026-east-coast-fall-foliage-guide