There’s a reason leaf peepers plan entire vacations around a single stretch of two-lane blacktop in New England — nowhere else in the country do maples, birches, and oaks put on a show quite like this. From the White Mountains down through the Green Mountains, the Berkshires, and the quiet back roads of the Litchfield Hills, the six-state region turns into a rolling wave of red, orange, and gold from mid-September through early November. Grab a full tank of gas, a thermos of cider, and a good map (cell service disappears fast up in the notches), because here are 25 stops that belong on every New England fall foliage road trip.
Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire
Known simply as “The Kanc” to locals, this 34.5-mile stretch of Route 112 between Lincoln and Conway is the single most famous fall drive in New England. It cuts straight through the heart of White Mountain National Forest with no towns, no traffic lights, and no commercial development to interrupt the view — just an uninterrupted wall of color climbing toward 3,000 feet at Kancamagus Pass.
Address: NH Route 112, Lincoln to Conway, NH
Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/whitemountain
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gps5SqgDsiA
Sabbaday Falls, New Hampshire
A short, easy walk just off the Kancamagus leads to this tucked-away waterfall framed by dense fall canopy. It’s one of the most photographed short hikes in the White Mountains and a perfect leg-stretcher on the long drive.
Address: NH Route 112, Albany, NH 03818
Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/whitemountain
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxc7FoQ7Dg0
Rocky Gorge Scenic Area, New Hampshire
Another Kancamagus classic, Rocky Gorge offers an easy boardwalk trail over the rushing Swift River, with fall color reflecting off the water on both banks. It’s an ideal quick stop for photos without adding much time to the drive.
Address: NH Route 112, Albany, NH 03818
Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/whitemountain
Albany Covered Bridge, New Hampshire
Just off the eastern end of the Kancamagus, this classic red covered bridge spans the Swift River and is one of the most-photographed covered bridges in the region — the kind of shot that ends up on a New England calendar every year.
Address: Passaconaway Rd, Albany, NH 03818
Website: https://www.visitnh.gov
Mount Washington Auto Road, New Hampshire
For the boldest views in New England, drive to the summit of the tallest peak in the Northeast. On a clear autumn day you can see the color spreading across four states from nearly 6,300 feet up.
Address: 1 Mt Washington Auto Rd, Gorham, NH 03581
Website: https://www.mtwashingtonautoroad.com
Franconia Notch State Park, New Hampshire
Home to the Flume Gorge and Cannon Mountain’s aerial tramway, Franconia Notch packs dramatic granite cliffs and roaring waterfalls into a fall-color backdrop that rivals anywhere in the White Mountains.
Address: 9 Franconia Notch State Park Rd, Franconia, NH 03580
Website: https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/franconia-notch-state-park
Crawford Notch State Park, New Hampshire
Route 302 through Crawford Notch delivers sweeping mountain views and access to Arethusa Falls, New Hampshire’s tallest waterfall, all wrapped in autumn color.
Address: 1464 US-302, Hart’s Location, NH 03812
Website: https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/crawford-notch-state-park
Lake Winnipesaukee Scenic Drive, New Hampshire
Loop Routes 109 and 113 around Squam Lake and Winnipesaukee through Holderness, Center Sandwich, Moultonborough, and Wolfeboro. The lake color peaks about two weeks after the mountains, stretching the season for anyone driving south from the White Mountains.
Address: NH Route 109, Moultonborough, NH 03254
Website: https://www.visitnh.gov
Vermont Route 100, Vermont
Running roughly 200 miles from the Massachusetts border to the Canadian line, Route 100 is the classic Vermont foliage drive, threading past covered bridges, working dairy farms, and postcard villages like Stowe and Weston.
Address: VT Route 100, Vermont
Website: https://www.vermontvacation.com
Stowe, Vermont
With Mount Mansfield as a backdrop, Stowe pairs classic New England charm — a white steepled church, covered bridges, and the Stowe Recreation Path — with a gondola ride up the mountain for a bird’s-eye view of the color below.
Address: Stowe, VT 05672
Website: https://www.gostowe.com
Smugglers’ Notch, Vermont
This narrow, winding pass between Stowe and Jeffersonville squeezes through towering rock walls draped in color. It’s one of Vermont’s most dramatic — and twistiest — drives.
Address: VT Route 108, Stowe, VT 05672
Website: https://www.vermontvacation.com
Moss Glen Falls, Vermont
Just off Route 100 near Stowe, a short walk leads to this cascading waterfall framed by maples turning deep red — one of the best-kept-secret stops on the whole route.
