vermont and maine road trip

New England Road Trip: Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont in 10 Days

10-day road trip through maine, new hampshire, and vermont.

New England is a popular US destination to view the leaves changing colors in the Fall. Summer brings gorgeous weather, many outdoor activities, and equally beautiful views. This 10-day road trip travels from mountain villages to fishing villages. You will visit lighthouses, rocky coastlines, waterfalls, mountain resorts, elevated hiking trails through gorges, and covered bridges with the opportunity to eat lobster rolls, maple syrup, and apple cider donuts along the way.

You are excited to begin your road trip through New England and want to know the best time of year to visit, where to stay, must-see attractions, and where to eat while there. Researching the best things to do on a New England road trip while working full time is overwhelming and you don’t have hours to spend on the internet. Save time and plan an unforgettable trip full of top activities with this 10-day New England road trip itinerary.

READ Two Week New England Road Trip Itinerary: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut

New England Road Trip Planner

When is the best time to visit new england.

New England’s warmest months are in July and August. This is tourist season and prices will be at a premium. Late September and early October are also popular times to visit New England for the changing colors of the trees. Spring (April, early May) is “mud season”. Many hiking trails will not be open yet and open trails are muddy. The winter runs from December through late March. Many businesses shut down and reopen on Memorial Day. It is common for roads to close due to bad weather, especially the Kancamagus Highway. New England is a popular destination for skiing and snowboarding, January and February bring the most snow. Ski resorts fill quickly, be sure to book your stay early. Maple syrup season runs from February to April.

What is the Best Way to Travel Through New England?

You will need your own transportation to follow this 10-day New England road trip itinerary. Save precious PTO by flying from your home to Portland Maine and renting a car to continue the journey.

How Long Do You Need to See the Best of New England?

The New England region is located in the Northeastern section of the US. It includes the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. This itinerary is a 10-day road trip through Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. If you have two weeks of PTO, extend the road trip into Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut .

How Expensive is New England?

Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont prices vary. According to Budget Your Trip , expect to pay an average of $166 per day in Maine, $179 per day in New Hampshire, and $229 per day in Vermont.

What to Pack for a New England Road Trip

Summer is warm and humid, pack for temperatures between 70°F and 85°F Black flies and mosquitoes are common during summer months, be sure to bring insect repellent. Prepare for temperatures between 64°F and 73°F in the spring. Rain and thunderstorms are common, snow is possible. Expect mud on hiking trails during spring months and pack shoes appropriately. Fall temperatures range from 66°F to 55°F during the day and can fall below freezing overnight. Pack for below-zero temperatures and snow in the winter months.

New England Road Trip Highlights

Portland Maine | White Mountains | Kancamagus Highway | Stowe Vermont | Trapp Family Lodge | Flume Gorge | Montpelier Vermont | Burlington Vermont | Green Mountains | Lake Champlain | Ben & Jerry’s Factory | Crawford Notch State Park | Bangor Maine | Stephen King House | West Quoddy Head Lighthouse | Schoodic Peninsula | Winter Harbor Maine | Bar Harbor Maine | Acadia National Park | Jordan Pond | Downeast Highway

Day by Day Guide for a New England Road Trip (10 days)

ROUTE AT A GLANCE: Portland Maine – White Mountains – Stowe Vermont – Burlington Vermont – Bangor Maine – Acadia National Park

MILES: 1300 miles (approximately)

HOW MANY DAYS: 10 Days

Day One: Arrive in Portland Maine

This is a jam-packed New England itinerary. As a result, the first day begins after your workday. Book the latest flight of the day into Portland Maine. Change into airplane clothes at work and go straight to the airport. Pick up the rental car and stop at a grocery store and stock up on water, snacks, and insect repellant before checking into your hotel for one night. Consider going out for a craft beer. Portland has the highest number of microbreweries per capita in the country. There are currently 17 microbreweries, one for every 4,000 residents.  You will find New England IPAs, Belgians, British Ales, and everything in between. Not a craft beer fan? Head to Wharf Avenue for a cocktail. Don’t stay out too late, the adventure starts early in the morning. Overnight in Portland Maine.

READ How to Spend the Perfect Weekend in Portland Maine

Day Two: New Hampshire’s Kancamagus Hwy

Spend the day in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. The Kancamagus Highway receives 4k visitors a day and is the most popular area in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. Route 112, the ‘Kanc’, runs 34 miles from Conway to Lincoln and is the perfect hub for exploring all the area has to offer. This scenic drive is full of rushing rivers, waterfalls, gorges, hiking, covered bridges, and overlooks. Overnight in Lincoln New Hampshire.

READ Exploring New Hampshire’s the White Mountains: Route Planning Guide 

Stops on the Kancamagus Highway Include:

Albany Covered Bridge

Lower Falls

Rocky Gorge Scenic Area

Sabbaday Falls

Sugar Hill Overlook

Lily Pond Vista (be on the lookout for moose)

CL Graham Wangan Overlook

The Lady’s Bathtub Swimming Area

As Time Allows:

Drive west and hike the Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves elevated platforms and waterfall

Drive south to Blair Covered Bridge, Beebe River (Campton) Falls, and Bump Covered Bridge

See the bear show at Clark’s Trading Post

Day Three: Stowe Vermont, Waterfalls and the Sound of Music

Stowe Vermont is a historic village full of adventure activities, waterfalls, hiking, swimming holes, cider donuts, and covered bridges. On the drive, you will pass through the gorgeous Franconia Notch area and several mountain towns. You are in the heart of maple syrup country, be sure to stop for tastings and souvenirs. Overnight in Stowe Vermont, consider the Trapp Family Lodge.

READ Top Things to Do in the Stowe Vermont 

Stops on the Drive to Stowe Vermont Include:

Photograph the Indian Head rock formation

Hike the 2-mile Flume Gorge elevated boardwalk past Flume Covered Bridge and Avalanche Falls (1.5 hours)

Hike 1.2 RT to Kinsman Falls

Consider stopping for a ride on the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway

Stop to admire Echo Lake Beach

Detour to visit The Frost Place, see the poetry trail and front porch for Robert Frost

Stop in the picturesque town of Littleton for lunch

Visit the Cabot Creamery, Bragg Farm Sugar House, or Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks for tastings and souvenirs

Visit Montpelier and stay for dinner

Day Four Burlington Vermont, the Green Mountains, and Lake Champlain

Burlington Vermont sits in the Green Mountains overlooking Lake Champlain with views of the Adirondack Mountains. Burlington is known for flannel, tie-dye, craft beer, a lake monster, Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, Bernie Sanders, and Phish. Be sure to update your playlist! Overnight in Burlington Vermont.

READ Top Things to Do in Burlington Vermont 

Stops on the Drive to Burlington Vermont Include:

Head to Main Street for breakfast and a walk around the historic city

Hike the 5.2 miles RT to Moss Glen Falls OR

Hike the .5 Rt to Bingham Falls

Ride the Stowe Mountain Resort gondola and enjoy the mountain views

Stop by the Trapp Family Lodge and take the Sound of Music tour

Photograph the Gold Brook Covered Bridge

Stop at Cold Hollow Cider Mill for cider donuts (do not skip this)

Tour the Ben & Jerry’s Factory

Photograph Reverence (Whales Tails) off the highway on the way to Burlington

Stop at Shelburne Farms for cider donuts and pick your own apples, pears, and peaches

Take a ferry across Lake Champlain or walk into the Lake on the Island Line Trail

Have dinner on Church Street in Burlington

Day Five Back to New Hampshire’s the White Mountains

Start the day early and return to New Hampshire’s White Mountains for a day full of covered bridges and chasing waterfalls. Overnight in North Conway New Hampshire.

White Mountain Stops Include:

Go for a swim in Ammonoosuc Falls lower falls

Stop to photograph Omni Mount Washington Resort and Upper Ammonoosuc Falls

Ride the Mount Washington Cog Railway to the summit, 3 hours

See the roadside Flume Cascade and Silver Cascade waterfalls

Drive through Crawford Notch State Park and hike 1.2 miles RT to Ripley Falls

Hike 2.8 miles RT to Arethusa Falls

Stop at Attitash Mountain Resort and ride the Alpine mountain coaster

Visit the Bartlett Covered Bridge and the Honeymoon Covered Bridge

See the roadside Jackson Falls waterfall

Walk 10 minutes to Glen Ellis Falls

Stop at Pinkham Notch and hike .6 RT to see Crystal Cascade

Hike 1.1 RT to Thompson Falls

Hike 1.6 miles RT to the Emerald Pool swimming hole in Evans Notch

Day Six Bangor Maine and the West Quoddy Head Lighthouse

Leave New Hampshire and drive across Maine to the tip of the coastline. Stop in Bangor Maine on the way to see the home of Steven King. Did you know Banger is the real-life town of Derry in the King novels? Visit the beautiful West Quoddy Head Lighthouse before driving the coat to the Schoodic Peninsula and Winter Harbor. Overnight in Bar Harbor Maine.

Stops on the Drive to Bar Harbor Maine:

Stop by the Stephen King House at 47 W Broadway, Bangor, ME

Take the SK Tour of Bangor to see filming sites

Continue on to the coast and the West Quoddy Head Lighthouse

Stop at Prospect Harbor and the Prospect Harbor Lighthouse

Drive the Schoodic Peninsula to Schoodic Point and enjoy the coast view

Visit the fishing village of Winter Harbor

Stop at the Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound for dinner

Day Seven Arcadia National Park, Popovers and Carriage Rides

Acadia National Park receives 3.4 million visitors each year and is known for its gorgeous fall foliage. You will find 120 miles of trails, a rocky coastline, lighthouses, stone bridges, carriage houses, and blueberry popovers. Note: Much of Park Loop Road is one way and parking lots are small. Start the day early! Overnight in Bar Harbor Maine.

READ Acadia National Park Travel Guide 

Acadia National Park Highlights Include:

See the nation’s first sunrise from Cadillac Mountain

Be at Thunder Hole for high tide to watch nature’s show

Hike the 1.5-mile Beehive Trail (rated difficult with iron rungs and steep drop-offs)

Drive Park Loop Road, Rockefeller’s Four Million Dollar Road photographing the Carriage Road Bridges as you go

Take a walk along Jordan Pond Bridge and photograph the Bubbles in the distance

Eat a famous popover at the restaurant before taking a carriage ride through the trails

Check out as many rocky overlooks as parking allows.

Stop at Visit Sand Beach, the Cider House Rules filming location, on your way out of the park.

Souvenir shop Bar Harbor’s Main Street

Have dinner at Geddy’s, and try the lobster pizza

Day Eight The Downeast Highway, Lighthouses, and Lobster Shacks

Maine’s Route 1 is 3,478 miles of rocky coast with over 65 lighthouses and 23 islands full of picture-perfect fishing villages and lobster shacks. Below is a list of stops with addresses between Acadia National Park and Portland Maine. Start the day early and visit as many as possible. The day ends in Portland Maine, a foodie destination with many, many options . Overnight in Portland Maine.

READ Maine’s Downeast Highway, Trip Planner

Stops Along Maine’s Downeast Highway:

Dyce Head Lighthouse, 1 Battle Ave, Castine, ME 04421

Penobscot Narrows Bridge, US-1, Stockton Springs, ME 04981

Fort Point Lighthouse, Lighthouse Rd, Stockton Springs, ME 04981

Grindle Point Sailor’s Museum and Lighthouse, 615 Ferry Rd, Islesboro, ME 04848

Camden, Maine fishing village and waterfront

Curtis Island Lighthouse, Camden, ME 04843

Rockport Harbor, 40 Pleasant St, Rockport, ME 04856

Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, 44.104031, -69.077487, Rockland, ME 04841

Owls Head Lighthouse, 186 Lighthouse Rd, Owls Head, ME 04854

Lunch at McLoons Lobster Shack, 315 Island Rd, South Thomaston, ME 04858

Marshall Point Lighthouse, Marshall Point Rd, Port Clyde, ME 04855

Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Park, 3115 Bristol Rd, Pemaquid, ME 04558

Shuck-your-own oysters at Glidden Point Oyster Farms, 637 River Rd, Edgecomb, ME 04556

Boothbay Lobster Wharf, 97 Atlantic Ave, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538

Burnt Island Lighthouse, Southport, ME 04576

Hendricks Head Lighthouse, Light House Ln, Southport, ME 04576

Perkins Island Lighthouse, Georgetown, ME 04548

Doubling Point Lighthouse, Doubling Point Rd, Arrowsic, ME 04530

Squirrel Point Light, Arrowsic, ME 04530

Gurnet Trading Co., 602 Gurnet Rd, Brunswick, ME 04011 à dinner

Visit the first and largest L.L. Bean store, 95 Main St, Freeport, ME 04032

See the world globe spin at Garmin, 2 DeLorme Dr, Yarmouth, ME 04096

Return to Portland and have dinner at Gilbert’s Chowder House in the Old Port

Day Nine Portland Maine

Portland Maine is an amazing city with enough things to do see and do to fill and long weekend. If you are unable to spend more than one day, I suggest the Real Portland Tour . Overnight in Portland Maine.

READ Top Things to Do in Portland Maine

One day in Portland Maine:

Stop by Holy Donut for a chocolate sea salt donut (buy another for tomorrow)

Take the Real Portland Tour, read about it here

Spend the evening strolling around the Old Port

Stop in a microbrewery (or two)

Enjoy a final lobster at Portland Lobster Company or oysters at Eventide

Day Ten Depart

Join the 5 am sunrise run across Casco Bay , allow 3 hours

Eat blueberry pancakes for breakfast at Becky’s Diner

Check out of the hotel

Head to the airport and return the rental car

Scroll through your photos as you wait for your departing flight

Be sure to check the Office of Tourism in New Hampshire , Maine , and V ermont for upcoming festivals, special events, and what’s happening during your stay.

Bookmark and Pin New England Road Trip Travel Guide

Plan Your New England Road Trip

New england travel guide.

Download an ebook, phrasebook, map, or bundle directly from Lonely Planet , or pick up a New England Travel Guide from Amazon.com to browse on the plane.

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Best New England Attractions and Day Tours

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Have a great vacation!

The 10 day trip sounds fun! We’d love to do a road trip as well and will follow your advice to visit New England in July. Thank you for sharing this super detailed post. I already bookmarked it and start planning soon.

The Northeast Region of the U.S. has been around for centuries and has seen its fair share of history. It’s no wonder that there are so many amazing places to visit! Indeed, a New England road trip is a perfect way to experience the beauty of this region.

This sounds like the perfect road trip through Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. I would probably need more time to take in everything. A tour at the Ben& Jerry Factory sounds intriguing. Do they have an ice-cream parlor as well, where you can taste special ice-creams? Your lighthouse pictures are fabulous too!

This is my favorite road trip guide so far; I love how detailed it is! I literally enjoyed the locations solely based on the photographs. I now appreciate New England — from the stunning scenery to the numerous outdoor activities and, of course, the mouthwatering lobsters!

I miss the lobster!!

This is such a power-packed post with so many useful tips for the New England Road trip. From itineraries to what to pack and best time to visit – you seemed to have covered it all. I your itinerary, I loved your day two with those waterfalls and I so hope to spot the moose at Lily pond.

We did a similar trip for our honeymoon and had 10 days. I love the covered bridges, the charming small towns and scenic mountains in Vermont. Wonderful memories came flooding back reading your post.

We did a short New England Road trip one year. But we definitely missed out on so many sights. And we never made it as far as Vermont! I love the variety of sights you showed for stops along the way. We would make so many stops at waterfalls and covered bridges! I am keeping this post for our next New England road trip planning.

That’s great to hear!

Interesting to know that the New England region has a different face in every season from autumn leaves to muddy trails to skiing! I love this itinerary and would definitely want to extend it till Rhode island. Spring point ledge lighthouse looks very picturesque. I wouldn’t miss buying tons of Maple candy and Maple syrup at Franconia Notch area.

This post reminded me of our trip to the New England last summer. A beautiful part of the country that I want to revisit in a slow travel. We missed exploring Portland because we couldn’t find a space to park in the city. I want to go back in the fall.

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New England Wanderlust

Connecticut , Maine , Massachusetts , New Hampshire , Rhode Island , Vermont  ·  November 8, 2022

The Best 7 Day New England Road Trip Itinerary (+ 5 & 10 Day Options!) 2024

Having traveled through the entire New England region for 15+ years, I’ve been able to get a strong understanding on the best things to do, and I’m so thrilled that I’ve finally developed my ultimate 7 Day New England Itinerary to share with you!

A 7-day itinerary to tour New England has been one of my most requested topics, and I totally understand why. It’s so hard to look at a region comprised of 6 gorgeous states, and try to figure out what’s worth your time, and what you can leave out. Well, good news – I’m taking the guess work out for you. In all my years of traveling through this region, I’ve cherry-picked what I think is the best route to take to plan the perfect road trip in 7 days.

While I think everything is pretty much worth your time in New England (I’m a bit biased!), this itinerary focuses on the best of the best, and also takes into consideration efficiency so you have as much time as possible to also enjoy your destinations.

This itinerary is also geared toward those who are visiting New England for the first time. With that, let’s get into it, shall we?

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How Many Days Do You Need In New England?

You can easily spend anywhere from a few days to a month in New England, so this entirely depends on how much time you really have to dedicate to your trip. This post will prove that you can easily see some of the best things in this region with my 7 Day New England road trip itinerary.

But, that said, more is always more when it comes to time to travel, right? 😉 So of course, you can easily turn this itinerary into a 10-day adventure, or even two weeks. Under my 10 Day New England road trip itinerary option later in the post, you’ll see that I’ve made notes on side excursions where you can easily add in a day or two to extend your trip even further.

And of course, you can definitely see some of the best places in just 5 days, and I’ve included a 5-Day option at the very end for those who don’t have as much time (and don’t worry, it’s still pretty great!).

My motto is always, “Even if I just have one day, it’s better than not going at all,” so whatever time you have for your trip with definitely be worth it. I’m excited to cheer you on as you plan your trip 😊

Where To Start A 7 Day New England Road Trip Itinerary?

For any road trip through this region, Boston is the best place to start, especially if you’re flying in. Boston Logan International Airport typically offers the cheapest flights to this area, and is also a worthy destination to explore on its own.

Not only that, this city also incredibly convenient to most places in New England, and is centrally-located in the region, and therefore, is just the easiest starting point. For that reason, pretty much all of my itineraries on this website start in Boston because after years of experience, I’ve found this to be the absolute best option.

If you’re not flying in, however, and already live in this area, or are driving in from nearby, Boston is still a great starting point ( especially if you’ve never been!). But you can definitely adjust this itinerary to start from anywhere in New England that best suits your needs.

The only time I would suggest using a place like Portland, Maine as your starting point if if you plan to really only explore the northern areas of New England, like the rest of Maine or New Hampshire. But even in that case, Boston is still just as convenient, so it will then simply depend on personal preference at that point.

7 Day New England Road Trip Overview

Day 1: Boston – New England’s biggest and most exciting city!

Day 2: Woodstock – Vermont’s most beautiful town.

Day 2 Alternative Option : Skip Woodstock, and stay an extra day in Boston, with a day trip to Salem if you’d like.

Day 3: The White Mountains in New Hampshire – Home to breathtaking mountain views, and New England’s highest peak.

Days 4-5: Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park – One of the most charming coastal towns in New England, and the spectacular views in the park make this destination worthy of two nights.

Day 6: Drive to Portland, Maine , with optional stops along the way.

Day 6 Alternative Option : Stay the night in a smaller coastal town if that’s more your speed!

Day 7: Head back to Boston , with some great stops along the way.

Notes About This Itinerary

→ For some stops along this route, I also suggest other options to really help you create the ultimate road trip for you based on your preferences. So keep an eye out for those, and get ready to take some notes!

→ This 7 Day New England road trip itinerary also follows a true road trip style , meaning you’ll be in a different town each night of your stay (with one exception, which is Bar Harbor). You can certainly tweak that to your liking if you prefer to stay in one place for two or more nights – do what feels right for you.

→ Lastly, this itinerary was intended to show you around all the different landscapes New England has to offer, so I wanted to include a mix of urban, countryside, mountains and coastal to show you the very best of it all. I also focused on locations that are largely perfect to visit year-round, so seasonality was not factored in.

Day 1: Boston

Boston is one of my all-time favorite cities, and as mentioned, it’s the absolute best place to start your road trip – especially if you’re flying in. I love that it feels like an exciting city, but is also incredibly charming, historic and packed with character. There’s just something very cozy about it, and it’s most definitely worth spending a day exploring during your 7 day New England road trip.

An alternative option, depending on how tired you’ll be once you arrive, is to tack Boston on at the very end. In this case, you’ll want to immediately depart for Woodstock once you arrive, and then spend your last day in Boston (but follow this itinerary for everything else in order).

Here are some awesome things to consider doing on your day in Boston:

• Walk the Freedom Trail: this group tour is an excellent choice!
• Meander through my two favorite neighborhoods: Beacon Hill & the North End.
• Stroll along the waterfront areas – the Charles Esplanade is especially beautiful.
• Walk through the Public Gardens – the bridge is such a great spot for gorgeous photos.
• Eat, eat, and then eat some more. The culinary scene in Boston is incredible, and seafood here is a specialty.
• In fact, take a food tour for the inside scoop on all the best places: here are my favorite food tours in Boston .
• Grab some cannoli at Mike’s Pastry.

Hotel suggestions in Boston:

Splurge: Boston Harbor Hotel . A 5-star waterfront hotel that’s more than worth the splurge to kick start your amazing road trip through New England. The location is also convenient to a lot of attractions.

Moderate: Revere Hotel Boston Common . I stay here a lot when I visit Boston. It’s a great location that’s walkable to a lot.

Budget: HI Boston Hostel . Boston is typically an expensive city to visit unless you’re coming in the winter, and this hostel is a great option to save some money during your stay. It also has an awesome location.

Day 2: Woodstock, Vermont (2h 15m From Boston)

Why Woodstock Next? No trip to New England is complete without a stop in a charming Vermont town, and Woodstock is the best of the best when it comes to idyllic scenery and character. It’s also home to “Vermont’s most beautiful address,” which I’ll tell you about under the suggestions on where to stay.

Woodstock has a wonderful town center, where you’ll find independent shops, cafés, and restaurants, covered bridges, farms, and it’s also surrounded by beautiful rural scenery once you drive outside of town. It’s the perfect option for this itinerary if you’re hoping to get a glimpse of Vermont.

Here are some awesome things to do in Woodstock, VT:

• Meander through the most adorable village where all the shops and restaurants are. This part of town is entirely walkable, so park and enjoy!
• Visit the three covered bridges: Middle, Taftsville and Lincoln.
• Explore Billings Farm & Museum.
• Taste local maple syrups and cheeses at Sugarbush Farms.
• Take a drive to Farmhouse Pottery, just outside of the town center, which is now a famous ceramics shop – they have a studio on-site where you can watch artisans at work, or you can book a pottery session with them!

Psst! I have an entire post all about the best things to do in Woodstock, VT , if you’d like more ideas and info 😉

Where to stay in Woodstock, VT :

Luxury option : Woodstock Inn & Resort (Vermont’s most beautiful address!). It’s a splurge, but located right in town, and the perfect way to treat yourself for a 1 night stay.

Moderate: 506 On The River Inn . Very beautiful hotel that’s right on the river and feels cozy.

Budget : The Vesper . A cute little B&B with modern rooms, great prices, and walkable to the village.

Insider Tip s: Woodstock tends to be an expensive place to visit, so if you’re on a budget, the nearby town of Quechee is a great alternative, and is only about 15 minutes from Woodstock. Quechee is also very cute and I love visiting both towns when I’m in the area.

Also, if you visit in the fall during foliage, or your stay happens to be on a weekend, some of these hotels may have a 2-night minimum stay requirement, so keep that in mind.

Alternative Option: If you would prefer to spend 2 nights in Boston and skip Woodstock, you can most definitely do that. Boston is a great place for day trips to other nearby areas, including Provincetown on Cape Cod, as well as Salem. A ferry will take you from Boston to Provincetown, and to Salem, so you still won’t need to pick-up your rental car right away if you choose this option. These ferry options are seasonal, so plan accordingly.

→ Click here to check out ferries from Boston to Provincetown

→ Click here to check out ferries from Boston to Salem

Psst! I have some helpful guides including planning the perfect Salem, MA day trip , and the best time to visit Salem if you need more information 😉

Day 3: The White Mountains, New Hampshire (1h 30m From Woodstock)

Why White Mountains Next? They’re on the way to Acadia National Park (which is the next stop!), and they’re very worth your time ( especially if you’re traveling in the fall season). The White Mountains are home to a great mix of cute towns, epic mountain views, and amazing parks or hiking and scenic drives.

While the White Mountains doesn’t necessarily offer that New England charm you’re probably expecting, I still think this region is worth visiting on your way to Acadia for the reasons mentioned above. The drives through the White Mountains National Forest, and Crawford Notch State Park is so beautiful, and offer such a well-rounded perspective of New England’s beauty, when you combine this region with all the other coastal stops on the rest of this itinerary 😉

Here are some awesome things to do in the White Mountains:

• Explore Franconia Notch State Park , and with 1 day, I suggest prioritizing Flume Gorge, which is perfect for all ages, and one of the most popular attractions in the entire state that’s worth your time.
• If you’re looking for a fun hike, the Artist Bluff Trail offers incredible views of Echo Lake.
• Ride the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway to the mountain’s summit for awesome views.
• Explore The Basin, which is very close to Flume Gorge, and is very quick and easy.

Where to stay in the White Mountains? I highly suggest Littleton . It’s a charming little town with awesome shops and restaurants (it’s often regarded as having one of the best Main Streets in the U.S.!), and it’s also very close to some of the top must-see things from my list above, making it super convenient and efficient for 1 day.

However, I have an entire detailed post on where to stay in the White Mountains , if you’re looking for more of a breakdown of the towns, and my hotel suggestions.

Hotel suggestions in Littleton :

Thayers Inn : Located right on Main Street in the heart of downtown, and very cozy. Keep in mind that this is a historic hotel, so they’re not able to make a lot of modern updates, so it’s not for everyone – but I really enjoyed my stay here and appreciated how it felt like I was stepping back in time!

Hampton Inn : A nice option that’s on the commercial side of town, but very close to the highway to get around quicker.

Pro Tip: You’ll drive right past Hanover, NH on your way from Woodstock, which is home to Dartmouth College, and is a really adorable little town to stop in for lunch, or to take a driving break. Right in the same area is Norwich, VT, which is home to the King Arthur Baking Company campus , and is a really fun spot to pick up some baked goods (especially breads and pastries!) and also have lunch outside on their lawn.

Here are some posts you may find helpful while you plan your time in the White Mountains:

• Things To Do In Franconia, NH
• Things To Do In Littleton, NH
• Things To Do In Lincoln, NH

Days 4-5: Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor (4h 30m From The White Mountains)

Why Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor Next? Acadia is one of the most incredible and iconic destinations in the Northeast, and definitely one of the best places to visit in New England . Even though it’s pretty far north, it’s so worth it for the stunning views. I’ve budgeted two nights here because your drive from the White Mountains to Acadia is a bit longer, and because Acadia just warrants extra time.

Also, Bar Harbor, I think, it’s such a quintessential coastal New England town filled with character. The town is small, and very walkable, and you’ll get some nice views of the bay and harbor just by walking along the town’s waterfront.

There’s also opportunities for boat tours from town, great restaurants to choose from, and of course, quick access to Acadia!

Here are some awesome things to do in Acadia National Park for a short trip:

→ Walk Ocean Path , which connects Sand Beach to the Otter Cliffs. This is the perfect scenic walk to tackle with a short amount of time because it’s easy, and offers some of the best and most iconic views of the coastline.

→ Thunder Hole is along Ocean Path, so you’ll pass right by it if you walk this trail. If you’re there on a windy day, the waves will crash so loudly that it sounds like thunder. Otherwise, it’s just a scenic overlook that’s still worth a stop.

→ If you’d like to tackle a hike, a nice one for a quick visit to the park is Great Head . This starts at Sand Beach, and is pretty easy (with some rock scrambling at the beginning), but offers incredible views along the way). After this, you can walk back across Sand Beach and do the Ocean Path for the perfect day in Acadia.

→ Lunch at the Jordan Pond Restaurant is also really fun, and a more relaxing way to spend some of your time in the park. It’s open seasonally only, so plan accordingly, and is famous for their popovers, and incredible views of the famous Bubble Rocks.

→ Sunrise at Cadillac Mountain is one of the most popular things to do, and definitely worth your time! This location is one of the first places in the U.S. to watch the sunrise, and it’s the actually first sunrise spot between October 7 through mid-March. This is another great reason to spend two nights here. Note : Reservations are now required when taking the auto road to Cadillac Mountain’s summit mid-May through October . Click here for more info!

→ Cover more ground by renting E-bikes to explore the park!

→ Click here for more info on renting E-bikes for your trip to Acadia

Psst! I have a few posts on Acadia that you may find helpful, including:

• My Perfect Acadia National Park Itinerary
• The Best Time To Visit Acadia National Park
• Visiting Bar Harbor & Acadia National Park In The Winter

Where to stay while visiting Acadia National Park? Bar Harbor! This lovely little coastal town is the gateway to Acadia, and where most people stay when exploring the park. This is another reason why I’ve given you two days because Bar Harbor is also a worthy town to explore on its town.

Hotel Suggestions in Bar Harbor :

Bar Harbor Inn & Spa : Located right on the waterfront in town, it’s a great place to stay for walkability to town, and if you’re looking for the best amenities and a nicer place to stay.

Bar Harbor Villager Motel : An awesome motel in the center of Bar Harbor’s village, with spacious and updated rooms, and walkable to everywhere in town. I like to stay here when I plan to spend most of my time hiking in the park, and just need a cozy place to crash at night.

Pro Tip : When driving from Littleton to Acadia, I suggest driving to Lincoln, NH first, and then taking Route 112 to Conway, which is the famous Kancamagus Scenic Highway. This drive takes you through the heart of the White Mountains with some really nice overlooks to stop at, and only adds 30 extra minutes to your drive (plus extra time for any stops you make).

Pro Tip : The Kancamagus Scenic Highway does not have bathrooms, gas stations or cell service, so plan accordingly!

Day 6: Portland, Maine (3h From Bar Harbor)

Why Portland Next? Not only is Portland a very cool city with lots of history and an awesome culinary scene, it’s also on the drive back toward Boston. Portland has a great mix of urban vibes and authentic fishing port scenery, so it offers the best of both worlds, too.

Here are some awesome things to do in Portland:

→ See all 3 of Portland’s lighthouses . If you only have time for one, however, make it Portland Head Lighthouse. This is one of the best lighthouses in New England, and definitely worth your time! But keep in mind that the other two lighthouses (Bug Light and Spring Point Ledge Light) are a very short drive away, so it’s easy to see all three in a few hours at most.

→ Take a tour! This culinary walking tour of the city is a great way to enjoy the best food, and this tall ships cruise around the bay is an awesome scenic option to get the most out of your visit.

→ Go beer tasting . Portland is home to some of the best breweries in New England, and the city has tons of them. I have an entire guide on my favorite breweries in Portland, Maine , if you’d like some suggestions 😉

→ Wander through Old Port , the most historic and charming part of the city.

Hotel Suggestions in Portland:

Splurge : The Press Hotel . It’s right on the water and in the center of Old Port, making this an awesome hotel to splurge on for a fancier stay in Portland.

Moderate: Cambria Hotel . Also in the Old Port district, this lovely hotel has modern rooms and a great location.

Budget: Black Elephant Hostel . Portland tends to be a pricey city to visit, and even though this is the only hostel in the city, it’s incredibly well-regarded, and will be significantly less expensive than a hotel.

Pro Tip : If you would rather spend your first day in Portland exploring the city, you can do the lighthouses the next morning on your way back to Boston. The lighthouses are located outside of the city’s downtown in South Portland, which you’ll pass through on your drive to Boston.

Optional stop to make on the drive : There are some wonderful towns to explore on the drive from Bar Harbor to Portland, and I detail my favorites to suggest in my guide on driving from Portland, Maine to Acadia National Park . Many of these stops will add extra time to your drive, but depending on your road trip style, they may be worth it for you!

Day 6: Alternative Option: Stay In A Smaller Coastal Town Instead

If staying in a city isn’t exactly your speed, and your goal is to visit more of the smaller towns along the coastal, well I’ve got you covered. And honestly, that’s usually my preference, too 😉 While I love Portland, and think there’s some very cool things to see there, one of the best parts of New England is the charming smaller towns to explore.

My favorites to suggest for this road trip are: Boothbay Harbor, Kennebunkport, and Ogunquit.

Boothbay Harbor is a wonderful, charming little town on the water, and has a more fishing village vibe to it. Lots of awesome boat tours depart from here, too.

Kennebunkport perfect encapsulated New England coastal beauty with a wonderful town center called Dock Square, and beautiful coastline near the beaches and on Cape Porpoise.

Ogunquit is also very idyllic, and is known for having one of the best beaches in New England. I love the walkable downtown that’s also walkable to the beach. Ogunquit also has one of my favorite things to do in all of New England: the Marginal Way coastal walk.

All of these places will make a great place to spend a night on this road trip if you’d prefer a small coastal town over staying in a city like Portland.

Psst! I have detailed guides that may help you decide, which are the best things to do in Boothbay Harbor , and the best things to do in Ogunquit .

Day 7: Back To Boston With Stops Along The North Shore (2h Without Stops)

Why The North Shore Next? As you make your way back to Boston, you’ll drive down the Massachusetts North Shore, which is packed with gorgeous and charming little coastal New England towns . These towns are all pretty close to another, too, which makes it easy to stop in quite a few during your drive. These towns are actually some of my favorites in all of New England.

Here are some more towns you can choose to stop in on your drive back to Boston:

→ Portsmouth, NH – while not technically part of the North Shore, it’s along the route, and a very beautiful coastal city with awesome shopping and restaurants.

→ Newburyport, MA – Some of the best shopping in New England can be found here in Market Square and Tannery Marketplace. It’s also home to Plum Island.

→ Rockport, MA – One of my all-time favorite coastal towns because it’s so unique and loaded with character. This one is a bit of a detour off the main route, but not by much (and worth it, in my opinion).

→ Salem, MA – Most known for its Halloween celebrations, but is a very beautiful and charming city that’s awesome year-round.

→ Marblehead, MA – An underrated town that’s very beautiful and historic, and loaded with gorgeous coastline.

