There’s nothing more fun than going on an adventure to see the Delaware fall foliage. We love to get in the car and head out to our favorite foliage spots, stopping at an orchard along the way to pick up an apple cider donut. When you’re looking for great places to catch the colors this autumn, check out any of these 11 places that will be bursting with color by the heart of the season.

This year, Delaware is expected to reach peak fall foliage by mid to late October.
Fall Foliage Predicition Map
The weekend of October 22, 2022, is expected to be the best time to spot the leaves changing in the First State.

Here are the best places to go leaf peeping in Delaware:
1. Along the Wilmington and Western Railroad
Wilmington and Western Railroad, Wilmington, DE, USA
Facebook / Wilmington and Western Railroad
The W&W Railroad hosts a fall foliage train ride every year, and it shows off the stunning Red Clay Creek Valley in the best possible way. Enjoy the colors of autumn on the hillside as you take a tour through the towns the old-fashioned way.
2. Trap Pond State Park, Laurel
Trap Pond State Park, 33587 Bald Cypress Ln, Laurel, DE 19956, USA
Flickr / zizzybaloobah
Trap Pond is known for its bald cypress trees, but in the fall, there's another reason to visit! Home to some of the best fall foliage in Delaware, the bright reds, oranges, and yellows of the season reflect in the lake to create a surreal, stunning sight to see.
3. Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Kent County
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 2501-2599 Refuge Entrance Rd, Smyrna, DE 19977, USA
Flickr / pontla
Leaf-peeping in Delaware doesn't get any more exciting than at Bombay Hook. Not only are you keeping an eye out for the beautiful leaves changing color, but you'll be able to catch a glimpse of important migratory birds using this sanctuary as a stop along the International Flyway.
4. White Clay Creek State Park, Newark
Flickr / Priya Deonarain
White Clay Creek State Park is alive in the autumn with cross-country runners, hikers, and families looking to get a view of the fall. Miles of hiking trails show off some of the best foliage in Delaware.
5. Mt. Cuba Center, Hockessin
Mt. Cuba Center, 3120 Barley Mill Rd, Hockessin, DE 19707, USA
Flickr / Mandy Jansen
Mt. Cuba Center is beautiful all year long, but it's something special in the fall! Visit to see how the native plants of Delaware adapt to the changing season.

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6. Winterthur, Wilmington
Winterthur, Pennsbury Township, DE, USA
Flickr / Chris Connelly
Winterthur is the most beautiful place in Delaware, no matter when you visit. In October, the colors of autumn along the miles of trails here will take your breath away.
7. Lums Pond State Park, Bear
Lums Pond State Park, 1068 Howell School Rd, Bear, DE 19701, USA
Facebook / Lums Pond State Park
Visit Lums Pond for a fall hayride to see the Delaware fall foliage in a totally unique way! Families love visiting this New Castle County park because there's always something to do.
8. Killens Pond State Park, Felton
Killens Pond State Park Entrance, Killens Pond State Pk Entrance, Delaware 19943, USA
Facebook / Killens Pond State Park
Killens Pond is one of Delaware's busiest state parks in the summer, but once the waterpark closes, traffic really slows down. In the fall, this is the perfect park to visit to escape the crowds while still getting sweeping views along the water.
9. Dover
Dover, DE, USA
Facebook / First State Heritage Park
Home to some of the best fall foliage in Delaware, the brick buildings and pathways around Dover's Green at the center of town are the perfect compliments to the fall colors changing around them. Visit for lunch or dinner and stick around to walk the Green and take it all in.
10. Blackbird State Forest, Smyrna
Blackbird State Forest Tybout Tract, Delaware 19977, USA
Facebook / Blackbird State Forest
Blackbird State Forest is one of the most serene places in the state! Enjoy a quiet hike here with the crunch of leaves underfoot as you take in the stunning scenery hiding in the middle of Delaware.
11. Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge
Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, 11978 Turkle Pond Rd, Milton, DE 19968, USA
Flickr / Jeffrey
Prime Hook is one of the most underrated spots in Delaware, and in the fall, it is absolutely magnificent! Spot all sorts of wildlife getting ready for winter as you take in all the changing colors and scenes around you.

Where do you go to see the best fall colors in the state? Tell us in the comments below, or share your best fall foliage picture in our Delaware Nature Lovers Facebook group.

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More to Explore

Delaware fall foliage

Jackie Ann | August 31, 2022

When can I see peak fall foliage in Delaware?

It’s always tricky to put Mother Nature on a schedule, and she tends to keep the exact date a secret until the last minute. Typically, Delaware will start to see the leaves change in October, with peak fall foliage in Delaware happening somewhere between the second half of October, and possibly even the early weeks of November. It all depends on the weather, and one cold front could change everything! Our best advice for viewing the Delaware fall foliage is to be flexible, an early cold front could move the timeline up quite a bit!

What are the best pumpkin patches in Delaware?

A Delaware fall isn't complete without a visit to a pumpkin patch. Many of the best pumpkin patches in Delaware offer so much more than pumpkins, and you can easily spend the entire day at one of these farms, enjoying the farm animals, hay rides, corn mazes, and many other fall activities. Loblolly Acres is a charming farm that just explodes during the fall, boasting tons of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, a country store, and also one of the best corn mazes in Delaware.

Where can I go apple picking in Delaware?

Delaware and apples have a long history together. Did you know that some of the first commercial orchards in the country were right here in Delaware? Apple picking is a time-honored fall tradition for many, and T.S. Smith Orchard is one of the best places to go apple picking in Delaware. Here, you can pick up all your favorite apple-infused products like apple pies, dumplings, and some of the best apple cider slushies in the state.

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