Address: Moss Glen Falls Rd, Stowe, VT 05672
Website: https://vtstateparks.com
Woodstock, Vermont
Vermont’s quintessential small town pairs a picture-perfect village green with rolling farmland and art galleries, making it a favorite stop for anyone chasing both foliage and small-town New England charm.
Address: Woodstock, VT 05091
Website: https://www.woodstockvt.com
Quechee Gorge, Vermont
Known as “Vermont’s Little Grand Canyon,” this 165-foot-deep gorge along Route 4 offers a dramatic overlook of the Ottauquechee River winding through fall color far below.
Address: 5966 Woodstock Rd, White River Junction, VT 05001
Website: https://vtstateparks.com/quechee.html
Montgomery, Vermont
Tucked near the Quebec border, Montgomery is a covered-bridge lover’s dream, with seven historic bridges within just a few miles of the village center — nearly all of them framed by blazing maples in October. Address: Montgomery, VT 05470
Website: https://www.vermontvacation.com
Mohawk Trail, Massachusetts
America’s first designated scenic highway (1914), Route 2 through the Berkshires passes through Williamstown, Shelburne Falls, Charlemont, and Deerfield on its way through mountain passes and hairpin turns lined with color.
Address: MA Route 2, Berkshire County, MA
Website: https://www.mohawktrail.com
Mount Greylock, Massachusetts
A drive-up summit road takes you to the highest point in Massachusetts, with a war memorial tower and panoramic views stretching across five states on a clear fall day.
Address: 30 Rockwell Rd, Lanesborough, MA 01237
Website: https://www.mass.gov/locations/mount-greylock-state-reservation
Video:
Bridge of Flowers, Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts
This former trolley bridge, now overflowing with flowers even into autumn, anchors the charming little town of Shelburne Falls right along the Mohawk Trail.
Address: 22 Water St, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
Website: https://bridgeofflowersmass.org
Litchfield Hills, Connecticut
Connecticut peaks last of all the New England states, often not until late October or early November, making the Litchfield Hills a great late-season option once the northern states have already dropped their leaves. Expect covered bridges, colonial hilltop towns, and 18th-century churches.
Address: Litchfield, CT 06759
Website: https://www.litchfieldhills.com
Route 7, Housatonic River Valley, Connecticut
This scenic byway follows the Housatonic River through some of Connecticut’s most picturesque small towns, with river overlooks and covered bridges lit up in late-fall gold and crimson.
Address: US Route 7, Litchfield County, CT
Website: https://www.ctvisit.com
Heublein Tower, Talcott Mountain State Park, Connecticut
A moderate hike up Talcott Mountain rewards visitors with a historic tower and panoramic views over the Farmington River Valley, ablaze in autumn color.
Address: 391 Summit Ridge Dr, Simsbury, CT 06070
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/deep
Acadia Byway, Maine
Looping through Acadia National Park near Bar Harbor, this route hits Cadillac Mountain and Jordan Pond, combining rugged Maine coastline with early-peaking fall color — often the first color show of the season in New England.
Address: Park Loop Rd, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Website: https://www.nps.gov/acad
Evans Notch, Maine/New Hampshire border
This lesser-known scenic drive straddles the Maine–New Hampshire line, threading through the White Mountain National Forest with covered bridges and access to the Sunday River ski area’s mountaintop chairlift rides for a treetop view of the colors.
Address: ME Route 113, Evans Notch, Stow, ME 04037
Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/whitemountain
Grafton Notch State Park, Maine
A dramatic mountain pass in western Maine with waterfalls, gorges, and moose sightings common along the drive — a favorite for travelers looping up from New Hampshire’s Great North Woods.
Address: 1941 Bear River Rd, Newry, ME 04261
Website: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/parks
Blackstone Valley, Rhode Island
The smallest state punches above its weight with this Route 95 corridor through the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. Stop at Slater Mill and Roger Williams Park and Zoo, or hop aboard the Blackstone Valley Explorer riverboat to see the fall color from the water.
Address: Slater Mill, 67 Roosevelt Ave, Pawtucket, RI 02860
Website: https://www.tourblackstone.com
However you string these 25 stops together — a tight three-day loop through the White Mountains and Berkshires, or a full two-week meander from Acadia down to the Litchfield Hills — the secret to New England fall foliage is patience and a willingness to get off the highway. Roll the windows down, follow the back roads past the farm stands, and don’t be afraid to pull over every time a view stops you in your tracks. That’s when you know you’ve found the real New England autumn.
