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Are you dreaming of driving through New England in the fall, surrounded by red, orange and gold? You’ve come to the perfect place!
Fall is hands down the best time to visit New England. The whole region lights up with color, and there’s no better way to see it than on a road trip.
This route is a loop. It starts and ends in Boston, takes you up into the White Mountains of New Hampshire, then down through the best of Vermont before heading back.
Here’s the ultimate New England fall foliage road trip.
🚗 You’ll need a car: This is a proper road trip through the mountains and countryside, so a car is essential. If you don’t have one, I recommend using Discover Cars to find the best deals on rentals.
🏙️ 1. Boston, MA
Start in Boston, the biggest city in New England and an easy place to fly into.
It’s worth spending a day or 2 here before you hit the road.
Walk the Freedom Trail to see the city’s Revolutionary history. It’s a marked route that links 16 historic sites, so it’s an easy way to see the highlights on foot.
Then wander the pretty streets of Beacon Hill and head to the North End for some of the best Italian food in the city.
💡 Want to do both in one go? This Freedom Trail and North End food tour covers the history and the food.
Make sure to take a stroll through Boston Common and the Public Garden too. They’re lovely in the fall.
Once you’ve had your fill of the city, it’s time to head north and start discovering some of the best places to visit in the fall in New England.
🧙 2. Salem, MA
🚗 Driving time: 40 min (22 mi)
Your first stop is Salem, just north of Boston.
It’s best known for the 1692 witch trials, and that history is everywhere you look. It makes a fun, slightly spooky start to the trip, especially in October.
Start at the Salem Witch Museum to learn the story, then wander the historic streets and down to the waterfront at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site.
If you’d rather have a guide, join this witch trial walking tour or this witch trials, ghosts and history tour.
If you’re here around Halloween, the whole town celebrates with “Haunted Happenings.” It gets busy but it’s a lot of fun. For the full spooky experience, book an evening ghost tour.
🍂 3. Kancamagus Highway, NH
🚗 Driving time: 2 hrs 30 min (135 mi)
Now for the first of the big foliage drives, and it’s a good one.
The Kancamagus Highway (Route 112) runs 35 miles through the White Mountains between Conway and Lincoln, climbing to around 3,000 feet.
There are no gas stations or shops along it, just overlooks, waterfalls and endless trees. In peak foliage, it’s one of the most beautiful drives in the country.
Take your time and pull over at the overlooks. Sugar Hill and the Hancock Overlook are both lovely.
If you fancy stretching your legs, stop for the short, easy walk to Sabbaday Falls.
💡 Want to learn more as you drive? Download this Kancamagus Highway audio driving tour.
🌲 4. Flume Gorge, Franconia Notch State Park, NH
🚗 Driving time: 35 min (22 mi)
Located in Franconia Notch State Park, Flume Gorge is a must.
A 2-mile boardwalk loop takes you through an 800-foot granite chasm, past waterfalls, mossy walls and a covered bridge. With the fall colors all around, it’s magical.
You’ll need a timed ticket, so book that in advance in peak season.
🥾 5. Artist Bluff, Franconia Notch State Park, NH
🚗 Driving time: 10 min (7 mi)
Also in Franconia Notch, the short hike up to Artist Bluff is a must do.
It’s about a 1.5-mile loop, and the view from the top is one of the best in the White Mountains. You look out over Echo Lake, Cannon Mountain and a sea of fall colors.
It’s a popular spot, so go early if you can. Wear proper shoes too, as it gets a bit rocky near the top.
🏔️ 6. Crawford Notch State Park, NH
🚗 Driving time: 30 min (25 mi)
Take a short detour to Crawford Notch State Park, a dramatic mountain pass on Route 302.
The road winds through steep, forested mountainsides that turn into a tunnel of color in the fall.
Stop at the Willey House area for the views and a bite to eat.
If you’re up for a hike, the trail to Arethusa Falls starts nearby. It’s one of the tallest waterfalls in New Hampshire and well worth the walk.
🏛️ 7. Montpelier, VT
🚗 Driving time: 1 hr 30 min (75 mi)
Cross into Vermont and head to Montpelier. This is the capital of Vermont as well as the smallest state capital in the US.
I absolutely love Montpelier as I think it has this small town feel and it’s very pretty.
Make sure to go to the State House. The golden dome is beautiful and you can even take a guided tour inside if you want to learn more about the State House and Vermont in general.
The tours are free, you just need to book them on the official website.
Then wander the downtown, which is full of vintage shops and bridges.
For a view over the colorful hills, walk up through Hubbard Park to the old stone observation tower.
🍦 8. Waterbury, VT
🚗 Driving time: 15 min (13 mi)
From Montpelier, drive to the town of Waterbury. While Main Street is nice, you only need a quick stop in the town itself as most of the stops here are further along Route 100.
That said, Waterbury is the best food stop on the whole trip, so come hungry!
First up is the Ben & Jerry’s Factory. Here you’ll find the factory itself, which you can see if you book the tour (it’s only $6).
You’ll see how the ice cream is made and packed and will taste the flavor of the day. You’ll also find a merch shop and an ice cream parlor.
Don’t miss the Flavor Graveyard outside, where retired flavors are laid to rest. It’s quite a quirky thing to see.