Where you choose to stop will largely depend on how much time you have, and I honestly think they’re all worth your time! Of them all, I think I prefer Rockport the most, as I think it has the most unique scenery,, but you can’t go wrong with any of the places I mentioned above. I’ve been to them all, and continue to visit them all regularly 😉

Here are some posts that will help you plan your drive down the North Shore:

• Best Things To Do On Cape Anne (part of the North Shore)
• Best Things To Do In Marblehead, MA
• Best Things To Do In Rockport, MA
• Best Stops To Make Driving Boston To Portland, Maine
• Best Things To Do In Newburyport & Plum Island

Alternative option : If you didn’t stop in Ogunquit or Kennebunkport the night before, these two coastal towns are also worthy of your time!

10 Day New England Road Trip Itinerary

With 10 days for your New England road trip, we can pack even more exciting places to visit into your itinerary!

I’ve broken down this 10 Day New England road trip itinerary for you below, and since many of the same stops are included, I’ve done a more abbreviated version. You’ll want to refer to the above 7 Day Itinerary for all the important information. But don’t worry! I’ve included all my pro tips for the new additions to this option, too.

Days 1-2 : Boston , with an optional day trip to Salem, Provincetown or a whale watch tour from Boston’s Harbor. Since you have the extra day, I suggest taking a day trip to one of these 3 destinations, but if you would prefer to relax and explore the city even more, you can do that, too.

Day 3 : Newport, RI .

Why Newport, RI Next? It’s only 1 hour and 30 minutes from Boston, and such a beautiful coastal town to visit in New England. Because of its location, it makes it easy to squeeze into a 10-day New England itinerary, too.

Here are some suggestions of awesome things to do in Newport, RI:

• Explore Cliff Walk.
• Tour the stunning Gilded Age mansions.
• Have lunch at Cliff House.
• Take this awesome morning mimosa boat tour in Newport!
• Explore the city by trolley, which includes The Breakers mansion!

Psst! I have a detailed guide on the a Newport, RI day trip , which is helpful for 1-night stays, too 😉

Newport, RI hotel suggestions:

Splurge: The Cliffside Inn , which is walkable to Castle Hill Lighthouse, pictured above!

Moderate: Mill Street Inn , which is in a historic building that’s walkable to a lot of places downtown, including the waterfront. They also have a great rooftop patio!

Day 4 : Woodstock, VT

Days 5 : White Mountains, New Hampshire

Day 6-7 : Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor

Day 8 : Boothbay Harbor, ME

Why Boothbay Harbor Next? As mentioned, one of my favorite little coastal towns in Maine is Boothbay Harbor because it’s loaded with charm and character, and offers so many incredible opportunities to get out onto the water with boat tours. Of all the places you can stop at on your way from Acadia to Portland, this is one of my favorites.

Here are some wonderful things to do in Boothbay Harbor:

• Take this awesome boat cruise to see seals, lighthouses and a lobster haul tour!
• Stroll through the adorable downtown area.
• Take in the views from the footbridge.
• Have a delicious lobster roll at Shannon’s Unshelled.

Hotel Suggestion in Boothbay Harbor:

The Harborage Inn on the Oceanfront is my favorite place to stay in Boothbay Harbor. The location is perfect and walkable to town, but set back enough so that it’s very peaceful. If you can, splurge on Room 8 for panorama views of the water (it seriously feels like you’re floating on water).

Day 9 : Portland, ME

Day 10 : Back to Boston, making stops along the North Shore on the way.

A lternative suggestion : If you wanted to skip Woodstock, VT for this option, you could add an extra day in the White Mountains. You could also skip Woodstock and add a night in the North Shore on your drive back to Boston. For this option, I would suggest Newburyport.

Do I still think Woodstock, VT is worth the excursion? Yes! But an extra day in the White Mountains or a night in the North Shore may appeal more to some of you, too. Do what fits your preferences the most 😊

I love Newburyport because it’s a wonderful balance between charming coastal town and historic shopping village. It pretty has much something for everyone, including a beautiful waterfront park, the nearby Plum Island for beaches and nature trails, and some of the best shopping in New England. For this particular itinerary, I think it’s a great option because it’s also the furthest north, and will break up your trip nicely.

Here are some fun things to do in Newburyport:

• Induldge in some retail therapy in Market Square and Tannery Marketplace.
• Walk the path in the Waterfront Park.
• Explore Maudslay State Park .
• Drive to Plum Island to see the beaches and the nature trails at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.

Newburyport hotel suggestion:

Compass Rose Inn is the best place to stay in Newburyport and feels like a big, warm hug when you arrive. In a beautiful and historic home, and each room is a suite with a fireplace. It’s also walkable to town, and a complimentary breakfast is included.

5 Day New England Road Trip Itinerary

Don’t have 7 or 10 days for a New England road trip? No problem! Having put a lot of thought into the best 5 Day New England itinerary, you can easily make this a jam-packed road trip style trip, or a more relaxing getaway that allows you additional time at each destination, but doesn’t get to as many places. Not sure which is right for you? I’ve outlined both to help you decide.

As before, refer to the first 7 Day New England road trip itinerary option for more detailed information on each destination.

5 Day Road Trip Itinerary From Boston

Day 1 : Boston

Day 2 : The White Mountains, New Hampshire

Day 3-4 : Acadia National Par k

Day 5 : Drive back to Boston , stopping at the Portland Lighthouses, and 1-2 towns along the North Shore region on your way.

5 Day Relaxed Itinerary From Boston

Days 1-2 : Boston. Two days will allow you to settle in and enjoy a more relaxed pace.

Pro Tip : If you’re not flying into Boston (ie, you’re driving in), you don’t have to stay right in Boston. You can definitely stay in a cute nearby town like Salem or Gloucester, and then take a day trip to Boston for a more relaxing getaway.

Days 3-4 : Newport, RI & Mystic, CT. From Newport, Mystic, CT is only about a 1-hour drive, which makes this an easy and relaxing afternoon excursion that’s stress-free.

Psst! I have a detailed guide on the best things to do in Mystic, CT , if you need more ideas 😉

Day 5 : Back to Boston, with stops in either Plymouth and Scituate on the way back (or both!). These two towns are south of Boston, and more convenient to visit when driving from Newport. I love them both, and they offer lots of charm, shopping, dining and beautiful sites to see. Of the two, Scituate is smaller with fewer things to do, but very beautiful.

Alternative suggestion 1 : Stay right in Boston for all 5 days, and take day trips! Since Boston is in such a great area, it’s very easy to get around. And as mentioned before, you can take a ferry to Provincetown on Cape Cod, or over to Salem, and you won’t need a car for either of these two excursions.

Alternative suggestion 2 : Stay in Boston for 2-3 nights, and spend 2-3 nights on Cape Cod with a day trip to one of the islands (Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard). This option will be very coastal, and provides you with some of the best beaches and coastal towns in Massachusetts.

Here are some posts that may help you if you like this option:

• Best Towns To Stay In On Cape Cod
• Best Things To Do In Provincetown, MA
• Cape Cod Day Trip Guide
• Martha’s Vineyard Day Trip Guide
• Nantucket Day Trip Guide
• Is Nantucket Or Martha’s Vineyard Better For A Day Trip?
• How To See Martha’s Vineyard Without A Car

Alternative suggestion 3 : Stay in Boston for 2 nights, and then drive to the North Shore for 2 nights, and then maybe Portland for 1 night. Just north of Boston, the North Shore region includes Salem, Marblehead, Manchester-By-The-Sea, Gloucester, Rockport, Essex and Newburyport. All of these towns are pretty close to another another, and it would be easy to pick one to stay in, and take afternoon trips to the others.

Portland is also within 1 hour and 30 minute at the most from these towns, making it easy to pop over for the day, or a night.

Best Way To Get Around New England

The best way to see New England is definitely by car. If you fly in, I suggest renting a car from the airport to begin your road trip. If you plan to spend a day or two in Boston before beginning the road trip, I would say to hold off on renting your car until you’re ready to leave Boston.

Boston has an awesome public transit system, and Uber and Lyft are readily available, so a car will be more of a hassle to park in the city.

What To Pack For A New England Road Trip

This will, of course, depend on entirely on the time of year you visit, as New England is a four-season climate. I always suggest checking the weather reports a few days before leaving to get a more accurate idea of what the weather and temperatures will be like.

I love to remind people that New England can be moody and weather can change frequently. Even in the summer, you could have chilly days, and in the winter, you might experience a warm day. Although, generally speaking, you’ll find it’s pretty much what you would expect of a four-season climate: A wet and rainy spring, a warm or hot summer, a chilly fall, and cold and snowy winter.

Here are a few suggestions and tips on packing for a New England road trip that you not have thought of:

→ A reusable water bottle to reduce single-use plastic.

→ Dramamine if you plan to do any boat tours, and you’re prone to seasickness.

→ Day pack for essentials like your water bottle, camera, sunscreen, etc.

→ Comfortable shoes for exploring towns. Keep in mind that places like Boston, Nantucket, and historic small towns often have uneven cobblestone or brick streets.

→ Hiking boots if you plan on doing any hikes.

→ In general, plan to keep your clothes fairly casual. New England can be fancy if you plan a special dinner out, but is overall pretty casual. Take a look at your specific plans and eliminate any extra fancy outfits that you likely won’t need. You probably won’t need any if you don’t plan to dine out anywhere upscale.

→ Light jackets or sweaters for mornings and evenings (even in the summer!).

→ Waterproof jacket and boots if you plan to visit in the spring or fall.

→ Don’t forget your camera! You may also want to consider an iPhone tripod with a remote shutter to elevate your travel photos from selfies to wall-worthy shots. This one on Amazon is inexpensive and perfect for the average traveler!

New England Road Trip FAQ

Is new england easy to drive around.

Very! Of course, you’ll experience traffic when you’re close to, or in, a city like Boston or Portland. In that case, it’s just like driving in any other city. But overall, New England is very easy to drive around.

One thing I like to remind people is that in the more rural places, you will likely drive on a lot of dirt roads, so just be careful of any pot holes and go slowly, especially in Vermont and New Hampshire.

Is It Safe To Take A Winter New England Road Trip?

Yes! As long as you’re comfortable driving in the snow, you’ll be totally fine. Chances are, if you’re visiting in the winter, you’re excited to check out places like New Hampshire or Vermont, and those two states are among the top 3 snowiest in the whole country. So, just know that you will experience snow, and you’ll definitely be driving in it.

But generally speaking, most places are great at plowing roads, so unless you happen to visit during one of our big nor’easter storms, driving is easy. Just practice normal precautions, and don’t drive if the snow is coming down really hard.

I have an entire guide on all my favorite New England winter getaways , if you’re looking for the best winter destinations in this region.

Is Cell Service Reliable All Over New England?

Yes and no, and it depends on where you’re going. For the most part, cell service is completely reliable, and Google Maps will be able to take you everywhere.

However, in more remote places, again like in Vermont or New Hampshire, or even along the coast at some lighthouses or in Acadia, you will lose cell service more than you think! I highly recommend offlining maps for your entire route just to be safe . I can’t tell you how many times I’ve lost service while driving in VT and NH and didn’t offline maps, only to very much regret it in the moment!

Why Is Connecticut Not Part Of Your Itineraries?

I love Connecticut! But the hard thing about it is its location. It’s so far southwest, in the exact opposite direction of Acadia National Park, and most of the other top destinations to visit. And since Acadia is one of the most amazing New England locations that everyone should see when they visit, I had to exclude Connecticut from the itinerary options only for the sake of time. I personally think Acadia, and the other places I’ve mentioned, offer much higher payoff for your driving time than destinations around Connecticut.

That’s why I was only able to squeeze in a quick afternoon trip to Mystic, CT in the 5-day option.

What About A Fall Foliage Road Trip?

I’ve got you covered! I have an entire post on the perfect New England fall road trip , which is one I’ve perfected over many years of exploring this region in the fall season. This road trip makes stops in similar places, but has more of a focus on the best places for foliage.

You May Also Enjoy Reading:

• Best Things To Do In New England
• Best Time To Visit New England
• Incredible New England Resorts & Spas
• Best Boston Hotels Near The Aquarium
• Awesome New England Gifts & Things To Buy During Your Visit
• Best Christmas Towns in New England
• Best New England Day Trips
• Summer In New England: Best Places To Go & Things To Do!
• Best Beach Towns In New England
• Things To Do In Boston In The Fall
• Gorgeous New England Islands Worth Visiting
• My Unforgettable Boston To Bar Harbor, Maine Road Trip Itinerary

That’s A Wrap On The Best 7 Day New England Road Trip Itinerary

Hopefully you’re now feeling ready to tackle planning your own adventure with this 7 Day New England Road Trip Itinerary! Even with 7 days, you can see so much of this gorgeous region and really cover a lot of ground. And, of course, if you have time to follow along on my 10 Day New England Road Trip Itinerary, that’s even better. But regardless of what you have time for, New England is always a good idea, and is always worth making time for. Happy planning!

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4 Day New England Road Trip Itinerary – Vermont, New Hampshire, & Maine

New England is such a beautiful place to visit, and it can be difficult to decide where to spend your time when it’s all so wonderful. We’ve put together a 4 day, 3 state itinerary based on our recent trip through the Northeast. We’ve included all of our favorite things, added some suggestions for where to stay, and finished it out with tips on how you can extend the trip if you have a few more days to explore these beautiful states.

But before we get started with our 4 day itinerary to see Vermont, New Hampshire, & Maine, here are a few quick tips.

New England Road Trip Tips:

Prepare for all different weather. Spring comes late in the Northeast and we still needed jackets for the mornings and evenings in early June. But we also experienced a heat wave come through, so pack everything from sweatshirts to shorts.

Buy the souvenir at the first place you find it. You’ll probably see plenty of maple syrup for sale even in New Hampshire and Maine, but consider everything else a specialty item and get it when you see it.

If the weather is nice, be prepared for crowds. Winter is long in New England, so when the weather is nice, everyone is out enjoying it. If you’re traveling while the fall foliage is on display, be prepared for even more crowds as everyone wants to do some leaf peeping.

Our Favorite Road Trip Souvenirs

Choosing souvenirs on a road trip is hard, because you’ll see so many amazing options. Here are our favorite souvenirs that won’t just sit around and collect dust.

• Christmas ornament – This is our #1 choice for souvenirs and often the only one we purchase. We love seeing all our mementos from past trips every year when we put up the tree.
• Gourmet foods – Wisiting Vermont and Maine and NOT buying gourmet foods would be a challenge! The most obvious choices would be maple syrup and blueberry jam, but you’ll find everything from tea and honey to candy and cookies.
• Tshirt or sweatshirt – My favorites are national parks shirts and state map shirts. Classy and simple and something you’ll wear over and over. Another fun and useable clothing item: socks.
• Tea Towels – Tea towels are beautiful and useful and if you’re like me, you could always use a fresh new one.
• Books – We saw so many amazing collections of local books for kids as well as nonfiction and fiction books for adults. Local bookstores often have their state’s books in their own labeled section for easy browsing.
• Puzzle – A photograph you don’t have to take and an activity for the whole family.
• Postcards – We have a postcard collection as well as an ornament collection, so it’s fun (and cheap!) to pick out a new postcard when we go somewhere new.

New England Road Trip Itinerary

Day 0 – Get to Stowe

Dinner: Have dinner at the Trapp Family Lodge or the Von Trapp Beirhall.

Accommodations: Stay at Trapp Family Lodge or Green Mountain Inn

Day 1 – Explore Stowe, Waterbury, and Montpelier

2 hours of driving

When you think of Vermont, you probably think of covered bridges, quaint towns, changing leaves, maple syrup, and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. We’re going to experience all those things in one day, changing leaves not guaranteed.

Stowe Village

Start the day with a maple latte at Black Cap Coffee and spend an hour wandering Stowe Village. Take a photo with the Stowe mural on the side of Laughing Moon Chocolates. Browse the beautiful kitchen items at The Country Store on Main. Pop into Bear Pond Books Store for a kids book, coffee table book, or puzzle about Vermont. Pick up gourmet Vermont foods at Stowe Mercantile.

Gold Brook Covered Bridge

Also called Emily’s Bridge, this piece of Vermont history has a spooky story.

Cold Hollow Cider Mill

Learn about cider making and sample the delicious cider at the back of the store. If you are looking to bring home souvenirs, this is a great location to find a wide variety of Vermont-made goods. Stop for lunch next door at Apple Core Luncheonette.

Ben & Jerry’s

Take the Ben & Jerry’s Factory tour to learn more about this Vermont institution. Then walk through the infamous Flavor Graveyard to see past flavors that have bitten the dust. If your day isn’t too full of sugary treats already, get a cone from their scoop shop.

Bragg Farm Sugar House

Get your fill of maple goodies at Bragg Farm. Start with their video to learn about sugaring. Taste their four kinds of maple syrup and choose a jug of your favorite. Pick up some maple candy or maple kisses to take home with you. Grab a maple creemee (or a maple chocolate twist – both delicious!) and visit the resident goats and ponies outside.

Coburn Covered Bridge

Many covered bridges in Vermont are now pedestrian only, but you can drive through the Coburn Covered Bridge and it’s just a few minutes away from our next stop.

Martin Covered Bridge Park

Walk through Martin Covered Bridge and continue down the mowed trails if you’d like to enjoy this little green space.

Drive 1 hour to Franconia, NH

Accommodations: Stay overnight at Sugar Hill Inn, Inn at Sunset Hill, or Franconia Inn.

Day 2 – Explore Franconia Notch State Park and the Kancamagus Highway

4 hours of driving

Old Man of the Mountain Historic Site

The Old Man of the Mountain is New Hampshire’s signature site, featured on all of their state route signs, their license plates, and on the back of their statehood quarter. Deterioration of the fragile stone profile has been documented for over 100 years, and multiple attempts have been made to repair and preserve it using steel rods and turnbuckles. In 2003 the formation collapsed.

Now you can visit the historic site. A paved walkway leads to Profile Lake and a viewing platform with steel ‘profilers’ that allow you to see what the Old Man used to look like. Coin operated viewfinders at the base of the cliff show a before and after of the mountain profile. If you’d like, you can return via part of the Pemi Trail, by crossing the wooden bridge and following the rocky trail back up towards the parking lot.

Take the half mile out and back Basin Cascade hike or make it part of a longer hike along the Pemi Trail. Either way, you’ll enjoy the Pemigewasset River as it winds and falls right alongside the path, giving you something new to look at with each new turn. This is a great hike for keeping kids engaged.

There’s also a wheelchair accessible path to the Basin.

Kancamagus Highway

The drive from Lincoln to Conway is full of beautiful overlooks and amazing spots to stop and explore. We spent an entire day on the Kancamagus Highway, so you’ll have to move pretty quickly if you want to make more than a couple of stops. Our favorites were Sabbaday Falls and Rocky Gorge Scenic Area. Lower Falls is also a great stop if you’d like to do some swimming. These White Mountain National Forest sites have a $5 parking fee but are free if you have a National Parks Pass. Parking lots fill up quickly on weekends with good weather.

Drive 3 hours to Camden, Maine.

Accommodations: Stay at one of the historic local inns. The Inn at Ocean’s Edge is a short drive from Camden and looks particularly lovely. 16 Bay View is right in the center of town with views of the harbor.

Day 3 – Explore Camden

2.5 hours of driving

Camden is such a cute little coastal Maine town! It’s incredibly walkable and so scenic with views of the harbor and beautiful old architecture. If you like boutiques, you’ll love the shopping here!

Explore Camden on Foot

Start your morning with coffee at Owl & Turtle Bookshop Café. Browse French & Brawn Marketplace and try Moxie, a local favorite soda. Have lunch on the water at Camden Deli or Marriner’s. Walk through Harbor Park down to the waterfront to see Megunticook Falls. Then cross the street to see the Camden Amphitheater and the beautiful architecture of the public library. Don’t miss the beautiful circle of stone benches and book carvings. Grab a cone from River Ducks ice cream and enjoy it on the Tannery Lane Footbridge and enjoy the flower baskets lining the bridge.

Harbor Overlooks

Drive down Bay View Street to Camden City Park and walk down the hill to the rocky beach. Continue a little further down this road to the Curtis Lighthouse Overlook. This short path through the woods is marked with a simple wooden sign.

Red Barn Marketplace

Hop in your car and check out Red Barn Marketplace, driving past the historic homes on High Street. Shop for antiques and locally made gifts or enjoy coffee and pastries, or both!

Merryspring Nature Center

Take a leisurely walk at this free nature garden. With over a dozen different garden sections and 4 miles of trails, you could spend an entire day enjoying Merryspring Nature Center.

Camden Hills State Park

Camden Hills State Park offers an overlook of the town and harbor as well as the historic Mt. Battie Tower. It’s also a popular sunset spot.

Drive 1 hour and 45 minutes to Bar Harbor.

Accommodations: Book a room at one of the many local inns for 2 nights.

Day 4 – Explore Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park

One day at Acadia National Park, like most national parks, is hard to narrow down. Here’s our suggestions for one full day exploring the two biggest highlights of Mount Desert Island: the town of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.

We’ll give you 2 options, the sunrise option and the sunset option.

Cadillac Mountain

If you don’t mind starting the morning very early, sunrise at Cadillac Mountain would be an excellent choice. You’ll need to make a reservation for this well in advance of your trip as sunrise access to this area of the park is limited.

Park Loop Road

Drive the one-way loop of Park Loop Road, stopping to see Egg Rock Lighthouse at Schooner Head Overlook. If you’d like a challenging trail and you’re not afraid of heights, the Beehive Trail with iron rungs up the face of the mountain has beautiful views from the top. If you’d prefer a flatter hike, the Jordan Pond Path is also lovely. Sand Beach is also a beautiful stop, but it shares a parking lot with the Beehive Trail, so this can be a difficult place to find parking starting in the late morning. If it’s high tide, stop at Thunder Hole and see if you can hear the thunderous boom of the crashing waves. Finish the loop with a stop at Jordan Pond. Bring a picnic to eat on the rocks or stop for lunch on your way back to Bar Harbor.

Afternoon in Bar Harbor

Drive to Bar Harbor for the afternoon. Wander the Village Green. Get blueberry ice cream at Mount Desert Island Ice Cream or CJ’s Big Dipper. Do some shopping on Main Street. Two of our favorite stores were The Acadia Shop and Sherman’s Bookstore. Have some seafood at Thirsty Whale Tavern or enjoy the kitschy décor and classic American fare at Route 66 Restaurant. Walk down to Agamont Park to see the harbor or if it’s low tide, walk the Bar Island Land Bridge. Keep an eye on the tide schedule though. The land bridge is only accessible for a few hours and if you lose track of time, you might find yourself stranded on Bar Island for hours until the next low tide.

Bass Harbor Lighthouse

Drive to the Bass Harbor Lighthouse. If you want to be there for sunset, go early because the parking lot is not large and it’s a popular spot. If you go early in the evening, Ship Harbor Trail, Wonderland Trail, and Echo Lake Beach are all on your way back.

Breakfast in Bar Harbor

If you opt for a slower morning, stop by Mount Desert Bakery or A Slice of Eden for a pastry or bagel. Spend a few hours wandering the shops in Bar Harbor. The Acadia Shop was one of our favorites. You might also enjoy Agamont Park and if it’s low tide, you can walk out to Bar Island on the land bridge that appears for about 3 hours around low tide. Be careful to allow time to walk back. Otherwise you will be stranded for about 9 hours until the next low tide.

Drive to the Bass Harbor Lighthouse. Take the paved path on the right to the lighthouse itself, or take the trail on the left down some stairs to the rocky lighthouse overlook. While you’re on this side of the island, you might also enjoy hiking Ship Harbor Trail or Wonderland Trail or stopping at Echo Lake Beach.

Have lunch at the Travelin Lobster, The Upper Deck, or Abel’s Lobster on your way around the island.

Next you’ll follow Park Loop Road around the main part of Acadia National Park, stopping at overlooks and trails that interest you. Our favorites were the view of Egg Rock Lighthouse from Schooner Head Overlook, Sand Beach, and Jordan Pond. If it’s high tide, climb down the rocks at Thunder Hole to hear the thunderous crashing waves. The Beehive Trail is a challenging but short hike with iron rungs and stone staircases. Jordan Pond Path is a lovely flat hike, if that appeals more to you. Sand Beach and the Beehive Trail share a parking lot, so it can be tough to find parking here mid-day. Have dinner at Jordan Pond House Restaurant or pack a picnic to eat on the rocks at Jordan Pond.

Watch the sunset at the top of Cadillac Mountain. You’ll want to park in the first lot on the left and find a place to sit on the large expanse of rock facing west. If you have time to explore a bit, drive to the top overlook first, but you’ll want to come down and park in the lower west-facing lot for sunset. Note: During peak season, you will need to reserve timed entry to Cadillac Mountain and parking in the sunset lot will fill up fast.

Extend the Trip:

5 Days: We always think National Parks deserve more than a 1 day visit, so additional days in Bar Harbor and Acadia is the first place we’d recommend adding time. Our four day Coastal Maine itinerary LINK outlines how to spend 2 days in Bar Harbor and Acadia.

6-7 Days: To extend your time in each state, find more things we recommend in these itineraries: Vermont New Hampshire Maine Acadia National Park

Make it an RV Trip:

If you’d like to expand this road trip into an RV adventure like we did, the secret is having a Harvest Hosts membership. We built this entire road trip around 24 hour stays at Harvest Hosts with 2 longer campground stays in the middle, Fransted RV Park in Franconia and Blackwoods Campground at Acadia National Park.

After you sign up for a Harvest Hosts account, you’ll be able to see all the amazing businesses in New England that would be happy to host you and you can start building your trip. And the best thing is that some of the destinations I mentioned in this post are host businesses! How amazing would it be to tour a maple sugar farm, enjoy maple creemees on the lawn, and then camp for the night with no fees beyond the purchases you made at the farm? And then you wake up and have the place all to yourself for a few hours! Let me tell you, it’s pretty great! (Learn more about why we love Harvest Hosts here!)

Our loose 3 week itinerary for the trip:

Days 1-2: Traveling to New England Days 3-7: Vermont Days 8-12: New Hampshire Days 13-20: Maine Days 21-24: Traveling home

See more of our New England series: 3 Day Vermont Road Trip Itinerary 2 Day New Hampshire Road Trip Itinerary 4 Day Coastal Maine Road Trip Itinerary Ultimate Guide to Acadia National Park

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17 Not-to-Miss Stops on your Vermont Road Trip Itinerary

In my opinion, Vermont is the most picturesque of the New England states. I’m definitely biased by my many years of childhood memories exploring the Green Mountain state. But on every Vermont road trip you will pass by quaint covered bridges, roadside rivers rushing over rocks, classic red barns sitting next to fields dotted with black and white dairy cows, and small villages with church steeples standing tall over the town green.

Whether you are visiting Vermont on a romantic getaway , a girl’s weekend, or a family vacation, there is a lot to see in this small state. Luckily, the state caters to tourists, offering roadside signs for attractions and Vermont Tourism makes it easy to find a fun way to explore, with maps of scenic byways and all sorts of maker trails from craft beer to artisan cheese. But what if you want a bit of everything?

I recently asked a friend to join me for a Vermont road trip over a long weekend. Since she is a teacher and has enough on her plate, she was happy to put the planning into my expert hands and let me surprise her with Vermont delights.

3-Day Vermont Road Trip Itinerary

I sat down with a wish list of scenic byways, covered bridges, waterfalls, local shops, Vermont cheese, maple syrup, and maybe some local craft beer or spirits. After poring over all the maps, blogs, and experiences from previous trips, I came up with the following three-day Vermont road trip itinerary.

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. All opinions are my own.

Brattleboro

The first stop after our two-hour drive up from Rhode Island was in Brattleboro , Vermont. This hip and progressive, lesser-visited town in Southern Vermont has been heralded as one of the best small towns in America. If you want to extend this itinerary and spend a day in each destination, there is certainly plenty to do in Brattleboro from a circus class at the New England Center for Circus Arts, a chocolate charcuterie tasting at Tavernier Chocolate, or fruit and veggie picking at Wild Carrot Farm.

But for a short stay, downtown, you can do some shopping, visit the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center (you can also join a gallery walk on the first Friday of every month in season), or grab some lunch at Yalla, featuring fresh, homemade, Middle Eastern food.

If you do plan to stay overnight, The Inn at Putney Road is a great option with a variety of rooms and suites, 15 miles of hiking trails nearby, and a multi-course breakfast in the morning. After exploring downtown, we stopped by the Grafton Village Cheese Shop just outside of town.

Pro tip: bring a cooler and some ice packs for all the cheese you are going to want to bring home!) This classic country store has a beautifully curated selection of Vermont-made products and an enormous cheese display. You can also find many Vermont craft beers for sale.

Read more: Things to do in Brattleboro, Vermont

Molly Stark Byway

From Brattleboro, we headed west along the Molly Stark Byway towards Bennington. The byway is named after the wife of General John Stark, who led the Colonial militia to a victory at the Battle of Bennington on August 16, 1777. This byway links historic Bennington in the west to arts-oriented Brattleboro in the east and passes through Woodford, the highest village in Vermont, and sections of the Green Mountain National Forest .

The drive takes about an hour, without stops, but our plan was to enjoy the drive. Our first stop was just outside of Brattleboro at the Creamery Covered Bridge . This well-kept covered bridge is just off the road and has a nice parking lot and picnic area, making it an easy tourist destination.

If you enjoy handicrafts, make a stop at Vermont Bowl Company in Wilmington, about halfway through your drive. You can purchase beautifully crafted salad bowls, cutting boards, serving trays, and other products made from local wood.

The next stop on our Vermont road trip was the historic town of Bennington , also home to Bennington College. Downtown Bennington is still recovering from the drop in tourism, but if open, be sure to check out the Bennington Bookshop, The Village Chocolate Shop, and Vermont Confectionery.

There are any number of places to grab a bite to eat in town, but we had a lively lunch and good local beer at Madison Brewing Company (tried the fried Brussels sprouts!)

History and literature fans may also want to see Robert Frost’s grave at the Old First Church or stop into the Robert Frost Stone House Museum . Of course one of the main attractions is the Bennington Battle Monument . This 306-foot limestone obelisk was built to commemorate the Battle of Bennington, which occurred on August 16, 1777, and is considered to be the turning point in the Revolutionary War.

If you would like to spend the night in Bennington, The Four Chimneys Inn blends a traditional Vermont inn and a boutique hotel in a lovely location. If you spent a full day here, you would also have some time for nearby hiking, like the one-mile hike to Everett Cave (just bring a flashlight!)

Shires of Vermont Scenic Byway

Continue your Vermont road trip by heading north on Historic Route 7A, or the Shires of Vermont Scenic Byway , towards Manchester. The drive only takes 30 minutes, but plan on at least an hour with various stops. If you like covered bridges, there are quite a few in this area worth checking out. However, keep in mind that cell service is very spotty so you may want to pre-save them in your GPS or Google Maps.

First up is the Silk Road Covered Bridge . Built in 1840, this lattice-truss bridge crosses the Walloomsac River between downtown Bennington, Vermont, and the village of North Bennington. The nearby Paper Mill Bridge, or Bennington Falls Covered Bridge, is similar but not quite as scenic since fencing from the nearby paper mill obstructs the photo opportunity. The Henry Bridge also has a similar design, but a town-constructed picnic area offers a nice side-angle view, which isn’t always so readily available at other bridges.

Further up the byway, make a stop at the Chocolate Barn for handcrafted chocolate treats. Then if you aren’t tired of bridges, you can go a little off the path to see Arlington Covered Bridge. But this one isn’t as pretty as some of the others that are more easily accessible. We were planning to stop at Chiselville Covered Bridge as well but a GPS failure meant we had to skip it.

If it is open, your last stop before arriving in Manchester should be the Sugar Shack and Norman Rockwell exhibit (you will find Norman Rockwell is big around these parts.) If it is closed, don’t worry, you will have plenty of other opportunities to purchase maple syrup products. And a quick pitstop at Mother Myrick’s Confectionery in Manchester will satisfy your sweet tooth (famous for her butter crunch toffee!)

There are enough things to do in Manchester that you could easily spend your whole weekend here, but for our purposes, we focused on the highlights. Downtown Manchester is famous for its shopping. First, it is home to the flagship store for Orvis , the fly fishing and outdoor outfitters brand.

You will also find designer outlet shops clustered around Manchester. But my personal favorite is a visit to the independently-owned Northshire Books .

There are a wealth of accommodation options in and around Manchester, from the romantic Reluctant Panther to the luxe Equinox Resort & Spa , and the hip Kimpton Taconic . However, we were just two moms on a budget so the conveniently-located, fresh, and clean Hampton Inn & Suites Manchester worked out perfectly for us.

For dinner, if you are in the mood for an eclectic menu and fine dining, book a table at Silver Fork . Set inside an old library, this beautiful restaurant offers terrific service and delicious menu items that felt like such a nice change from family dinner around the kitchen table.

Read more: Things to do in Manchester, Vermont

Lye Brook Falls, Manchester

The next morning, we enjoyed the free breakfast included at our hotel, but you could also easily walk to the Little Rooster Cafe in downtown Manchester for a home-cooked breakfast.

Just outside of Manchester, it is time to step into the woods and enjoy Vermont’s natural attractions. A five-mile moderate out-and-back hike will bring you to the base of Lye Brook Falls , one of the tallest waterfalls in Vermont . Plan to wear your waterproof hiking boots and bring along a trekking pole or walking stick because you will need to cross a couple of small streams. If you can get there in the morning before moving on, the trail won’t be crowded and you can have a little time to yourself to enjoy the falls.

Hildene, Manchester

One of Manchester’s most famous attractions is Hildene , the former Lincoln family home. A self-guided tour of this historic home, built by Abraham Lincoln’s son Robert as a summer home when he was President of the Pullman Company, only takes about an hour to explore both the home and some of the grounds. You can certainly take longer to enjoy the walking trails, have a picnic, or visit the Sunbeam Pullman car or Hildene goat dairy.

Scenic Route 100 Byway

After touring Hildene, we turned our sights north, toward Killington and a scenic drive along Vermont’s famous Route 100 , past Bromley, Stratton Mountain, and Okemo. You could opt for lunch at Goodman’s American Pie in Ludlow, or stop for burgers and lobster rolls at Honeypie in Jamaica, but we headed to Weston for a stop at the Vermont Country Store .

It is easy to lose yourself for an hour in this general store/gift shop turned tourist attraction, ducking into different sections for some of the best Vermont-made products from Darn Tough socks to their own syrup, cheeses, and cider. After poking around for a bit, you can stop at the cafe and enjoy a picnic lunch or a maple creemee (maple-flavored soft ice cream).

