While New England may come to mind when you think about fall foliage, you may be surprised to learn Texas puts on an oversized show with some of the best fall foliage in Houston. As you’re planning your Texas trip this fall, don’t miss out on fall colors near Houston, offering plenty of leaf-peeping opportunities. With some of the best places to see vibrant fall foliage in Houston located just a short drive from our Club Quarters Hotel, you can stop by a colorful hotspot for a quick visit, or make it a day-long destination. During your Houston autumn adventure, you can expect to find a variety of tree species with their leaves transformed into the season’s signature hues. Houston is home to a variety of Oak subspecies and other trees that put on a brilliant, colorful show each fall.
The fall colors typically reach their peak between mid-October and mid-November, but sometimes the fiery foliage lingers into the earliest part of December. The average temperature during this time is in the 70s, making it the perfect outdoor autumn activity in Houston.
As the closest fall leaf-peeping destination to our Downtown Houston hotel, Buffalo Bayou Park features 160 sprawling acres of urban green space just a five-minute drive away. Look for showy autumn colors in Bald Cypress, Cottonwood, White Oak and Nuttall Red Oak, Eastern Redbud, American and Mexican Sycamore, Drummond Red Maple and Mexican Plum, among other tree species. It’s worth noting the Live Oak is one of the best represented trees in the Houston area but is known chiefly for its evergreen foliage, which it drops in winter without much fanfare to make way for new growth in the spring (think of the specimen trees draped in Spanish moss typical in many Southern landscapes). You’ll find this photo-worthy tree awash with shades of deep and muted greens. Check the events calendar for fall happenings.
More Information:
The park is located at 1800 Allen Parkway and Memorial Drive, is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., and admission is free.
Situated on 1,500 acres and just ten minutes from Club Quarters Houston, the Memorial Park Conservancy is steward to a biodiverse landscape that includes trails for walking, running, and cycling. The park also boasts picnic areas, playgrounds, a municipal golf course and many other options for enjoying the outdoors during autumn in Houston. Guests can expect to see vibrant fall foliage among multiple Oak subspecies as well as the Bald, American, and Montezuma Cypress, the American and Cedar Elm, Mexican Plum, Red Maple, River Birch, Southern Catalpa, American Sycamore, Sugarberry, White Mulberry and the Chinese Tallow. Check the park’s calendar for special fall events.
More Information:
Located at 6501 Memorial Drive, the park is open daily from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m. and admission is free.
Located in the heart of Houston and just a 15-minute drive from our Houston hotel, Hermann Park features 445 acres that beckon the outdoors enthusiast with opportunities for hiking and cycling, fishing, pedal boating, golf, riding the miniature train, and other outdoor fun. It is also host to the Houston Zoo. The park features around 10,000 trees, some nearly a century old, with new trees planted each year. Species that put on a colorful show in the fall include the Crape Myrtle, Bald Cypress, Cedar Elm, Red Bud, and multiple subspecies of Oak. Admission is free excluding the Houston Zoo, pedal boat rentals, and train rides. Consult the Hermann Park Conservancy website and their event calendar to learn more.
More Information:
The park is located at 1700 Hermann Drive.
Hermann Park Hours:
The Park: Monday–Sunday 6 a.m. until 11 p.m.
Pedal Boats: Monday–Thursday 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., and Saturday / Sunday 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
The Railroad: Monday–Sunday 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Japanese Garden: Monday–Sunday 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.
McGovern Centennial Gardens: Monday–Sunday 9 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Note: Hours vary during holidays.
Located just 20 minutes from our Club Quarters Hotel in Downtown Houston, the Houston Botanic Garden offers a bounty of colorful landscapes across 132 acres for the fall visitor. Botanic Lane is lined in Live Oaks and invites you to view some of the best fall foliage in Houston – a far cry from city life. Once inside, visitors can expect a collection of diverse gardens with domestic and exotic tree species, including the Pine Grove, the Global Collection Garden (look for Musa / Banana Trees and Date Palms), the Culinary Garden, the Woodland Glade featuring Magnolia trees, the Stormwater Wetlands, and the Susan Garver Discovery Garden – each offering unique photo-worthy landscapes. Make a day of it and enjoy lunch with your family under the tall trees in The Picnic Grove.
More Information:
The Houston Botanic Garden is located at 1 Botanic Lane and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; tickets may be purchased online through their events calendar.
Despite a reduction in tree canopy as the result of hurricanes and drought in recent years, the forests at the Houston Arboretum have rebounded thanks to the staff’s careful, ecological-minded planning, offering plenty of Houston fall foliage within a diverse landscape that includes native prairies, savanna, wetlands, wooded ravines, and riparian corridors typical of the region. Roughly 21 plant species per square meter thrive within the arboretum’s recovered ecosystems. Houston visitors in pursuit of colorful fall foliage will delight in the vibrant leaves of Oaks and Hickories among many other types of trees. Check the center calendar for special events during your visit.
More Information:
Located just a 20-minute drive from Club Quarters, the arboretum is located at 4501 Woodway Drive, and opens daily at 7 a.m. and closes at dusk. Admission is free.
The Nature Center building houses the Nature Shop, Discovery Room, classrooms, and restrooms and is open daily from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., while outdoor restrooms at the Nature Center building are open during park hours. The park closes occasionally for holidays and special events.
Plan your trip to Texas now: Book your autumn getaway at our Club Quarters Hotel in Houston and receive up to 15% off when you extend your visit. If you’re wondering about ‘the best places to see the colorful foliage near me?,’ Our downtown Houston hotel offers a central location for leaf-peeping. During your stay, you’ll enjoy full access to our exclusive amenities at reduced prices, thanks to this special offer.
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Philadelphia Visitors GuideIf you’re planning a trip to The City of Brotherly Love, we’ve created a Philadelphia visitors guide packed with plenty of things to do during your stay.
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