National Park·South Carolina·26,442 acres
Congaree National Park
Forecast issued Nov 10, 7:57am ET
Photograph: More Than Just Parks
Roadsides and wetland edges turn first, and the woods behind them run a few days later.
Weather Hard frost Saturday night. Peak may come early and go fast.
No new reports from the ground here this week.
When is peak fall foliage at Congaree National Park in 2026?
Our forecast puts peak color at Congaree National Park around Nov 10, and the four days to aim for are Nov 9 to 12.
That's 3 days later than our model alone would say, because this September has been running warm.
| Week | In the park |
|---|---|
| Oct 26 to Nov 1 | Starting to turn |
| Nov 2 to Nov 8 | Nearly peak |
| Nov 9 to Nov 15 this week | Peak color |
| Nov 16 to Nov 22 | Just past peak |
That’s 3 days later than our model alone would say. This September has been running warm, which shifts peak color.
The place
The largest remaining tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the Southeast. Some of these trees are 170 feet tall, and the canopy is so dense the boardwalk below feels like dusk at noon. Then in late May, the synchronous fireflies show up. Thousands of them pulsing in unison after dark, blinking on and off together like the whole forest is breathing light.
Established 2003. About 242,000/year visitors.
If you can only come on certain days
Set the days you can be here. Everything under them answers for those days, not for peak.
Monday, November 9 to Tuesday, November 10
You’ll find it peak color.
That's the day our forecast puts peak color here.
- What turns
- water oak, blackgum, sweetgum, red maple, bald cypress
- Entrance
- No entrance fee
What turns, and when
- water oak17%
- blackgum17%
- sweetgum17%
- red maple17%
- bald cypress16%
- willow oak8%
Also named across South Carolina, outside what the canopy read measures here: Tulip Poplar, Hickory, White Oak.
The Blue Ridge escarpment in the northwest corner produces mountain color that drops off dramatically into the Piedmont, with maples and tulip poplars providing the best displays.
Across South Carolina as a whole: Mid-to-late October in the mountains, late November in the Midlands.
Questions people ask about Congaree National Park
- When is peak fall foliage at Congaree National Park?
Our forecast puts peak color at Congaree National Park around Nov 10, and the four days to aim for are Nov 9 to 12.
- Where is the best fall color at Congaree National Park right now?
On Nov 10 the park is peak color.
- How long does peak last at Congaree National Park?
About four days at the top, Nov 9 to 12, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive.
- Is Congaree National Park past peak?
No. It's at peak now, on Nov 10, and the four days to aim for are Nov 9 to 12.
- What trees turn color at Congaree National Park?
Red Maple, Sweetgum, Tulip Poplar, Hickory, White Oak. The Blue Ridge escarpment in the northwest corner produces mountain color that drops off dramatically into the Piedmont, with maples and tulip poplars providing the best displays.
- Is there an entrance fee at Congaree National Park?
Entrance fee Free.
This forecast is built from the species that stand here, their elevation and this September’s weather, and corrected in season by cameras, foresters and our own crew. We score it here against 7 long-running forest cameras: two dates in three land within 13 days of the camera’s own peak. How this map is made
Nearby, and when they turn
- Peak Nov 4 best Nov 3 to 6
- Peak Oct 24 best Oct 23 to 26
- Peak Oct 20 best Oct 19 to 22