Our next stop on the Route 100 Scenic Byway was going to be Buttermilk Falls, in Ludlow, but we were running a little behind and I’ve been there before we so skipped it this time (no worries, we would see plenty of waterfalls the next day!) Instead, we headed to Green Mountain Sugar House instead to stock up on syrup and try one of their famous maple creemees. Set on a lake, it is also a great place to take your ice cream and sit in an Adirondack chair near the water to enjoy the view.

The next stop on my itinerary was Plymouth Artisan Cheese , in Plymouth, also the home to the historic site where President Calvin Coolidge was born and raised. Sadly we arrived just five minutes before the posted closing time and they were already gone for the day.

The Mountain Inn, Killington

We ended our day with a stay at The Mountain Inn , in Killington. This renovated inn is also home to a distillery, offering a trendy and fresh design and a fun atmosphere. Our mountain view room offered a small balcony and gorgeous vistas. It was perfect for the two of us, but for families, I would keep in mind that the rooms are small and the walls are thin. It wasn’t busy when we were there so we loved our experience, but I imagine it would feel quite different in the winter season.

For dinner, I had booked a special pre-Mother’s Day treat to enjoy dining in one of their two heated gondolas at the restaurant, Still on the Mountain (get it — still like the one used in the distillery? Fun play on words.) The food was great and the cocktail list was extensive (as you can imagine), but it was the atmosphere that we really loved.

Thundering Brook Falls, Killington

We started our third and final day on our Vermont road trip with the first of a number of waterfalls. Just a short drive from our hotel in Killington, Thundering Brook Falls is off the main road and more of a local gem. A short walk on a boardwalk through a marsh will bring you to the viewing platform at the base of the falls. You can also go off-path and climb up to see the upper falls — keep a close eye on children!

Texas Falls Recreation Area, Hancock

From Thundering Falls, we continued up Vermont Route 100 towards Granville, with a pitstop at the Texas Falls Recreation Area . This is well worth the short detour off Route 100, between there and the Lake Champlain Byway. This area features a one-mile nature hike through the woods, but you don’t even need to do that to see the stunning waterfalls that have been carved through the rock over the generations.

The best views are right at the beginning of the hike, just past the bridge that connects the trail to the parking lot. Depending on your day, there are also picnic grounds on-site and a toilet (not so easy to find on your drive!)

Moss Glen Falls, Granville

Head back to Scenic Route 100 and continue north towards Granville. Chances are you won’t have any cell phone coverage, so keep an eye on the left for Moss Glen Falls . There is a small parking area and the falls are easily visible right from the road. There are hiking trails nearby but you can take a quick photo and continue on to other attractions.

Warren Falls, Warren

Even if you are getting tired of waterfalls, you shouldn’t skip stopping at Warren Falls . The parking lot can get a little crowded on a busy day because this is a popular spot for families, picnickers, and hikers. But a short walk towards the cascades will bring you to a beautiful view of the water rushing through rocks. Stake out a spot on the rocks and sit and enjoy a picnic or just take in the view.

The cute, artsy town of Waitsfield, near Mad River Glen Ski Area, is the beginning of the Mad River Scenic Byway. This is a great spot to stop for lunch, or even stay the night if you have more time for your Vermont road trip itinerary.

You will find art galleries as well as pottery and glass artisans. Waitsfield is also home to Mad River Distillers and a few craft breweries. You can grab lunch at the Three Mountain Cafe or Mad Taco, or treat yourself to a maple ice cream cone at Canteen Creemee. If you did want to stay the night, The Inn at Round Barn Farm is a great choice.

If you don’t stop in Waitsfield, the larger town of Waterbury offers plenty of options for lunch or dinner, including Prohibition Pig or Hen of the Wood. On our trip, some of these weren’t open for lunch so instead, we opted for a late brunch at Maxi’s , a local favorite for breakfast and brunch.

Of course, the reason many people stop in Waterbury is the Ben & Jerry’s Factory ice cream store just outside of town. We had both visited before and didn’t want to stop for a tour or ice cream, but if you haven’t been — even a quick stop for a stroll through the flavor graveyard is fun for B&J’s fans.

If you head a little further north toward the Stowe area, it is well worth a stop at the Cold Hollow Cider Mill , one of my favorite things to do in Vermont. We first stopped here after going to Smugglers’ Notch a few years ago and I fell in love with their apple cider donuts.

My recommendation is to stop in at the hard cider tasting room first and try a flight (they may give you a coupon for 6 free donuts next door!) There is also a cafe serving up tasty sandwiches and salads. Next, head over to the main store and stock up on cider, donuts, pies, and other Vermont specialties to bring home to enjoy!

If you wanted to take a longer trip, you could add in a couple of days in Burlington . Otherwise it is time to head back south.

Morse Farm Sugarworks, Montpelier

By this time, we needed to start turning south to make our way home at the end of a wonderful long weekend. But before we hit the highway, we had one more stop just outside the state capital of Montpelier at the Morse Farm Sugarworks .

At this maple producer and country store, you can sample all their flavors of maple syrup — from light and delicate to dark and robust. We also found the pricing here lower than in other places, so if you want to stock up on syrup, this is the place! You can also purchase maple sugar products and, of course, enjoy a maple creemee — some swear it is the best around!

Quechee Gorge, Hartford

If you are looking for one final stop on your VT road trip, Quechee Gorge is located just a couple of minutes off Interstate 89 and 91. This “Vermont’s Little Grand Canyon” is visible from the bridge on Route 4. Just park at the Visitor Center and walk over, or you can spend time learning about the geology and history of the area and take a hike on the trail along the river.

If you have a little more time to spend, I would recommend visiting the Simon Pearce glassware store and restaurant nearby and spending the night in the charming village of Woodstock at the Woodstock Inn .

Of course, there are so many scenic drives and cute towns to explore on a Vermont road trip that you can’t fit everything into one weekend. If you are looking for more ideas, check out one of these New England road trips , which are great for fall foliage drives. I hope you fall in love with the Green Mountains of Vermont and keep going back just the way I have!

Visiting Vermont? You may be interested in…

• Things to do in Burlington, Vermont
• Things to do in Manchester, Vermont
• Things to do in Brattleboro, Vermont
• Glamping at the Highwood Retreat
• Basin Harbor on Lake Champlain
• 20+ Spots to go Glamping in New England
• Best fall getaways in New England

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Tamara Gruber is the Founder and Publisher of We3Travel. A former marketing executive and travel advisor, Tamara is an award-winning travel writer and recognized expert in family travel. Tamara is a member of SATW and the Adventure Travel Trade Association, and serves on the Board of the Family Travel Association. She is also the publisher of YourTimetoFly.com and the co-host of the Vacation Mavens travel podcast.

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Publish Date: March 23, 2024

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12 Day New England Fall Road Trip Itinerary (Vermont, New Hampshire, & Coastal Maine)

Last updated on March 11th, 2024

In this guide we’re sharing a 12 day New England fall road trip itinerary that includes some of the best sights to see in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, based on our own trip to the area. Visiting New England in the fall was a dream of ours for YEARS! And finally, in 2021 we were able to make it happen and it exceeded all of our expectations.  For over a month, we drove around parts of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine in search of the best fall foliage, cute towns, delicious food, and beautiful nature. And what we found were some of our top hikes of the year, one of our new favorite national parks, some of the friendliest locals, and more colorful trees than we had ever seen in our lifetime. New England in the fall gets a lot of hype, but we can confirm, it’s 100% magical.

Watch all of our adventures across New England, including Vermont, New Hampshire’s White Mountains, and coastal Maine!

And we’re excited to help you experience it for yourself! In this 12 day New England fall road trip itinerary we’re sharing a condensed version of our road trip (cutting out all of our boring work days we had between adventuring), plus all of our tips for visiting the region in the fall, where to stay each night, and so much more!

Looking For More Things To Do In New England?

• How to spend 2 days in Boston
• 7 day Vermont road trip Itinerary
• The ULTIMATE guide to driving the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire
• The BEST things to do in the White Mountains in New Hampshire
• The Best Things to do in Acadia National Park
• How to backpack the Cutler Coast in Maine
• Acadia National Park Itinerary

About New England

New england road trip route, fall in new england (weather, when to visit + foliage tracking), where to stay during your new england fall road trip, other things to know before your new england fall road trip, what to bring on your new england fall road trip, 12 day new england fall road trip itinerary.

New England is the northeast region of the United States and includes Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. This area got the name “New England” back in 1616 from an English explorer named John Smith and was soon settled by English immigrants.  It’s known for charming towns, coastal views, delicious and fresh seafood, epic fall foliage, mountainous adventures, ivy league schools, cold winters, loads of history, and so much more. There’s a little something for everyone in New England!

Important disclosure about this guide:

This guide is only covering Vermont, New Hampshire, and coastal Maine and is based on our experience and the places we were able to visit. While we unfortunately couldn’t visit all of New England and there are many amazing locations not included in this guide, we highly recommend these spots and itinerary to see some of the best scenery the region has to offer!

Before embarking on your adventure, please review the  Leave No Trace principles  to ensure you leave every place better than you found it, so that others can enjoy these beautiful places for many years to come! These seven principles include planning ahead and preparing, hiking and camping on durable surfaces, disposing of waste properly (pack out what you pack in!), understanding campfire rules and always fully extinguishing your fires, respecting wildlife, and being considerate of other visitors. 

Below is a map of the general route that we’ll be covering in this itinerary, to help give you an idea of where you’ll be going. This route was created with the intention of visiting places in order of when they experience peak foliage, but we cannot guarantee that you’ll hit peak in every spot. We’re sharing more information about fall foliage and when to plan your trip a little further down in this guide! 

Flying to New England

The route map above assumes you’ll be flying to visit New England and the best airport to fly into will be the Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) , which is a massive airport that is serviced by all major airlines and offers nonstop flights from many destinations in the United States. The drive from Boston to the first stop on this itinerary is about 3.5 hours, so we highly suggest booking an early flight so you can take advantage of extra time in New England. 

Driving to New England

If you’re driving to New England, the road trip route above may need to be modified a bit, as your road trip will possibly start in a different city than Boston. One thing to keep in mind when driving to New England is that many routes have tolls. If you want to avoid paying for tolls, make sure to turn off tolls on your Google Maps settings. We were able to get around New England by avoiding tolls and didn’t spend too much extra time in the van.

How to get around New England

Since this is a road trip itinerary, you’ll definitely need to rent a car or drive your own to fully enjoy all of the sights on this guide, as public transportation isn’t really an option between all of the towns without hiring a tour guide. When visiting New England in the fall, any type of vehicle will work just fine on a road trip, as none of these stops require 4×4 to get to and you should not encounter snow. Our Sprinter van was able to navigate New England well and we didn’t run into too many issues parking a larger vehicle either!

While New England offers activities for all four seasons, including skiing in the winter, fresh maple syrup in the spring, and hiking in the summer, one of the best times to visit is in the fall, when the trees explode with oranges, reds, and yellows, the air is crisp, and the fresh cider donuts just taste extra heavenly. However, visiting in the fall can require a bit more planning, tracking, and things to know, as the window to see this foliage can be unpredictable and small. Below is everything you need to know before visiting New England in the fall.

During our month in New England we experienced highs in the 50s-70s, and lows in the 30s-40s, making the days not too chilly, but cold enough that in the mornings a hot cider just really hits the spot. While most days were sunny or partly sunny, we did have a handful of days where it was foggy or there were torrential downpours. We thankfully had the flexibility to adjust plans and avoid adventuring on most rainy days, but do expect some variety of weather and come prepared to enjoy the area rain or shine. 

What causes the leaves to change colors?

We aren’t scientists, but the quick explanation of why leaves change is that during the spring and summer, the leaves are rich in chlorophyll, which absorbs sunlight and turns it into food for the tree through photosynthesis. This gives the leaves the bright green color you see during this part of the year. During the fall, as the days become shorter and cooler, the leaves stop this process and the chlorophyll breaks down, which causes the colors of the leaves to change to the red, orange, and yellows you see in the fall. A big factor of when this process happens is the weather. The perfect equation is a mix of sunny, warm days and cool (but not freezing) nights. And since it requires such science, we hear that some years can be less vibrant than others, but regardless of the vibrancy, it will be beautiful. 

When is peak foliage?

Since fall foliage relies on weather, peak foliage varies year to year and is hard to predict. One good thing to know is that leaves change in higher elevations first and then work their way down to lower elevations. So if you find yourself on the coast of New England in early October and the leaves have yet to change, you can likely find colors if you go up into the mountains. While the timing of peak foliage does vary, here are some general timeframes where each region on this guide experiences the best colors, as well as what dates we visited this region and what our experience was like, plus the fall foliage trackers we used. Tip: Besides the trackers we are including below, we suggest looking at AllTrails and Instagram for recent photos of spots you plan to visit to get a better idea of what fall foliage is currently like.

Vermont was the first stop on our New England fall road trip and while we timed our visit a bit too early, we still did get to see some colors in higher elevations. For Vermont, we used this tracker to see current reports of foliage conditions, as well as signed up for these reports . But here are general timeframes for both Vermont regions we will cover in this guide. Stowe: Early October We were in the Stowe area from September 26-29, 2021 and there was still a lot of green. A week or two after this would’ve been extra colorful we think. We were slightly bummed to not see this area popping with color, but the spots later on during our road trip made up for it. Northeast Kingdom: End of September-early October We visited this region on October 1, 2021 and the colors were definitely a lot more colorful than Stowe. We think we were there within a week of ultimate peak foliage, but what we saw was phenomenal. 

New Hampshire

The only region of New Hampshire we are covering on this guide is the White Mountains, which is home to the highest elevations in the state and therefore peaks earlier than the more southern areas of New Hampshire.  We used this tracker for New Hampshire and read these reports and found them to be pretty accurate. It appears that the White Mountains typically peak around the second week of October (starting October 7). We visited October 6-8 and the colors were probably the best we saw the entire trip!

Coastal Maine

Coastal Maine is one of the later regions to experience fall color, as it is at or only slightly above sea level. For Maine, we used this tracker to track the foliage.  Acadia National Park: Mid-October We visited Acadia October 18-19 and we believe this was around peak. Since there is a large mix of types of trees in the park, not every tree will be colorful, but there are still good pops of color. Portland: Mid-October We visited Portland on October 21-22, which was the timeframe that the coastal cities in Maine were experiencing peak foliage. While Portland isn’t really a foliage hotspot (you go more for the coastal aspect than the foliage in our opinion), it was still nice to see some color!

Our suggestion of when to visit

For this itinerary, we suggest timing your road trip somewhere between the last week of September-mid October. During our visit, the first couple weeks of October proved to be the best time for foliage for the majority of areas, but this can vary every year.  It’s extremely hard to perfectly time your trip to have every spot be at peak foliage, so our top tip for exploring New England in the fall is to be flexible and enjoy what you can see! While some spots may be a bit duller, others will likely be bursting with color. 

Since this road trip itinerary covers quite a bit of ground, we’d suggest staying in different places throughout the trip to limit how much time you spend driving each day. We will include suggestions of places to stay under each day of the itinerary, including hotels, Airbnbs, campgrounds, and boondocking (if applicable). 

Curious how we get FREE flights and hotels? Check out our list of our favorite travel cards that have saved us thousands of dollars!

Before you go, here are a few important things to know before hitting the road on your New England road trip!

Download offline maps

There were a few areas where we didn’t have the best cell phone service, which can be tricky if you’re trying to figure out where to go, both on the road or on the trail. We highly recommend downloading offline AllTrails Maps and offline Google Maps so you can navigate without cell phone service and don’t get lost!

Want to get 30% off an AllTrails+ membership ? Use our code aplusk30 (you must redeem this code on the website, not the app)! We use AllTrails+ on every single hike and it is the most helpful hiking tool out there! Some of the features we love are offline maps (so we can navigate even without cell service), wrong-turn alerts, and its 3D maps feature, so we can get a feel for trails before we hike.

Traveling in an RV? Harvest Hosts are a lifesaver!

Since we travel in a van, we typically sleep in our van at night, instead of hotels or Airbnbs, and preferably for free. While we found a couple free camping areas in New England, as well as slept at many Walmarts, boondocking out east in general can be pretty tricky, with very limited free public land, but thankfully there are many Harvest Hosts in the area! Harvest Hosts is a paid membership that lets you stay at farms, breweries, wineries, golf courses, and other spots for FREE, with the expectation that you will support the business. While this means you do need to spend some money and it’s not totally free, it’s usually a unique experience and you get to support a local business.  We slept at a total of 4 Harvest Hosts while in Vermont, including a cider mill, farm, golf course, and maple syrup farm, with other options of places to stay we did not use Harvest Hosts in New Hampshire or Maine. If you’re also traveling in a van or RV, we highly recommend Harvest Hosts while in the area.

Want to get 15% off a Harvest Hosts membership? Click this link and then use the code HHFRIENDS15 !

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Almost everything is dog friendly

The majority of the spots on this guide are dog friendly, including most of Acadia National Park! It is pretty rare that dogs are allowed on trails in a national park, so this was a very awesome surprise. To see which trails in Acadia allow dogs (and which do not), check out this page .

Learn how we travel with a dog and what we do with Kona when she cannot join us on our adventures.

Start early

Our #1 tip anywhere we go is to start early! It can get crowded with tour buses (we got stuck behind a few huge bus groups), as well as other leaf peepers during peak foliage. We tried to start our days early and hit the trails around sunrise and it paid off every time! And if you can, try to avoid hot spots like Stowe, Acadia National Park, and the Kancamagus Highway on the weekends in the fall. They’ll be extra busy from New England locals trying to sneak a peek of the foliage. 

A common question we get when sharing our adventures is what we bring with us. We have almost all of our gear listed here , but here are some items we especially recommend bringing to New England!

Hiking Gear

Since most of the best things to do in New England include outdoor activities, you’ll want to bring plenty of outdoor gear and clothing. To see everything we take hiking, as well as our favorite clothing, check out our hiking gear . 

The weather can vary in New England, so layers are good to have! During our trip we experienced warmer days, colder days, and rainy days, so having a variety of jackets, hand warmers , beanies, and scarves will be helpful. We also suggest bringing a mix of nicer and outdoorsy clothing so that you have options for both city and nature adventures.

Visiting New England in the fall is a photographer’s dream! If you like to snap photos, don’t forget to pack your camera gear, a tripod, extra batteries, and a charger. If you’re curious what photography gear we use, you can check it all out here . Note: Some areas on this guide do NOT allow drones, like the Kancamagus Highway and Acadia National Park. Please read up on drone laws for each area if you plan to fly your drone.

Below is our suggested 12 day New England itinerary, which includes the best spots to experience fall in Vermont, New Hampshire, and coastal Maine, based on our experience. It is almost identical to our trip, minus a couple spots that would be a bit more out of the way if you’re short on time. This itinerary can of course be adjusted to what you want to do, how much you want to do in a day, and how much time you have. We have also included a variety of activity options for some days, that way you can adjust it to your preferences and abilities. We have also included some add-on options if you have more time and are looking for more things to do!

Day 1: Travel to Vermont (+ enjoy Maple Syrup!)

For the first day of your New England road trip, head to Stowe, Vermont, which is about a 3.5 hour drive from Boston, for those flying to the area. If you arrive early enough, we suggest spending part of the day learning and tasting one of the most iconic food items in Vermont…maple syrup! Vermont is the largest maple syrup producer in the United States, with 2.22 million gallons produced last year, over half of the total production for the US. Every year, starting in late January or early February, sugaring season occurs, which is when sap is collected from trees and maple syrup is actually made. This process lasts for 4-6 weeks and although fall is not during the sugaring season, it’s still worth visiting a farm to learn about the process and of course, try maple syrup! The easiest way to learn about maple syrup is to go to Sugarbush Farm , who offers self guided tours of their farm. While there, make sure to get a maple creemee, which is an extra creamy maple soft serve ice cream. They have a delicious sweet, maple taste. We LOVED them! For a more in-depth maple syrup tour experience, we HIGHLY recommend touring Baird Farm , which is in Chittenden, Vermont. This is a 4th generation family farm that is located on a gorgeous property and has incredibly kind, passionate, and knowledgeable owners. And unlike Sugarbush Farm and many other maple syrup farms in Vermont, who offer self guided tours where you can watch videos and see some equipment, Baird Farm actually takes you on a tour themselves (for FREE)!  The only downside of Baird Farm is that they only offer tours in the mornings on certain days of the week, so it may not work with your schedule. If it does, please book in advance!

Watch part of our tour at Baird Farm to get a better idea of what to expect and learn some maple syrup facts!

Regardless of which tour you experience, it’ll be a sweet start to your road trip! After getting a bit of a sugar rush, head to the Waterbury and Stowe area for the night. For dinner, some suggested spots to check out are:

• Piecasso (a pizza spot we loved!)
• Idletyme Brewing Company
• von Trapp Brewery and Bierhall (the family from the Sound of Music!)
• Trattoria La Festa

Where to stay

For day 1, we suggest staying in the Waterbury and Stowe areas, which is where the next two days of your road trip will be. Here are some suggestions of where you can stay there! Hotels: Best Western Plus Waterbury-Stowe , Fairfield Inn & Suites Waterbury Stowe , Trapp Family Lodge , Green Mountain Inn , and Timberholm Inn . Airbnbs: The Coffee Roost , True Vermont Cabin , Bright & Airy Guest House , Cozy Bungalow Home , and Classic Stowe Ski Chalet . Campgrounds: Smuggler’s Notch State Park Campground , Gold Brook Campground

Optional Add on: Day in Burlington, Vermont Burlington is a vibrant, welcoming, and beautiful city that is located on the shore of Lake Champlain. It is the most populous city in Vermont and is home to the University of Vermont, many local restaurants and shops, parks, and lake views.  We really enjoyed spending one day here ( watch our experience ), but since it doesn’t boast as much fall foliage as other areas, we are not including it in the main itinerary. But to see how we suggest spending a day in Burlington, check out our Vermont road trip itinerary , where we share tons of tips!

Day 2: Waterbury + Stowe

Watch us explore Waterbury and Stowe, including apple cider donuts, a corn maze, and a covered bridge!

About Waterbury & Stowe

Waterbury and Stowe are likely some of the most popular areas to visit in Vermont and it’s no secret why! Nestled in the Green Mountains, the towns are quaint and charming, the views are amazing, there are great local businesses, both small and large, and plenty of activities year round. The two towns are located about 15 minutes apart and connected by the Green Mountain Byway, with Waterbury to the south and Stowe to the north, making them easy to visit together. There are many things to do and places to eat or drink in the area, so we’re providing many options in this day’s itinerary so you can choose what you’re most interested in.

• Have a sweet start to the day with apple cider and apple cider donuts at Cold Hollow Cider Mill ! This place is so amazing and makes some insanely fresh tasting cider and donuts, both of which you can watch them make! They have a room in the back where you can learn a bit about the apple cider process and watch them work and in the front, you can see them frying up fresh donuts.  If you want something savory as well, they have a restaurant next door that serves breakfast, lunch, and hard cider. For the coffee lovers, some good coffee shops in the area are Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea (Waterbury), Black Cap Coffee & Beer (Stowe), Woodland Baking and Coffee (Stowe), and PK Coffee (Stowe).
• Spend the morning and afternoon exploring Waterbury and Stowe! Here are some options, listed in order from Waterbury up to Stowe, which you can mix and match to plan your perfect day. Kayak on the Waterbury Reservoir : The Waterbury Reservoir is the 9th largest body of water in Vermont and was created in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservations Corps as a way to protect nearby towns from floods. There is a state park on the reservoir called Waterbury Center State Park , where you can rent kayaks and enjoy the mountain views from the water. Note: dogs are not allowed here. Visit Ben & Jerry’s : Ben & Jerry’s started in a renovated gas station in Burlington, Vermont in 1978 and today its factory and headquarters are located in Waterbury. They offer factory tours (currently closed until sometime in 2022), ice cream by the scoop, and even a flavor graveyard where you can see flavors from the past, with headstones. See the Gold Brook Covered Bridge: There are 104 covered bridges in Vermont, the highest density of covered bridges in the US, which were originally created to protect bridges from the harsh New England weather. Today they make for great photo opps and a popular covered bridge between Waterbury and Stowe is the Gold Brook Covered Bridge , also known as Emily’s Bridge because of a very sad story of a girl named Emily who hung herself from the bridge after her lover that she was supposed to elope with never showed up. Hike up to the Stowe Pinnacle Overlook: Just down the road from the Gold Brook Covered Bridge is the Stowe Pinnacle Trail , which is 3.7 miles with 1,604 feet of gain (so it’s pretty steep!) and takes you to an overlook with views of the Green Mountains. Walk around Stowe: When we think of a classic New England town, we think of Stowe. The town is tucked in the mountains, has beautiful Colonial style buildings, and an iconic New England church steeple. It’s a great place to walk around, shop a bit, and has some good spots if you need lunch, a sweet treat, or beer. Here are some spots to check out: – Grab a sweet treat at Laughing Moon Chocolates . – Grab lunch or beer at Idletyme Brewing Company . – Tour The Alchemist Brewery , which is currently only offering daily tours at 5 PM. Bike the Stowe Path: A popular thing to do in Stowe is to go on the Stowe Recreation Path . This is a 5.5 mile (one way) path that takes you through Stowe and by farms and restaurants. This pathway is best on a bike, but we enjoyed walking Kona on part of the path as well! Get lost in a corn maze: For a fun fall activity, make sure to check out the Percy Farm Corn Maze . Every year Paul Percy mows a unique maze in his farm’s corn field, which costs $8 per adult (cash or check only), for visitors to try to conquer. We found it to be trickier than expected and it took almost an hour to get out! Chase some waterfalls: The Stowe area is home to a handful of beautiful waterfalls. We hiked to Moss Glen Falls , which is only about 0.25 miles from the trailhead (parking is pretty limited) and takes you to a gorgeous, multi-tiered waterfall. Another popular option in the area is Bingham Falls , which is a 0.5 mile round trip hike!
• Have dinner at Piecasso , which is a delicious pizza spot in Stowe (we loved it!). A couple other options are Idletyme Brewing Company , von Trapp Brewery and Bierhall (the family from the Sound of Music!), or Trattoria La Festa , an authentic Italian spot.

We suggest staying in Waterbury or Stowe again for this night!

Day 3: Mount Mansfield

Watch us hike to the top of Mount Mansfield on a foggy day!

About Mount Mansfield

Mount Mansfield is the tallest point in the state of Vermont at 4,393 feet. The mountain is known for looking like someone laying down and different portions of the mountain are named after different features, including the forehead, nose, upper and lower lips, and the chin, which is the summit. 

How to get to the top of Mount Mansfield

There are three main ways to get to the top of Mount Mansfield: hiking, driving, or a gondola. Hiking (our top pick!): If you choose to hike to the top of Mount Mansfield (which is what we did), there are tons of trail options, but we suggest the Mount Mansfield Loop , which is 7.3 miles and gains 2,880 feet. This trail starts at Underhill State Park ($4 per adult fee), which is about 45 minutes to 1 hour from Waterbury and Stowe. If you go this route, we suggest taking the Maple Ridge Trail up and Sunset Ridge Trail down, as the Maple Ridge Trail has two trickier spots, including a gap to jump and a rock wall you have to climb up, which is easier going up than down. We show these spots in better detail in this video and these spots can be tricky with a dog, but we were able to get Kona through them safely. You can also hike up and down the Sunset Ridge trail, which is still steep and rocky, but has less tricky spots. Despite us having ZERO views at the top, we had a blast hiking this trail, as it offered some challenges along the way to keep things interesting! We suggest arriving early, as parking can get full on a busy day, as can the summit, since there are many ways to get to the top. Driving: To drive up Mount Mansfield you’ll take the Auto Toll Road , which costs $29 per car + $11 per passenger. The road takes you to 3,850 feet, where you can either enjoy the views from there, or continue on the Long Trail for about 1.25 miles each way. Note: RVs and campers, bicycles, motorcycles, or dually trucks are NOT allowed on this road. Gondola: The final way to the top is to ride the Stowe Mountain Resort Gondola , which costs $37 per adult and $26 per child for the ride up and down the mountain. Once off the gondola, you can take the Cliff Trail to the Long Trail to the summit for under 1 mile each way. 

What to do after Mount Mansfield

After making it to the top of Mount Mansfield, we suggest driving the Smugglers Notch Scenic Drive (Route 108) back towards Stowe, which goes through the forest and has unique rock outcroppings. Once back in Stowe, grab food at one of the spots we shared on day 2 (we loved Piecasso!) and if you have more time, do any other activities listed on day 2 that you didn’t have a chance to check out!

For day 3 you could either stay in Waterbury or Stowe one more night or head towards your final destination in Vermont, the Northeast Kingdom, which is under 1.5 hours from Stowe. This will give you an early start for your final day! If you choose to stay closer to the Northeast Kingdom, here are some options: Hotels: Comfort Inn & Suites Near Burke Mountain Airbnbs: Cozy Cottage in the Northeast Kingdom , Waterfront Lake House on Crystal Lake , and Remodeled 2 bedroom + loft lakefront cottage Campgrounds: Whitecaps Campground , Will-O Wood Campground , Belview Campground , and Kingdom Campground

Day 4: Northeast Kingdom

Watch us explore the Northeast Kingdom, including two epic hikes! And to learn more about our favorite hikes in the area, read our Mount Pisgah and Bald Mountain guides!

About the Northeast Kingdom

The Northeast Kingdom (abbreviated NEK) is an area in northeast Vermont, which got its nickname from a former US Senator and governor, George Aiken, who loved the area and thought it should be a kingdom. And we couldn’t agree more…it is magical! The Northeast Kingdom is home to small towns, forests, farmland, mountains, and beautiful Iakes, including Lake Willoughby, which is the second largest lake in the state and looks like a mini Norwegian fjord. This region of Vermont was our absolute favorite and we highly recommend the trek up there, especially if visiting during fall foliage.

• Get an early start and hike up Mount Pisgah (4.1 miles round trip, 1,653 feet of elevation gain), which has phenomenal views of Lake Willoughby from a few different viewpoints. It is relatively short, but steep, and it can get busy, so we recommend starting around sunrise if you can. You can learn more about the hike, including what to expect and photos from the different viewpoints in this guide .
• Spend the rest of the morning hanging out at Lake Willoughby! Lake Willoughby has two beaches, with the North Beach being much larger and more of a “lay out” kind of beach, while the South Beach is more of a cove for boats, but in our opinion has the better view. There is also a clothing optional cove near South Beach. If you want to kayak on the lake, White Caps Campground offers rentals to the public, as does Clyde River Recreation , which is located north of the lake, but they can drop off the kayaks for you!
• Grab lunch at The Parker Pie Company , which is about 25 minutes away from Lake Willoughby.
• End the day with a late afternoon or sunset hike up Bald Mountain (4.2 miles round trip, 1,463 feet of elevation gain), which takes you to an old fire tower, with incredible 360º views at the top. We share more about the hike, including more information about the fire tower in our Bald Mountain guide!

You could stay in the Northeast Kingdom one more night, but we suggest driving 1-1.5 hours to the White Mountains so that you can get an early start in the morning! There are quite a few options when it comes to where to stay in the White Mountains, including Littleton, Lincoln, and the North Conway area. For a longer list of options, check out our guide to the White Mountains , but here are a few choices to consider. Hotels: Hampton Inn Littleton , Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lincoln , Residence Inn North Conway , Home2 Suites North Conway , White Mountain Hotel and Resort Airbnbs: Dream A-Frame , Relaxing Resort Getaway , The Overlook , Mountain Chic New Hampshire Family Getaway   Campgrounds: Twin Mountain/Mt. Washington KOA , Lafayette Place Campground , Hancock Campground , Big Rock Campground   Boondocking: Haystack Road , Gale River Road , Walmart in Littleton

Day 5: White Mountains

Watch us explore the White Mountains, including shorter hikes, scenic drives, unique sights, and delicious food! And to learn about even more things to do in the White Mountains, check out this guide !

About the White Mountains

The White Mountains are quite possibly the best kept secret in the US. Covering about 25% of New Hampshire, plus part of Western Maine, these mountains are some of the most rugged in all of New England. The range is a part of the Appalachian Mountains, with a high point of 6,288 feet, the highest point in the northeast. In this area you can find small towns, waterfalls, ski resorts, state parks, unique activities, and tons of mountain peaks, including the majority of the state’s 48 4,000 footers , which are peaks over 4,000 feet tall and with a prominence of at least 200 feet.

• Start your time in the White Mountains with sunrise at Artist Bluff , which is a short, 1.5 mile trail that takes you to an overlook of Echo Lake and part of Franconia Notch. Because of its short distance (although it is pretty steep and rocky at the end) and beautiful view, it is a very popular spot. We suggest arriving around sunrise for the best chance of some solitude, however, don’t expect to be alone. It was very busy even on a cloudy weekday morning!
• Grab breakfast at Polly’s Pancake Parlor . This is said to be THE PLACE to get breakfast in the White Mountains. We suggest calling them right as you’re finishing the hike to get your name on the list, as the wait can be long.
• Make sure to make a reservation for a time slot in advance, as it can get busy and certain times may fill up. 
• Dogs are not allowed in the Flume Gorge, so make sure they have a safe place to be.
• The gorge closes in mid to late October and while part of the park is accessible in the winter, the actual gorge is not (they remove the walkways).
• Travel up Mount Washington , the highest peak in New Hampshire and the northeast! It is known for having some of the most insane wind at the top, with the highest recorded being 231 MPH in 1934, the second highest wind speed ever recorded on earth. And it still has hurricane force winds about once every three days, which means you never really know what you’ll get at the top! You can either get to the top by car, cog railway, or by foot (but we suggest dedicating an entire day to hiking to the top). Driving If you drive , it costs between $39-$45 for the car and driver, with additional fees for passengers ($14-$20), children ($9), and motorcycles ($45). So while not a cheap experience, it makes for a memorable drive! There are vehicle restrictions though and our van was not allowed to drive this road. Make sure you know the rules beforehand so you don’t have to find out the hard way when arriving. Cog Railway The Cog Railway is a unique way to get to the top of the Mount Washington summit! This was the world’s first mountain cog railway, created in the 1860s, and on the 3 hour ride you will get to experience history and see amazing views. There is also a museum at the base, where you can learn more about the history of the cog railway. This experience is not cheap, which is why we skipped it, although it did look like a blast. Pricing does vary based on the type of train and you can see rates and the schedule here .
• Have dinner at either Black Mtn. Burger Co. (Lincoln), Rek-Lis Brewing Company (Bethlehem), or Wicked Fresh Craft Burgers (North Conway). 

