Best time to visit Blue Ridge Mountains

April to May and October. Month by month below, with the weather, what's on and what it costs to fly there from your city.

April to May and October

October is the pick for peak fall color; mid-April through May suits waterfalls, wildflowers and quieter trails.

“The best time to visit the North Georgia Mountains is October if you want apple picking and peak fall color, and mid-April through May” casiola.com
“The best time to visit Blue Ridge, GA is mid-October to early November for peak fall color” blueridgecabincuisine.biz
“Foliage color usually peaks in the last two weeks of October” virtualblueridge.com

5 of the 7 travel guides we read name these months.

Blue Ridge Mountains month by month

Average high and low in Asheville, and days with rain

January49°F / 29°F · 11 rainy daysChecking fares…January and February offer the best chance of snow and a quieter stay.From January through mid-March, waterfalls and cliffsides on the Parkway keep a sheen of ice and temperatures stay well below freezing.
February53°F / 31°F · 10 rainy daysChecking fares…Winter is the coldest time, with highs in the 40s and 50s F and lows below freezing; Blue Ridge, Georgia, averages only four inches of snow a year.
March60°F / 37°F · 12 rainy daysChecking fares…March is the most changeable month on the Parkway; snow can fall at any time, especially at higher elevations.Visitor traffic in North Georgia is lighter in March and early April than at any other time.The heaviest Parkway snowfalls may come in March.
Best timeApril69°F / 45°F · 11 rainy daysChecking fares…April is usually the rainiest month on the Parkway and in North Georgia.Waterfalls run strongest in April; wildflowers peak mid-April to early May.The Blue Ridge Trout Fest takes place in April.
Best timeMay76°F / 53°F · 12 rainy daysChecking fares…Traffic picks up in May, with Memorial Day weekend drawing visitors from Atlanta.Strawberry season in Blue Ridge, GA typically begins in May.
June83°F / 61°F · 13 rainy daysChecking fares…Rhododendron blooms peak in the third week of June at higher elevations on the Parkway.School calendars push families in from June, making June to early August among the most crowded months after foliage season.
July85°F / 65°F · 14 rainy daysChecking fares…Temperatures peak in July; mountains run 10 to 15F cooler than Atlanta.Cabin inventory tightens around Fourth of July.
August84°F / 64°F · 13 rainy daysChecking fares…Temperatures begin to drop in August on the Parkway.Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer.
September79°F / 58°F · 9 rainy daysChecking fares…Autumn is the driest period of the year on the Parkway with only occasional rain showers.Apple orchards reach peak harvest as the forests begin to change color.
Best timeOctober70°F / 46°F · 8 rainy daysChecking fares…Foliage color usually peaks in the last two weeks of October on the Parkway.October is usually the driest month in North Georgia.Apple Festival weekends in October fill first; booking 60 to 90 days ahead is advised.
November60°F / 36°F · 9 rainy daysChecking fares…November is often the best month for long-range views: clear, cool and leafless.Peak color runs mid-October to early November in Blue Ridge, GA.Winter conditions can reach the Parkway as early as November, with sections closing.
December52°F / 31°F · 10 rainy daysChecking fares…December brings holiday events such as Light Up Blue Ridge and the Christmas Parade.Many Parkway sections close in winter due to ice and snow.

Weather: Asheville averages (1991 to 2020 averages), as listed in its climate table on Wikipedia.

Every date to Asheville from your city

Live fares from your airport. Watch them and we alert you when they drop.

Busy, quiet and what to watch for

Busiest

October to early NovemberPeak foliage and apple festivals draw the largest crowds.
June to AugustSummer is peak season for lake and river activities; book ahead.

Quietest

Winter outside the holidaysLowest rates outside Christmas and New Year's.
March and early AprilLightest visitor traffic of the year.

Watch for

WinterIce and snow close sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway; check closures.
Any timeThe Parkway can be in the clouds with fog and poor visibility.
MarchChangeable weather with possible snow.
SummerDaily thunderstorms are the general rule on the Parkway.

Questions people ask

Does it snow in the Blue Ridge Mountains?: Yes. Snow becomes more likely as winter progresses, with heavy falls possible in March; Blue Ridge, Georgia, sees only about four inches a year.

Best time to visit Blue Ridge Mountains

April to May and October

Blue Ridge Mountains month by month

Every date to Asheville from your city

Busy, quiet and what to watch for

Busiest

Quietest

Watch for

Questions people ask

Best time to visit other places

Best time to visit Blue Ridge Mountains

April to May and October

Blue Ridge Mountains month by month

Every date to Asheville from your city

Busy, quiet and what to watch for

Busiest

Quietest

Watch for

Questions people ask

Best time to visit other places