Ohio Fall Color Drives: Scenic Byways and ODNR's Oct 8 Color Report
Roll the windows down, point the car at the hills and let the kids call out the reddest tree. Here are all 27 of Ohio's designated byways plus the Wayne National Forest's covered bridge road, 31 parks, forests and preserves for a stretch, and ODNR's color report from October 8, 2026.
ODNR Fall Color Update No. 2 · October 8, 2026
Fall color as of October 8, 2026
“Fall color reporters are seeing predominantly changing conditions statewide as colors begin to further develop with the cooler days and nights.”
Status by region, Oct 8
Township counts from ODNR's fall color map as of ODNR's October 8, 2026 report. ODNR's categories are Mostly Green, Changing, Near Peak, Peak and Fading. The five regions are our grouping of counties, not ODNR's.
NortheastChanging 319 of 319 townships
NorthwestMostly Green 36, Changing 243 of 279 townships
CentralChanging 192, Near Peak 18 of 210 townships
Near Peak townships in parts of Knox and Licking counties.
SouthwestMostly Green 15, Changing 191 of 206 townships
SoutheastChanging 327, Near Peak 26 of 353 townships
Near Peak townships in parts of Coshocton, Muskingum and Perry counties.
Mostly GreenChangingNear PeakPeakFading
Closest to peak on Oct 8
As of ODNR's October 8, 2026 report, ODNR's map showed Near Peak townships in Licking County (16 of 26 townships), Muskingum County (13 of 25 townships), Coshocton County (8 of 22 townships), Perry County (5 of 14 townships) and Knox County (2 of 22 townships). No township was at Peak.
ODNR reporting parks at Near Peak: Dillon State Park (October 8, 2026).
“This fall, the ODNR Division of Forestry is expecting color to peak in the far north of Ohio in mid-October, in Central and Northern Ohio in mid-to-late October, and in Southern Ohio at the end of October and beginning of November.” ODNR forecast
ODNR posts a new fall color update each week. This page shows Update No. 2, checked on October 12, 2026; we refresh it after each new update. The ODNR fall color page always has the newest report.
Pick a drive
Enter an Ohio ZIP code to list the closest drives first, by straight-line miles from the ZIP code's center. Then narrow them down by region, length and what you'd like to see along the way.
Ohio ZIP codes only (43001 to 45999). Coming from out of state? Use the ZIP code of the Ohio town where you'll start.
28 drives
All 28 Ohio fall color drives
Each card quotes what the official pages say and how long the drive is. It also shows our county summary of ODNR's October 8, 2026 map for the counties the drive crosses. Feature icons appear only where an official source mentions the feature. A missing icon means the sources we use don't mention it, not that it isn't there.
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Northeast, Central and Southeast Ohio · Ashland, Coshocton, Holmes, Knox, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties
Length
About 190 mi
Area color, Oct 8:Changingmost townships in its 6 counties. Near Peak townships in parts of Coshocton and Knox counties.
Our county summary of ODNR's October 8, 2026 report, not a report on this road.
Winding curves and rolling hills through Ohio's Amish country, with Amish country cooking and historic sites along the way. ODOT says a visit can last two to three days.
Rolling hills and natural vistas
Amish country cooking
Historic sites on Amish and German history
Overlooks and vistas
Leaf-peeping stops nearby:Mohican State Park(about 3 mi from the mapped route, straight line), Malabar Farm State Park(about 9 mi from the mapped route, straight line)
Quoted from: transportation.ohio.gov, fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov. Our calculations: counties from ODOT's route map and Census boundaries and area color and distances.
Southeast Ohio · Athens, Monroe, Morgan and Noble counties
Length
105 mi
Route
From Hannibal to Nelsonville
Area color, Oct 8:Changingmost townships in its 4 counties.
Our county summary of ODNR's October 8, 2026 report, not a report on this road.
State Route 78 through the Appalachian foothills, from the Hannibal Locks and Dam on the Ohio River across Monroe, Noble and Morgan counties to Nelsonville. A short side trip on SR 83 reaches The Wilds.