You will want to stay the night in the White Mountains. We provided some suggestions under day 4!

Day 6: White Mountains

• Today’s big activity: driving the Kancamagus Highway (Kanc-ah-mah-gus), also known as the Kanc. This 34.5 mile scenic drive is named after Chief Kancamagus, who was a Native American known as the “Fearless One” and ruled Southern New Hampshire in the 17th century. The road started as two separate, unconnected roads, one road from Lincoln and one in Conway, and in the 30s, the CCC worked to connect the two roads, which took 25 years to finish. It’s now one of the most popular and accessible things to do in the White Mountains! There are many stops to make along the way, but for the sake of keeping this itinerary somewhat short, check out this detailed guide to driving the Kancamagus Highway to see our must-visit stops. Tip: We suggest starting right before sunrise so you can see the sunrise at the Hancock Overlook. This will also help you beat the crowds. Plan to spend half a day driving and stopping.
• At the end of the Kanc is a magical stand full of cheesy goodness called Cheese Louise . We highly recommend grabbing a fancy grilled cheese here after your drive!
• If you still have some time left, spend the rest of the day at Crawford Notch State Park , which has a gorgeous drive with towering peaks, but also has different hikes and sights to see! Our favorite stop was the 3.1 mile hike to Mount Willard , which has epic views of the valley below and if you time it right with peak colors, is an explosion of golden trees!
• Have dinner at Wicked Fresh Craft Burgers or Flatbread Company in North Conway. 

We suggest staying one more night in the White Mountains!

Day 7: White Mountains + Drive to Maine

For your final day in the White Mountains, we suggest doing a longer hike in the area. We recommend the Franconia Ridge Loop , which is 9.3 miles and gains 3,809 feet of elevation as it takes you to the top of Little Haystack, Mount Lincoln, and Mount Lafayette, plus by a hut that sells goodies. It took us a total of 7 hours to hike this, including stops. This hike has been rated the #1 trail on AllTrails for New Hampshire and is said to have some of the best views in New England. While we still need to hike more in New England to confirm that, we can say that the views on this hike are INCREDIBLE!

Watch us hike the Franconia Ridge Loop, the #1 hike in New Hampshire! And for more information, check out our detailed guide for the hike!

If you want some other trail ideas, we share more hikes in this guide ! We suggest starting your hike at sunrise to beat crowds and get done early enough because after your hike, it’s time to drive to Maine! And first up: Acadia National Park, which is about a 5 hour drive. This will be a long day, so if you’re not up for this much in one day, you could just spend the day driving to Maine and skipping a hike. 

We suggest staying near Acadia National Park so you can get an early start tomorrow! Here are some lodging options: Hotels: Atlantic Oceanside Hotel , The West Street Hotel , The Inn on Mount Desert , Hampton Inn Bar Harbor , Hampton Inn Ellsworth Vacation Rentals: Secluded Hilltop Home , Renovated downtown Bar Harbor apartment , Amazing Ocean Front View Campgrounds: Acadia’s two campgrounds , Bar Harbor Campground , Smuggler’s Den Campground , KOA Bar Harbor/Oceanside Holiday . Boondocking: Walmart in Ellsworth

Optional Add on: Cutler Coast The Cutler Coast is one spot we visited that we did not include as its own day and it’s not because we didn’t love it (we thought it was incredible!), but more so because it’s remote and would be hard to do in this timeframe.  Located near the Canadian border, it’s about 5.5 hours from the White Mountains, 4 hours from Portland, and 2 hours from Acadia. We’d suggest adding this on as your first stop in Maine if you choose to visit, that way you can work your way down the coast from there. To learn more about visiting the Cutler Coast, including how to backpack it or day hike it, check out this guide .

Day 8: Acadia National Park

Watch our first time at Acadia National Park, including sunrise at Cadillac Mountain, hiking the Precipice Trail , and a delicious iconic food! For more information about Acadia, read our guides with more things to do in Acadia National Park and 2-4 day Itinerary for Acadia National Park .

About Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park is primarily located on Maine’s Mount Desert Island, with 5% of the park also on the Schoodic Peninsula, on the Atlantic Ocean and is the only United States National Park in the Northeast. The park is the 8th most visited US National Park and for good reason. With gorgeous scenery everywhere you look, a mix of easy and challenging hikes, an iconic food item, and a great town nearby, Acadia offers something for everyone.

• The best way to start your time at Acadia National Park is sunrise on top of Cadillac Mountain ! Cadillac Mountain is the highest peak on the North Atlantic seaboard at 1,530 feet and from early October to early March it is the first place in the United States to view the sunrise. This is one of the most iconic things to do in Acadia National Park and over the years has become so popular and busy that the park now requires a vehicle reservation to drive the road anytime of the day, including at sunrise. These reservations can sell out VERY fast (in under a minute!) and if you’re unable to get one, you do have other options and can hike to the top on a couple different trails or ride a bike. Read our guide to learn more about how to see the sunrise on Cadillac Mountain, including when permits become available and how we were able to snag one.
• It gets pretty steep and rugged towards the top and requires use of your hands. 
• Dogs are technically allowed, but Kona had a hard time with the top part and we wouldn’t take her again.
• Enjoy popovers and tea at the Jordan Pond House Restaurant , which is a classic Acadia experience that dates back over 100 years! This restaurant gets very busy, so try to arrive right before they open to get your name on the list. It’s worth it though to sit outside on their back lawn and enjoy popovers with a view. Curious what a popover is? It is a light roll made from an egg batter, with a high proportion of liquid in the batter that creates steam that causes the popovers to puff up, similar to Yorkshire Pudding in England.
• Head over to the west side of Mount Desert Island and hike the Beech Cliff Ladders (1.8 miles round trip), which is one of the four iron rung hikes in the park, which are hikes that have ladders, iron rungs, ledges, and other challenging features to use to climb up steep rock faces. This is one of the easiest iron rung hikes and was one of the best surprises of our time in the park. Located in a less busy area of the park, we hardly saw any people on this trail and the mix of challenging features and views made it a blast! Once you get up the four ladders, you have great views of Echo Lake. Continue onto the Beech Cliff loop for even more views!
• Head into Bar Harbor and grab dinner. There are tons of restaurants to choose from and while we personally did not eat a meal in Bar Harbor, we can attest that Mount Desert Island Ice Cream is amazing! 

You’ll want to stay at the same lodging as the night before, as you have one more day at Acadia National Park.

Day 9: Acadia National Park

• Head to the park right before sunrise and hike either the Beehive Loop (1.4 miles round trip) or Precipice Loop (2.1 miles round trip). These are the two most popular iron rung hikes in the park. During our visit we did the Precipice Loop, which is the most challenging and exposed of them all and LOVED it. You can watch our experience here and learn more about the hike in this guide . Regardless of which you choose, make sure to start early to ensure you have time to enjoy it without lots of people!
• Head to Sand Beach, which is a 290 yard long beach and is the only sandy beach at Acadia National Park. The clear, bright blue water and soft sand will transport you to somewhere more tropical. While there, hike the Great Head Trail (1.6 miles), which is an easy stroll with great views of the coast.
• If you are up for more, continue onto the Ocean Path , which is a flat, well maintained path that takes you along the ocean and Park Loop Road, with different sights along the way. From there, you can also go up Gorham Mountain for stunning views of Sand Beach, the coast, and Mount Desert Island from above. We did Great Head, Ocean Path, and Gorham Mountain as one big 5.6 mile loop and loved it!
• Spend the rest of the day in Bar Harbor, grabbing dinner and walking around town. If you time your visit correctly, you can also go to Bar Island , which is an island right across from town. This island is actually part of the national park and during low tide, you can walk across to it! If you do this, it is only safe and accessible to walk across 1.5 hours before and after low tide. So please make sure to study tide charts to ensure you stay safe and don’t get stuck! 

We suggest staying one more night near Acadia!

Day 10: Drive to Portland, Maine + go lobstering!

Watch us go lobstering in Maine, which was one of our favorite experiences in New England!

Today’s big goal is to drive to Portland, Maine, which is about 3 hours from Acadia National Park. Depending on how early you leave, you could stop in some of the coastal towns along the way, like Camden , which is a charming town (we recommend driving up Mount Battie !), grabbing a tasty treat at Wild Oats Bakery & Cafe , and swinging by the massive L.L. Bean flagship campus in Freeport. Once arriving in Portland, we HIGHLY recommend going on a lobstering cruise with Lucky Catch Cruises . This was one of our favorite things we did in New England!  On this lobstering tour you get to not only go out on the water and learn about how lobsters are caught, but you also get hands-on experience, from baiting and emptying traps, measuring lobsters, banding claws, learning the difference between males and females, and so much more.  The crew really makes you feel like you’re a fisherman and puts you to work. It was one of the most fun and educational tours we have ever been on! (Watch our full experience here ) And at the end, you have the option to buy a lobster from the boat at market price (ours was $10) and then can take it over to Portland Lobster Company , where they’ll steam it and provide some sides, like fries, corn, and coleslaw for only $12. While we definitely preferred our lobster in roll form, it was so fun to catch lobsters and eat one fresh right afterwards! Tip: make sure to bring cash to buy a lobster AND for a tip!

Hotels: Hampton Inn Portland Downtown – Waterfront , Canopy by Hilton Portland Waterfront, Hyatt Place Portland – Old Port , Hilton Garden Inn Portland Downtown Waterfront , Courtyard by Marriott Portland Downtown Waterfront Airbnbs: East End, Walk to the Old Port , Extraordinary Architectural Masterpiece Downtown , Bright & Spacious Apartment with Amazing Shower Campgrounds: Bayley’s Camping Resort , Saco / Old Orchard Beach KOA Holiday , Old Orchard Beach Campground Boondocking: Falmouth Walmart , Freeport Village Station

Day 11: Portland, Maine

Watch how we spent one day in Portland, Maine, hitting up the spots on this day’s itinerary! For more ideas of things to do in Portland, Maine, check out this guide .

About Portland Maine

Portland is the largest city in the state of Maine, with 40% of Maine’s residents living in the general area. But despite this, it still retains a small city feel, with historic buildings and no giant skyscrapers (the tallest building will soon be an 18 story building).  And while the city itself is beautiful to look at, what we loved about Portland is that it has a little something for everyone. Whether you’re a fine dining foodie or prefer a good food truck (like us!), enjoy museums and art, love to walk around parks and experience history, or prefer to be out on the water, there is no shortage of things to do in Portland, Maine for any type of traveler.   While not a fall foliage hot spot, this is a great city to end your adventures!

• Grab coffee at Tandem Coffee Roasters , which not only roasts their own coffee, but also makes breakfast biscuits that we hear are solid (arrive early to snag one). This coffee shop is located in a converted 1960s gas station and you know it’s good when locals are lined up before it even opens.
• Enjoy donuts at The Holy Donut for their famous Maine potato donuts, which have a unique texture from a regular donut, but are so hearty and delicious. We got three donuts total, including a Chocolate Sea Salt (this flavor is their most popular), Pumpkin Head, and Maple Bacon, which was hands down our favorite. They also have gluten free and vegan donuts too!
• Head to Fort Williams Park for the morning and afternoon. This is a free park that was formerly a military fort. Construction of the fort began in 1873 and the fort became officially named Fort Williams in 1899. During World War 1 the fort was manned by artillery companies and National Guard troops and during WWII it served as the headquarters of the Harbor Defenses of Portland, before becoming more of a training site in 1951. Today there are a couple batteries to check out, an old mansion , and one of the most iconic lighthouses in the US, called the Portland Head Light . This lighthouse was the first lighthouse completed and put into service by the government under the Lighthouse Act of 1789. It was first lit in 1791, using 16 whale oil lamps. The tower and keeper’s quarters have changed a bit over time and the tower now stands at 80 ft tall. And it is said to be the most photographed lighthouse in America, and also the oldest in Maine.
• Right in Fort Williams Park is Bite Into Maine , which was said to have one of the best lobster rolls in town. We tried their Maine style rolls, which are cold and are tossed in mayo and have chives on top, and the Connecticut style, which is hot and has melted butter that they pour on top right in front of you. We loved them both! They also have delicious homemade Whoopie Pies, which is Maine’s official state treat. It’s two chocolate cake-like rounds with a creamy filling between them and is said to have been popular in Maine since 1925. It was delicious! And we washed it all down with the state fruit of Maine, but in soda form, Blueberry soda. Lobstered out? Try Eventide Oyster Co. for oysters and other seafood, Duckfat for duck fat fries (they also have a frites shack in town), poutine, and sandwiches, or Terlingua for BBQ.
• Walk around the Old Port neighborhood, which is extremely walkable and has so much historic charm, different shops and boutiques, and tons of restaurants.
• Enjoy your final meal at one of the spots we suggested above!

We suggest staying one more night in Portland!

Day 12: Head back home

And now for the worst part of the road trip…leaving! Whether you have more adventures planned in New England (or elsewhere) or are heading home, this officially marks the end of our itinerary. We hope you enjoyed these areas of New England as much as we did and got to experience some great foliage!

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4 thoughts on “ 12 day new england fall road trip itinerary (vermont, new hampshire, & coastal maine) ”.

Thank you so so much for your blogs on Vermont on New Hampshire! My wife and I are going there in 3 weeks time and we are so excited! You’re blog is the best travel blog I have ever read, so informative and helpful and well written with perfect level of detail! It’s funny because the 2 of you remind me of my wife and I. We are also very adventurous and have enjoyed some great hiking trips in the last couple of years. we like to blog on our trips too but only for our families to read. I am excited to follow you guys on your adventures, you are very inspiring! Thank you so much!

We hope y’all have the BEST time! It’s sooo gorgeous there! Thank you for the kind words about our website, we really appreciate it, as we try to make these guides as helpful as possible. 😀

Adam and Kathryn, your videos are both entertaining and informative! My wife and I very much appreciate that you always put the date that you visited a city so that viewers can get a good idea of what to expect regarding weather and in this case, peak colors. You might be surprised at how many vloggers do not share that info. We watched a few of your videos before we road-tripped to Oregon from southern California (Silver Falls, Haystack Rock, Portland, etc.) and received excellent tips on things to do, so thank you very much for that. You always have good suggestions of places to visit and food to eat.

We just booked a 14 day trip to see the autumn colors of New England from October 5th to the 18th. Hopefully, we will get to experience some peak foliage and good weather in that time frame. The plan is to visit many of the cities and trails that you guys did, both in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine (lobster rolls!), then work our way over to Saratoga Springs, visit Howe Cavern and chase a few waterfalls in Ithaca and the Catskills. It’s an epic color tour! I’m originally from the New York and Connecticut area, but never experienced autumn in the states above and in iconic places such as Stowe and the Kanc. We’re so looking forward to it!

As filmmakers, we commend you on your production. We know how much time and effort goes into researching, writing and filming, but can only imagine how much more challenging things get when on the road. This comment is to thank you both and to encourage you to continue your adventures. I’m sure you’re having the time of your lives, but on top of that, many people are receiving great value and inspiration – a true win win. 🙂

PS What was your favorite place to get a creemee? We plan to enjoy several on our trip, but wanted to get your opinion on which one is best. Are the ones with the maple crunchies better than the ones with the maple filling?

Hi! Thank you for the kind words and for following along! We hope you have a great fall trip to the Northeast, it’s so beautiful that time of year. Regarding creemees, our favorite is probably from Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks! Our favorite maple syrup farm is hands down Baird Farm, but they don’t offer creemees unfortunately.

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Road Trip from Portland, Maine to Burlington, Vermont

Step back in time with our quintessential New England experience on this short but super road trip from Portland, ME to Burlington, VT, replete with charming winding country roads, stunning coastal views, covered bridges and glimpses into small town America at its best.

The 250-mile road trip from Portland, ME to Burlington, VT takes about 6 hours to drive. Key stops include Ogunquit, Jackson, Portsmouth, Stowe and Woodstock, as well as Mount Washington, White Mountain National Forest and Camel's Hump State Park.

To help you make the most of it, we've set out the best routes and places to stop overnight, as well as our favorite things to do along the way and the best time of year to make the trip from Portland, Maine to Burlington, Vermont.

How far is Burlington from Portland, and how long will the road trip take?

The quickest of our two recommended route options from Portland, ME to Burlington, VT spans a distance of 250 miles and will take 6 hours and 20 minutes to drive without stopping.

A longer route, which hugs the coast along Maine before heading inland, takes you a little further at 300 miles. That said, it's actually a quicker drive (since you'll be following the interstate most of the way), taking instead 6 hours and 10 minutes to complete.

You could easily complete this drive in a single day, however, given the brilliant towns and cities you'll pass, not to mention the great outdoors attractions and parks, a much better idea would be to spend between two and four days driving between the states, or a long weekend.

Best road trip route from Portland to Burlington

There are two really great routes you can follow from Portland to Burlington, depending on your preference for views and attractions. While you could drive between the two cities without stopping in around 4 hours, you'd be missing all the region has to offer.

Our Coastal Route, as you'd expect, begins initially by following the sea as you cross from Maine into New Hampshire. With its picturesque rocky coast, lighthouses and delicious lobster offerings, you may not want to leave!

After leaving Portsmouth, you'll head inland to visit four of New Hampshire and Vermont's most stunning towns, including Vermont's capital of Montpelier and the ski resort town of Stowe, which offers year-round outdoor fun.

Meanwhile, if you have a little more time at your disposal, you could opt for our Inland Route. This option gives you the quintessential New England experience of driving through lush forests and stopping at a myriad of small, off-the-beaten-path towns along the way.

It also includes a visit to Mount Washington, the highest peak in the northeastern US and a popular hiking destination. Enjoy the natural beauty of White Mountain National Forest and drive through postcard-ready covered bridges before winding your way through to Vermont.

This route misses out on Maine and New Hampshire's amazing coastline, but if you're all light-housed-out after visiting Portland and ready to get off the beaten path, this is a solid route for you.

Of course, if you fancy the attractions on both routes, you could always follow one to Burlington and the other on the final leg home. Given these are both fairly short drives, they're manageable in a week or less.

The Coastal Route

Begin by leaving Portland on Interstate 295 (I-295) heading south through Scarborough and following the coast, taking Exit 32 to US-1 and stopping at Kennebunkport, a great place to enjoy sandy beaches.

Continue on US-1 to Ogunquit, before following the coast to York. From here rejoin Interstate 95 (I-95) and follow it to Portsmouth in New Hampshire, another great point to stop and explore.

Follow I-95 south to Exit 2, where you'll switch to State Route 101 west, following it through Raymond and to Exit 8 for Manchester. Stop here to explore of the city, before joining Interstate 93 (I-93) and heading north, passing by Bear Brook State Park along the way.

Take the exit to join Interstate 89 (I-89) North, and drive a short distance, passing between Mount Kearsarge State Forest Park and Wadleigh State Park. You can also make a stop at Lake Sunapee.

Continue heading north, passing Grantham and Enfield Wildlife Management Area. Cross the river and into Vermont, where you'll need to take Exit 1 onto US-4 east. Follow this to Woodstock, a great overnight stopping point on this route.

Leave Woodstock and follow VT-12 north, before taking VT-107 at Bethal and then back on I-89 north. Follow this road a stretch before taking Exit 8 to visit Montpelier, a great outdoor activity city.

Rejoin I-89 and follow it before taking Exit 10 for VT-100 which will take you a short detour to Stowe, a great base for exploring several forests including Mount Mansfield State Forest.

Retrace your steps back to I-89 North, alongside Camel's Hump State Park and all the way to Exit 14W, which takes you the rest of the way to your destination in Burlington.

The Inland Route

The Inland Route begins by leaving Portland and taking Exit 5B to ME-22 west. Follow this road to Standish, where you'll turn right onto ME-113. Pass several more towns to Fryeburg, where you'll switch to US-302 and cross into New Hampshire.

Follow this road west to Jackson, a great skiing resort that's nestled in the White Mountains. This is a great place to stop overnight if you like skiing, hiking or just like mountain views.

Continue through this scenic part of your drive on NH-16 north, stopping at Washington Auto Road to make a detour to visit Mount Washington. Retrace your steps and continue on NH-16 to Gorham, where you'll switch to US-2 west.

Follow this road to Jefferson where you can enjoy nearby wildlife reserves, before passing through Santa's Village (where you can spend an afternoon at the amusement park) before continuing to Lancaster.

Still on US-2, you'll pass into Vermont, driving through several towns as well as between Victory State Forest and Groton State Forest. Continue to Montpelier, where you'll pick up the same road as the route above, taking I-89, making a detour to Stowe and then driving onwards to Burlington.

Best places to stop between Portland and Burlington

Although the road trip from Portland to Burlington can be completed in a single day if you don't make many stops along the way, a much better idea is to spread it out over several days so you can really explore the fantastic states you'll pass.

There are some great overnight options on this trip, here are just a few of our favorites:

A stop at the New England village of Woodstock

Even though the Coastal Route is a short drive, you'll get so much more from this trip with an overnight stop or two. A great point on this option is Woodstock in Vermont. About two-thirds of the way from Portland and under 2 hours from Burlington, this New England town offers so much.

Nicknamed “the quintessential New England village,” Woodstock radiates American charm. It offers opportunities for downtown meandering and excellent dining options, as well as hiking, mountain bike trails, gardens, and farms galore.

Spend some time at The Green, Woodstock's has a central square which is surrounded by Georgian, Federal, and Greek Revival-style homes, before exploring taking a walk around Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, with an 1800s Queen Anne-style mansion.

One of the best places to stop in this pretty town is the Woodstock Inn & Resort . Its spacious rooms (which also include suites for those that want to really stretch out) have all the comforts of home, complete with a refrigerator and coffee maker.

After a long drive, you can enjoy a quiet moment in the hotel's library or relax after a day of adventuring in one of its two swimming pools and a full-service spa. Plus, its location near the Green makes it an ideal home base for shopping and dining.

And if you don't want to venture out, the property has an excellent onsite restaurant, The Red Rooster, and a bar. It's also only a five-minute drive to both the March-Billings-Rockefeller Historic Park and the Billings Farm & Museum.

A skiing paradise in Jackson

For those that have decided to follow the Inland Route, with its beautiful small towns, an ideal stopping point set around halfway to your destination is Jackson in New Hampshire. This resort is simply beautiful with amazing natural scenery, making it an ideal resting point.

Nestled in the White Mountains, Jackson is a resort area with skiing, hiking, excellent dining options and a great small-town feel. Just some of the nearby attractions include Glen Ellis and Jackson Falls, a great place to stretch your legs with some light hiking before rewarding yourself with incredible waterfall views.

For the winter sports enthusiasts, there's excellent skiing and snowboarding at Wildcat Mountain, though it's still a great destination in the warmer months as well. Though if you are in Jackson in the winter, you must stop by for a sleigh ride and hot chocolate at Nestlenook Estate.

After a day of exploring, you can wrap yourself in comfort at The Inn at Thorn Hill . Here you'll find an onsite restaurant, sauna, bar, lounge, garden, and stunning terrace.

If you visit in the winter, you'll love the ski-to-door access and ski school with ski rentals available on-site. This hotel also offers one-stop shopping for amenities and dining, making it an ideal stopping point to enjoy the surrounding area and rest up for the rest of your adventure.

Where to stay when you reach Burlington

After your epic drive from Portland in Maine to the fabulous Burlington in Vermont, you'll want a great base to really explore more of your chosen destination. Of all the fantastic hotels, one of our favorites has to be the Hotel Vermont Burlington .

Situated in the heart of Burlington, this hotel offers an onsite restaurant and bar with a wide selection of craft beers, onsite parking, yoga classes and free bicycles. Plus you can arrange for massage services as well, which is a great way to unwind after a long drive.

Conveniently located just a short walk to Lake Champlain, you can explore Burlington to your heart's content after a well-rested stop, including its Royal Botanical Gardens, Waterfront Trail and popular pedestrianized Church Street Marketplace.

There's so much more to explore in this small vibrant city, which has plenty to offer, given the fact that its both a college town and an important commercial city. No matter what time of year you visit, it's a fun place to explore.

Things to see on a road trip from Portland to Burlington

You'll be spoilt for things to do on this road trip from Portland, ME to Burlington, VT. To help you plan and decide which attractions you'd like to visit along the way, we've set out some of the best places you'll pass that you may want to consider:

Both Routes

• Montpelier, Vermont - Check out Hubbard and North Branch parks for land sports and the Winooski River for water sports and the Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks and Bragg Farm Sugar House. Plus the Vermont State House and the Vermont Historical Society Museum.
• Stowe, Vermont - This mountain resort town is known for its skiing, dense forest and mountain views. Go for a tasting at Alchemist Brewery and Stowe Cider, explore Gold Brook Covered Bridge, Stowe Recreation Path and Smugglers Notch State Park or hike to Moss Glen Falls.
• Mt Mansfield State Forest - Named after the highest peak in Vermont, this state forest covers 44,444 acres and crosses over into seven towns. It's one of the best places to hike and offers stunning views.
• Camel's Hump State Park - A great peak in Vermont, this state park is easily recognisable by its double-humped profile. There are fantastic views but the trails are often popular and busy.
• Lake Champlain - This freshwater lake in North American borders with Canada, as well as facing Burlington. It's a beautiful spot to enjoy a sunset and contains over 90 species of fish.

• Kennebunkport, Maine - Home to sandy beaches, the famed Seashore Trolley Museum, a lighthouse from 1833 and quaint lobster villages, Kennebunkport is a lesser known but still great town to visit.
• Ogunquit, Maine - This town offers beautiful sandy beaches, grassy dunes and a cliff walk called “Marginal Way” that offers coastal views and a lighthouse.
• York, Maine - A summer resort town with three golf clubs and four sandy beaches. Don't miss the retro amusement arcade and saltwater taffy.
• Portsmouth, New Hampshire - A port city (as its name suggests!) on the Piscataqua River with a quaint Market Square that happens to also house the former research submarine USS Albacore.
• Manchester, New Hampshire - Located on the Merrimack River, Manchester is home to the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Zimmerman house, the Millyard Museum, which shows how the city and it's textile industry formed and the Currier Museum of Art.
• Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire - Located in Western New Hampshire, this is the fifth largest lake and is 8.1 miles long. Lake Sunapee is best known for skiing and snowboarding, though the park also offers opportunities for camping, hiking and swimming.
• Woodstock, Vermont - Woodstock is a gorgeous New England town, something out of a movie set really, and offers opportunities for downtown meandering; excellent dining options; hiking, mountain bike trails, gardens, and farms galore.

• Jackson, New Hampshire - Nestled in the White Mountains, Jackson is a resort area with skiing, hiking, excellent dining options and a great small-town feel. Here you can ski Wildcat Mountain, take a sleigh ride or hit its famed amusement park, Storyland.
• Mount Washington, Sargent's Purchase, New Hampshire - Hike to the top of the Northeastern United States' highest peak. You can also drive or take a trolley, but if you're up for it, the Tuckerman trail and a pair of good boots will get you to the views at the top.
• Jefferson, New Hampshire - Explore wildlife reserves, waterfalls, ridges and ravines. Check out Muddy Paw Sled Dog Kennel for a sleigh ride through the woods.
• Santa's Village, Jefferson, New Hampshire - Unleash pure joy at this Christmas-themed amusement park that boasts rides, shows, cookies, elves reindeer and – of course – Santa! You can even feed the reindeer. And there's even a water park for those non-arctic months.
• Mechanic Street Covered Bridge - Quaint, red-roofed covered bridge, perfect for a photo op. A truck crashed into it in July 2022, so it won't be open for a bit while it's under repair so plan accordingly.
• Lancaster, New Hampshire - This small rural town gives you a glimpse into everyday life in New England. For a peek back in time, check out the Lancaster Historical Society, which features a flea market every other Sunday. Check out the annual county fair every September.
• White Mountain National Forest - Explore mountainous forests to incredible alpine peaks at this stunning national forest. You'll get to enjoy breathtaking scenery, clear mountain lakes and discover the local wildlife.

Best time to go on a road trip from Portland to Burlington

For most road trippers, spring, summer and fall are the ideal time for this road trip, but if you are an avid skier (and don't mind braving potential snow and ice on the road), winter could be the perfect time for you to visit renowned ski locations like Stowe Mountain Resort.

Summer is a popular time to visit New England, but this route is not likely to be overly packed. Expect temperatures around 81 degrees Fahrenheit in the height of the season, promising warm, pleasant weather that's ideal, particularly for the beaches on the Coastal Route.

In contrast, winters are cold with lows of 2 degrees, making the roads icy and this season a bit more challenging for the average road tripper. However, if you are looking to ski, it's an ideal time for you. Just be sure to bring winter car essentials like a shovel, ice scraper, and snow brush.

Visiting ski towns like Stowe will be more expensive in the winter, but then again you get to ski the slopes and catch the ice carving action at the Stowe Winter Carnival (annually in mid-January).

Fall is an incredibly beautiful time to visit New England and you would be rewarded with amazing views of autumn leaves in an array of gold, orange, yellow, and red colors.

August through October is also apple season, so if you time your trip right you can pick some yourself and sample some tasty homemade apple cider and apple butter. Meanwhile, spring brings new blooms, making the quintessential New England towns on your route really pop.

For a fun end to your trip, why not plan your visit to Burlington with one of its many annual events? The most notable are the Burlington Food and Wine Festival (late June), Vermont Brewers Festival (late July) and Burlington Discover Jazz Festival (early June) to mention just a few.

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Maine, New Hampshire & Vermont Tourbook Guide

Including portland, maine, and acadia national park.

Explore the natural beauty and history of New England with the Maine, New Hampshire & Vermont digital AAA TourBook guide. With scenic coastlines, verdant valleys and towering mountains, this region offers endless opportunities for outdoor adventures. Art lovers and history buffs will find much to see in the area's many museums and historic attractions. Plan your next trip with AAA's digital TourBook travel guide, available on mobile, tablet or desktop.

With the help of the Maine, New Hampshire & Vermont guide, you'll get advice from AAA travel experts about the best things to see and do, where to stay and how to plan the trip of a lifetime. You'll learn insider travel tips and answers to many top questions asked by travelers.

Here are examples of things you'll find in the Maine, New Hampshire & Vermont guide:

• Why the Flume Gorge is worth a visit
• What to see in Acadia National Park
• How to get to scenic overlooks offering views of four states
• Why skiing at Maine's Camden Snow Bowl is a bucket list experience
• Where you can see a 500-foot-long, hand-carved miniature circus parade
• How to experience a whale-watching cruise
• Where to camp, hike and fish in state parks and national public lands
• Why Maine was a magnet for poets, artists and authors
• How to safely explore the Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves

What are some of the must-dos covered in this guide?

We know no two travelers are alike, so we've included a wide variety of things to do in each TourBook guide, from national parks and recreational activities to museums and theme parks.

We cover the top outdoor spots in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, including Acadia National Park and Green Mountain and White Mountain national forests. Learn about local history at the Maine State Museum, the Enfield Shaker Museum or the Bennington Museum. Go behind-the-scenes on a dairy farm at Billings Farm & Museum, or see how cheese and maple sugar are made at Sugarbush Farm. Get up-close with wildlife on a whale- and seal-watching cruise, or stroll amid stunning displays of native plants at the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden.

You'll find these attractions and more in this digital destination guide.

Will this guide help me plan a road trip?

Yes! This guide includes inspiration for scenic drives in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. You can also use the high-quality maps to get started planning your own route.

Is national parkland information included?

Yes. The Maine, New Hampshire & Vermont TourBook guide includes detailed information and travel tips for Acadia National Park.

Explore the Maine, New Hampshire & Vermont TourBook guide and start planning your next travel adventure today!

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The Ultimate Maine Road Trip Itinerary

June 26, 2020 //  by  Follow Me Away //   3 Comments

Trying to plan the perfect Maine road trip? Look no further! We’re here to help make the process a little less stressful!

It is one of the best road trips in the USA and should totally be on your bucket list!

Maine has so much to offer: from scenic roads to iconic lighthouses, famous lobster shacks, breathtaking trees alongside winding drives, fun cities, and some national parks, you won’t be disappointed with any stop you add to your Maine road trip itinerary. 

We are listing some of our favorite and “must-see” stops for a Maine road trip below. Victoria actually grew up exploring Maine and New England by RV, so we hope that you enjoy this itinerary!

Keep your personal timeline in mind as you get the car ready to go! You’re in for an amazing adventure.

The Ultimate Maine Road trip Itinerary

Getting to maine .

When starting your Maine road trip, we recommend flying into the Boston Logan International Airport. This airport is large and therefore a huge hub for many Airlines such as Delta, Cape Air, Southwest, American, United, and more. 

Because this airport is a hub, it also has a variety of cities to depart from, including, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta Fort Lauderdale, Vegas, and more! So no matter where you are coming from, you will find a well-priced flight here at Boston Logan International Airport. 

If you want to fly into somewhere else, however, you can also consider flying into Portland (Portland, Maine, of course!), through their Portland International Jetport! We just suggest Boston Logan International because it is close to the border of the state and easier to rent cars from for Maine road trip! 

Getting Around During Your Maine Road Trip 

To begin your Maine road trip, you’ll need a car! So make sure to stop by the Rental Car Center serving Boston Logan after you land. Airport terminals run every 5-6 minutes and will take you straight to the RCC where you can rent out a vehicle.

Here you can rent from Enterprise, Budget, Hertz, Alamo, BOS, Thrifty, and Advantage! Just make sure to get a car that has some room and good gas mileage so you are comfortable and prepared for all your adventures of a road trip to Maine. 

Don’t forget to check out our Detailed Road Trip Packing List so you don’t forget any essentials for your trip!

When to See Fall Foliage in Maine 

We know that the fall foliage in New England is spectacular: people come from all over to see the leaves change, and Maine has some of the bright orange, yellow and red hues across their Maples, Oaks, Elms and Birch trees. 

Many people travel to Maine during late September to see the fall foliage. The September to October weather also is perfect timing for touring the coast and witnessing these hues act as a stake contrast of the blue waters of the nearby oceans, lakes, and rivers! So make sure to keep this in mind when you’re planning a date for your Maine road trip!

Stop 1: Rest and Relax at Ogunquit Beach

Ogunquit, Maine is a must stop for your Maine road trip because it truly is a beautiful place by the sea! With miles of sandy beaches, a scenic coast, art galleries, fun shopping, and dining adventures, this place ranks as one of the best vacation spots! 

Perkins Cove is a small fishing village that is great for shopping and restaurants! There are also a variety of tours from boat harbors that you can visit here! Marginal Way is a 1.25-mile coastal walking path that connects Perkins Village to Ogunquit, so this is a great science route to walk. 

