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Chasing New England Fall Foliage is a magical experience everyone should have in their lifetime! After having it on our bucket list for years, Scott and I road tripped across the country on a whim to see it this year and it did NOT disappoint. If you’re heading to the Northeast or considering doing so, you’re in for a real treat. The crisp air, warm apple cider, breathtaking hikes and the most scenic drives all await you. That said, you’re already here so I certainly don’t have to convince you that this place is worth your while!
In this article we’ll cover all the best places to see fall foliage in New England, our favorite hikes, the best time to go, the best scenic drives, and everything you need to know before you go. Hopefully this article will help you plan the most iconic fall getaway.
Things to know before chasing fall foliage in New England
First things first, here are a few things you need to know before chasing fall foliage in New England. These reminders should help you get in the right mindset and prepare to make the most of your trip!
- Let’s talk crowds. Many people, like you and I, want to see the fall foliage. People come from around the country (and world!) to see the vibrant changing colors of the leaves. Be prepared for crowds!
- Expectations are the thief of joy. So is comparison. Every year will be different – we’re talking about a natural process, not Disneyland, after all! The time, length and colors of peak foliage vary year to year. No matter if you see the colors pre-peak, post-peak or just in that sweet spot in the middle, take in the magic of this season. (We technically went pre-peak season and still had the most incredible experience!)
- Logistics wise, you’ll need a car. I’ll talk more on that below but just keep that in mind!
- There is limited cell service in many areas in New England so plan ahead and make sure you have offline Google maps downloaded.
- Make sure you know the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace and take care of our beautiful outdoors!
2020 Travel Restrictions for seeing fall foliage in New England
If you’re planning to travel to New England for the 2020 Fall Season, make sure you read up on all of the current travel restrictions. They change frequently and some states are stricter than others, but definitely do some research before you book anything! Here are some resources for Vermont, New York, Maine and New Hampshire‘s restrictions.
Best time for New England Fall Foliage
The best time to see fall foliage is mid-September to mid-October, depending on where you are. The more north you go, the earlier the colors start to change. That said, if you’re going towards the beginning of the season, it’s good to start at your most northern spot.
It’s really best to stay flexible, because every year is different and you may need to alter your plans to find the best colors. Keep an eye on the Peak Fall Foliage tracker for predictions on which spots will peak at what time.
How many days to see New England fall foliage?
3 to 5 days should be plenty to see tons of fall foliage in New England. Of course, you can add or subtract from your itinerary to fit it into a weekend or stretch it to a week!
How to get to New England
The easiest ways to get to New England are either via road-trip or flying into Boston or Burlington.
How to get around New England
The best way to get around New England is by car. Whether you road trip here or rent a car, you will want a car to see all of the beautiful places. I have heard of some tours, too, though so if you aren’t keen on driving consider looking into those!
Best New England Fall Foliage
| Dixville Notch State Park | New Hampshire |
| Kancamagus Highway | New Hampshire |
| Rocky Gorge | New Hampshire |
| Woodstock | Vermont |
| Stowe | Vermont |
| Smugglers Notch State Park | Vermont |
| Crawford Notch State Park | New Hampshire |
| Franconia Notch State Park | New Hampshire |
| Acadia National Park | Maine |
| Adirondack Mountains | New York |
10 Best Places to See New England Fall Foliage
1. Dixville Notch State Park – best hike for fall foliage in New England
Dixville Notch State Park was our first real taste of fall foliage in the Northeast and it truly took our breath away. Since it’s the most northern of these spots, the colors change up here first. The hike up to Table Rock quickly jumped to the top of our favorite hikes list and gave our favorite hikes in Washington a run for their money!
I’d honestly say if you only have time for one hike in New England, this is it. The hike rewards you with the most gorgeous view of Lake Gloriette and the surrounding forest, and the “table rock” is such a unique summit!
Depending on which route you take, the hike to Table Rock is pretty moderate. We accidentally took the climbing trail #57 and it was the steepest hike we’ve ever done, but we came down trail #50 and it wasn’t bad at all! That said, I probably wouldn’t recommend this for those afraid of heights.
After the hike head into the adorable town of Colebrook. There is one of the famous New Hampshire covered bridges there and plenty of restaurants to grab a bite before continuing onwards.
>> Everything you need to know before this hike is here!
2. Kancamagus Highway – best fall foliage scenic drive in New England
No trip to New England is complete without driving the Kancamagus Highway which winds through the breathtaking White Mountains of New Hampshire! This scenic highway is lined with the most dense forest that looks like skittles from above.
There are tons of turn offs to take photos and take in the scenery along the 32 mile drive. This is definitely not a highway you want to rush through! Make sure to stop at Kancamagus Pass (the tallest point on the drive) and Rocky Gorge (which deserves it’s own section below!). It’s also the perfect place to fly drone and get the birds eye view of the unbelievable colors.