Then head up Route 100 to Cold Hollow Cider Mill for warm apple cider donuts and fresh cider. In the fall, get the hot mulled cider, it’s the best. This might be busy though as it’s the most famous cider mill in New England and it’s so good at this time of year!
And for a coffee, stop at Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea. You can’t miss it, there’s a giant silo out front.
⛪ 9. Stowe, VT
🚗 Driving time: 15 min (10 mi)
Stowe is the ultimate classic Vermont mountain town, and it’s at its best in the fall.
Start downtown. Walk along Main Street and pop into Shaw’s General Store and Stowe Mercantile.
From there, head to the viewpoint to see the white Community Church standing against the colorful mountains. It’s the most famous view in Stowe. You’ll walk through the Giles W. Dewey Memorial Bridge which is a nice covered bridge.
Just outside town, visit the von Trapp Family Lodge, the Austrian-style estate built by the family from the Sound of Music. There are highland cows in the field near the coffee shop and a brewery a few minutes down the road.
Finally, drive up to Stowe Mountain Resort. The Gondola Skyride up Mount Mansfield gives you incredible foliage views, and it usually runs until around mid-October.
🏔️ 10. Smugglers’ Notch, VT
🚗 Driving time: 20 min (10 mi)
Just past the resort, drive through Smugglers’ Notch on Route 108.
It’s a narrow mountain pass squeezed between huge boulders and cliffs, and it’s absolutely stunning in the fall.
There are a lot of trees including a lot of maple trees which means that the colors are incredible from September to November.
Please note that this is a very twisty road so if you don’t feel comfortable driving, you may not enjoy it.
Once you get to Jeffersonville, you have two options to make it back to Stowe. You can either drive back the way you came and enjoy Smugglers’ Notch a second time or loop back via Hyde Park.
📸 11. Woodstock, VT
🚗 Driving time: approx. 2 hrs (95 mi)
Your next stop will be Woodstock, one of the prettiest towns in Vermont.
The quickest way to get there from Stowe is via the I-89 but it’s not quite as scenic as Vermont Route 100 (which is an absolute gem in the fall).
So if you are okay with taking a road that will add 40 minutes to your trip, I would recommend driving down Route 100. It’s a lot more scenic and you’ll enjoy the fall colors more here.
To learn more about the places you pass, download this Route 100 audio driving tour.
Once you get to Woodstock, park near the green and walk over to the Middle Covered Bridge.
From there, walk to Central Street where you can browse the independent shops. There is a bookshop, clothing shops and more.
Just outside the center, the Billings Farm & Museum is a working dairy farm that’s lovely to visit in the fall.
🏞️ 12. Quechee Gorge, VT
🚗 Driving time: 15 min (8 mi)
From Woodstock, drive to Quechee Gorge.
At around 165 feet, it’s the deepest gorge in Vermont.
You can look down into it from the bridge on Route 4, or hike the trail down to the river for a closer look at the colors.
While you’re here, stop at the Simon Pearce mill. You can watch the glassblowers at work and have lunch right over the river.
🎓 13. Hanover, NH
🚗 Driving time: 20 min (13 mi)
Cross back into New Hampshire to head to Hanover. It’s a lovely college town built around Dartmouth College, one of the Ivy League universities.
Take some time to walk around the campus and the green. It’s beautiful with the fall colors.
Then head to Main Street for the shops and cafes, and soak up the fun student energy.
It’s a nice change of pace after all the mountains and countryside.
Once you’re done, you’ll start driving south to eventually get back to Boston but I have a couple more stops in Vermont for you.
🎭 14. Brattleboro, VT
🚗 Driving time: 1 hr 5 min (70 mi)
Next stop back in Vermont is Brattleboro.
It’s an artsy, slightly bohemian town and a great place to slow down and browse. You’ll find vintage shops, galleries and independent bookstores all around the walkable downtown.
I bought some beautiful vintage dresses here so I love the place!
If you have time, catch a film at the Latchis Theatre, a beautiful Art Deco cinema in the center.
Just outside town, Retreat Farm has trails and farm animals. And keep an eye out for the Creamery Covered Bridge, built in 1879, just off Route 9.
🛖 15. Viking Village, VT
🚗 Driving time: 15 min (7 mi)
For a really unique place to spend your last night, book a stay at the Viking Village in southern Vermont.
It’s a cluster of Viking-style wooden houses down little dirt roads, with goats wandering the grounds.
We stayed here and loved how tucked-away it felt. It’s especially cozy in the fall.
🏙️ 16. Back to Boston
🚗 Driving time: about 2 hrs 45 min (120 mi)
From southern Vermont, it’s an easy drive back to Boston to complete the loop.
You’ll be driving through rural Massachusetts which can be great for wildlife. I drove it in June and had a bear jumping right in front of my car!
Don’t worry, the bear wasn’t hurt but it was such a surprise!
🗺️ Map of this New England Fall Foliage Road Trip
💡 A few practical tips
- Peak foliage is usually late September to mid-October, but it varies by elevation (the mountains turn first, the valleys hold on longer).
- Fall is the peak season, so book your accommodation well in advance.
- Bring layers and proper shoes, as it gets chilly and some stops involve short hikes.
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