These scenic drives make for the best fall views in the region

Fall is one of Northeast Tennessee's most beautiful seasons and there's no better way to soak it in than to take a drive through one of the region's many scenic routes. As the mountains begin to show their new, vibrant, colors, buckle up and take note of these beautiful fall drives that are guaranteed to make you revel in autumn's glory. TN 143 through Roan Mountain State Park For locals, this 12-mile drive through Roan Mountain is an autumn day trip must. TN 143 runs through Roan Mountain State Park, which has something for anyone, including hiking, camping and stunning views. In a few weeks time, the road will be encased by beautiful fall foliage, making for beautiful memories. Photo Ops: Chestnut Ridge overlook Doe River Directions: Drive east on University Parkway from Johnson City for about five miles, then turn right onto Mary Patton Highway. Continue on Gap Creek Road and then turn right onto Highway 19E. Continue for about 10 miles and then turn right onto TN 143, the first right after the post office. Follow the road through the park. Cades Cove Loop While this one is a bit of a drive from Johnson City, those familiar will tell you Cades Cove is worth the wait. The 11-mile loop is nestled in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains and serves as a perfect stage for fall colors to shine. According to the travel guides, the drive around the loop takes two to four hours to complete with plenty of views that will stop you in your tracks along the way. Several churches and cabins sit at the crests of streams that run underneath the loop. And if those weren't magical enough, there's also a waterfall overlook at the drive's midway point. Address: 10042 Campground Drive, Townsend, TN 37882 Great Smoky Mountains scenic byway Also known as the U.S. Highway 321, the Great Smoky Mountains scenic byway connects Johnson City to the famous national park. Technically, the byway spans 200 miles from Johnson City to Lenoir City, but there's plenty of places to take detours or stops to accommodate your exploring agenda. The byway weaves around the smokies Photo Ops and Activities: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 107 Park Headquarters Road Gatlinburg, TN 37738 Cades Cove preservation and museum, 1004 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Maryville, TN 37804 Directions: Head West on Highway 321 or West Market Street in Johnson City and keep driving. I-26 to Asheville There are six I-26 southbound entrances in Johnson City, which means there are six ways to start your fall colors day trip to Asheville. During the hour-long drive, you'll come across a few rest stops and scenic overlooks that are sure to be photo-worthy. Photo Ops: Sams Gap mountain pass and scenic overlook (35.96178, -82.55605) Laurel Creek Gorge bridge (35.91685, -82.55752) I-26 West Welcome Center, 6178 I-26, Mars Hill, NC 28754 Directions: From Johnson City, merge onto one of the southbound I-26 entrances and keep driving. Make stops as your heart desires. The fall colors forecast East Tennessee State University released its first fall colors report of the season Friday, detailing when and where to look for the vibrant oranges, yellows and reds. The Tri-Cities are still on track for peak color during the last week of October into early November, according to the report. However, higher elevations like Roan Mountain and Grandfather Mountain are forecast for bright colors as early as mid-September, with peak conditions arriving in early October. Travis Watson, ETSU's campus arborist, said in a statement included in the report that local weather patterns through spring and summer will have an impact on this year's fall colors. "The overarching theme for this year is variability," said Travis Watson, ETSU's campus arborist. "Local weather patterns and conditions have varied greatly across our region this year, and that variation will be reflected in the fall color display." Despite recent weather swings, Andrew Joyner, Tennessee's state climatologist and an ETSU professor, expects peak color to arrive on a fairly typical schedule. In a statement included in Friday's report, he said daily temperatures could still impact the timing and intensity of the colors. "For most tree species, the ideal fall weather is sunny days, cool nights and enough rainfall to keep leaves from dropping too early," Joyner said. "While daytime temperatures have been unusually warm recently, it's the overnight temperatures that are especially important because cooler nights help trigger the processes that lead to fall color." For the best chance to see the autumn hues, both experts recommend keeping an eye on the highest elevations as the season begins. The university's fall colors report will be published every Friday morning through the season at news.etsu.edu.