Central Ohio · Champaign, Franklin, Madison and Union counties
Length
27+ mi main route, plus spurs
Area color, Oct 8:Changingmost townships in its 4 counties.
Our county summary of ODNR's October 8, 2026 report, not a report on this road.
Follows Big Darby Creek past prairie remnants, nature preserves, century farms and covered bridges, through North Lewisburg, Milford Center, Unionville Center and Plain City.
Area color, Oct 8:Near Peakmost townships in its county. Near Peak townships in parts of Licking County.
Our county summary of ODNR's October 8, 2026 report, not a report on this road.
A short run up SR 661 through the New England-style Village of Granville and past Denison University, with rolling hills, scenic farms and two historic inns.
Area color, Oct 8:Changingmost townships in its 2 counties.
Our county summary of ODNR's October 8, 2026 report, not a report on this road.
Nineteenth-century hamlets, barns and mills in Bath Township, linking Hale Farm and Village, the Bath Nature Preserve and Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Quoted from: transportation.ohio.gov. Our calculations: length measured on ODOT's byway map, counties from ODOT's route map and Census boundaries and area color and distances.
Southwest, Central and Southeast Ohio · Belmont, Clark, Franklin, Guernsey, Licking, Madison, Miami, Montgomery, Muskingum and Preble counties
Length
225 mi
Route
From the West Virginia state line at the Ohio River to the Indiana state line
Area color, Oct 8:Changingmost townships in its 10 counties. Near Peak townships in parts of Licking and Muskingum counties.
Our county summary of ODNR's October 8, 2026 report, not a report on this road.
US 40 across the whole state, lined with "pike towns" that grew up around early-1800s stopping points. ODOT's page shows the Shaeffer Campbell Covered Bridge on Ohio University's Belmont campus.
Quoted from: transportation.ohio.gov, fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov, ohio.org. Our calculations: counties from ODOT's route map and Census boundaries and area color and distances.
Area color, Oct 8:Changingmost townships in its county.
Our county summary of ODNR's October 8, 2026 report, not a report on this road.
State Route 374 through the Hocking Hills and around Hocking State Forest. The FHWA names six sites the byway connects from north to south: Cantwell Cliffs, Rock House, Conkle's Hollow, Old Man's Cave, Cedar Falls and Ash Cave. ODNR runs Conkles Hollow as a state nature preserve.
Quoted from: transportation.ohio.gov, fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov, ohiodnr.gov. Our calculations: counties from ODOT's route map and Census boundaries and area color and distances.
Quoted from: transportation.ohio.gov. Our calculations: length measured on ODOT's byway map, counties from ODOT's route map and Census boundaries and area color and distances.
Northwest and Northeast Ohio · Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Erie, Lake, Lorain, Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Seneca counties
Length
293 mi
Route
From Conneaut to Toledo and the Michigan border
Area color, Oct 8:Changingmost townships in its 9 counties.
Our county summary of ODNR's October 8, 2026 report, not a report on this road.
The whole Lake Erie shore from Conneaut to Toledo, with beaches, state parks, lighthouses and island ferries. A western loop runs through Ottawa, Sandusky and Seneca counties.
Lake Erie shoreline
State parks and preserves
Lighthouses
Island ferries
Waterfalls
Parks and nature areas
Leaf-peeping stops nearby:Kelleys Island State Park(an island off the route; ODOT mentions ferry rides to Lake Erie's islands)
Quoted from: transportation.ohio.gov, fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov. Our calculations: counties from ODOT's route map and Census boundaries and area color and distances.
Area color, Oct 8:Changingmost townships in its county.
Our county summary of ODNR's October 8, 2026 report, not a report on this road.
County Road 316 along the Mad River, past George Rogers Clark Park and its small waterfall, the Hertzler House and the Estelle Wenrick Wetlands Preserve.
