Here Are The Best Times And Places To View Illinois' Fall Foliage In 2023
By Linze Rice|Published September 01, 2023
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Linze Rice
Author
Ope! From the rural cornfields of DeKalb County, Linze is an Illinois native and true Midwestern gal who can make a mean bonfire and whip up a perfect marshmallow salad. Since 2014, her bylines and photography have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Magazine, Chicago Sun-Times, and Block Club Chicago/DNAinfo Chicago, Only in Your State, and more. She has interviewed Dolly Parton, written about beloved diners along historic Route 66, visited the last Rainforest Cafe in the Illinois, and reviewed luxurious English manor-inspired hotels. Whether it's writing about a local gem or world-renowned establishment, Linze brings a heartwarming and historical perspective to each story, using facts, wit, and personal experience to impress upon readers the importance of culture, food, travel, and all things local. Her favorite destinations in Illinois include Starved Rock State Park, Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood, the charming small town of Sycamore, and historic Rosehill Cemetery. When she's not writing or photographing, Linze enjoys gardening, spending time with her husband and pets, cooking, baking, and grilling, and relaxing with trashy TV.
Illinoisians know that fall is the absolute best time of year here. There is simply nothing like fall in Illinois, when the autumnal vibes are in full effect with sweater weather, campfires, fall festivals, and pumpkin patches galore. But the best part is the glorious, blazing foliage that transitions from top to bottom of the state. So when do leaves change in Illinois? This fantastic 2023 Illinois fall foliage map from Smoky Mountains shows when and where the Land of Lincoln can expect to get the best views of leaves changing colors.
The Fall Foliage Prediction Map is an interactive tool that lets users see when fall foliage will be the most spectacular across the United States. In Illinois, the entire state will begin to see leaves changing colors by October 16.
Concordia Cemetery, 7900 Madison St, Forest Park, IL 60130, USA
Concordia Cemetery in Forest Park, Illinois, pictured here, is a tranquil place to spend some time outdoors this spooky season.
Northern Illinois will be at its peak between October 23-30, with the northeast corner of the state seeing its peak pass first. This breathtaking scene from the Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford offers a sneak peek at the vision to come in the upper part of the state.
Anderson Japanese Gardens, 318 Spring Creek Rd, Rockford, IL 61107, USA
By October 30, a wave of color will wash over Central Illinois. This stunning photo from the state's capital city of Springfield shows an incredible transition from summer into fall.
University of Illinois Springfield, One University Plaza, Springfield, IL 62703, USA
While the trees become bare further north, Central Illinois towns like Clinton are picturesque with leaves showcasing rosy reds, fiery oranges, and golden yellows.
The ever-gorgeous Southern Illinois will take its turn by November 6, when the leaves will change color from green to an inspiring fall palette. Rend Lake Rest Area is an ideal place to spend a fall day with cute bridges, walking paths, and plenty of mesmerizing trees.
Rend Lake Rest Area, I-57, Whittington, IL 62897, USA
So, when you’re asking yourself, “When do leaves change color in Illinois?” this handy fall foliage map has you covered no matter where you live in the state. Want to see Illinois in all of its fall glory? Take this fall foliage road trip and visit some of the state’s most beautiful fall destinations. Plus, our ultimate road trip packing list will make sure you have everything you need to explore Illinois as an autumnal wonderland during your journey.
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