On Long Island, this will be the best weekend to get out and enjoy the fall colors. In Nassau County and western Suffolk County, trees in many areas are now at peak color. Many trees have turned directly from green to brown this year, so there is a lot of brown mixed in with the red, yellow, orange, and purple leaves.
Travelers will find a great foliage drive along the Northern State Parkway where foliage is reaching peak and is expected to continue through the weekend, with especially nice color between the Lakeville Road and Roslyn Road exits. Trees along the Wantagh State Parkway are also now at peak, although the Meadowbrook and Bethpage State Parkways are now past-peak. The Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway (Route 135) is also currently displaying peak colors. Another colorful drive is along Route 25A on Long Island’s north shore, especially the tree-lined areas from Greenvale east to Port Jefferson. The Southern State Parkway on the south shore also offers some peak color, although many stretches are now past-peak.
Spotters reporting from Old Westbury predict peak and past-peak leaves this weekend, with nearly complete color change and brilliant gold, rust, red, orange, and brown leaves, along with significant leaf droppage. Among the state parks, Sunken Meadow State Park in Kings Park is now showcasing peak color in the picnic areas surrounding parking field 4 and along the banks of the Sunken Meadow Creek. Both Bethpage State Park and Belmont Lake State Park feature some color, but many areas are also past-peak. Connetquot River State Park in Oakdale will also be past peak. Reports from Hempstead Lake State Park predict that leaves will be just-past-peak with 90% color change and brilliant red, yellow, orange, and purple leaves. Spotters checking in from Valley Stream State Park predict peak foliage with brilliant seasonal hues, along with some brown leaves and leaf droppage.