Northwest Ohio · Defiance, Henry, Lucas and Wood counties
Length
About 90 mi
Route
From Defiance to Maumee (north side) and Rossford (south side)
Area color, Oct 8:Changingmost townships in its 4 counties.
Our county summary of ODNR's October 8, 2026 report, not a report on this road.
Both banks of the Maumee River: River Road from Defiance through Napoleon and Waterville to Maumee, and SR 110 and SR 65 through Grand Rapids, Perrysburg and Rossford.
Southwest and Northwest Ohio · Allen, Auglaize, Miami and Shelby counties
Length
54 mi
Route
From Piqua to Delphos
Area color, Oct 8:Changingmost townships in its 4 counties.
Our county summary of ODNR's October 8, 2026 report, not a report on this road.
SR 66 along the old canal from Piqua north through Minster, New Bremen and St. Marys to Delphos. Canal boat rides run at the Johnston Farm & Indian Agency.
Canal boat ride at Johnston Farm & Indian Agency
Minster, New Bremen and St. Marys
Trails and state parks near the byway
Parks and nature areas
Leaf-peeping stops nearby:Lake Loramie State Park(about 3 mi from the mapped route, straight line)
Area color, Oct 8:Mostly Greenmost townships in its county.
Our county summary of ODNR's October 8, 2026 report, not a report on this road.
Neil Armstrong's hometown of Wapakoneta: a likely route of his boyhood bike ride to the airfield where he learned to fly, and his 1969 homecoming parade route downtown.
Northeast and Southeast Ohio · Cuyahoga, Stark, Summit and Tuscarawas counties
Length
110 mi
Route
From Dover (Tuscarawas County, at I-77) to Cleveland's Carter Road Lift Bridge
Area color, Oct 8:Changingmost townships in its 4 counties.
Our county summary of ODNR's October 8, 2026 report, not a report on this road.
The old canal's path from Dover to Cleveland, beside the Towpath Trail and the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, with 20 miles through the heart of Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Quoted from: transportation.ohio.gov, fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov, ohio.org. Our calculations: counties from ODOT's route map and Census boundaries and area color and distances.
Southeast, Northeast and Southwest Ohio · Adams, Athens, Belmont, Brown, Clermont, Columbiana, Gallia, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lawrence, Meigs, Monroe, Scioto and Washington counties
Length
452 mi
Route
From US 50 at the Indiana border to East Liverpool at the Pennsylvania border
Area color, Oct 8:Changingmost townships in its 14 counties.
Our county summary of ODNR's October 8, 2026 report, not a report on this road.
The full length of the Ohio River in Ohio, 14 counties of river towns and almost continuous river views, from the Indiana line past Cincinnati to East Liverpool.
Almost continuous Ohio River views
Historic river towns
Wayne National Forest backdrop
Overlooks and vistas
Parks and nature areas
Leaf-peeping stops nearby:Shawnee State Forest(under 1 mi from the mapped route, straight line), Shawnee State Park(about 3 mi from the mapped route, straight line)
Quoted from: transportation.ohio.gov, fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov, fs.usda.gov. Our calculations: counties from ODOT's route map and Census boundaries and area color and distances.
Quoted from: transportation.ohio.gov. Our calculations: length measured on ODOT's byway map, counties from ODOT's route map and Census boundaries and area color and distances.
Area color, Oct 8:Changingmost townships in its 2 counties.
Our county summary of ODNR's October 8, 2026 report, not a report on this road.
A loop through Quaker country between Waynesville and Wilmington, past meeting houses and Harveysburg, crossing the Little Miami Scenic Trail near Caesar Creek State Park.
Quaker meeting houses
Harveysburg
Caesar Creek State Park
Little Miami Scenic Trail
Parks and nature areas
Leaf-peeping stops nearby:Caesar Creek State Park(on the route, named by the official source)
Southeast and Southwest Ohio · Adams, Pike and Scioto counties
Length
About 97 mi as mapped by ODOT
Route
Starts at downtown Portsmouth
Area color, Oct 8:Changingmost townships in its 3 counties.
Our county summary of ODNR's October 8, 2026 report, not a report on this road.