There is also some great theater here, so you can check out the Ogunquit Playhouse or the Museum of American Art if you’re interested! Or if you want to do something beyond the beach and small towns, make sure to check our some events: local food and wine tastings are popular and fall-themed events are dependent on the time of year you visit! 

Where to Stay in Ogunquit Beach

Mid-Range: Ogunquit River Inn. Check Rates: Booking.com 

Mid-Range: Ogunquit Tides . Check Rates: Booking.com

Stop 2: Continue to Relax in Kennebunkport 

Kennebunkport is a coastal town in southern Maine that is famous for it’s long, sandy beaches. You must check this location out during your Maine road trip if you’re interested in stopping by Goose Rocks Beach as well as Arundel Beach.  This is truly one of the best things to do in Maine!

The Seashore Trolley Museum is also a neat and niche place that displays a huge collection of streetcars, and many people like checking out St. Ann’e Episcopal Church since it dates back to 1887 and its rustic stone architecture contrasted with its grass fields are breathtaking. 

Cape Porpoise is also a nearby lobster-fishing village that sits in a harbor and is well known for its local seafood. From most restaurants and galleries here, you can also view the 1833 Goat Island Lighthouse! 

Where to Stay in Kennebunkport

Mid-Range: Lodge at Kennebunk.  Check Rates: Booking.com

High Range-Range: The Boathouse. Check Rates: Booking.com

Stop 3: Make sure to Visit Cape Elizabeth for Iconic Lighthouses

A Genteel town, Cape Elizabeth is another stop you have to spend some time during your Maine road trip This place of history and coastlines and parks hugs the Casco Bay , making ripe for adventure! 

Many tourists love to explore this area by bike and cross the Casco Bay Bridge to get to the Cape Elizabeth’s coast. But the hardest decision to make when visiting here comes down to visiting lighthouses: there are so many! Portland Headlight, Ram Island Ledge Lighthouse, and Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse  are active and great views. 

Williams Par k has great trails to explore old batteries, but more importantly, Two Lights State Park is set on a rocky shoreline where you can view twin lighthouses that are close by. This place is perfect for lunch alongside the crashing waves, but you can also check out Crescent Bech State Park!

Where to Stay Near Cape Elizabeth 

Mid-Range: The Francis Check Rates: Booking.com

High-Range: Inn by the Sea . Check Rates: Booking.com

Stop 4: Spend some time in Portland, Maine (not Oregon!) 

Set on the peninsula extending into Casco Bay , Portland is a great city to stop in during your Maine road trip, and it’s close to Cape Elizabeth!  The Old Port features fishing wharves, warehouses, restaurants, and unique Indie shops that are great for exploring. 

Fort Willams Park is fantastic for visiting a rocky coast, as the seaside park is coastal and has an old fort and views of lighthouses! The Portland Head Lighthouse is also super cool to check out. 

If you’re looking for something more “indoors” to do, you can check out the Portland Museum of Art, but we highly recommend visiting Peaks Island , where there are more beaches and a really cool Fifth Maine Regiment Museum ! 

Where to stay near Portland 

Mid-Range: Hampton Inn Portland Downtown Waterfront Check Rates: Booking.com

High-Range: Portland Harbor Hotel. Check Rates: Booking.com

Stop 5: Enjoy the Water in Waldoboro 

Waldoboro is a cute, quaint town in Maine that is perfect for any Maine road trip itinerary. Well known for its lakes, this place thrives off of its agricultural and fishing legacy. 

We recommend checking out all the lake and pond wonders Waldoboro has! From Damariscotta Lake to Pemaquid Pond and Duckpuddle Pond , these bodies of waters are perfect for evenings that you want to fish, relax, boat, and watch sunsets! 

We also think the Waldoboro Historical Society is a cute museum to check out! And the Goose River Peace Corps Preserve and Pond are just fantastic for exploring trails and greenery! Make sure to take in the scenery at Waldoboro! 

Where to Stay Near Waldoboro

Mid-Range: Claddagh Motel and Suites. Check Rates: Booking.com 

Mid-Range: Ledges by the Bay . Check Rates: Booking.com

Stop 6: Check out Rockland and it’s cute Bay and Harbor

Rockland , Maine is a popular tourist spot, so you must add it to your Maine road trip itinerary. Rockland is known as mid-coast Maine and is beautifully famous because the mountains and sea converge here right on Rockland Harbor and Penobscot Bay . 

The Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse is a highlight of the town, and there are plenty of tours you can take that lets you travel around Penobscot Bay. 

There are also amazing restaurants and shops to check out here, such as Rustica — a great Italian place– and Jess’ Market . Many tourists love renting bikes to explore the small-time and highly recommend looking at great festivals that might be going on when you visit: Rockland is famous for its Summer Solstice Festival! 

Where to Stay Near Rockland

Mid-Range: Glen Cove Inn & Suites. Check Rates: Booking.com

Mid-Range : Strawberry Hill Seaside Inn. Check Rates: Booking.com

Stop 7: You Must See the East Coast’s Acadia National Park 

Would you really be on a Maine road trip without stopping by and witnessing Acadia National Park in all of its glory? Acadia National Park is a 47,000-acre recreation area on Maine’s Mount Desert. 

Known for its foods, rocky beaches, and breathtaking granite, there are some must-sees here. Cadillac Mountain is the tallest point on the East coast for example. It’s known for its sweeping panoramic views. 

But also make sure to check out Sand Beach , where the quiet cove is super relaxing, or even Jordan Pond where there are some beautiful trails with nearby mountains and lakes! We recommend ensuring that you check out the Bubble Mountain hike though, and Mount Desert Island! 

Where to stay near Acadia

Low-Range: Acadia Pines Motel. Check Rates: Booking.com 

Mid-Range: Anchorage Motel. Check Rates: Booking.com

Stop 8: Spend some Time In Bar Harbor 

This bayside town is close to Acadia and is a popular getaway or stops for tourists which is why we’re listing it on your Maine road trip itinerary! You can view this town from the top of Cadillac Mountain.

Many people stop by here because it is so close to Acadia, but while here make sure to check out the Ocean Trail, Schoodic Peninsula, and Frenchman Bay . 

The Criterion Theatre is also a cool place for an evening in, or exploring Village Green , a small historical town with lots to explore! The College of the Atlantic Gardens is also quaint and quiet if you’re looking for something a bit different to explore!

Where to stay in Bar Harbor

Mid-Range: Moseley Cottage Inn. Check Rates: Booking.com

High-Range: Bar Harbor Grand Hotel. Check Rates: Booking.com

Stop 9: Take a trip on a ferry to Nova Scotia 

Although Nova Scotia is technically a province in eastern Canada and not a part of Maine, you have to add it to your Maine road trip! Thankfully you can take the CAT ferry from Bar Harbor for a day trip to Nova! 

Some of the top sights you’ll want to visit in Nova during your trip include the Cape Breton Highlands National Park where you can take trails through mountains, valleys, waterfalls, and coastlines. The Kejimkujik National Park is similar to Cape Breton as well! 

Or you can explore the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, the Halifax Public Gardens of the Halifax Citadel National Site. And if you’re feeling REALLY adventurous, off the coast of Sable Island there are tons of shipwrecks to explore if you want to go diving or snorkeling! Just watch for the high tides Nova is famous for! 

Where to Stay in Nova Scotia

Low-Range: Hillside Landing B&B. Check Rates: Booking.com

Mid-Range: Residence Inn. Check Rates: Booking.com

We are so excited you’ve chosen o embark on a Maine road trip, as it is truly a gorgeous state with unforgettable coastlines. After your day trip to Nova, you can head back to Boston or Portland to go ahead and fly home! But as we’ve mentioned, this guide only touches the surface of what Maine has to offer. If you want to know more or have more time to explore, check out some other stops as well. Either way, we know you’ll have fun!

With More Time: 

There is truly so much to do in Maine, so if you are traveling with a bit more time, or for a longer period of time, we are adding a few more stops you might want to stop and explore during your Maine road trip! These stops are super popular as well but are a bit further out of the “loop” during your traveling adventures. They will take more time to get to, but definitely check them out if you have that extra time!

Visit Chimney Pond Via Mount Katahdin

To climb Mount Katahdin during your extended Maine road trip, we suggest taking the Chimney Pond Trail. This trail is 6.3 miles and is considered a “moderate” hike, but is well known for the lake and views it offers.

The Chimney Pond Campgrounds are also part of the “backcountry” near Baxter State Park . Here you can rest and realz while having the closest access to other trails such as Hamlin Ridge and Saddle .  

Visit Oh My Gosh Corner/Carrabassett

Carrabassett Valley is located between the Bigelow Mountains and is known for its scenic routes of birches and rivers. Many people love to come here for skiing in the winter, as there is a bend in the Route known as “Oh My Gosh Corner.”  

From this corner, you can see Sugarloaf Mountain, is 163 trails trifling down its surface. The bend in this road is breathtaking: its north-facing mountain towers around the corner at a 4,237 summit along Carrabassett River . You don’t want to miss it during your Maine road trip.

Visit Moosehead Lake 

Moosehead Lake is the largest lake in Maine, which means you have to stop and see it with your Maine itinerary! Situated in the Longfellow Mountains , this lake is surrounded by the Kennebec River.

Near Beaver Cove , the terrain slopes gently toward the water making it a perfect place to swim. The water clarity is great, temperatures fairly warm, and Mount Kineo is also close: here you can explore the 700-foot scenic cliffs in-between your lake day! 

Visit Rangeley Lake 

Fed by a variety of streams, Rangeley Lake is situated close to Rangeley , which was named one of the best winter towns inNew England. Its lake is over 6,000 arches and is super deep (149 feet!). But no matter what time of year you are taking your Maine road trip, you’ve got to stop here! 

Many people love to fish here, as the lake is known for its brook trout and salmon. Beyond the lake though, there is Rangeley Village with hotels, restaurants and shops, and the Rangeley Lakes Region Historical Society is a cute museum that exhibits the town’s history! 

Visit Sugarloaf Mountain 

Sugarloaf Mountain is a lovely mountain in Maine. Open from 8 a.m. until sunset, this natural landmark has geographical beauty and striking landscape views. After taking lifts to the top of Sugarloaf and exploring the park, you can check out the nearby towns. 

Visit Baxter State Park 

Our last suggestion for your Maine road trip itinerary includes Baxter State Park . This is a large wilderness area that has been permanently preserved and features a variety of trails (we highly recommend checking out the Knife Edge trail !), sights, and mountains. 

Mount Katahdin is Maine’s tallest peak and is located here. It is also a favorite hike amongst tourists! And Baxter Peak is also popular, although its trial is more difficult. If you’re feeling more “woodsy” too, you can explore the monuments and breathtaking sights of Katahdin Woods and Waters! 

And there you have it! A great Maine road trip itinerary that will take you around the state to experience national parks, iconic lighthouses, potent landscapes, and more. Make sure to drive safe and have TONS of fun during your Maine road trip– we promise it will be unforgettable! 

Reader Interactions

July 12, 2020 at 12:14 pm

What a wonderful trip through Maine. I have done some of it but would love to return to see the rest. It is a beautiful state with so many places to visit…One day…

October 14, 2022 at 8:39 pm

thanks for the good read. i am going solo as i promised to see Maine before i am 60 ill let you know how much i love it

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Fall Road Trip Through New England: Where to Go in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont

Updated : April 19, 2023

See a Lighthouse

Portland, Maine

I flew in and out of Portland for my leaf peeping road trip. As soon as I got my rental car from the airport, I went in search of a lighthouse. The Portland Head Light at Cape Elizabeth is said to be the oldest in Maine. It is also considered the most photographed lighthouse in the country. It’s precariously perched on rocks that look like petrified wood. They get the sparkling glossy look from alternating layers of quartzite and dark grey phyllite.

You can only go inside the lighthouse one day a year, so after I wandered around it, I headed over to the Cousins Maine Lobster food truck and devoured the warm buttery yumminess of a lobster roll. I walked off my late lunch by taking the Cliff Trail for a better view of the lighthouse with the thunderous waves crashing on the rocky shoreline.

Next, I drove over to the Ship Cove picnic area in Fort Williams Park to see some of the military fort ruins and the ruins of one of the first grand houses built along the Cape Elizabeth shore. Completed in 1859 and predating the fort, Goddard Mansion was built of native stone in an Italianate style. In 1900, it was acquired by the United States Army. It was used to house married non-commissioned officers stationed at Fort Williams and later as an NCO (non-commissioned officers) Club until Fort Williams closed in 1962.Six days later, I explored Portland ’s waterfront as my last stop of my New England road trip. On that Saturday, the area was buzzing with tourists, including some from a cruise ship. After walking around the wharf, I headed up the uneven sidewalks of Market and Exchange streets in the Old Port district. My favorite store find was Ramblers Way. It’s a family owned clothing store out of Kennebunk. I tried to eat at Eventide Oyster Co. and East Enders but both places were packed. Guess everyone else was hungry for a lobster roll, too. Both eateries were highly recommended to me by locals.

A Quaint Coastal City

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Portsmouth oozes historic charm everywhere you turn in the downtown area. I did a one-night stay in The Sailmaker’s House. It’s a boutique inn housed in the historic home of a sailmaker named John Holbrook. Renovated in 2017, some of the original architecture dating back to 1801 was preserved, including narrow stairways, original windows and slanted pine floors.

After checking in, I headed to Surf Restaurant with every intention of ordering a piping hot bowl of clam chowder. That was until I saw lobster and Brie nachos on the menu. The Portsmouth food scene quickly surprised me as I savored the decadent nachos paired with a North Country Original Press Cider out of Rollinsford, New Hampshire.

After a restful night, I spent a few hours the next morning wandering around the historic seaport including stops at the African Burying Ground Memorial, Market Square and North Church Congregational United Church of Christ. The congregation started in a log cabin in 1641 and the current church was built in 1855.

I strolled along Commercial Alley then found some retail souvenirs for myself in two fabulous boutiques, Inside Out and Mint Boutique. Then I headed over to the historic Bridge District for a stop in the whimsical brasserie Fezziwig's Food and Fountain in Pickwick’s Mercantile. I ordered a Mr. Fezziwigs's Butter Brew then wandered over to Pickwick’s Mercantile to peruse the gift items.I spent the most time in the 10-acre Strawbery Banke Museum wandering through some of the 32 houses and 10 gardens. My favorites were the penny candy counter in the Little Corner Store and the Goodwin Mansion, the home of the New Hampshire governor during the Civil War which later moved to Strawbery Banke in the 1960s. I took a walk through the flower garden in Prescott Park and looked across to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, established in 1800 and still active today.

Along Lake Champlain

Burlington, Vermont

It was dark by the time I got to Burlington for the second night of my road trip. Using my AAA discount, I checked in at the Hilton Burlington . It’s in a fantastic location to explore the waterfront and the historic district.I was in a pizza mood as I walked to the Church Street Marketplace to find a spot for dinner. Sitting at the bar at , I tried a Citizen Cider, the local cider on tap, and a medicine wheel pizza. Since I was in the area where Ben and Jerry’s ice cream started, I splurged and got a cone during my walk back to the hotel.The next morning after admiring the sunrise from my hotel room, I enjoyed the peacefulness of an early stroll on the boardwalk along the shore of Lake Champlain. I had several locals tell me I had to have a Rise & Shiner, and Kountry Kart Deli next to the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts is the place to get one. It’s a grab-and-go deli so I took my breakfast sandwich of egg, cheese and hash browns and sat on a park bench near First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington established in 1816. I walked around the vibrant college town for about an hour. Before leaving, I popped into another locals’ favorite, August First Bakery & Cafe . The laptop-free bakery was packed with people sipping coffee and nibbling on baked goods. I grabbed a latte for the road and couldn’t resist one of their coconut almond macaroons.I drove 15 minutes south to Shelburne Farms , a working farm designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2001. I did a 4-mile hike that took me through meadows, forest and along the shore of Lake Champlain. I did take a break mid-hike to explore the gardens of the picturesque The Inn at Shelburne Farms . If you’re looking for a historic and romantic stay near Burlington, this is the place.

Vermont's Little Grand Canyon

Quechee and Woodstock, Vermont

I hadn't planned to spend a night in Quechee or Woodstock , but after making a stop in Quechee on my way from Portsmouth to Burlington, I wished I had. Quechee is where I saw my first Vermont covered bridge over the Ottauquechee River. Seeing the glassblowers at work in Simon Pearce Glass is a must in this charming town surrounded by forest. I was captivated watching them burn and blow votives in the glassblowing studio.

After a night in Burlington, I took a scenic route exploring small towns like Vergennes and Middlebury then cut through the Green Mountain National Forest, an area made famous by poet Robert Frost, just so I could spend a little more time in the Quechee area. I didn’t have time to explore the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park and it is one of the reasons I want to go back to Woodstock, a quaint town with some stores dating back to the 1800s lining its main street.

My last stop in Vermont was at the Quechee Gorge. Glacial activity about 13,000 years ago created the gorge called “Vermont’s Little Grand Canyon.” You can see the Ottauquechee River flowing 165 feet below the viewing area from the bridge on Route 4.

Highest Peak in the Northeast

Mount Washington and Jackson, New Hampshire

The Wildcat Inn & Tavern is tucked away in the White Mountains in the tiny town of Jackson. With its rustic antique furnishings, the inn is reminiscent of a 1940s ski lodge. Enticed by live Irish music in the tavern, I joined in the fun over a dinner of lobster corn bisque and kale Caesar salad.The next morning, I took a walk around town, including Jackson Pond by the River where I learned that Benjamin Copp and his family settled the town’s first homestead in 1775 at the confluence of the Wildcat and Ellis Rivers. Craving maple syrup, I had a pancake breakfast at , which was home to Arbuckle’s Country Store in the 1950s and 1960s.

Someone at Wildcat Inn told me I had to see Jackson Falls. When I got out of the car, I could only see one section of the falls. I followed a short trail and was amazed by the number of small falls, slides and plunges of different sizes stacked in layers on about a 100-foot stretch of the river. The cascading waterfalls are just a two-minute drive from the inn, so I had no excuse not to go.

On the way to Mount Washington, I stopped at the Honeymoon Covered Bridge, which was built in 1876. Flossie’s General Store near the bridge is worth a stop, too. Mount Washington had been on my radar to visit for a long time. It’s known for the extreme weather conditions it gets, but when I visited, I got 65 degrees and sunny. The harrowing 8-mile drive up the mountain takes you from dense forest to alpine zone. There are pullouts along the road where you can stop on the way up or down. Take advantage of them, especially on the way down to let your brakes cool. At the top, cautiously hike the short and slick Crawford Trail to officially stand on the summit of Mount Washington. At 6,288 feet it is the highest peak in the Northeast.

Acadia National Park

Bar Harbor, Maine

When I got to Bar Harbor , I went straight to Acadia National Park to catch a colorful sunset from Cadillac Mountain . In town for dinner, I walked over to Geddy's Pub for clam chowder and lobster cobb salad. Geddy’s has been around since 1974 and is in a row of restaurants near the harbor. Striking up a conversation with tourists from New York and a few locals, I experienced Bar Harbor’s late-evening scene with stops in Testa's Restaurant and Bar Harbor Beer Works .

I started my full day in Bar Harbor at Slice of Eden Bakery for a latte and bagel. They’re known for their doughnuts. The apple crisp ones looked scrumptious, so I grabbed one for hiking fuel. Instead of doing the traditional 27-mile loop in Acadia National Park , I drove straight to Jordan Pond where I traced the water’s edge on a short hike. Avoiding peak visiting hours in the park, I went out the Stanley Brook entrance and made stops in Seal Harbor and Northeast Harbor, where I grabbed a latte at 123 Café. In the Great Harbor Maritime Museum—housed in an old firehouse dating back to 1917—I learned about Northeast Harbor.

I took the scenic route on Sargeant Drive, which takes you along Seawater Bay in Somes Sound. It’s one of only a few fjords in the contiguous United States. I stopped for lunch in Southwest Harbor. Filled with quaint bed and breakfasts and cute shops, it doesn’t have the hustle and bustle of Bar Harbor. One shop is even called Acadia Quietside. Several locals suggested Beal’s Lobster Pier, a family-owned restaurant on the water since 1932. Sitting in the captain’s galley nook outside, I chatted with a couple from Jacksonville, Florida, between bites of Beal’s traditional lobster roll and sips of a blueberry lemonade.

My next stop was the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse. Since a Coast Guard family lives in it, you can only tour the outside. I drove back into Acadia National Park and stopped at Pretty Marsh. I walked on the spongy forest floor through the fragrant pines in this secluded southwestern side of Mount Desert Island and ended up at a wooden staircase. I took it down to the shoreline where the afternoon sunshine twinkled like glittery diamonds on the water.

After a quick stop back in Bar Harbor, I drove the 27-mile loop in Acadia National Park since I had about 2.5 hours before sunset. I made a few stops including Thunder Hole and Otter Cliff. My longest stop was at a geological rarity. Sand Beach is one of the few cold-water, shell-based sand beaches in the world. There’s an offshore rock called “Old Soaker.” It diverts a strong current into a glacially formed pocket which catches shell fragments. The cold water then traps gases dissolving the seashells and forming the beach resting on a huge bed of granite stones.I finished the Acadia loop at Cadillac Mountain. The sunset with hues ranging from pink to orange was a stunner even for this perpetual sunset chaser. I chose the upstairs bar in Galyn's Restaurant for a quiet space to sip a dry Ricker Hill Mainiac Gold cider from Maine and enjoy a bowl of traditional clam chowder. On a post-dinner stroll, I stopped in Sherman’s Bookstore, reputedly Maine’s oldest bookstore open since 1886. I looked around Acadia Shop filled with everything from hats to jellies in addition to admiring creations by local artists at Island Artisans, including nautical glass pieces, wool beanies and colorful birdhouses. I thought about tasting the lobster ice cream at Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium, but I opted for a scoop of coffee toffee bar from Bar Harbor’s popular candy shop to end the night.I love a stellar sunrise as much as I love a spectacular sunset. So, before leaving Bar Harbor, I drove back up the 3.5 miles to Cadillac Mountain. I stopped about halfway for an incredible view of fog hovering along the shoreline then raced to the top just in time to hear oohs and aahs from other sunrise watchers as the sun crested the horizon. When I got back into town, I popped into Jordan's Restaurant , a Bar Harbor favorite of locals and tourists. It has great diner coffee and is known for wild blueberry pancakes and muffins. The normal order is two pancakes, but you can order just one as I did and drench it in maple syrup for a Maine delicacy.

On the way out of town, I stopped back in A Slice of Eden for an almond latte for the road. I couldn’t pass up a pumpkin doughnut for later as my fall road trip adventure exploring the history, outdoor adventure and food of New England was coming to an end.

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New England Fall Road Trip Itinerary: 10 Stunning Stops

By: Author Mark and Kristen Morgan

Posted on Published: August 23, 2021  - Last updated: December 8, 2023

Categories North America Travel Blog

There are many places in the world you can see leaves turn in Autumn, but they pale in comparison to one famed and celebrated region in the US northeast where science, nature and climate combine to put on an extraordinary light show each year. We are of course talking about fabled New England and we’re going to show you 10 places you can’t miss when planning your New England fall foliage road trip, with 5 day itinerary, 7 day itinerary and 10 day itinerary examples included to help you nail down the best possible route for your trip.

We will use our first hand experiences from road tripping New England in fall to bring you tips, advice and unmissable stops to take on your visit. This is one of those true bucket list USA road trip experiences in which it pays to be organized, plan effectively and make the most of every day.

So, let’s get stuck into those 10 unmissable stops and planning your perfect New England fall foliage road trip itinerary!

The Science Behind Fall Colors

What do we know about the changing of colors to give ourselves the best chance of being in the right place at the right time?

Well, we know that fall colors peak furthest north and work southward through the latitudes. So for example, the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina is gorgeous in fall, but the colors won’t change there until much later in the season.

Also, we know elevation plays an important role in when peak colors will be on display. Colors will change first in mountainous regions of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont before they do at lower elevations.

But the most important aspects are weather conditions leading into Autumn, and amount of daylight. It all starts way back in Spring! A late Spring or intense Summer drought can potentially delay peak fall colors by a week or two.

Conditions Affecting Predictions For Peak Fall Colors

In addition to elevation, latitude and weather conditions before fall, there are more specific conditions that can affect peak fall once we actually reach Autumn:

• Soil moisture levels
• Amount of sunlight during the day
• Length of night
• Day and night temperature (important)

So what would constitute as perfect conditions for the best chance at ‘peak’ fall colors being their most radiant and predictable?

• Wet and warm Spring conditions
• Summer without drought or unusually high / low temperatures
• Warm Autumn days and cool but not freezing nights

And what causes the colors to change once conditions are right?

Sunlight pumps leaves full of chlorophyll during Spring and Summer. Once daylight wanes in Autumn, so does the amount of chlorophyll.

That leaves room for other pigments in the leaves, such as anthocyanin and carotenoids to shine.

Why Focus On VT, NH, ME and Even NY

The region of New England technically contains 6 states; Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. In fall, this entire region transforms into an adventure playground for leaf-peeping lovers and passionate photographers.

However, there are three New England states among the six that we feel just have to be prioritized for the very best scenery and most radiant colors; New Hampshire, Maine and in particular Vermont.

But we’re also going to throw a curve ball by including a region not technically part of New England (gasp!) … New York’s Adirondack Mountains are a stone’s throw from the border with Vermont and the colors are just as special.

We want you to see the best places in New England when you take your fall road trip, but we would prefer you to see the best colors. That means skipping the likes of Boston, Portland and Providence on this particular visit to the northeast.

They’re all awesome places and we visited them all on our New England road trip in fall. But they don’t have the colors of rural Vermont and New Hampshire, plus we had days to spare.

Here’s why you should focus on the northern parts of New England for a fall foliage road trip:

Vermont’s rolling hills are overflowing with charming rural towns, barns and covered bridges. But the state is 80% covered in forest and that can only mean one thing; spectacular fall foliage everywhere you look.

Further Reading: The best places to visit in Vermont

New Hampshire

New Hampshire mixes excellent hiking options in stunning mountainous areas with staggeringly beautiful fall foliage colors.

It also has one of the best mini road trip routes in New England during fall – the Kancamagus Highway.

Maine is huge. It is much bigger than the other New England states and that means it’s hard to fit most of the northern parts in to your road trip. Unless you have more than 2 weeks of course.

However, Acadia National Park is one of the very best places you can visit in all of New England in fall so if you have the spare time, it’s hard to skip.

New York’s Adirondack Mountains, including Winter olympic town Lake Placid and its surroundings are beautiful in Autumn. The popular mountainous region is incredibly popular thanks to a host of activities and of course glorious foliage colors.

When Should You Plan Your New England Road Trip For Peak Fall Colors?

It is impossible to plan the perfect ‘peak’ fall road trip itinerary in New England. You would need to be in many places at the same time for that to be possible. We’re not quite there, yet!

Historically, the last 2 weeks of September and the first 2 weeks of October are when the colors change. So that would put October 1st in the middle of that and therefore a ‘peak’ fall foliage target.

Science tells us that colors change in the North and at elevation first, eventually working South and to lower levels.

We’ll get into example itineraries below, but here are some rough dates to use for each itinerary time frame working North to South:

• 5 Day New England Fall Road Trip – We would suggest aiming for September 29 through October 3.
• 7 Day New England Fall Road Trip – Add a day either side, so September 28 through October 4.
• 10 Day New England Fall Road Trip – Add a day before and two after, so September 27 through October 6.
• 14 Day New England Fall Road Trip – Add a day before and three after, so September 26 through October 9.

Should You Book Your Trip In Advance?

Here are two scenarios:

• You don’t book in advance and keep an eye on live fall foliage updates to guarantee hitting peak fall. This also means you have flexibility on bad weather days. However, there are very limited hotels available and those that do have rooms will be more expensive.
• You plan and book your whole trip in advance, getting good value in hotels and can relax. But there’s a chance you won’t time it just right and you will have to deal with whatever weather comes your way.

We can’t offer a ‘better’ solution here because both have pros and cons.

Our trip was mainly booked in advance which meant we spent less but we had to put up with a lot of disappointing rain days, as you will see in the photos below!

Need a hand planning your New England fall road trip? Our popular 40+ page New England Fall Road Trip Guidebook includes the 10 best places to visit, 8 example itineraries ranging from 5-14 days and an extensive interactive map to help you plan a successful leaf-peeping vacation.

Top Tips For Planning Your New England Fall Road Trip Itinerary

Finally, before we jump into the 10 unmissable stops and the New England fall road trip itineraries, let’s have a quick look at some important tips to consider when planning your vacation:

• New England is insanely popular in fall.
• Booking accommodation in advance will save you a lot of money.
• Carefully plan where you want to spend each night based around hikes and photography.
• Start in the North and work South through New England.
• Expect frequent rain and clouds in fall and accept that there’s nothing you can do about it!
• Always carry loads of water and snacks in the car.
• Try to find elevated vantage points as often as possible.
• Some of the best and most unique fall photos are along rural country roads.
• You need multiple spare batteries for your camera!
• You can use a drone in many parts of New England for aerial photography.
• Don’t worry if you miss ‘peak’ colors.

Our popular road trip resources:

• Road trip packing list essentials
• How to plan the perfect road trip

10 Places You Can’t Miss On The Best New England Fall Road Trip

Let’s take a closer look at the 10 stops we think are unmissable on a first New England trip to see the fall colors.

1. Lake Placid, New York

Lake Placid of 1980 Winter Olympics ‘Miracle on Ice’ fame is located at the heart of New York’s revered Adirondack Mountains. It is the perfect base for adventure activities throughout all four seasons, from hiking in Summer to skiing in Winter.

The charming town of Lake Placid is an incredibly popular centralized location for leaf peeping in the Adirondacks. As a result, hotels here are in high demand and not cheap from the end of September until mid October. We know from experience when our bank balance took a mighty hit!

Walk around Mirror Lake in town for the easiest way to soak up gorgeous fall colors. If you have time and enjoy challenging hikes, you can’t miss Mount Marcy. It isn’t the prettiest trail but it is the tallest peak in New York.

Things To Do In Lake Placid, NY

• Take a relaxing walk around serene Mirror Lake.
• Visit the Olympic ski jumping complex.
• Photograph John Brown barn.
• Drive to the summit of Whiteface Mountain.
• Take the Cloud Splitter cable car to Little Whiteface.
• Walk through picturesque High Falls Gorge.
• Hike Mount Marcy, the tallest peak in New York.

Where To See Fall Foliage In Lake Placid, NY

• Mirror Lake in town is gorgeous, walk through residential areas surrounded by colorful trees.
• John Brown barn is a hidden gem for fall colors.
• The top of the ski jump provides sweeping views over the Adirondacks.
• Mount Marcy summit is the highest point in the entire region, providing the best views over rolling hills.
• Whiteface Mountain and Little Whiteface offer more stunning views of fall foliage.

Read our Lake Placid guides for more information:

• 10 best things to do in Lake Placid NY
• Mount Marcy complete hiking walkthrough
• 8 best hotels in Lake Placid NY

2. Burlington, Vermont

Burlington in Vermont might not be the first place you think of for a New England fall foliage road trip destination. However, it is one of the easiest places outside of Boston to fly into the region if you are visiting from further afield.

The small town also happens to be filled with beautiful and radiant foliage colors at every turn. From lakeside bike paths to park towers with stunning views, Burlington is the perfect stop off between Lake Placid and the more famous foliage destination of Stowe.

Hotels in downtown Burlington can be limited and expensive in Autumn, so if you are visiting New England on a budget, try looking for hotels in surrounding villages and towns.

Things To Do In Burlington, VT

• Eat, drink and soak up the atmosphere along Church Street.
• Walk through Waterfront Park alongside Lake Champlain.
• Cycle the Burlington bike path to Grand Isle.
• Explore Ethan Allen Homestead and Museum.
• Stand on top of Ethan Allen Tower for amazing views.
• Taste chocolate at Lake Champlain Chocolates flagship store.

Where To See Fall Foliage In Burlington, VT

• Anywhere along the Lake Champlain waterfront where there are trees.
• Ethan Allen Park and the top of the tower in particular have the best fall foliage views in Burlington.
• Ethan Allen homestead and museum are surrounded by beautifully colorful trees.

Read more about Burlington:

• 10 best things to do in Burlington VT
• 8 best hotels in Burlington VT

3. Stowe, Vermont

Stowe is one of the unmissable fall foliage classics on any New England road trip. The white church in town is one of the most photographed churches in the US and almost all of those photographs are taken in fall.

The town is quaint and attractive but be sure to spend the majority of your time up in Stowe Mountain Resort. This is where you will find hikes, Mt Mansfeld, waterfalls and Smugglers Notch.

Colors will change first up in the higher elevations. So, if you’re a little early, head up to the resort. On the other hand, if you’re a little late, stick to the lower elevations around Stowe town for the most vibrant colors.

Personally, we love to hike, we like flying our drone and we enjoy photographing waterfalls. Stowe was one of the best stops on our New England fall road trip circuit for allowing us to do all of those things.

Things To Do In Stowe, VT

• Photograph the famous white church in Stowe town.
• Drive or hike to the summit of Mount Mansfield.
• Drive through stunning Smugglers Notch pass.
• Ride a bike along Stowe Rec Path or Lamoille Valley.
• Take the SkyRide Gondola to Mt Mansfield.
• Hike a wide range of awesome trails.
• Visit both Bingham Falls and Moss Glen Falls.

Where To See Fall Foliage In Stowe, VT

• In Stowe town, the iconic white church backed by a hill of fall colors is unmissable on your New England road trip.
• But the best colors are in Stowe Mountain Resort. The drive up from town is gorgeous.
• No matter how you get to the top of Mt Mansfield, you can guarantee spectacular fall foliage views.
• Smugglers Notch is our top recommendation for Stowe. If you have a drone, this is the place to fly.

Read more about Stowe, Vermont:

• 15 best things to do in Stowe VT
• 12 best hotels in Stowe VT

4. Woodstock, Vermont

Woodstock in central Vermont is arguably the most picturesque and charming town you will visit on your New England fall road trip itinerary. It truly is like something out of a fairytale. We had no choice but to include Woodstock in our popular guide to the 50 best places to visit in the USA .

Remarkably pretty farms with golden leaves dancing in sunlight and reddish-brown leaves covering the ground create picture perfect scenes. Sleepy Hollow Farm and Jenne Road Farm are featured on many fall foliage calendars you will see in shops on your visit to New England.

