Reporting by Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
New York is known for its stunning and vibrant autumn colors, but fall foliage in the Adirondacks fall foliage is on another level. So it may come as no surprise that the northeastern New York region topped a recent list of the best places in the country to see fall foliage.
Priceline recently released a list of the 10 best destinations for autumn leaf-peeping, based on an analysis of hotel searches for fall 2026.
The Adirondack region ranked No. 1 and was the only destination in NY to make the list. Five of the 10 destinations were in the Northeast, including locations in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont.
Fall foliage in the Adirondacks tops national list
With about 6 million acres of forests, lakes and mountains, the Adirondacks claimed the top spot on Priceline’s list of the best places in the U.S. to see fall foliage.
The region’s forests and waterways create a colorful backdrop each autumn, with scenic drives, hiking trails and mountain towns offering plenty of ways to take in the changing leaves.
The Adirondacks include numerous communities, including Lake Placid, Lake George, Saranac Lake and Long Lake.
According to Priceline, the best time to visit the region for peak fall colors is typically late September through early October, although timing can vary depending on weather and location.
Top 10 fall foliage destinations for 2026
Here are Priceline’s 10 top destinations for fall foliage in the U.S.:
- Adirondacks, New York
- Columbia River Gorge, Washington and Oregon
- Aspen, Colorado
- Bucks County, Pennsylvania
- Bretton Woods, New Hampshire
- Tunnel of Trees, Michigan
- North Lake Tahoe, Nevada and California
- The Berkshires, Massachusetts
- Stowe, Vermont
- French Lick, Indiana
Contributing: USA Today Network
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
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