One of the key signs that fall is upon us is the change in the color of the leaves. Rhode Island, as well as the rest of New England, gets beautiful fall foliage every autumn that locals love and visitors flock to see. The stunning autumnal hues of red, orange, and yellow take over the once-green trees and signal the start of the new season.

What exactly is “fall foliage”? The word “foliage” simply means plant, or in this case, leaves on a tree. The leaves change colors due to the changing of the seasons, and also due to the amount of sunlight they receive throughout the year. The days are longer and the temperatures are warmer in the summer, which allows leaves to begin making food after a cold winter. Leaves appear green during warmer months due to their chlorophyll. When it turns to fall, days become shorter and the temperature becomes cooler, signaling leaves to stop the food-making process. The breakdown of chlorophyll allows us to observe the reds, oranges, and yellows.

The peak fall foliage times in New England vary each year. This year, due to the recent extreme weather events, the foliage may be slightly delayed. On average, fall foliage is the most vibrant around late September to early October in northern New England, early to middle October in southern New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and finally mid-October in Connecticut and Rhode Island. However, these peaks might be delayed by about a week this year. This can be connected to a particularly rainy summer, recent storms, a late spring frost, and last year’s drought. 

There are many places to visit in Rhode Island this fall to give you a peek at the stunning fall foliage New England has to offer. Some great driving routes to take this season include Newport and Ocean Drive, the Scituate Loop, Route 3 through West-Central RI, Route 1A along the RI coastline, and Route 138 through Hope Valley and North Kingston. The towns of Bristol, Providence, and Jamestown all boast amazing views of the multicolored trees along with countless walking trails and fall-themed sights to see. Fall events and markets are also occurring all throughout the state within the next few months, so make sure to keep an eye out.