Don’t miss the many stunning historic covered bridges around Woodstock. Middle covered bridge is right in town, Taftsville and Quechee are very close by and Cornish-Windsor is a 30 minute drive. The beautiful bridge in the photo below is a privately owned bridge near South Woodstock on the main road to Jenne Farm.

Woodstock is one of the more expensive places to visit on a road trip through Vermont, but it is worth taking a hit on the extra chunk of budget. Simply driving around the narrow country roads near Woodstock for a few hours would provide enough fall foliage colors to last a week of photography.

Things To Do In Woodstock, VT

• Walk around the charming town and admire diverse architectural styles.
• Photograph two postcard perfect farms – Jenne Road Farm and Sleep Hollow Farm.
• Visit a host of historic and stunning covered bridges.
• Explore Marsh Billings Rockefeller Park and hike to amazing viewpoint overlooking Woodstock.
• Visit nearby Quechee Gorge and village.
• See Jersey dairy cows at Billings Farm and Museum.

Where To See Fall Foliage In Woodstock, VT

• Woodstock is incredibly photogenic during fall throughout the town and immediate surroundings.
• The lookout over Woodstock from Mount Tom hike is iconic fall photography.
• The best two fall photographs in Woodstock are at Jenne Road Farm and Sleepy Hollow Farm. They are two truly unmissable stops on your New England fall road trip itinerary.
• Drive your car around the narrow rural roads near Woodstock for some of the most special colors.

Read more about Woodstock, Vermont:

• 15 best things to do in Woodstock VT
• 7 best hotels in Woodstock VT

5. Manchester, Vermont

Similarly to Stowe, Manchester is a four season resort with skiing in Winter and hikes during Spring or Summer. In fall, the town located in the heart of Green Mountain National Forest transitions into a colorful paradise for leaf-peepers.

Manchester can be split into the old historic district and the newer modern resort town. The newer part is livelier and closer to amenities but the historic district is quieter, prettier and more colorful.

Use Manchester as a base for one night to explore nearby elevated areas for some of the most expansive views of rolling hills on a New England fall road trip.

Equinox Mountain is the tallest peak in the area. You can hike it or drive it to open up far-reaching views over three US states. But our top tip is to simply stick to the narrow country roads again and you will find more unique fall foliage photographs.

Things To Do In Manchester, VT

• Drive the Skyline Auto Toll Road to Mount Equinox summit.
• Explore Hildene, the Lincoln Family Home.
• Walk around quaint Manchester Historic Village District.
• See the American Museum of Fly Fishing Museum exhibits.
• Buy a book in popular Northshire bookstore.
• Visit nearby covered bridges.
• See the Bennington Battle Monument.
• Visit Robert Frost stone house museum.

Where To See Fall Foliage In Manchester, VT

• Manchester is the heart of the Green Mountains, so the entire area surrounding the town is staggeringly attractive.
• Rolling hills for endless miles covered in glowing fall colors can be seen from any elevated vantage point.
• Equinox Mountain summit provides the best panoramic views over three states.
• Another place you jump in the car and find unique fall photography opportunities on rural roads.
• Manchester Historic Village District is leafy and the church is surrounded by golden yellow leaves.

Read more about Manchester, Vermont:

• 15 best things to do in Manchester VT
• 9 best hotels in Manchester VT

6. Franconia Notch State Park, New Hampshire

Franconia Notch is one of New Hampshire’s premier tourist regions for hiking, picturesque mountains, skiing and of course fall foliage. A two lane highway mountain pass dissects the Kinsman and Franconia mountain ranges, with a number of fantastic recreational stops along the way.

Artists Bluff is a very short but steep hike leading to a rocky ledge. Its summit overlooks Echo Lake and is most popular in fall when the colors change. As you can see, we hiked the trail on an incredibly cloudy and grey day, which doesn’t help with highlighting the beauty of this viewpoint. We have included Artists Bluff in our popular guide to the 50 best hikes in the US .

Franconia Notch State Park is where you will find the stunning Flume Gorge hike. A little over 2 miles of waterfalls, narrow gorges and forested paths welcome thousands of visitors each year. For us, the best part of Flume Gorge were the two ultra-photogenic covered bridges; Flume and Sentinel Pine.

Things To Do In Franconia Notch State Park, New Hampshire

• Hike the short but steep trail to Artists Bluff summit for stunning views.
• Walk through impressive and extremely popular Flume Gorge.
• Hike Cannon Mountain or take the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway.
• See a whole host of waterfalls or hike one of a dozen other mountain trails.
• Ski Cannon Mountain Resort in Winter.

Where To See Fall Foliage In Franconia Notch State Park, New Hampshire

• The single most well known fall foliage photograph in Franconia Notch NH is from the summit of Artists Bluff.
• However, don’t miss the chance to walk through the incredibly picturesque Flume Gorge in fall.
• Not only are the colors vibrant, but waterfalls are attractive and two special covered bridges are incredibly photogenic.
• Anywhere at elevation, which means every hike up a mountain side or the tramway with sweeping valley views.

Read more in our Franconia Notch guides:

• Artists Bluff Trail Fall Foliage Hike
• Flume Gorge Complete Hiking Walkthrough

7. Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire

New Hampshire’s supremely scenic Kancamagus Highway is one of the very best parts of New England to road trip in fall foliage season. We would put it firmly in the category of ‘unmissable’.

The road between Lincoln and Conway NH is only 35 miles long, but it 35 miles of pure foliage bliss. You can either drive it in one go and simply soak up the colors roadside. Or you can stop at a multitude of overlooks, hiking trails, waterfalls, lakes and covered bridges.

If there’s one part of your New England road trip itinerary to time it right for peak foliage colors, you would do well to beat the Kancamagus Highway in its prime.

A note for photographers and videographers – You can use your drone in many parts of the Kancamagus Highway. We captured amazing photographs and videos of endless miles over rolling hills covered in radiant color.

Things To Do On Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire

• Stop at various high elevation overlooks with spectacular views over White Mountain National Forest.
• Walk to Sabbaday Falls, Champney Falls and Lower Falls.
• Hike Lincoln Woods or Mount Chocorua.
• Walk out on Rocky Gorge boulders.
• Photograph Russell-Colbath House and the picture perfect Albany Covered Bridge.
• Explore ponds and lakes to your hearts content.

Where To See Fall Foliage On Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire

• Views over rolling hills from every overlook are astonishing in fall.
• Once the Kancamagus Highway reaches its highest elevation, you will see an ocean of color in all directions.
• Walk through any forest trail or along any waterfall hike to immerse yourself into those foliage colors.
• Albany covered bridge is one of the most picturesque bridges you will find in New England.
• Rocky Gorge and nearby lake with reflecting fall colors are wonderful.
• Even on both ends of the road in Lincoln (Loon Mountain) and Conway the colors are vibrant.

Read more about the Kancamagus Highway:

• 13 best places to stop along the Kancamagus Highway in fall

8. Mount Washington, New Hampshire

At 6,288 ft tall, Mount Washington is the tallest peak in Northeastern United States. It is renowned for wild and unpredictable weather, including the recording of a world record wind speed over over 230 mph.

As our images indicate, Mount Washington can be very wet and cloudy in Autumn. But if you get slightly more luck on your road trip and time it on a sunny day, you will enjoy some of the most beautiful colors and scenery in the entire region.

Avid hikers can climb to the summit, otherwise you can take a historic cog rail train or drive up an auto toll road to reach the top. Views from almost 2,000 meters high over an ocean of bright colors are incredible.

Things To Do Around Mount Washington, New Hampshire

• Hike a very challenging but rewarding trail to the summit of Mount Washington.
• Consider a night hike, fall colors won’t matter in the dark but it is hugely popular for astro and sunrise photography.
• Alternatively, drive the Mt Washington Auto Road to the summit.
• Or, take the most scenic and historic route to the top – by Cog Railway.
• Conway scenic railroad nearby ventures deep into fall foliage forest.
• Endless miles of hiking, 100 waterfalls and a handful of covered bridges to discover.
• Crawford Notch State Park is close by and features more views, hikes and waterfalls.

Where To See Fall Foliage Around Mount Washington, New Hampshire

• Just gain elevation in the White Mountains and you’ll open up valley views with a sea of foliage colors.
• Mt Washington summit is the iconic NH vantage point for sweeping Autumnal vistas.
• For a unique experience, the Conway Scenic Railroad cuts through some of the best colors in NH.
• Crawford Notch State Park is stunning in fall, with fantastic valley views from hikes.

9. Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire

Heading due South of Mt Washington you will find Lake Winnipesaukee encircled by gorgeous fall foliage colors. Unfortunately for us, the rain was back in full swing but you can still see how vibrant the colors are in this area.

You can drive an 81 mile loop road around the entirety of the lake, or take to the waters aboard M/S Mount Washington cruise boat.

Visit Castle in the Clouds for family entertainment and hiking, Weirs Beach for arcades or Wolfeboro for a more relaxing experience. The most popular trail in the area is Mount Major, which we highly recommend for hikers looking for excellent views over the lake.

Things To Do Around Around Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire

• Take a cruise on the M/S Mount Washington.
• Or rent a boat of your own for the day.
• Ride the Lake Winnipesaukee scenic railroad.
• Try your hand at arcade games in Weirs Beach.
• Hike the popular half day trail to Mount Major summit for fantastic lake views.

Where To See Fall Foliage Around Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire

• Elevation is your fall foliage friend around the lake if you want expansive views.
• Mt Major is the perfect moderate hike to include on your New England fall road trip itinerary.
• But nearby Belknap Mountain is also a popular choice for fall hikers.
• Gunstock Mountain Resort has zip lines and ski lifts for easy elevation gain.
• For easier and more close up Autumnal color vistas, simply hire a boat on the lake and explore.
• Or sit back, relax and soak up the views on Lake Winnipesaukee scenic railroad foliage tour.

10. Acadia National Park, Maine

Acadia finds itself in the list of top 10 most visited and best US National Parks each year. Millions of tourists descend on Bar Harbor annually to enjoy a diverse range of amazing things to do inside the awesome park.

Varied hikes suitable for all ages and abilities, including the famous adrenaline pumping climbs Beehive Trail and Precipice Trail , are a huge draw. But despite being a typical Summer destination in the north of America, Acadia is equally as popular in Autumn and that is purely down to its glowing fall foliage colors.

Sunrises from Cadillac Mountain or Schoodic Point can be extraordinarily beautiful if conditions are right, and sunset at Bass Harbor Head Light is a very highly regarded spectacle. You will need to bring your best hiking gear, spare camera batteries and a lot of energy to the wonderful National Park in Maine.

The only problem you will face with including Acadia on a New England fall foliage road trip is its location. You will have a long drive to and from Acadia from Vermont or New Hampshire. However, if you have the time, it is unquestionably worth the extra effort.

Things To Do In Acadia National Park, Maine

• Hike various amazing trails from easy to hard (to exhilarating!).
• Photograph stunning sunrises, landscapes and Bass Harbor Head Light.
• Drive to Cadillac Mountain summit, the tallest peak on the US east coast.
• Walk or cycle maze-like carriage roads through the park.
• Explore Jordan Pond and swim in Echo Lake.
• Eat and drink in glitzy Bar Harbor, Maine.

Where To See Fall Foliage In Acadia National Park, Maine

• Mountain summits from any hike opens up special views over rolling hills covered in fall colors.
• Carriage roads are the perfect way to explore forested trails which are surrounded by trees.
• Drive the national park loop road for easiest access to fall colors.
• Jordan Pond in particular is encircled by vibrant autumnal hues.
• Cadillac Mountain summit opens up 360 degree views over Maine and the ocean.

Read our Acadia National Park guides to learn more:

• 17 best things to do in Acadia National Park
• 10 hikes you can’t miss in Acadia National Park
• Where to stay in Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park
• 10 key things to know about visiting Acadia in the fall

Planning Your New England Fall Road Trip Itinerary

New England is an enormous region and choosing exactly where to visit can be challenging. Here are a few questions to ask yourself before you begin plotting a route:

• Which places are top of your list? Vermont? New Hampshire? Acadia?
• How many days can you spare on your trip?
• Do you want to book accommodation in advance or take it day by day?
• Are you in New England solely to see and photograph fall colors?
• Or are you focused primarily on hiking with colors as an added bonus?
• Do you want to use small and quaint towns as your main places to stay?
• Or are you more interested in being rural and remote each night?
• What is your budget? Can you afford to splurge on activities?

Once you have an idea about how you see your road trip panning out, use that idea as a guide to make the best decisions based on your travel style.

Next, we will go through a number of potential scenarios for 5 day, 7 day and 10 day road trip examples through New England in fall.

Use the examples as a reference but remember, they are generic and based on how we personally would plan our itineraries with hikes and photography in mind.

5 Day New England Fall Road Trip Itinerary

Only having 5 days isn’t as much of a negative as it might usually be. Yes, you are going to have to be selective and it is going to be none stop action. But one of the major benefits to a road trip in fall is that all of the best scenery is seen when driving.

Also, the smaller states of Vermont and New Hampshire don’t require a huge amount of drive time between their most scenic places for fall foliage. Include Lake Placid in the Adirondacks and you can easily tick off most of the places in our list in 5 days.

Another consideration is with just 5 days you don’t need to worry as much about ‘following’ peak fall colors. They won’t change too much in that time frame when compared to 10 days.

Example 1 – Lake Placid NY to Manchester VT

D1 – Lake Placid : Walk around Mirror Lake, drive up Whiteface Mountain and explore High Falls Gorge. Stay in Lake Placid.

D2 – Burlington and Stowe : Walk down Church Street, cycle Burlington bike path, explore Smugglers Notch and Stowe Mountain Resort, sunset at Stowe church. Stay in Stowe.

D3 – Franconia Notch and Kancamagus Highway : Hike artists bluff trail, walk around Flume Gorge, drive Kancamagus Highway and down to Wolfeboro. Stay in Wolfeboro on Lake Winnipesaukee.

D4 – Lake Winnipesaukee and Woodstock VT : Spend morning exploring the lake or hike Mt Major, then drive to Woodstock in Vermont via Cornish-Windsor covered bridge, Quechee Gorge and Taftsville covered bridge.

D5 – Woodstock and Manchester : Visit the farms near Woodstock, drive through Green Mountains to Manchester and end at the top of Equinox Mountain.

You could start and end in New York City if flying into Newark or JFK works from your origin and budget. Alternatively, Montreal would be a better place to start for Lake Placid, hire a car and drop it off in NYC or Boston after leaving Manchester, VT.

Example 2 – Lake Winnipesaukee NH to Manchester VT

D1 – Lake Winnipesaukee : Explore the lake, hike Mt Major, take a cruise and stay in Wolfeboro.

D2 – Kancamagus Highway and Franconia Notch : Drive Conway to Lincoln across Kancamagus Highway, hike Flume Gorge and Artists Bluff. Sleep in Franconia.

D3 – Stowe and Burlington : Stowe church, hike to waterfalls in Stowe Mountain Resort, drive Smugglers Notch and on to Burlington. Ride the bike path for sunset. Stay in Burlington.

D4 – Lake Placid : Whiteface Mountain, High Falls Gorge, Ski Jump and Mirror Lake. Or hike Mount Marcy instead but that is a full day commitment. Stay in Lake Placid.

D5 – Woodstock and Manchester : Visit the farms, covered bridges and drive through Green Mountain countryside to Manchester, finish with Equinox Mountain again.

This version would allow for a round trip loop from Boston, MA airport or Portland, ME airport.

The key to making the most of this shorter trip is to accept that you will be in the car driving a lot but that is where you will see most of the best scenery.

7 Day / One Week New England Fall Road Trip Itinerary

With a week, you can get more creative, include more places or take things slower. You have more flexibility but still not enough time to add a trip to Acadia, unless you really can’t miss it and don’t mind the driving.

Colors can change a noticeable amount in 7 days, so (if possible!) factor in starting your one week trip just before ‘peak’ begins.

Either of the 5 day examples above would work with 7 days by simply taking more time in certain spots. The alternative is to add in more places to visit. Let’s look at both:

Example 1 – Lake Winnipesaukee NH to Manchester VT

D2 – Kancamagus Highway : Take the awesome road trip slowly, stop at every attraction and stay in Loon Mountain or Lincoln.

D3 – Franconia Notch and Stowe : Hike Flume Gorge and Artists Bluff before driving to Stowe to photograph the church. Hike the waterfall trails and see Smugglers Notch. Stay in Stowe.

D4 – Burlington and Lake Placid : Church Street and Burlington bike path, then drive to Lake Placid, get stuck into the best bits of Lake Placid and spend the night there.

D5 – Lake Placid and Woodstock : Spend the morning in Lake Placid and drive to Woodstock later in the day. Hike to Mount Tom for amazing views over Woodstock. Stay in Woodstock.

D6 – Woodstock : Sunrise at Sleepy Hollow Farm, Jenne Road Farm, visit the nearby covered bridges and relax in town. Drive to Manchester later in the day to stay over.

D7 – Manchester : Hildene, Manchester old town and stunning Green Mountain country roads, finish at Equinox Mountain.

This variation could begin and end at either Boston, MA or Portland, ME as in the itinerary above. It just gives you more downtime and time to fully explore the places you will visit.

Example 2 – Manchester VT to Lake Winnipesaukee NH

D1 – Manchester : Drive from Boston airport to Manchester, spend the day at Hildene, Equinox Mountain and exploring the town. Stay in Manchester.

D2 – Woodstock : See the best of Woodstock and spend the night.

D3 – Stowe : Hit the top highlights in Stowe and stay there for the night.

D4 – Mount Washington : Take the cog train, drive to the summit or even take on the hike. Sleep in North Conway.

D5 – Kancamagus Highway : Spend a full day on The Kanc. Sleep in Loon Mountain or Lincoln.

D6 – Franconia Notch : Hike Flume Gorge and Artists Bluff but drive to Lake Winnipesaukee later to spend the night.

D7 – Lake Winnipesaukee : Spend the last day around the lake, cruising, hiking or relaxing.

This loop direction was reversed to give an idea about how you could make it work in a clockwise route. Again this would be starting and ending in Boston or Portland, with JFK or Newark as alternative options.

Instead of driving out to Lake Placid, you could stick to Vermont and New Hampshire, which is where the very best colors are found.

10 Day New England Fall Road Trip Itinerary

With a full 10 days to spend on your New England fall road trip, you can either max out your itinerary and see all of the best bits or choose to spend more time in fewer places.

Personally, we’re the max out itinerary type and we would definitely include Acadia National Park in our 10 days. It adds in some serious driving time but the journey there is picturesque, rural and most importantly colorful.

Here’s one way you can include each of the places mentioned in this list, including Acadia National Park (this is the way we drove but we spent 14 days doing this route with other non-fall foliage places included in our itinerary):

Example 1 – Lake Placid, NY to Manchester, VT via Acadia National Park, ME

D1 – Lake Placid : Spend the day hiking and surrounded by gorgeous colors. Sleep Lake Placid.

D2 – Burlington : Full day exploring town and cycle the entire bike path to Grand Isle. Stay in or near Burlington.

D3 – Stowe : Smugglers Notch, Mountain Resort, Mt Mansfield and church in town. Stay in Stowe.

D4 – Franconia and Kancamagus Highway : Hike Artists Bluff and Flume Gorge, drive The Kanc and sleep in North Conway.

D5 – Mt Washington and drive to Acadia : Drive to the summit or take the cog train before driving US-2 all the way to Acadia. Sleep in Bar Harbor.

D6 – Acadia : Sunrise Cadillac Mountain, Hike Acadia Mountain and Beech Mountain, sunset at Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse. Stay in Bar Harbor.

D7 – Acadia : Sunrise Schoodic Point, Hike Beehive Trail and Precipice Trail, Walk around Jordan Pond, Great Ocean Path and carriage roads by bike to see the best fall colors. Final night in Bar Harbor.

D8 – Lake Winnipesaukee : Final morning in Acadia, long drive to Wolfeboro and explore Lake Winnipesaukee.

D9 – Woodstock : Photograph Sleepy Hollow and Jenne Road, hike to Mt Tom, see covered bridges.

D10 – Manchester : Hildene, Mount Equinox, nearby Bennington battle monument and covered bridges.

Tips For The 10 Day Itinerary

The only concern with this itinerary is the inclusion of Acadia National Park. It’s a 4 hour drive from Mt Washington to Acadia and 4 hours 20 minutes back from Acadia to Wolfeboro.

However, if you do have more time you can include stops on the way to and from Acadia to break up the longer drives. US-1 and US-2 are picturesque but slow going. If you’re pushed for time, take the less scenic but faster I-95 instead.

Alternatively, if you’re not so bothered by Acadia, plan to spend even more time in each of the other 9 places in this list. That would give you wiggle room in case of bad weather and plenty of time to relax.

Notice how the route starts furthest north and loops around Acadia then comes back further south?

That’s because with 10 days you should try to ‘follow’ the peak colors as they transition southwards over the first two weeks of October.

New England Fall Road Trip Map

Red Markers – Locations of the 10 best places to visit on a New England fall road trip itinerary.

Click or touch the map to activate.

Zoom in and out, move around the map of New England to find locations for the best places to visit in the area.

More From New England

• Best things to do in Burlington Vermont
• Best things to do in Woodstock Vermont
• Driving the Kancamagus Highway in fall
• How to visit Flume Gorge in New Hampshire
• The best things to do in Lake Placid New York
• The best things to do in Stowe Vermont
• Top things to do in Manchester Vermont
• Unmissable things to do in Acadia National Park

We hope this New England fall foliage road trip guide with itinerary ideas helps you plan the perfect leaf-peeping vacation!

Please let us know if you have any questions about New England or need any help planning your visit in the comments below.

Happy Travels,

Mark and Kristen

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Mark and Kristen Morgan are travel, hiking and photography experts. Over the last 6 years traveling full time, they have explored more than 40 countries and 30 US states.

Where Are Those Morgans has been featured in USA Today, Gestalten, Get Your Guide, CityPASS and Condé Nast Traveler along with various other publications. Read more about us .

Share this article!

Monday 24th of July 2023

I really appreciate your compressive guide to New England for travel in the Fall. We have enjoyed most of the areas you mention in years past and loved it. My sister is visiting from Australia at perfect Fall Foliage time so we're planning to do your 10-day roadtrip this year. I was wondering if you have an App you prefer to use to plan each segment of the roadtrip. I used Roadtrippers earlier this year and found it good, but would welcome your suggestions for a roadtrip App. I plan to download your digital guide as well. Thank you and happy travels.

Saturday 5th of August 2023

@Mark and Kristen Morgan, I have accommodations booked from Lake Placid to Woodstock. Since we want to add a couple of nights in Boston to walk the Freedom Trail and visit the Boston Tea Party site, would you recommend skipping Manchester, Vermont and going directly to Boston from Woodstock. Or, would we be missing out if we skip Manchester. Appreciate your advice.

Friday 4th of August 2023

@Mark and Kristen Morgan, Thank you so very much for your advice. I downloaded the digital guide to use. So looking forward to this trip and having your guide to get organized makes this a lot less daunting. Keep up the great work and happy traveling.

Mark and Kristen Morgan

Tuesday 25th of July 2023

Hi Sharon, we're happy to hear you will be visiting New England again and this time with your sister. If you are looking for alternatives to Roadtrippers you could check out Wanderlog which is another useful resource. But to be honest we don't use any apps for our road trips except for the basic and free Google Maps app. We plot points for attractions, restaurants and hotels as we research before visiting a new place, and we plan ahead so we can really get organized. If you download our digital guide and go to the end, you will find a map we created that will open in your Google Maps app and it already contains the locations for top attractions, foliage photo spots, hikes, restaurants and hotels that we discuss throughout the guide. You can of course see more places but we have preloaded the map with the essential spots to visit around New England in fall. Have a fantastic trip!

Saturday 15th of July 2023

I would love a copy of the book as well, to use as we travel Thank you for a wealth of information!

Thursday 22nd of June 2023

Wow, amazing information, thank you. Have you written it in book form by any chance? I would love to drive with the book on hand for reference.

Sunday 9th of July 2023

@Mark and Kristen Morgan, I'm using this article to plan our New England fall leaves trip and would also be interested in a copy of your digital guidebook, please. The information you provide is outstanding -- thank you! ~ Carol

Friday 23rd of June 2023

Hi Helen, you have asked at just the right time. We are currently in the process of creating a digital guidebook filled with key information and itinerary ideas for the New England fall road trip. It will be ready within the next week or so and we will email you once it is live. You will be able to either keep it on your smartphone or print it if you prefer to have a paper copy.

Friday 17th of February 2023

Hello! What a wonderful site you have given us :). Question...do any of the New England fall road trips include the Berkshires? I would love to include a quick visit to The Mount/Edith Wharton's home. Thanks, Jo

Thank you, Jo! Yes absolutely, you could easily add The Mount / Edith Wharton's Home to the end of our 10 day New England fall road trip itinerary because it is just 1 hour 30 minutes drive to the south of Manchester VT (which is the last stop in our guide), before heading back to the Boston / NY airports. It wouldn't be much of a detour and if you are heading that way you might also want to consider including a short drive along scenic highway 2, also known as The Mohawk Trail. Have a fantastic trip later this year!

Tuesday 9th of August 2022

Hi There! We are flying into Portland, (Sept 23rd) Maine and flying out of Boston, Mass (October 2nd) We have about one full week for our Fall Foliage road trip. Knowing we arrive Portland and depart Boston, what would you map out for itinerary.

Part II question, I prefer staying at one hotel for a few days and taking day trips as opposed to staying one night in several places.

Would it be wise to stay 3 nights near Acadia Nat'l Park and then 3 nights in New Hampshire (near all of the Franconia State Park and Kancamagus Hwy ?

Thursday 11th of August 2022

Hi Erin, yes staying 3 nights in Bar Harbor and then 3 nights somewhere near Franconia Notch sounds like the best idea if you would prefer to stay in one hotel for each part of your trip. You can easily visit the most popular fall foliage areas in VT and NH from Franconia. Depending on how much driving you want to do, you could split your days into Vermont and New Hampshire. So one day you do Stowe, Woodstock and Manchester (the driving in between is just as picturesque as the towns), then another day you do Mt Washington, Kancamagus, Artists Bluff and Flume Gorge (which are all much closer together). Then stop at Lake Winnipesaukee on the way down to Boston. Hopefully the peak colors will be in north / central VT and NH early Oct for your trip - have a great time!

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Hi Leighof3

Welcome to the Road Trips Forum.

With only five days, you'll be able to just scratch the surface of the areas you're looking to visit, but the thing in your favor is that New England is fairly compact and driving distances are relatively short.

Portland is a fine city to visit with a very busy waterfront area, but it's not the charming lobster village that you're looking for. Don't get me wrong, you could easily spend 2-3 nights in Portland exploring the city and the nearby, iconic Portland Head Lighthouse.

http://www.visitportland.com/

http://www.portlandheadlight.com/

Camden will be more in line with what you're looking for, but it does cater a bit to the tourists. You may even want to wander out a little away from it, too. When I was in the area in August 2011, I wandered down one of the peninsulas to the small lobster towns of Tenants Harbor and Port Clyde. They were real working lobster towns that probably only had a few hundred people living there. I suspect that's what you're truly after. (Port Clyde isn't but 10-15 miles south of Camden.)

http://www.camdenmainevacation.com/

You could easily spend the entire trip on the Maine coast, with 2-3 days in Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor.

http://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm

But the White Mountain region is fantastic, too. There's the cog railway that will take you to the top of Mount Washington, or you can drive the Kancamagus Scenic Byway.

http://www.visitwhitemountains.com/

http://www.thecog.com/

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/byways/byways/2458

Honestly, with only 4 nights, I would probably stick to the Maine coast and perhaps the White Mountains for a more enjoyable trip. You can find the white church steeples that you're looking for in NH, too.

But if you insist on hitting Vermont, one option you may consider if it doesn't cost too much, is to do an open-jaw flight into Portland and out of Burlington. You'll likely encounter a one-way drop-off fee with your car rental doing that, too. But that will eliminate the need to "waste" a day getting back to Portland for your flight home.

If you stay in Montpelier, you could take a side trip to Stowe, Waterbury (home of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream), or even as far as the college town of Burlington on Lake Champlain.

http://www.gostowe.com/

http://www.vermont.org/visitors

Enjoy your planning.

Great ideas from Zed. I would vote for the White Mts. of NH and the coast of Maine to include the Camden/Rockland area and Portland area.

You can easily spend five days in those two areas. Lots to see and do in the White Mts.- drive the Kancamagus Hwy, go up to Mt. Washington, Franconia Notch SP, Jackson, North Conway, etc.

The coast of Maine between Camden and Portland is beautiful!!

We did a New England trip a couple of years ago and flew in and out of Manchester, NH.

We actually did the entire coast of Maine and took a day trip over to VT when we were in the White Mts. We were there for 9 days and it was in the fall when the leaf color was gorgeous.

zed's listed out a whole load of links for some good choices of places to consider to visit or stay in. I'd stay in Camden area to get to visit the smaller fishing communities, the whole of the Penobscot Bay area is delightful. Also, consider Acadia and Bar Harbor if you have time and then head towards the White Mts.

I also agree that Mt Washington and the Kanc are must dos in that area, but just driving around is lovely around Franconia Notch. North Conway or Lincoln are where to stay for NH, at either end of the Kanc.

We stayed in Montpelier but also liked Stowe and there are other smaller destination nearer Burlington, for convenience, like Berlin or Richmond, too.

Update to our trip. After confirming our tickets Delta, Delta has withdrawn our tickets to Portland. Though nothing was on our frequent flyer certificates nor did the agent mention this but we can not use our tickets over a weekend. GROWLLLLL. We can pay for our tickets for $600 each...not! We looked at all the airports nearby, none we allow us to fly over the weekend. With circumstances we need to travel Thursday- Monday. . Happy to say our vacation is not lost. We can use our tickets to fly into Albany, NY. Would love your advice on a 5 day /4 night Vermont trip. Best places to spend the night?

I don't know Vermont well, but I'll throw this out for your consideration. You could do a day trip to the Berkshire Mountains in western Massachusetts pretty easily. The towns of Lenox, Stockbridge and Williamstown are all quaint, typical New England small towns.

The Berkshires are a great suggestion but will probably be crowded in July.

Saratoga Springs (less than 30 minutes north of Albany) is a pleasant town worth spending some time in. However, it will be (horse) racing season then so prices will be at a premium and it, too, will probably be crowded. If you head further north, drive along Lake George over to Lake Chanplain then up the eastern side of that lake and take the ferry over to Burlington. Shelburne Farms and the Shelburne museum are the must do's in the area. As mentioned by others, Stowe is a pleasant area as are most of the town along the Rt 100 corridor.

rjr, I'll agree that the Berkshires will be crowded in July, but the OP should know that ALL of the places they'll visit will be crowded in July, the Berkshires no more than anyplace else.

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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Scenic Road Trips

The 8 Best Vermont Road Trips

In Vermont, road-tripping is as exhilarating as any outdoor sport. This land of mountains, maples, covered bridges, and cows never disappoints drivers with its bending, ascending roads and rustic scenes. And if you're in the passenger seat, even better: You can scout angles for panoramic photos and keep an eye out for farm stands, funky shops, and roadside oddities like Vermontasaurus. Because cell phone service is still spotty in some parts of Vermont, it's always wise to have a game plan before you hit the road. Here are eight outings that showcase Vermont's splendid scenery and its singular way of life.

Vermont Route 100

Just drive the Scenic Route 100 Byway—south to north or north to south—and you can travel nearly the entire length of the state. It's an easy-peasy road trip chock full of quintessential Vermont experiences. Plan to stop often at attractions like the Vermont Country Store in Weston, where the famed retailer's catalog of local wares and old-school products comes to life; photogenic Moss Glen Falls; and the Ben & Jerry's Factory and Cold Hollow Cider Mill in Waterbury. Most road trippers end their trek in Stowe, but you can continue on VT-100 all the way to Newport, not far from the Canada border. The road is only two lanes its entire 216 miles, so plan for traffic on peak fall foliage weekends and again when this becomes the "Skiers' Highway" in the winter months.

The Covered Bridges of Bennington County

Vermont has the densest concentration of covered bridges of any U.S. state, and with more than 100 scattered statewide, these picturesque structures could provide inspiration for many a road trip. When your time is limited and you want to collect photos of some of Vermont's prettiest covered bridges, your best bet is this scenic drive through Bennington County in the southwestern part of the state.

Before you set out, check out Bennington's top attractions, including the Bennington Museum , with its eclectic Vermont-made artifacts and Grandma Moses paintings; the gravesite of beloved New England poet Robert Frost; and the Bennington Monument , which features an observation deck with phenomenal views. Pick up sandwiches at the Elm Street Market and head north on a route that takes in five classic, red-painted "kissing" bridges. You'll wind up at one of the oldest original covered bridges in Vermont: the 1852 West Arlington Bridge. It should come as no surprise that artist Norman Rockwell once lived steps from this picture-perfect landmark.

Jericho to Stowe Through Smugglers' Notch

Fall is an awe-inspiring time for a drive through Vermont's best-known mountain pass: Smugglers' Notch. Start your trip at the Old Red Mill in Jericho. As its name implies, this mid-19th-century mill has been a fixture on Browns River for generations. It now serves as home to the Jericho Historical Society and its museum of photos by Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley: the Vermonter who captured the first-ever images of individual snowflakes.

Start by driving east on VT-15 toward Underhill, with Vermont's highest peak, Mount Mansfield, in view. VT-15 angles north to Cambridge, then parallels the Lamoille River en route to Jeffersonville; here, you'll turn south on VT-108 for a spellbinding run through Smugglers' Notch. Twice in history, during the early 1800s and again during the Prohibition years from 1920 to 1933, this narrow passageway served as a smuggling route for illegal goods from Canada.

This is eyes-on-the-road driving and a true thrill. As you're planning your road trip, it's important to know that VT-108 is closed from mid-October through mid-May. If this is the case, continue on VT-15 until you reach VT-100; this historic route will take you the rest of the way to Stowe, one of Vermont's most iconic villages.

White River Junction to Reading: A Photographer's Dream Drive

If the goal of your road trip is to capture photos of scenes that practically scream "Vermont," pick up US-4 West in White River Junction. Soon, you'll be driving right over Quechee Gorge , known as Vermont's Little Grand Canyon; park and walk out over the gorge, or hike along the Ottauquechee River's banks. Afterwards, visit the raptors at VINS , shop and dine at the Mill at Simon Pearce , and stop to photograph the Taftsville Covered Bridge en route to the architecturally rich town of Woodstock.

