Missouri Autumn Leaves
Leaf-Lookers Guide

Missouri starts to lose its summer green in the second week of October. Of course it starts earlier in the northern areas of the state but the best color is in the south along the Ozarks. Expect to see a lot of orange and reds (black gums, hawthorns, sumacs and red maples) speckled with yellows and golds (black ash, tulip trees, silver maples, walnuts and cottonwoods). The white ash and white oak turn a deep, dark purple. The beech and birch are yellow, or dull orange or, sometimes, an almost red as though they're not sure what to wear.

Favorite loops for viewing autumn leaves include:

• Branson/Blue Eye/Branson West
• Missouri River Loop
• Mountain Grove/Poplar Bluff Loop
• Willow Spgs/Hardy Loop

While you're in the Branson area it's a good opportunity to enjoy a show in one of their many excellent theatres. For more about Branson, see: Branson: what, where!

Most accommodations are 'booked up' during the leaf season. If you haven't made your hotel/motel reservations yet we have included access to an on-line reservation system for your convenience.

Hotel reservations are available in the following communities: Branson - intersection of US-65 and US-160 (Ozarks region) Branson West - Hwy-13 just west of Branson (Ozarks region) Chesterfield - I-64 at Hwy-340 Columbia Doniphan - US-160, 19 miles west of US-67 (Ozarks region) Hayti - at I-55 exit 19 (Missouri 'Boot Heel' area) Holts Summit - US-54 just north of Hwy-94 Jefferson City - US-54 at US-50 Kimberling City - Hwy-13 at Table Rock Lake (Ozarks region) Mountain Grove - US-60, 11 miles west of US-63 Poplar Bluff - intersection of US-60 and US-67 (east Ozarks region) Saint Louis Springfield - I-44 exits 72 through 82 (northern entry to Ozarks region) West Plains - intersection of US-63 and US-160 (Ozarks region)

Chart of Leaf Colors

The U.S. Forest service has a special, toll-free, number for leaf-lookers.
Phone for peak dates and other information: 1-800-354-4595

Need Help making a Reservation?
call us toll-free at 1-888-254-0637
for discounted rates, use promo code 3309
(International callers use 01-210-507-5997)

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