Where to See Fall Foliage in Washington DC
Washington DC is known as the “City of Trees” and is the top city in the United States for its public parks. During the fall, visitors and residents alike are treated to beautiful fall foliage throughout Washington DC’s streets as the leaves change colors, accessible by metro.
When I think of foliage, I think of the fiery red leaves that dominate the mountains of Vermont. These brilliant reds are from the maple trees, and in DC, we have plenty. In fact, the red maple is the most common street tree you will find in DC, with over 12,000 planted.
There are plenty of other trees in DC that have beautiful colors. DC is known for its gingko foliage in mid-November, where the fan-shaped leaves turn a bright yellow before falling to the ground. The Kentucky coffeetree, which has seen a flurry of new trees planted in the past decade, also has beautiful yellow foliage. But for me, the red trees steal the show.
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Mid- to Late-October: Red Maples
Red Maples are the most common street trees in DC, and are one of the first to start turning colors. In 2024, they started turning red the second week of October, and will be at peak color in late October.
These are the most common street trees planted in DC, so you’ll likely see some no matter where you go. However, Capitol Hill has the most trees, particularly on the north/south streets like 7th Street, 9th Street, and 10th Street. Capitol Hill is also one of the more picturesque areas of the city, making this a popular spot for photographing the foliage.
However, lots of other neighborhoods have plenty of red maples, including Capitol View, Oxon Run Park, AU Park, Columbia Heights, and Mount Pleasant.
The interactive map below shows every red maple street tree in Washington DC.
Early- to Mid-November: Sugar Maples
In addition to producing maple syrup, sugar maples produce bright red foliage in the fall. This tree needs cold weather so is more commonly found in the northeastern United States and Canada, but it is the second most common maple variety in DC. Their leaves change color after the red maple, typically in early- to mid-November.
Sugar maples aren’t as common, and you’ll see more of them in Georgetown and Capitol Hill.
The interactive map below shows every sugar maple street tree in Washington DC.
Late November: Ginkgo Trees
The leaves of Ginkgo trees turn a brilliant yellow in fall, with their fan-shaped leaves carpeting the streets. When the fiery reds of the maples have subsided, the yellow of the gingko reminds us that it’s still fall. In 2024, the gingkos were at their peak in DC around the last week of November.
DC has a lot of gingko trees, and even has a program to spray them to stop the formation of the fruit. To many, the fruit is very stinky, and some hate gingko trees for this reason. The small fruits end up on sidewalks and cars, getting smashed and letting out the acidic smell. But for many, the smell is worth it.
The best ginkgo trees in DC are mature trees on narrow streets. Ginkgo trees don’t branch out widely until they get very old, so getting a canopy over a street requires mature trees.
Some of the best instances of these mature trees on narrow streets are in Georgetown and Dupont. Potomac Street NW between M and O Streets NW as well as Olive Street NW between 29th and 27th, and 27th Street NW between Olive and P Streets are favorite spots in Georgetown. In Dupont, Swann Street NW between 14th and 19th Streets as well as Corcoran Street NW between 13th and 19th NW have beautiful displays. Other smaller streets around Dupont, such as Hillyer Place, Kingman Place, and Riggs Place are worth checking out, though they typically only last for one block.
There are a ton of gingkos throughout the city, and you should check out ones near you.
