Peep This! A Guide to Find South Jersey & Delaware's Best Fall Foliage
The leaves, they are a changin’! Or at least, they’re about to be. If you’re interested in feasting your eyes on the cavalcade of changing colors, you don’t have to drive all the way to New England to see them. In fact, there are several great options for fall foliage viewing on both sides of the Delaware Bay, and the Cape May – Lewes Ferry can connect you to them! We’ve pulled together a few easily accessible, self-driving options that you can turn into day trips, or use as the start of a weekend leaf peeping adventure.
New Jersey
When you depart the Ferry in Cape May, there are several driving options to find the start of this tour, which takes you through beautiful Belleplain State Forest (make sure to stop at picturesque Lake Nummy), out into the historic farmlands and open spaces of Cumberland County, and back down to Cape May.
From the Ferry terminal, you can head up the Garden State Parkway (which features some great foliage of its own) to exit 20, where you’ll exit on the left onto Route 50. Take Route 50 until it intersects with Route 49 in Tuckahoe, and pick up the trail below from there. Or, from the Ferry terminal, turn left on Bayshore Road and follow it along the Bay until it connects with Route 47, then wind your way up the western edge of Cape May County until you pick up the tour in Port Elizabeth.
Want to extend your tour or see more of the state? For more ideas on NJ fall foliage tours, check out the list Visit NJ has put together.
Delaware
From the lush wooded hills of the northern part of the state to the breezy stretches of coastline, there are plenty of options for leaf peeping in Delaware. Start with a quick tour featuring plenty of great foliage, by traveling the Historic Lewes Byway.
The byway takes you through Cape Henlopen State Park and into historic Lewes, where in addition to great foliage, you can catch a glimpse of the area’s 380 plus year history. The 12+ mile tour takes about an hour, so plan to add in some shopping, dining or exploring while you’re there.
Or, extend the tour by heading out to the Nanticoke Heritage Byway. The near-40 mile route takes you through western Sussex County, winding through farmlands, wooded areas and quaint small towns.