3. Rocky Gorge
Rocky Gorge is a stop along the Kancamagus Highway, but we enjoyed it so much that I felt like it deserved it’s own spot on the list! This stop consists of a beautiful nature walk along the gorge, lined with colorful trees and a picturesque bridge. It’s the perfect spot along the drive to stretch your legs and take in the scenery from a different perspective.
Do note, though, that this gorge is part of the White Mountain National Forest and requires a $5 fee per car to park. They also accept the interagency America The Beautiful pass which is what we use!
4. Woodstock, Vermont
Woodstock, Vermont feels like it’s home to all of the New England farms I always pictured in my head! The adorable barn-style homes with long driveways lined with fallen leaves with a colorful forest backdrop. Honestly, it felt like a postcard here! The above is taken from the breathtaking Elm Grove Farm (also called Sleepy Hollow Farm) which is private property. Make sure you don’t go past the gates without permission and be respectful of the residents!
Another must-visit in Woodstock is Sugarbush Farms which was one of our favorite experiences in Vermont! Here you can take a nature walk through the maple trees and see how they tap the trees for syrup, take a tour of the syrup factory and, the best part, partake in their famous cheese and maple syrup tastings! We went on a day when they were smoking their award-winning smoked cheese and it was AMAZING to taste and smell and learn about the process.
5. Stowe, Vermont
Stowe, Vermont is the most adorable town I’ve ever seen. I mean honestly, is this Stowe or Stars Hollow (Gilmore Girls, anyone?). Anyways, I would say hands down that Stowe is a must-visit on a New England itinerary. It’s the perfect place to experience the charm of a small New England town and take in all the quintessential fall experiences like cider tasting, etc. It’s also home to the Von Trapp Family Lodge (from Sound of Music) and the original Ben & Jerry’s!
There are so many fun and iconic things to do in Stowe that it deserves its own article – read all about it here!
6. Smuggler’s Notch State Park
Smugglers Notch is a really neat area right outside of Stowe, Vermont. The windy road curves through gorgeous lush forest land in the Green Mountains and takes you to a beautiful hiking area. You can even take a gondola ride near here that is supposed to be stunning! (Note: the gondola is only available mid-July to mid-October)
7. Crawford Notch State Park
Crawford Notch State Park has tons of hiking trails that are perfect for leaf peeping! Our favorite was Mount Willard which is a moderate 3.2 mile hike with stunning views at the top. If you’re lucky you’ll even see a train go by below!
If you pass through the town of Conway on your way to Crawford Notch, definitely check out the Swift River Bridge – one of the famous New Hampshire covered bridges!
8. Franconia Notch State Park
Franconia Notch State Park is home to Artist’s Bluff which is an easy hiking trail with major views! We spent sunrise up here which was extremely peaceful but I think the colors may be even better with more sunlight. After the hike head to Polly’s Pancake Parlor for the perfect New England diner experience, complete with local maple syrup!
Do note that both Google Maps and All Trails lead you to the wrong place for the Artist Bluff hike (we almost abandoned ship on the hike because we couldn’t find it in the dark!). Instead, follow the GPS to 44.1788661, -71.6948606 (which is the trailhead) and then park in the Echo Lake Beach parking lot.
Note: drones are not allowed here.
9. Acadia National Park, Maine
Autumn in Acadia National Park is supposed to be AMAZING. Clearly we didn’t catch the peak colors in Acadia National Park, but it was still incredible! This national park had never been on our radar but I’m sure glad we made the trip over here. Besides gorgeous hikes and leaf peeping (during the right season), you can also enjoy the beach, admire historical lighthouses and watch the very first sunrise in the US!
Note: due to popularity, some parts of the park require vehicle reservations during the fall. For 2020 they required reservations October 1 through 18. You can get more info about the reservations on nps.gov/acadia.
Full Acadia National Park travel guide is coming soon!
10. Adirondacks, New York
The Adirondacks in New York is the one place on our New England fall bucket list that remains. If you have extra time in the Northeast, definitely check out this area! The hikes here look insanely stunning.
Map of New England Fall Foliage
Below is a map of the best places to see fall foliage in New England that we covered above. You can use this for relative location of the different things to do and to plan your route! Just click the ‘star’ to save it to your Google Maps!
I hope you have the most incredible time in New England! Happy leaf peeping!
Kylie
(If you liked this article or have any questions, please comment below! And make sure to follow along on Instagram @LoveHardTravelOften)
Other great places to go in the fall!
- Stowe, Vermont is home to world’s best apple cider and the BEST fall colors
- Leavenworth, Washington is STUNNING in the fall (plus they throw an epic Oktoberfest!)
- Cannon Beach, Oregon – the perfect getaway any time of year
- Don’t miss these 9 must-do hikes in Washington State before winter hits!
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