You could easily spend the rest of the day in Woodstock snapping pictures of Middle Covered Bridge and the classic town green, the Jersey cows at Billings Farm and Museum , the gardens and grounds of Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park , and even aerial views of town if you hike up Mount Tom. But how can you resist visiting Jenne Farm ? New England's most-photographed farm is just south of Woodstock in Reading off VT-106. Continue south on VT-106, then travel west on VT-131 through protected woodlands, and pick up VT-100 North in Ludlow back to US-4.

The Vermont Cheese Trail

Where there are cows, there's cheese! And Vermont is known not only for large, world-class producers like Cabot but also for small artisan cheesemakers. Plan a delicious road trip with the Vermont Cheese Council's handy, printable Vermont Cheese Trail map , which pinpoints the locations of cheese farms and factories that are open to the public. For the ultimate cheese trip experience, start at America's oldest cheese factory, Crowley Cheese in Mount Holly; then, make stops at Plymouth Artisan Cheese in Plymouth, Vermont Farmstead Cheese Company in Windsor, and the Cabot sampling station at Quechee General Store . Be sure to bring a cooler for all of the cheeses you'll want to bring home.

Molly Stark Byway

The perfect road trip for hikers and history lovers, the Molly Stark Byway—named for the wife of the Revolutionary War "Hero of Bennington" General John Stark—is an east-west route across the southern part of Vermont. Whether you start on the western end in Bennington or the eastern end in Brattleboro, you'll follow scenic VT-9 through a region that was once the haunt of war hero Ethan Allen, poet Robert Frost, and late-bloomer artist Grandma Moses. Along the way, you'll encounter cute villages and motor right through the Green Mountain National Forest. Don't miss the view from the deck at Hogback Mountain Country Store in Marlboro. You'll find many places to park and hike, such as Molly Stark State Park, where a trail up Mt. Olga leads to a fire tower with spectacular views.

A Vermont Island Drive

Drive US-2 West out of Burlington , Vermont's largest city, and embark on an island adventure. Route 2 travels over the islands in Lake Champlain and the bridges that connect them, and is particularly enjoyable in the summer. Sample wines at Snow Farm Vineyard on South Hero Island (also known as Grand Isle) and dine lakeside at North Hero House on North Hero Island. On Isle Lamotte, Fisk Quarry Preserve and Goodsell Ridge Preserve are fascinating places to hike and to see the oldest known coral fossils. When you reach the town of Alburgh—located on a peninsula that juts down from Canada into Lake Champlain—head for Alburgh Dunes State Park and take a dip in the refreshing waters of what has often been called the sixth Great Lake.

The Northeast Kingdom

Wild and remote, Vermont's Northeast Kingdom is a gorgeous place to drive up mountains and along lake shores. Start your journey at Dog Mountain in St. Johnsbury, where you are free to roam and to appreciate the artful legacy of Stephen Huneck. From here, pick up US-2 East to VT-114 North. Watch for a right turn onto the toll road that leads to the summit of Burke Mountain, where you'll find a fire tower to climb: the views will wow you. Descend and retrace VT-114 south to Lyndon, where you'll connect to US-5 North. When US-5 turns left, continue onto VT-5A and trace the shore of Lake Willoughby, flanked by Mounts Pisgah and Hor. The beauty of this crystal-clear pool will mesmerize you; there are beaches at both the southern and northern edges of the lake.

The Best Places to See Fall Colors in Vermont

10 Top Things to Do in Woodstock, Vermont

The Top 14 Destinations in Vermont

Your Trip to Vermont: The Complete Guide

The Best Places to See Fall Colors in New England

Science Says This Is the Perfect U.S. Road Trip

20 Best Things to Do in Vermont

New England's 10 Most Iconic Outdoor Landmarks

A Complete Guide to Vermont's Route 100 Scenic Drive

5 of the Best Vermont RV Parks

9 Places to Snowshoe and Cross-Country Ski in Vermont

The Top 10 East Coast Winter Destinations

Best Places for Fall Camping in Vermont

10 Top Hikes in Vermont

Canada's Most Scenic Drives

12 Best Things to Do in New England in the Winter

A Perfect Vermont Road Trip Itinerary in 2024

March 18, 2024

Paula Martinelli

Wondering what is the best itinerary for a Vermont road trip?

You have got to the right place! After exploring the whole state, I am here to bring this perfect Vermont road trip itinerary that will take you to the best getaways in Vermont. Vermont is a fun state, and a road trip is the best way to experience it

If you are wondering how many days you need to see Vermont, a good taste of Vermont can be enjoyed in less than a week. This trip involves about 2 or 3 hours of driving daily if you don’t linger. This Vermont road trip itinerary will allow you to see the best parts of the state in 5 days , but longer is recommended if you want to see even more.

I split this Vermont itinerary into five action-packed days, but you could always expand it to have more time in each place. If you prefer slow travel or want to do activities in each town that aren’t on the itinerary, expand each day below into at least two days, for ten or more days exploring this beautiful state.

I’ve packed this Vermont road trip with insider tips that will help you make your experience as memorable as mine. Here you will find the best towns/cities to include and the top sites to see in each one.

You may also enjoy these articles ❤️ :

• 18 Best Things to do in Vermont in winter
• 15 Cozy & Most Romantic Cabins to rent in Vermont
• 15 Best Inns & Boutique Hotels in Vermont

DAY 6 Vermont Itinerary: Manchester

Essential Tips for Your Vermont Road Trip

Before you jump to the best things to do in Vermont, let’s talk about trip planning in Vermont and make sure you are prepared for the best experience.

🏔️ I highly recommend coming to Vermont with a well-defined itinerary of the top things you want to see, visit, and do, in order to maximize your time here.

🏔️ Vermont is a relatively small state, and its north-south distance from the Massachusetts border to the Canadian border is around 159 miles (approximately 256 kilometers). The east-west width varies, with the state being wider in the southern part and narrower in the northern part.

🏔️ Keep in mind that Vermont’s scenic routes and smaller roads may offer slower but more picturesque journeys, and exploring the state’s charming towns and natural beauty along the way can make the trip more enjoyable.

🏔️ Always consider the current road conditions, traffic, and any road closures or detours that may impact your travel time.

🏔️ Make sure you choose accommodation in a good area , where you can easily drive around and explore the main attractions. You can book a cozy cabin in Vermont or you can stay at one of the most beautiful boutique hotels in Vermont.

🏔️ Driving a 4×4 car during wintertime in Vermont is not necessary, but it is nice to have if you are planning to drive outside the town.

🏔️ You can save on your rental car when you book through this site . I use and recommend Discover Cars because it is the most reliable rental car source, and it allows you to compare the prices of different places.

5 Day Vermont Road Trip

Day 1 vermont itinerary: explore brattleboro and overnight in woodstock.

Ready to start your epic Vermont road trip? The first stop is Brattleboro in the southeast corner of VT. Throughout the day, you’ll make your way north to Woodstock , with many fun stops along the way.

🏨 Best Accommodations: I highly recommend the Woodstock Inn & Resort during your nights in Woodstock. It is in downtown Woodstock, and you can walk to some of the places you’ll be visiting today from the inn.🏨

🔎 Must Read: Best Things to do in Woodstock + Complete city guide

1. Explore Brattleboro

Brattleboro sits on the Connecticut River in New Hampshire and is just ten miles north of the Massachusetts border. From the town, there are great views of the river and lots of restaurants. You can also make stops at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center or the Vermont Center for Photography.

2. Creamery Covered Bridge & Bakery across the street

Less than five minutes west of Brattleboro is the Creamery Covered Bridge. The pedestrian bridge is the only one left in Brattleboro, and it’s over a century and a half old. Make sure you stop at The Vermont Country Deli across the way from the bridge for a tasty pastry or sandwich or to stock up on snacks for the rest of your road trip.

3. Grafton Village Cheese Company

Next on your Vermont road trip is to visit the Grafton Village Cheese Company , which is home to some of the state’s best cheese. All the cheese at the store is handmade in Vermont, using milk from the state. You’ll find cheese, wine, gifts, and more at the store. You can also sample cheeses at the store.

4. Saxtons River Distillery

Just over two miles north of Brattleboro is Saxtons River Distillery . The distillery makes small-batch spirits, many of which are maple based. They produce liqueur, bourbon, gin, and more, all of which are available to try at the distillery. Make sure you have a designated driver if you plan on drinking spirits at the distillery, especially since you have to drive to Woodstock, where you are staying for the night.

5. Spend the Night in Woodstock

Once you are done exploring Brattleboro and enjoying all the fun things to do there, it’s time to head to Woodstock, where you will be staying for the next two nights. Your drive is not too long, with just over 60 miles between Brattleboro and Woodstock.

DAY 2 Vermont Itinerary: Explore Woodstock

Ready for another day of fun? On Day 2 of your Vermont road trip itinerary, you’re staying in Woodstock, where you can enjoy the town, your resort, or the outdoors with lots of fun wintertime activities if you visit during the season.

🏨 Best Accommodations: Another great option for accommodation is   Jackson House Inn  is situated in a fabulous location in Woodstock and rated as exceptional by the guests.

🔎 Must Read: Best Covered Bridges in Vermont

1. Explore Woodstock Downtown

Woodstock is considered  one of the most beautiful cities in America  for a reason. And it won’t disappoint you!

Start by taking a stroll down Main Street in Woodstock, and just get lost admiring the stunning array of buildings of 18th and 19th-century architectural styles. The best streets to mark on your map are The Green, Central Street, and Elm Street to get mesmerized by the beauty of Woodstock.

One of the most classic and beautiful buildings in Woodstock are the Norman Williams Public Library and the Woodstock Inn.

2. Middle-Covered Bridge

Middle Covered Bridge is right across the street from the inn, so it’s the perfect way to start your second day of the Vermont itinerary. The bridge is one of the newer ones, built-in 1969. It was rebuilt after a fire and is open for vehicles and pedestrians.

If you love covered bridges, check out this list of the  20 best-covered bridges in Vermont .

3. Taftsville Covered Bridge

Next on your Vermont itinerary is the Taftsville Covered Bridge, as you won’t want to miss this beautiful site. The bridge is vibrant red and quite long, spanning over the Ottauquechee River. You will have to drive over to this bridge, which is three and a half miles east on US Route 4 from downtown Woodstock.

4. Quechee Gorge

If you continue east from Taftsville Covered Bridge, you’ll reach Quechee Gorge. The gorge is great for a day of hiking, and there are a lot of trails, some of which take you to the bottom of the gorge. The park is beautiful in the fall when all the colorful foliage is blooming, and if you visit when the weather is nice, you can camp at the park.

PRO-TIP: While you are visiting the Quechee village, I recommend stopping for lunch at The Mill, voted one of American’s Most Romantic Restaurants. The food is amazing, cooked with local fresh ingredients, with very creative cuisine, and a stunning backdrop of the Ottauquechee River waterfall and covered bridge. If you are having dinner here I recommend making reservations in advance.

4. Lincoln Inn and Restaurant at the Covered Bridge

The third covered bridge near Woodstock is the Lincoln Covered Bridge. This bridge is in the opposite direction of Woodstock from the Taftsville Covered Bridge. It is just over three miles west on US Route 4.

Next to the bridge is the Lincoln Inn & Restaurant at the Covered Bridge. If the Woodstock Inn & Resort is booked, the inn here is a great alternative for where to stay during your time in Woodstock.

5. Woodstock Nordic Center / Suicide Six Ski Area (Wintertime Itinerary)

I highly recommend the Woodstock Inn & Resort during your nights in Woodstock. It is in downtown Woodstock, and you can walk to some of the places you’ll be visiting today from the inn.

Part of the Woodstock Inn is the Woodstock Nordic Center. You’ll find nearly 28 miles of skating and cross-country skiing trails just south of the main resort. At the center, you can rent snowshoes, fat bikes, winter clothes, and skis to use at the resort.

Another option for outdoor winter activities is the Suicide Six Ski Area, also called the Saskadena Six. The area is north of Woodstock, and you can take one of three ski lifts up the mountain and come down on one of the 24 trails.

PRO-TIP: Don’t forget to check the sky conditions to find out the best ski areas.

6. Ice Skating at Union Arena

Another fun winter activity in Woodstock is ice skating at Union Arena. The arena is just west of downtown Woodstock. You can ice skate here during public skate hours, and they have ice skates available to rent.

DAY 3 Vermont Itinerary: Explore Mad River Valley – Waitsfield/Warren

I hope you had a fun day in Woodstock, but now it’s time to head further north and explore the Mad River Valley. Today you’ll see more covered bridges and two small towns before heading to Stowe for the night. 

🏨 Best Accommodations: 1824 House Inn + Barn is a perfect accommodation located in Waitsfield offering many things to do such as hiking, cycling and golf. Or I recommend the Mad River Lodge also located in Waitsfield offering very comfortable accommodation. 🔎 Must Read: 10 Best Vacation Gateway in Vermont

1. Go on the 7 Covered Bridges Loop

As you already know, after day 2, Vermont has some amazing, covered bridges. Today, explore even more of them during a drive around the 7 Covered Bridges Loop .

The loop is 40 miles roundtrip, and if you spend time enjoying each bridge, it should take about half a day or so. Learn more about the Covered Bridge Loop .

During your stops at the Waitsfield Covered Bridge and the Warren Covered Bridge, stay to explore the towns and see the other sites today.

2. Waitsfield Historic Center

The Waitsfield Historic Center makes up the small town of Waitsfield. It was established in the early 19th century as a commercial hub for the farmers in the area. Be sure to stop by the Waitsfield Historical Society to explore the town’s history and get more information about events in Mad River Valley.

Waitsfield is also a great place to stop and shop, which is fitting since it was originally built as a commercial town. There are a variety of shops, including craft stores, art galleries, boutiques, a bookstore, and gift shops.

3. Warren Historic District/Warren General Store

The other place you have to stop along the Covered Bridge Loop is the Warren Historic District. The Warren Covered Bridge is in the historic town, as are many old buildings built in the 1800s. The town is on the National Register of Historic Places since it was an important mill town thanks to its location on the Mad River.

In the historic district is the Warren General Store . The store has a deli and a bakery where you can get fresh food and treats. They also have a big selection of craft beer, wine, fashion, and unique toys and gifts.

4. Warren Waterfall

South of the Warren Covered Bridge is Warren Falls. The waterfall flows into a natural swimming hole. Bring your swimsuit and jump off the cliffs around the hole if you visit in the summer.

DAY 4 Vermont Itinerary: Explore Stowe and Waterbury / Overnight in Stowe

After exploring Mad River Valley, you’ll spend a night or two in Stowe, VT . Stowe is one of the most popular places in Vermont, thanks to its famous ice cream factory and tall mountain and ski resort.

🏨 Best Accommodations: 1860 House Inn  is set in a historic building and offers an old-style charm! The property is situated close to the center of Stowe village too so there are plenty of restaurants and shopping opportunities nearby. 🔎 Must Read: Best things to do in Stowe + Complete city guide

1. Explore Stowe Downtown

Stowe’s covered bridge is the Gold Brook Covered Bridge. The bridge is haunted by a girl named Emily, who died at the bridge, which is why it is also sometimes called Emily’s Bridge.

From the bridge, head into town and visit Stowe Church, one of the most picturesque churches in the state, with a beautiful mountain view behind it.

2. Take the Cable car to Mount Mansfield

Even if you are not staying at the resort, you should take the cable car up the mountain. The views are amazing from the gondola, which runs in the summer. At the top of the mountain, the highest in the state, are hiking trails and a restaurant.

3. Visit the Classic Trapp Family Lodge

The Trapp Family Lodge is a historic lodge between the mountain resort and downtown Stowe. The lodge is close to the ski slopes and has an indoor pool, a hot tub, tennis courts, outdoor trails, and on-site dining.

PRO-TIP: One of the best accommodations options is the famous  Trapp Family Lodge : This is one of the main attractions in Stowe and for a reason.

4. Ben & Jerry’s Factory

Finally, no matter how long you spend in Vermont, one of the places you cannot miss is the Ben & Jerry’s Factory . The factory is in Waterbury and is the only one open for the public to see. You can tour the factory and try the classic and newest ice cream flavors.

It makes a great short drive to visit the factory and try some of the amazing flavors, visit the gift shop and have some fun visiting the flavor graveyard where you can find all the retired flavors over the years.

DAY 5 Vermont Itinerary: Burlington and Shelburne

Day 5 of your Vermont road trip itinerary will allow you to spend the day in the small towns of Burlington and Shelburne, which are right next to each other. 

If you have more than five days in Vermont, I highly recommend spending a few more days in Burlington. You can slow down and spend more time at each of these sites.

🏨 Best Accommodations:   Williston Village In is in a great location and offers an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It’s also half the price of some of the other hotel chains in the area. 🔎 Must Read: Best Things to do in Burlington + Complete City Guide

1. Church Street Marketplace

Church Street is one of the main streets in downtown Burlington . The Marketplace, an outdoor mall, is one of the main attractions.

The marketplace has places to shop, eat, and entertain. The surrounding blocks have even more places, so you could spend a good part of your day here.

2. College Street

College Street is one of the other main streets in Burlington which runs perpendicular to Church Street. The street has great restaurants and coffee shops. It runs west to Lake Champlain, so it’s a good street to walk down if you are heading to the lake.

3. Visit the Shelburne Museum

The final stop today is in Shelburne, just south of Burlington. The Shelburne Museum is home to over 100,000 pieces of folk art. The museum spans multiple buildings and on the site is a toy shop, multiple art galleries, and a covered bridge.

4. Lake Champlain

Burlington sits on Lake Champlain. You can enjoy the lake from the Waterfront Park or at one of the many lake-side restaurants. Or, you can rent a boat or a kayak and see Burlington from the water.

The final day of your Vermont road trip itinerary is going to be a lot of fun! It’s time to head back down south to Manchester in Southwest Vermont. The drive from Burlington to Manchester is 100 miles and by the end of the day, you’ll have looped around the whole state in less than a week.

🏨 Best Accommodations: The Inn at Manchester  is set on four acres of landscaped gardens so there’s plenty of room to explore. You’ll also be close to Manchester town center which has lots of charming restaurants and shopping opportunities. 🔎 Must Read: 18 Awesome Things to do in Vermont in Winter

1. Hildene House

Start the last day of your Vermont itinerary by visiting the Hildene House the home to Robert Lincoln, son of President Abraham Lincoln. The home sits on 412 acres and has tours, educational exhibits, and hiking trails.

There are also seasonal events like Christmas decor in the winter and peony season from late May to June in the gardens. On the home’s farm, there are animals to visit and a cheesemaking area.

2. Mount Equinox

Your final stop, and one of the prettiest, is Mount Equinox Skyline Drive. The paved road takes you through 5.2 miles of mountains up to the top of Mount Equinox. Along the drive, there are many lookouts and picnic areas to stop at and enjoy the views.

Then, at the top, you’ll get the best views from the 3,848-foot summit where there are picnic areas and a visitors center to end your day.

PRO-TIP: The drive is open from Memorial Day weekend through October. Make sure to visit when the weather is clear so you can see all the mountain views.

Vermont Road Trip | Trip Resources

Planning a road trip in vermont.

If you are going on a road trip to Vermont, pre-planning, researching, and understanding what you are looking for in a destination will help make your travels far more successful and safe.

Here is some further information I think you might need to plan your Vermont itinerary. Make sure you check the following too:

15 Incredible Cabins you can Rent in Vermont 15 Best inns & boutique hotels in Vermont Winter Vacation in Vermont: 10 Perfect Winter Getaways! 13 Awesome Things to do in Stowe in winter 15 Terrific Things to do in Burlington in winter 20 Amazing Things to do in Woodstock, VT 18 Awesome Things to do in Vermont in Winter

Best Accommodations in Vermont

When planning your Vermont Road Trip, m ake sure you choose accommodation in a good area , where you can easily drive around and explore the main attractions.

Making your reservations in advance is also part of a well-planned visit, as depending on what time of the year you are visiting Vermont it may be hard to find last-minute accommodations.

For an even more authentic experience, consider booking a cozy cabin in Vermont or you can stay at one of the most beautiful boutique hotels in Vermont.

Driving tips for your Vermont road trip

If you are taking a road trip during winter time, a 4×4 car is not necessary, but it is nice to have if you are planning to drive outside the town.

Lastly, if you need to rent a car for your Vermont road trip . You can get 15% off your rental car when you book through this site . I use and recommend Discover Cars because it is the most reliable rental car source, and it allows you to compare the prices of different places.

What is the Best Time To Visit Vermont?

FALL: It is the most popular time of the year to visit Woodstock because it is when the fall foliage changes from early October to around the third week of the month. It is important to plan in advance, especially make your accommodations in Vermont well in advance. Prices for hotels and flights will be the most expensive during these months.

WINTER: The fact is that the whole state of Vermont is cold in winter – with temperatures that can drop below zero. But as long as you pack accordingly, you will love it because the snow makes Vermont’s landscape look and feel even more spectacular! Make sure to check the weather , and have fun on the snow slopes around Woodstock!

SUMMER: During summer time Woodstock offers great outdoor eateries, swimming holes, and a great brewery to enjoy the outdoors. The warmest time of year is generally mid-July where highs are regularly around 84.9°F (29.4°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 59.5°F (15.3°C) at night.

SPRING: Spring is a beautiful time to visit Woodstock, plus it is a perfect time to visit for a quiet and peaceful getaway. There are many things to do outdoors that will allow you to enjoy, such as the maple syrup flowing, enjoying the spring wildflowers, and drinking a local beer sitting outside around a fire pit.

What to Pack for your Vermont Road Trip?

Make sure you are prepared, considering the season and the activities you are planning to do. Here are some quick tips:

• Pack layers of clothes so you can be comfortable in the changing temperatures!
• Bring a pair of jeans and a light sweater to wear in the evenings
• Pack rain gear – you don’t want to get soaking wet while exploring
• A hat, gloves, and scarf  can’t go wrong, even in summer.
• If visiting in winter, bring good quality sturdy snow boots .
• Bring warm leggings to wear as a layer is a smart choice!
• Pack a good jacket, check my complete review guide on the Top Jackets for Travel
• If you are planning to carry a backpack for your trip to Vermont, I have compiled a very detailed review of the Best Backpacks for Travel on the market today

PACK SMART ALERT!

If you are planning to carry a backpack for your trip to Alaska, I have compiled a very detailed review of the Best Backpacks for Travel in the market today – Also, I recommend bringing a good and warm jacket waterproof jacket for your trip, check my complete review guide on the Top Jackets for Travel – Bring some warm pants, you can check the best Warm leggings in the market – especially because they are a great option for layers too.

Vermont Road Trip Conclusion

I hope you have enjoyed this Vermont road trip itinerary!

Vermont is a fun state, and a road trip is the best way to experience it. A 5-day road trip will allow you to see the best parts, but even longer is recommended if you want to see and do more, such as visit all the 10 best gateways in Vermont .

This Vermont itinerary includes the bigger cities of Montpelier, the state capital, and Manchester, but also, will take you to the best towns while experiencing covered bridges, and amazing farm-to-table fresh food.

If you have any questions, leave a comment below and I will be happy to help!

You may also enjoy reading:

• 15 Incredible Cabins you can Rent in Vermont
• 15 Best inns & boutique hotels in Vermont
• Winter Vacation in Vermont: 10 Perfect Winter Getaways!
• 13 Awesome Things to do in Stowe in winter
• 15 Terrific Things to do in Burlington in winter
• 20 Amazing Things to do in Woodstock, VT
• 18 Awesome Things to do in Vermont in Winter
• 30 Dream Destinations for your Bucket List!

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Winter Vacation in Vermont: 10 Best Vermont Winter Getaways

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The Flexible New England Road Trip Itinerary You Need in 2024 ❤️

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Are you planning the ultimate New England road trip? Let me help! After exploring New England for more than 20 years, I have put together this comprehensive guide to exploring this charming region. The best way to see New England is by car, and this 2-3 week itinerary offers a grand tour of New England, covering the best places to visit , especially for first-time visitors.

Spanning Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, this itinerary shows you the best of New England, from quaint coastal towns to lush mountain landscapes. The itinerary is also well-paced to allow you to spend time seeing the sites, enjoy local activities, and cross items off your New England bucket list . And, the itinerary is flexible and can be adapted to your needs, interests, and desired trip length.

Whether you’re in for the full journey or seeking shorter road trip variations (I’ve included those, too!), this guide caters to your wanderlust, ensuring a memorable and personalized exploration of New England’s beauty. Let’s go!

PS: Pop this New England playlist on—it’s perfect for a road trip!

Table of Contents

New England Road Trip FAQ

When’s the best time of year to road trip new england.

New England is gorgeous in all seasons, but for the easiest driving (and best New England road tripping experiences), summer and fall are ideal.

If you want the fall foliage experience, late September and early October are the key weeks to plan for. Of course, these times of years are also peak tourist season, so expect more traffic and higher hotel prices.

(PS: If you want to do a shorter road trip or a route that’s perfect for fall, check out my 7 day New England Fall Road Trip itinerary!

One of my favorite times of the year in New England is mid to late May. The weather is beautiful, and the region’s roads and attractions are generally less busy. The budding greenery is especially gorgeous and fresh, too.

Early September can also be lovely, just after kids have returned to school and summer has ended. Expect crisp temperatures and leaves just beginning to change colors.

A winter road trip may be doable, but remember, New England can be quite snowy, so you’ll want to have a reliable vehicle outfitted with snow tires, and you’ll need to stay aware of changing weather conditions and road closures.

How many days do you need for a road trip to New England?

You need 2-3 weeks for a comprehensive road trip around New England. This is the ideal amount of time needed to cover the major highlights of all six New England states.

If you don’t have that much time, you can still pack a lot into a shorter trip. A minimum of 7 to 10 days is ideal for a thorough yet relaxed New England road trip. For a 7-10 day trip, consider my Southern or Northern New England itineraries, or do shorter segments of the full 2-3 week itinerary.

Where should I start my road trip through New England?

I’ve started this New England travel itinerary in Boston, as it’s the biggest city in New England and home to a major airport, Boston Logan International. This airport is easy to fly into and rent a vehicle. Boston is also a great destination on its own, so my itinerary includes a couple days exploring the city.

Ps: Ready to rent a car for your New England drive? Click here to find the best rates on rental cars !

The Perfect New England Road Trip Itinerary

Days 1 & 2: boston, massachusetts.

You’ll start your New England excursion from Boston, Massachusetts: an absolutely fantastic city.

Boston is a well-known place that’s filled to the brim with history. From famous historical events like the Boston Tea Party to its reputation as a modern-day sports town, you’ll never be bored here.

Some great things to do in Boston :

• Visit the North End and dine on amazing Italian food . Don’t miss grabbing cannoli from Mike’s Pastry and Modern Pastry.
• Stroll around quaint Beacon Hill
• Tempt your taste buds with a Boston Food Tour
• Go shopping on classy Newbury Street
• Follow the Freedom Trail to learn Boston’s revolutionary history
• Join an expert-led walking tour for a more in-depth experience of the city
• Check out one of the many great Boston museums, including the Museum of Science which I especially love
• Join a Boston Duck Tour and ride in one of the famous amphibious vehicles

Hotel Suggestion in Boston: Fairmont Copley Plaza

Need more guidance for Boston? Check out my post on The Top Things to Do in Boston for first timers , and I’ve also got some recommendations on where to grab coffee, breakfast , a beer, or a bite to eat in Boston , too !

PS: Looking for a shorter road trip from Boston? Check out my New England trip itinerary focusing on the journey from Boston to Acadia National Park .

Days 3 & 4: Newport, Rhode Island

On Day 3, drive from Boston to Newport. This is a straightforward route, with about 2 hours of drive time. Glitz and glamour. That’s what you’ll find in Newport, Rhode Island. This town is perhaps best known for its iconic Gilded Age mansions . These opulent buildings were once the summer cottages of America’s rich and famous families.

Today, many of them have been converted into museums that you can wander through and admire some of New England’s opulence past.

Some of my favorite things to do in Newport:

• Visit a mansion or two. I recommend The Breakers if you only have time for one of Newport’s mansions
• Hop on this fun Gilded Age Mansions Tour, which takes you around via trolley
• Stroll along the scenic Cliff Walk
• Dine at the White Horse Tavern, America’s oldest operating restaurant

Hotel Suggestion in Newport: Hotel Viking

For further Newport ideas : Click here to read more about the top things to do in Newport, including beaches, restaurants, hotels , and vacation rentals too!

READ NEXT   15 Festive Things to Do for Christmas in Newport RI

Day 5: Mystic, Connecticut

Mystic, Connecticut is a wonderful little seaside town that feels like a must-do on a New England adventure. It is one of my favorite places in New England, and there is plenty to do here: history, culture, art, sailing. And, for seafood lovers, Mystic’s coastal location offers a variety of delicious seafood dining options

Like pretty much every other scenic New England town, there’s a cute little downtown area with great shopping, dining, and activities.

A few terrific things to do in Mystic:

• Explore Mystic Seaport , a historic shipyard and museum destination you could spend hours touring
• Watch the Mystic drawbridge (the Mystic River Bascule Bridge) go up, especially while enjoying some Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream !
• See the adorable beluga whales at Mystic Aquarium
• Browse the epic shops in Olde Mystick Village including my personal favorite: Alice’s Haunted Little Bookshop

Hotel recommendation for Mystic: The Whaler’s Inn

Further reading on Mystic: Check out my tips for all the fun things to do , best restaurants to eat at , and the best places to stay in Mystic!

READ NEXT   25 Best Beach Towns in New England for Coastal Fun

Day 6: Litchfield Hills, Connecticut

As you roadtrip New England, your next destination is the enchanting Litchfield Hills . This is another easy drive day, as the distance from Mystic to the Litchfield region is a short 2 hours. And if you’re traveling in the fall, the Connecticut fall foliage along this route creates a magical backdrop. To me, this area in the northwest corner of the state is a hidden gem .

Here you’ll find all the classic New England pastimes you know and love. In particular, there is an abundance of outdoor activities (hiking, paddling, fishing) as well as exceptional antique shops.

The Litchfield Hills make up a large portion of this region, and include towns such as Torrington, Woodbury, Kent, Cornwall, and Washington (very English sounding names, aren’t they?)

A few excellent things to do in the Litchfield Hills:

• Live out your Gilmore Girls Dreams. This region is well known for being the inspiration for the iconic tv show that perfectly encapsulates New England small town charm .
• Grab ice cream from Arethusa Farm
• Go covered bridge chasing – Bulls Bridge in Kent has a worthwhile nearby hiking trail
• Hike to Campbell Falls, a beautiful waterfall (this trail technically takes you over the border into Massachusetts, too, so it’s a 2-for-1!)

Recommended hotel in the Litchfield Hills: The Mayflower Inn & Spa : legend has it that it was the inspiration for Lorelei Gilmore’s inn, the Dragonfly.

READ NEXT   18 Wonderful Weekend Getaways from Boston

Day 7: Lenox, Massachusetts

Continue on your New England road trip into the Berkshires of Massachusetts . Here you will encounter art, nature, and culture combined. This region has been very popular among vacationers for many years.  And the town of Lenox is the center of it all.

Best things to do in Lenox:

• Enjoy a concert at the famous Tanglewood (these are a staple in summer, and you can hear everything from leading symphonies to folk singers like James Taylor
• Take in a performance at Shakespeare & Company. This theatre produces excellent shows; I’ve been twice!
• Take a hike on one of the area’s many scenic trails
• Step back in time at the Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum, a 1890s home that’s open for tours.
• If you are interested in literature, you may also wish to stop by the Mount, Edith Wharton’s turn-of-the-century estate.

Where to stay in Lenox:

More resources for your trip to Lenox and the Berkshires: 🍁 Best Restaurants in Lenox 🍁 10 Charming Cabins in the Berkshires 🍁 Best Hikes in the Berkshires

Day 8: Manchester, Vermont

Finally, you’ve made it into the spectacular state of Vermont (my personal favorite, if you couldn’t tell). It’s a fairly easy drive from the Berkshires in Massachusetts up to Manchester in the southwestern corner of Vermont, only a couple of hours. And this is another route that is especially glorious if you opt to do a New England fall road trip .

Manchester is one of the most beautiful places in Vermont, marrying quaint village charm with touches of modern luxury. It’s no surprise that it’s very popular among travelers.

Some of my favorite things to do in Manchester:

• Tour Hildene , the beautiful Lincoln family home (Yes, some of Abraham Lincoln’s children lived here!)
• Drive to the top of Mt. Equinox on Skyline Drive (or consider hiking the trail up to the summit)
• In the fall, pick pumpkins from the patch at Equinox Valley Nursery (and don’t miss the cider donuts!)
• Shop til you drop at Manchester’s many outlet stores
• Dine at the stately Ye Olde Tavern
• Pop into Northshire Bookstore , one of the leading independent bookstores in New England

Hotel Recommendation for Manchester: Kimpton Taconic Hotel

More resources on Manchester: Read my entire Manchester VT travel guide for more of the top Manchester activities, as well as these articles on the best restaurants , breakfast spots , and hotels in Manchester .

READ NEXT   25 Best Hikes in New England: New England Hiking Options for Everyone

PS: If you’re very interested in exploring Vermont, a trip through Manchester, Burlington, and Stowe make the ideal Vermont road trip itinerary .

Day 9: Burlington, Vermont

Just around 2 hours north of Manchester (taking the beautiful and scenic Route 7) you’ll find yourself in Burlington: Vermont’s biggest city. It’s also often mislabeled as Vermont’s capital, but that honor goes to Montpelier. Still, you’re likely to run into Bernie Sanders in either town!

Burlington is where my husband and I lived for several years. It’s a fantastic town that is hip, artsy, and full of good, local food . Seriously, in Vermont, you need to eat. There’s so much delicious cheese, coffee, beer, maple syrup, and much, much more.

To get you started on your culinary adventures, check out this post on my favorite Burlington breweries and bars , and this one on my beloved coffee shops. Oh, and don’t forget to enjoy brunch in BTV . We do breakfast here right.

The gem of Burlington is Lake Champlain, the sprawling, sparkling lake that the city overlooks. Here is the chance to go sailing, stand-up paddleboarding, or take a ferry across to New York state.

If you’d prefer to stay on dry land, visit one of the many beautiful parks and natural areas. Burlington is amazing for outdoor activities. If you want to get moving, the Burlington Bike Path stretches for miles, hugging the lake’s edge. This is ideal for running or cycling. You can even rent bikes right on the bike path.