From downtown Portsmouth west along the Ohio River and north into Shawnee State Forest, then along Scioto County's highest ridges with views over the valley.
Shawnee State Forest
Ridge-top valley views
Portsmouth murals
Roy Rogers and Branch Rickey boyhood country
Overlooks and vistas
Parks and nature areas
Leaf-peeping stops nearby:Shawnee State Forest(on the route, named by the official source), Shawnee State Park(under 1 mi from the mapped route, straight line)
Quoted from: transportation.ohio.gov. Our calculations: length measured on ODOT's byway map, counties from ODOT's route map and Census boundaries and area color and distances.
Northeast, Central and Southeast Ohio · Ashland, Coshocton, Holmes and Knox counties
Length
About 10 mi as mapped by ODOT
Area color, Oct 8:Changingmost townships in its 4 counties. Near Peak townships in parts of Coshocton and Knox counties.
Our county summary of ODNR's October 8, 2026 report, not a report on this road.
Part of the old 1892 rail line between Coshocton and Loudonville, once called one of Ohio's most scenic train rides, through forested hilltops and the Mohican and Walhonding valleys.
Forested hilltops and deep ravines
Mohican and Walhonding valleys
Leaf-peeping stops nearby:Mohican State Park(under 1 mi from the mapped route, straight line), Malabar Farm State Park(about 8 mi from the mapped route, straight line)
Quoted from: transportation.ohio.gov. Our calculations: length measured on ODOT's byway map, counties from ODOT's route map and Census boundaries and area color and distances.
Area color, Oct 8:Changingmost townships in its 2 counties.
Our county summary of ODNR's October 8, 2026 report, not a report on this road.
State Route 26 beside the Little Muskingum River through the Wayne National Forest, with covered bridges, four campgrounds and ten marked tour stops. The Forest Service puts the tour at about four hours, plus an hour back to Marietta.
Quoted from: fs.usda.gov, ohio.org. Our calculations: counties from ODOT's route map and Census boundaries and area color and distances.
Make it a day
Four outings that pair a drive with places to get out and stretch. Bring the thermos.
Southeast Ohio
Hocking Hills, the big weekend
Drive SR 374 past Old Man's Cave, Cedar Falls, Ash Cave and the other sites the FHWA names. ODNR's Fall Color Tour with wagon rides is at Hocking State Forest on Saturday, October 24. Conkles Hollow State Nature Preserve holds a fall open house on Saturday and Sunday, October 24 and 25.
Area color, Oct 8:Changingmost townships in its county.
Our county summary of ODNR's October 8, 2026 report, not a report on this road.
Northeast Ohio
Apples, a farm and a fire tower
Follow Johnny Appleseed's country from Mifflin to Malabar Farm, where kids can meet the farm animals and you can drive atop Mt. Jeez. Then head to Mohican for the Fire Tower Overlook.
Area color, Oct 8:Changingmost townships in its 2 counties.
Our county summary of ODNR's October 8, 2026 report, not a report on this road.
Northeast Ohio
The canal and the national park
Twenty miles of this byway run through Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The Park Service says peak color there usually comes in the third week of October.
Area color, Oct 8:Changingmost townships in its 4 counties.
Our county summary of ODNR's October 8, 2026 report, not a report on this road.
Southeast Ohio
Covered bridges by the river
Follow SR 26 out of Marietta along the Little Muskingum River. The Forest Service's tour has ten marked stops and takes about four hours, plus an hour back to Marietta.
Area color, Oct 8:Changingmost townships in its 2 counties.
Our county summary of ODNR's October 8, 2026 report, not a report on this road.
Leaf-peeping stops: 31 parks, forests and preserves
Places ODNR, TourismOhio or the National Park Service point to for fall color. 21 of them are ODNR fall color reporting sites, shown with ODNR's own dated status. For the rest we show our county summary of ODNR's October 8, 2026 report. Stops are grouped by our five regions.
Clear Fork Gorge, Lyon's Falls, the Swinging Bridge and the Fire Tower Overlook's 360-degree view. TourismOhio says you can see the color without leaving your car.
Our county summary of ODNR's October 8, 2026 report, not an observation at this national park.
Maples, sassafras and aspens along park trails, Brandywine Falls and the Everett Covered Bridge. Lots fill by midday on sunny weekends, so go early or late.
Peak color is usually during the third week of October (National Park Service).
Go early or late at busy parks. At Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the Park Service suggests morning and late afternoon light for photos and says many parking lots fill around midday on warm, sunny weekends.
Check the color first. ODNR updates its fall color map each week, and its 2026 forecast has southern Ohio peaking after the north.
Let the kids navigate. Hand over the paper map and let them count covered bridges, barns or red trees.
Stay on the trails. At overlooks and gorges, keep to marked paths and keep little ones close.
Ohio fall color questions
When is peak fall color in Ohio in 2026?
ODNR's 2026 forecast: "This fall, the ODNR Division of Forestry is expecting color to peak in the far north of Ohio in mid-October, in Central and Northern Ohio in mid-to-late October, and in Southern Ohio at the end of October and beginning of November."
As of ODNR's October 8, 2026 report, most of Ohio was Changing: 1272 of 1367 townships on ODNR's map. The only Near Peak townships were in Licking, Muskingum, Coshocton, Perry and Knox counties.
Where was Ohio's fall color closest to peak in ODNR's October 8, 2026 report?
These are straight-line estimates, not drive times. Enter your own Ohio ZIP code in the drive planner to sort drives by straight-line miles from your ZIP code's center.
These are straight-line estimates, not drive times. Enter your own Ohio ZIP code in the drive planner to sort drives by straight-line miles from your ZIP code's center.
These are straight-line estimates, not drive times. Enter your own Ohio ZIP code in the drive planner to sort drives by straight-line miles from your ZIP code's center.
When does Hocking Hills peak in 2026?
ODNR doesn't publish a peak date for single parks. Its 2026 forecast puts southern Ohio's peak "at the end of October and beginning of November." ODNR's reporter at Hocking Hills State Park listed it as Changing on October 1, 2026.
ODNR's Hocking State Forest Fall Color Tour is on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Conkles Hollow State Nature Preserve holds a fall open house on Saturday and Sunday, October 24 and 25. Both are near the Hocking Hills Scenic Byway.
Yes. TourismOhio says Mohican State Park lets you "experience the fall foliage without even having to leave your car." At Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the Park Service notes that the upper boardwalk at Brandywine Falls and the Everett Covered Bridge are wheelchair accessible. The byways themselves are drives, so you can enjoy most of the color from the car.
Which fall color categories does ODNR use?
ODNR's fall color map labels each township Mostly Green, Changing, Near Peak, Peak and Fading. ODNR's fall color pages don't publish a definition for each label, so we use the labels exactly as written.
Two kinds of status appear here. On the 21 stop cards marked "ODNR reporter here", the status is ODNR's own for that property, with its date. Drive cards and the other stop cards show our county summary: the ODNR category held by the most townships in the counties involved, as of ODNR's October 8, 2026 report. That summary is our calculation, not an ODNR report on a road or park.
Where this comes from
Drives come from the Ohio Department of Transportation's Ohio Byways pages (all 27), the Federal Highway Administration's America's Byways list for national designations, and the USDA Forest Service for the Covered Bridge Scenic Byway. Route lines come from ODOT's public byway map. Stops come from ODNR property pages, TourismOhio's 2026 list of state parks for leaf peeping, and the National Park Service. The color report is ODNR's own report and map, dated and linked. Quoted facts on the cards (names, lengths, routes, highlights and features) each have a saved official source and its exact wording, rechecked on October 12, 2026. Some things are our own calculations, and the cards label them: lengths measured on ODOT's map, counties found from ODOT's route lines and Census boundaries, straight-line distances, and county summaries of ODNR's township statuses. Read the method or send a correction to hello@fallcolordrives.com.