More epic things to do in Burlington VT:

• Sail on Lake Champlain on the Spirit of Ethan Allen cruise
• Walk down Church Street for shopping, eats, people-watching, and more
• Hike Mt. Philo, a nearby easy hike with the payoff of a fantastic view

Hotel recommendation in Burlington: Hotel Vermont

Even more resources for your Burlington trip:  🍁 21 Hikes Near Burlington VT to Add to Your Bucket List  🍁 10 Can’t-Miss Free Things to do in Burlington VT  🍁 9 Incredible Day Trips from Burlington VT 🍁 Where to Stay in Burlington VT in 2023: Best Burlington Hotels

PS: Considering visiting Burlington in 2024? It’s one of the cities that the total solar eclipse will pass fully over on April 8, 2024, so start planning ASAP!

Days 10 & 11: Stowe, Vermont

From Burlington, head south on I89 to Exit 10. From there, you’ll take the scenic Route 100 past Waterbury and out to Stowe. When people think of the classic Vermont places, they’re likely thinking of Stowe.

It’s absolutely gorgeous: a charming town surrounded by mountains. The short Main Street and its side streets boast a white-steepled church, an old-timey general store, and a ski museum.

Simply put, Stowe is adorable. I have been to Stowe countless times and I highly recommend it as one of the premier New England road trip destinations!

Wonderful things to do in Stowe:

• Traverse the trails and property at the Trapp Family Lodge , and grab a beer afterwards at their European-style brewery and Bierhall
• Shop the adorable shops on Main Street
• Visit a haunted covered bridge if you dare (Emily’s Bridge)
• Spend a day skiing on one of the area’s fantastic ski mountains
• One of my number one tips: on your way to Stowe, stop by Cold Hollow Cider Mill for all things apple (a must-visit in the fall) and the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory tour .

Where to stay in Stowe: Field Guide Lodge , Topnotch Resort , or the Trapp Family Lodge

More on Stowe: I have an entire post dedicated to Things to Do in Stowe, Vermont, the best restaurants , the best breakfast , the best hikes , the best hotels , everything!

READ NEXT   15 Gorgeous VRBO & Airbnb Stowe VT Vacation Rentals (2023)

READ NEXT   Stowe Vermont in Summer: 11 Fun Things to do for All Ages

Days 12 & 13: The White Mountains, New Hampshire

No adventure in New England could be complete without some mountain time. And this is especially true if you’re planning a New England fall road trip .

New Hampshire’s White Mountains are impressive and exciting. They’re the tallest in New England (with Mount Washington tallest of all) and offer spectacular hiking and more. There are several places you could base yourself during this portion of the road trip, but I recommend North Conway, Lincoln, or North Woodstock, as they each offer lots of amenities and accommodations, and are a reasonable distance from the most popular attractions in the region.

Unmissable things to do in the White Mountains:

• Take in some of the coolest natural wonders of the White Mountains , such as the Basin, a granite “pothole” that is found at the base of a waterfall in Franconia Notch State Park
• Go hiking! This is the #1 item on any New Hampshire bucket list . And here is a guide to some of the best hikes in New Hampshire .
• Meander through Flume Gorge. This is a natural ravine that formed over many years and now a hiking trail with a boardwalk passes through it. This is a wonderful hike with some amazing scenery. Another spot that is extra special with the fall foliage
• Clark’s Trading Post in Lincoln, an old-fashioned New Hampshire classic
• A scenic drive along The Kancamangus Highway. This epic stretch of road runs 26 miles between Lincoln and Conway and is one of New Hampshire’s most scenic roads . There are many great spots to stop and explore further and this is undoubtedly one of the best places to see New England fall foliage.
• Shop in North Conway, and don’t miss Zeb’s General Store for a taste of pure nostalgia.
• Tube or paddle in the Saco River. On a friend’s recent bachelorette party trip, we used Saco River Tubing and had an absolute blast!
• Near Bartlett you can stop by Diana’s Baths, a beautiful area of cascading waterfalls and gentle pools. On a hot summer’s day, it’s the perfect place to cool off.

Where to Stay in the White Mountains: Lumen Nature Retreat

More White Mountains travel guides:  🍁  Best Things to Do in North Conway, NH  🍁  Best Things to Do in Lincoln, NH  🍁  Best Things to Do in Franconia, NH  🍁  15 Amazing Cabins in the White Mountains, NH

READ NEXT   Your Guide to Mt Washington NH: The Highest Peak in the Northeast!

Days 14 & 15: Portland, Maine

Finally, the last state on the great New England road trip. This is Maine, “the way life should be.”

Maine is massive so there’s no way to do the state justice in this itinerary; I’m essentially covering a few of the must-see areas. You could spend weeks on a road trip of Maine alone. (See also these  8 autumn scenic drives in Maine delivering up insane fall colors).

If you do wish to explore the rest of Maine (and you absolutely should) I recommend taking a look at my epic list of 50+ Fun Things to Do in Maine , as well as this guide to the top places to visit in Maine . But let’s continue with our amazing road trip!

Stop for a bit in Portland, a modern portside town that may surprise you. There’s a hip city right on the water in Portland, Maine, and this is a hot spot for restaurants, coffee shops, breweries, bakeries , and entertainment .

Fun things to do in Portland:

• Visit a brewery. Beer lovers will be happy to know that Portland has 18 breweries all its own .
• Check out one of several lighthouses in the area . There are 5 less than 20 minutes’ drive from Portland, including the iconic Portland Head Light.
• Grab some of that famous Maine lobster.
• Stuff your face with Maine potato donuts from local staple The Holy Donut
• Walk the pretty Old Port and patronize the eclectic shops and restaurants
• Don’t miss dining at Hot Suppa , a West End restaurant where I enjoyed the best breakfast of my life (and a spectacular maple latte)
• Traveling with kids? The Children’s Museum of Maine on Thompson’s Point is a total blast!

Portland hotel recommendation : Hotel Francis in the West End

Further resources for discovering Portland:  🍁 The Best Things to Do in Portland, Maine  🍁 Weekend in Portland Itinerary  🍁 7 Spots for the Best Breakfast in Portland Maine  🍁 14 Exceptional Airbnb Portland Maine Rentals 🍁 12 Best Hotels in Portland Maine

Days 16 & 17: Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor, Maine

Now we travel north to Bar Harbor. Admittedly, it looks like a far drive on the map. In reality, from Portland to Bar Harbor is just over a 3-hour drive. And trust me, visiting Mt. Desert Island is SO worth it.

Bar Harbor is the seaside town that will be your base for exploring Acadia National Park . You will be in awe over this beautiful part of Maine. Here is where rocky cliffs tumble into the sea, with iconic lighthouses at the top.

There’s abundant wildlife on land and in the sea, and countless opportunities for terrific hiking.

But the region is not just about the outdoors. Bar Harbor has lovely shops, restaurants, and extremely cozy inns . Truly, the region is ideal for travelers of all kinds. You’ll also find great camping, cabins , and vacation rentals in and near Acadia, too.

My top recommendations in Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor:

• Tackle the exhilarating Beehive Hike, that involves a bit of climbing and rewards you with unparalleled views
• Order popovers at the Jordan Pond House (delicious!)
• Take a whale watch or other wildlife tour from Bar Harbor
• Drive up Cadillac Mountain before dawn to catch the sunrise from the first place light touches in the Continental US
• Marvel at the natural wonder of Thunder Hole
• Bike the Carriage Roads in Acadia National Park

Bar Harbor hotel recommendation: The Bar Harbor Inn

More on Acadia: Check out my 3 Day Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park Itinerary for an awesome trip!

Read Next :  10 Coastal Towns in Maine That are Hidden Gems

Day 18: Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Your New England driving tour itinerary is nearing its end, but you’ve got a few more stops to make—-stops you won’t want to miss.

Portsmouth is first. We’re back in New Hampshire now! Between Maine and Massachusetts, New Hampshire is home to a very small strip of coastline. The hub of the Seacoast is Portsmouth, a small yet lively city with a great deal of history. You can see colonial architecture all over this beautiful city.

Taking a New England winter road trip? Portsmouth should definitely be on your list, as they do a month of celebrations and events with Vintage Christmas, one of the most magical New England Christmas celebrations !

Best things to do in Portsmouth:

• Strawbery Banke Museum: an outdoor living history museum.
• Dine at one of the many awesome restaurants: Portsmouth has become a major foodie destination in recent years
• Go shopping at the numerous boutiques around town. Some standouts: Gus & Ruby Letterpress , Pickwick’s Mercantile , and G. Williker’s Toy Shop
• Be surrounded by books and grab a tasty beverage at Book & Bar
• Wander the lovely Prescott Park
• Attend some award-winning theatre at Seacoast Repertory Theatre

Hotel suggestion in Portsmouth: The Hotel Portsmouth

Further Portsmouth NH travel resources for your trip : 🍁 The Best Things to Do in Portsmouth, NH 🍁 Top 10 Bars in Portsmouth NH

READ NEXT   18 Magical New England Christmas Towns that are Straight Out of a Hallmark Movie (Updated 2023)

Day 19: Salem, Massachusetts

Your final stop is the historically infamous Salem, Massachusetts. And though you’ll definitely want to spend time exploring its history with the Salem Witch Trials, there’s plenty to do in the area that isn’t witchy, too.

You can hit the highlights of Salem in one day, or extend for another 2-3.

If possible, you don’t necessarily want to plan your trip to Salem to coincide with Halloween. Although the town has a distinct, fun vibe this time of year, October is also its busiest and most crowded month.

No matter when you go, however, there are definitely some things not to be missed:

• Go to The Witch House, an atmospheric home you’ve definitely seen on Instagram, and a building that is one of the only Salem locations with direct ties to the witch trials. (One of the judges lived here).
• Get witchy in the magickal shops. Whether you want something more fun and touristy, or you’re after the real deal, Salem has a wide range of shops selling all kinds of goods.
• Tour the House of the Seven Gables
• Walk the neighborhoods around Federal Street and admire the stately historic homes
• Find the Hocus Pocus film locations! (Use my guide to take a DIY Hocus Pocus tour )
• Get spooked on a nighttime ghost tour ( top recommendations here !)
• Grab a photo with Samantha at the Bewitched Statue

Hotel recommendation for Salem : The Hawthorne Hotel or Hotel Salem (they have a great rooftop bar)

More on Salem: Check out its great restaurants , scope out some of its haunted history , and maybe even stay overnight in one of Salem’s classic New England inns or Airbnbs ! Nearby towns of Rockport, Gloucester , and Marblehead are worth visiting too if you’d like to explore more of this area of coastal New England.

READ NEXT   12 Fun and FREE Things to Do in Salem MA

Day 20 / End: – Boston, Massachusetts

You did it! You’ve completed an epic New England road trip! Congratulations! You’ve seen some of the prettiest places in the country, and you did it all by car!

Days 21+: Optional Add-Ons: Cape Cod/Nantucket/Martha’s Vineyard

You may be wondering why I didn’t include some of New England’s coastal gems on this New England road trip itinerary? I did this because destinations such as Cape Cod , Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard are harder to get to and don’t fit in well with the traditional road trip format. After all, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard are islands, so they are not an easy destination to access without in-depth planning.

Not only are they more complicated to travel to, these Massachusetts coastal destinations are terrific and truly worthy of their own vacations . I highly recommend devoting a trip specifically to exploring New England’s amazing coast.

If you wish to add to your road trip, by all means, hop in the car and continue the drive to Cape Cod. From there you can easily take a day trip to Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket. And I hope these resources will help you as you plan:

More travel ideas here:

• 25 Things to Do on Cape Cod (Besides the Beach!)
• 13 Best Hotels on Cape Cod: Where to Stay on the Cape
• 10 Best Hotels on Nantucket: Where to Stay for a Nantucket Getaway
• 25+ Fun Things to Do in Martha’s Vineyard

The Ultimate New England Road Trip Map (2-3 weeks)

The map below includes all of the destinations I’ve outlined above.

In need of some extra New England road trip ideas? If you’re limited on time, check out my Northern and Southern New England road trip itineraries. These are ideal for 5 day, 7 day, or 10 day New England road trips. Your own personal planning maps are below!

Northern New England Road Trip 7-10 Day Itinerary

• Woodstock, VT
• Waitsfield, VT
• Lincoln, NH
• Portland, ME

Here’s a great New England road trip route if you just don’t have time to go everywhere, but you want to see the highlights of northern New England. In any trip you’ll have to make some choices about what to see and what to miss, sadly, but with this road trip itinerary, you’ll definitely have a broad experience of Northern New England.

This one week New England itinerary contains many of the same stops you’ll find on the ultimate version (that covers all six states). But this one also has the addition of Woodstock, Vermont, which is a classic New England spot, really a ‘Currier and Ives town.’

Southern New England Road Trip 7-10 Day Itinerary

• Provincetown, MA
• Newport, RI
• Providence, RI
• Stonington, CT
• Litchfield Hills, CT
• Gloucester, MA

The Southern New England road trip route is ideal for those who really seek a coastal trip, or who aren’t quite as interested in exploring the mountains. This trip adds a whole bunch of extra stops so you can really dive into coastal New England.

It gives you a feel for the more outdoorsy areas of these southern New England states, too, as the itinerary brings you through the Berkshires, and through charming parts of Connecticut. Definitely an option for a lovely New England summer road trip itinerary.

Shorter Scenic Drives in New England

Are you just looking for a short scenic route that allows you to see dramatic coastal cliffs, mountainscapes, scenic countryside, and more of New England’s charm?

Whether you’re looking for fall scenic drives in New England, beautiful routes along the coast, or just a short yet pretty New England drive, you might just find what you’re looking for on this list of short, scenic drives in New England.

Scenic Drives in New Hampshire

The Coastal Byway (Route 1A)

Location: Portsmouth to Seabrook 

Distance: 18.5 miles 

Where to Stop:  

• Hampton Beach
• Surf Portsmouth , Portsmouth 
• Strawbery Banke Museum , Portsmouth

Robert Frost Scenic Byway

Location: Southern New Hampshire

Distance: 43 miles (The Old Stagecoach Byway and the Robert Frost Byway combined) 

Where to Stop: 

• Robert Frost Farm State Park , Derry 
• Civil War Memorial, Chester
• Matthew Thornton House, Derry 
• Town Beach, Hampstead

New Hampshire Route 112 (Kancamagus Highway)

Location: Conway to Bath

Distance: 56.39 miles 

• Sabbaday Falls 
• Albany Covered Bridge 
• Swift River Lower Falls  
• Russell-Colbath House 
• Sugar Hill Scenic Overlook

The Lake Winnipesaukee Loop

Location: The Lakes Region 

Distance: 97 miles

• George’s Diner , Meredith 
• Mt. Major Trail, Alton 
• Dewey’s Ice Cream Parlor and Cafe , Center Harbor 
• Cotton Valley Rail Trail , Wolfeboro 
• Abenakee Tower , Tuftonboro

Scenic Drives in Maine

• Moosehead Lake

Location: Kennebec and Moose River Valley

Distance: 59 miles

Where to Stop:

• Lily Bay State Park
• B52 Crash Site
• Mount Kineo
• Stress Free Moose Pub & Cafe

U.S. Coastal Route 1 

Location: Kennebunkport to Bar Harbor

Distance: 200 miles

• Goose Rocks Beach , Kennebunkport
• Portland Head Light , Cape Elizabeth
• Old Orchard Beach Boardwalk, Old Orchard Beach
• The Holy Donut, Portland
• Farnsworth Art Museum, Rockland
• Jordan’s Restaurant , Bar Harbor

Acadia All American Road from Trenton to Acadia

Location: Trenton to Bar Harbor

Distance: 40 miles

• Thunder Hole
• Bar Harbor Inn & Spa

Scenic Drives in Vermont

Location: Wilmington to Jay 

Distance: 184 miles

• Molly Stark State Park, Wilmington
• Dot’s Restaurant , Wilmington
• The Vermont Country Store ,  Weston
• Green Mountain Sugar House ,  Ludlow
• Moss Glen Falls, Granville
• Ben & Jerry’s Factory , Waterbury
• Cold Hollow Cider Mill ,  Waterbury Center
• Trapp Family Lodge ,  Stowe

Route 9 – The Molly Stark Byway

Location: Brattleboro to Bennington 

Distance: 40.1 miles

• Vermont Country Deli , Brattleboro
• Creamery Bridge, Brattleboro
• Southern Vermont Natural History Museum, West Marlboro
• Hogback Mountain Scenic Lookout, Wilmington
• Bennington Battle Monument, Bennington
• The Apple Barn and Country Bakeshop – Bennington

Location: Bennington to Burlington 

Distance: 122 miles

• The Bennington Battle Monument, Bennington
• The Robert Frost Stone House Museum , Shaftsbury
• Cider donuts at the Equinox Valley Nursery , Manchester
• Downtown Murals, Rutland
• Woodchuck Cider , Middlebury
• The Burlington Waterfront – Burlington
• Church Street/Downtown – Burlington

Rhode Island Scenic Drives

Ocean drive.

Location: Fort Adams Park to Bellevue Ave

Distance: 10 Miles

• Castle Hill Lighthouse
• Brenton Point State Park
• Fort Adams Park
• The Breakers
• Marble House
• Rough Point
• The Red Parrot Restaurant

Scenic Drives in Connecticut

Connecticut state route 169.

Location: Norwich to Woodstock

Distance: 36 miles

• Lisbon Meadows Park, Lisbon
• Prudence Crandall Museum , Waterbury
• New England Center of Contemporary Art, Brooklyn
• Roseland Cottage , Woodstock

Connecticut Shoreline Drive

Location: New Haven to Stonington Borough

Distance: about 80 miles (depending on which routes you take!)

• Eat in Little Italy, New Haven
• Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison
• Harvey’s Beach, Old Saybrook
• Rocky Neck State Park, East Lyme
• Mystic Aquarium, Mystic

Scenic Drives in Massachusetts

The berkshires.

Location: Stockbridge to Williamstown

Distance: 35 miles

• Norman Rockwell Museum , Stockbridge
• Berkshire Botanical Garden,  Stockbridge
• The Mount, Edith Wharton House , Lenox
• Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield
• Hancock Shaker Village, Hancock
• Mount Greylock , North Adams
• Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art , North Adams
• Williams College – Williamstown

Essex Coastal Scenic Byway

Location: Gloucester to Newburyport 

Distance: 24 miles

• Hammond Castle Museum, Gloucester
• Crane Wildlife Refuge, Essex
• Eat at the Clam Box , Ipswich MA
• Plum Island Beach, Newburyport
• Maudslay State Park, Newburyport

Wrapping Up this Northeast Road Trip

I hope this New England travel guide has given you all the information you need to help you plan a trip to the region’s most exciting and gorgeous places. With multi-day options to choose from and choices that are great for every season, I have aimed to cover all of the top places to road trip throughout these six amazing states.

Even more resources for your New England adventures: 🍁 25 Fantastic New England Day Trips 🍁 Hidden Gems in New England: 15 Secret Places to Visit 🍁 Best Fall Foliage New England Tours Worth Your Money

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Vermont to Maine drive

Vermont to maine road trip planner.

Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Vermont to Maine. If you're planning a road trip to Maine, you can research locations to stop along the way. Make sure you check road conditions to double check the weather. Traveling with a dog or cat? Find pet-friendly stops . Camping along the way? Search for RV campgrounds . Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the most talked about places recommended by Trippy members.

11:00 am  start at Vermont drive for about 2 hours

12:50 pm   Franconia stay for about 1 hour and leave at 1:50 pm drive for about 51 minutes

day 1 driving ≈ 2.5 hours find more stops

11:00 am  leave from Gorham drive for about 1.5 hours

12:25 pm   Wilton (Maine) stay for about 1 hour and leave at 1:25 pm drive for about 57 minutes

2:22 pm   Waterville stay for about 1 hour and leave at 3:22 pm drive for about 1 hour

4:30 pm  arrive at Maine

day 2 driving ≈ 3.5 hours find more stops

Where should I stop along the way?

Franconia   (2 answers) Gorham Wilton (Maine) Waterville

What are some things to do in Maine?

This section could be endless, so rather than trying to suggest every local activity or attraction, we'll leave it open-ended.

Of course, Trippy is the perfect place to ask questions because there's an entire community of travelers talking to each other and sharing tips and advice. Trippy is where you can get answers personalized for your tastes, budgets, trip dates & more!

For example, here are some questions people have asked about Maine. Click on any question to see answers from the community!

Click the button below to explore more questions and answers related to Maine.

Do I really have to go back home?

Yes, even this step is optional, because if you're on vacation who wants the trip to end? It's okay, you can start planning your next trip!

Want to plan the trip back? Get the reverse directions for a Maine to Vermont drive , or go to the main page to plan a new road trip .

Looking for ideas for more destinations within driving distance of Vermont? Try searching for places within 5 hours of Vermont .

You can also compare the travel time if you're flying or driving by calculating the distance from Vermont to Maine . Or get a full Vermont to Maine flight plan .

Don't forget about exploring your own hometown with a staycation. You can also find some cool day trips or get away for a weekend. Maybe try typing in a faraway location like London, Hong Kong, or Sydney, and get inspired for your dream trip around the world.

And if you know Vermont well, please help your fellow travelers and answer their questions about Vermont!

More info on this route:

road conditions

places to eat

flattest route

alternate routes

Google driving directions

Stunning Northeast Road Trips to Take with the Kids

T he Northeast United States is ideal for a family road trip. In Maine, enjoy lobsters and hiking in Acadia National Park. Vermont and New Hampshire have great classic New England scenery year round, and Massachusetts features Cape Cod beaches and Boston’s historic streets of Boston in Massachusetts. Explore small towns in Connecticut along with the picture perfect Yale Campus. And New York state (NOT the city, has several routes worth exploring. The Jersey Shore of New Jersey has ore prime beaches. Our top SheBuysTravel northeast road trip itineraries will help you plan your vacation.

Northeast Road Trips for Everyone

My road-tripping days began in my childhood. Joining the 1970s trend of customizing your own van, my dad outfitted a cargo van with shag carpet and bean bag chairs. Yes, it sounds tacky, but that old van took us from coast to coast. Along the way we made memories to last a lifetime. I continued the road trip tradition with my children–always taking the scenic route. These days my road trip companions include my grandkids and my husband. In recent years many of our road trip itineraries include the scenic byways of the Northeast.

Variety reigns in this corner of the country. Explore coastal roadways from Maine to Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. Or venture into the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the Green Mountains of Vermont or New York State ’s Adirondack Mountains. Experience the bounty of the Hudson Valley and New York’s Finger Lakes region. Then, drive all the way to Canada’s border to marvel at the majesty of Niagara Falls. Choose your favorite trip ideas, load up your vehicle and hit the road!

Maine: A World of Coastal Treasures

Perched at the far northeastern corner of the USA, a Maine road trip promises an array of coastal treasures. Starting in Cape Elizabeth , the iconic Portland Headlight stands watch over Casco Bay as it has since 1791. Take the kids for a climb to the top to survey the surrounding views of the bay and the Atlantic coast. As you make your way north from Portland , searching for lighthouses becomes the road trip game of the day.

Along the way, stop by one of the many lobster stands to indulge in a delicious New England classic–the lobster roll. Follow that with a slice of blueberry pie to complete the Maine meal.

More to Love in Maine

Continue north for 170 miles to reach Acadia National Park. This National Park encompasses more than 48,000 acres on Mount Desert Island, the Schoodic Peninsula, Isle Au Haut and many smaller coastal islands. More than 10,000 of those acres lie within the boundary of Bar Harbor making it an excellent base for exploring local outdoor adventures.

Early risers trek up Cadillac Mountain to catch the first sunrise in the USA. Preferring to sleep a bit later, we chose to linger at the mountain’s summit for a stunning sunset. Enjoy a scenic drive around the historic 27-mile Mount Desert Island park loop road for access to the shoreline and interior forests.

As for Bar Harbor, it’s the place to jump aboard Lulu’s Lobster Boat . This Downeast-style lobster boat provides a unique tour with demos of how lobster traps are hauled. Bringing guests up close to private islands along the way, it’s easy to spot marine wildlife including seals.

Have adventurous kids? Schedule a family rock climbing lesson with Atlantic Climbing School . With lessons tailored to your group’s experience, fitness level and interest, it’s an unforgettable way to top off an epic East Coast road trip.

Choose New Hampshire for an Autumn Road Trip

With vibrant shades of orange, deep reds and buttercup yellows, fall makes road trips even more enticing. Often regarded as one of the best places in the world to surround yourself with fall foliage, New Hampshire’s Route 112 spans east from Lincoln to Conway. Known as the Kancamagus Highway, this 34.5-mile drive enjoys recognition as a National Scenic Byway. Winding through the heart of the White Mountain National Forest, gorgeous vistas unfold.

Known as “The Kanc” to the locals, you’ll discover abundant hiking trails for leg-stretching breaks. Hairpin turns add to the adventure as you climb further into the White Mountains passing natural wonders along the way. Reaching 2,855 feet at its highest point, the Kancamagus Highway parallels the Swift River as you descend.

For more mountainous thrills, consider extending your road trip north from Conway to the Mount Washington Cog Railway. Climbing 6,288 feet to the highest summit on the East Coast, it’s an adventure the kids (and you) won’t ever forget.

Vermont: A World of Cows, Cheese and Ice Cream

It seems every road in Vermont is postcard-worthy. Crossing over Lake Champlain from New York to Vermont, the landscape winds through quaint small towns showcasing white-steepled churches and historic storefronts. In the countryside, expansive rolling hills dotted with black and white Holstein cattle come into view. These special cows are the reason for all of that delicious Vermont cheddar cheese. They’re also responsible for ice cream. And, a detour to visit the Ben & Jerry’s factory in Waterbury is a must.

Ben & Jerry’s offers tours and tastings, beginning with the Cow over the Moon Theater,a bird’s eye view of the production line, and Ben & Jerry’s story. Then it’s off to the Flavoroom to taste the Flavor of the Day. Finally, don’t leave without paying your respects to the ice cream flavors resting peacefully in the Flavor Graveyard.

Boston, the Cape and Rhode Island: New England Charm

For the ultimate historic sites , Boston is the place to go. Here, the Freedom Trail chronicles New England history and the ride of Paul Revere. Rather than walk the trail like everyone else, turn the city into your gameboard with an interactive walking tour of the city curated by Urban Adventure Quests. Using a smartphone and clues provided for your team, the secrets of the city are revealed.

Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard

Even if you’ve never visited New England, you’re familiar with Cape Cod’s geography. It’s America’s bent arm, extending out into the Atlantic. Spend a few days here for fun in the sun. The west side of the Cape features shallow bay beaches toddlers will love. Got older kids? You can’t beat the eastern Cape’s Atlantic surf found at Nauset Light and Coast Guard beaches .

Start your Cape sightseeing at the lighthouse on the tip in Provincetown, affectionately referred to as P-town. Do the factory tour (when they resume, post-Covid) at Cape Cod Potato Chips . Like Corning, NY, Sandwich is known for its glassmaking, so include a tour of its museum. Then venture over to the Heritage Museum and Gardens . There are flowers, antique cars and a 1908 Loof carousel.

Got more time? Take a ferry to Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard. You’ll find more beaches, chowder and charming New England coastal cottages.

Read More: Best Martha’s Vineyard Hotels for a Classic New England Island Getaway

Rhode Island’s Mansions

Leaving Boston behind, rocky coastlines, sailboats and lighthouses take over for your New England road trip into Rhode Island and Connecticut. Choose parkways and coastal routes instead of interstates to keep things interesting.

Marvel at the mansions in Newport as you make your way along the idyllic coast. Stops you don’t want to miss include the Adventureland Family Fun Park in Narragansett, Rhode Island. Providing a welcome break from the road, this entertaining amusement park includes bumper boats, batting cages, gas-powered go-karts and an 18-hole nautical-themed miniature golf course.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Adventureland Family Fun Park opens seasonally from May through September.

Explore the Connecticut Coast

Hug the Connecticut coast on a road trip that takes you from NYC to Mystic, an historic New England whaling port. You’ll drive I-95 on this journey. It’s a commuter artery so you’ll want to avoid weekday drive times.

Pass through Greenwich , a tony CT suburb. Continue to Stamford , a growing city of 140,000. Want some garden inspo? Stop at the Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens , a lush 93-acres, that’s kid- and dog-friendly.

Continue to New Haven, home of two CT institutions: Yale University and Frank Pepe’s. I’m sure you’ve heard of Yale. The Ivy League campus is postcard pretty; follow this self-guided walk tour to see the highlights. The bookstore, located at the Shops at Yale, carries all the merch for aspiring high schoolers.

Whether you’re hungry or not, your next stop must be legendary Frank Pepe’ s on Wooster Street. This main location opened in 1937 and is a mecca for pizza lovers. If you time your visit for late summer, you must order the Fresh Tomato and Mozzarella pie. It’s as close to a farm to table experience you’ll ever have at a pizzeria.

If you’ve worked up a sweat eating your face off, take a dip at one of the Connecticut Sound beaches. My favorite is Hammonasset Beach State Park . It’s particularly lovely in the late afternoon as the sun starts to dip to the west. Don’t expect Jersey-style waves, but toddlers will be happy as clams splashing about in the gentle waters.

Speaking of clams, they may not be happy but they are delicious at Lenny and Joe’s Fish Tale in nearby Madison. The place is busy, but it’s a well-ordered chaos. Queue up best as you can, place your order, grab an indoor or outdoor seat and wait while you drool watching everyone else get their food.

This road trip ends at the Mystic Seaport, a showcase for the region’s maritime history. Recreating a 19th-century shipbuilding village, this open-air museum includes more than 30 period buildings populated with hands-on exhibits. The country’s last remaining whaleship, the Charles W. Morgan, resides here inviting the kids to earn their sea legs by hoisting the sails.

Want another slice? Mystic Pizza may seem familiar to anyone who saw the Julia Roberts movie of the same name in the 1980s. While the 80s big hair trend is (thankfully) gone, the pizza is still here—and it’s really good! Stop in for a “little slice of heaven” and to catch the continuous loop of the movie on the restaurant’s TV screens.

New Jersey: Gotta Go to the Shore!

Start your exploration of the Jersey Shore in the first beach you hit when heading south out of New York City – Sandy Hook . There are multiple beaches, a lovely bike trail and history – it was a military installation in its former life and the base housing and some cannons are still there.

Then scoot down to Asbury Park. It’s in the midst of a renaissance, with new hotels and buzzy restaurants. If you’re a Springsteen fan, don’t skip a selfie in front of the legendary shore bar, the Stone Pony, where his career was born.

Need some boardwalk action? Then The Wildwoods are for you. Multiple communities share some variation of “Wildwood” in their names and are linked by nearly 40 blocks of boardwalk amusements. Prove your skeet ball dominance, ride a coaster, body surf and travel back in time at the Doo Wop Museum .

If gambling’s your thing, stop in Atlantic City to check out the casinos. Then end your Jersey Shore road trip in Cape May , home to gorgeous Victorian homes and a much slower pace.

Not a beach fan? Check out two of Jersey’s theme parks: the classic Six Flags Great Adventure and the new American Dream .

Read More: 17 Great New Jersey Resorts for Families

New York: Waterfalls, Rivers and More

Exploring New York City is always fun but driving in NYC is another story. And parking? Forget it, unless you’re ready to part with a significant portion of your vacation funds. If your road trip begins in New York, spend a couple of days in the city using public transportation. Then pick up a rental car and head north starting with the Hudson Valley.

Hudson River Valley

Stretching 150 miles from the tip of Manhattan to Albany, the Hudson Valley’s vast and varied landscapes present a multitude of experiences. Walk or bike across the Hudson River in Poughkeepsie via the Walkway Over the Hudson . The 212-foot-tall, 1.28-mile linear walkway spans the river and connects to bike trails on either end.

For another fun hike, check out Fannie Reese State Park . Access the entrance near the walkway via a short walk along the road and down the stairs at the entrance to the Mid-Hudson Bridge. An overlook serves up scenic views overlooking the Hudson River and trails follow a historic carriage road that passes ruins of a 19th-century estate.

Venture to the United States Military Academy at West Point for the history buffs in the family where countless figures in American military history received their training. Afterward, take a guided walking tour or spend some time checking out the museum on campus.

Connect with Nature in the Adirondack Mountains

Boasting more than 2,000 miles of hiking trails, the Adirondack Mountains of Northern New York beckons to mountain lovers year-round. Forested paths, plunging waterfalls and summits with 360-degree views provide a vast variety of hiking challenges when you’re ready to let the kids out of the car to work off that excess energy.

First, be sure to check out The Wild Center . From the ever-entertaining river otters to tons of hands-on interactive exhibits, the 54,000 square foot indoor space will hold the kids’ attention for hours. Pair that with swinging bridges, a four-story twig treehouse, a spider’s web and an oversized eagle’s nest outside and you’ll never get them to leave. We even added a guided canoe trip to our adventure.

SheBuysTravel Tip : Reserve a ticket for timed entry ahead of your visit and bring a picnic lunch to enjoy in the beautiful wilderness.

Occupying 2,000 acres near the Vermont border, Fort Ticonderoga’s history dates back to 1755. An Adirondack highlight, the fort offers family-focused tours as well as immersive hands-on experiences. Take a road trip break for the day and get in touch with your inner soldier as history comes to life.

For lodging, check out Wildwood on the Lake in Lake Placid. It’s an easy-going family-owned lodge offering comfy accommodations, kayaks for exploring and campfires in the evening.

New York’s Longest Road Trip: Exploring U.S. Route 20

Stretching 372 miles from the border with Massachusetts to the border of Pennsylvania, U.S. Route 20 serves as New York State’s longest road trip. Rolling hills peppered with generations-old farms dot the pastoral landscape. Once a primitive Native American path that ultimately helped the westward movement in the state, U.S. Route 20 is rich with historic sites.

In Seneca Falls, discover the bridge that inspired “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Visit the supposed birthplace of Memorial Day, Waterloo. Detour off the route for a day trip to explore the Finger Lakes region, including “gorge-ous” Watkins Glen. Best known for its wine trail along with ample breweries, the bounty of this fertile land attracts visitors from around the world.

Embrace Farm Life

Find your way to Odessa for a visit to Sunset View Creamery . Here you’ll find delicious cheeses and friendly cows available for cuddling. Yes, cow cuddling is a thing and an experience you and the kids or grandkids won’t soon forget.

Next, Four Seasons Alpacas farm, where adorable alpacas await along with cute New Zealand pigs and super furry bunnies. Pop into the shop for some uber-soft alpaca scarves, hats or gloves. If you’re road tripping in the fall, take advantage of apple season by picking your favorite varieties at Apples & Moore.

Chase Niagara’s Waterfalls

Continuing on to Buffalo, be sure to stop by the Anchor Bar restaurant. At the birthplace of Buffalo wings, you’ll get a taste of the original sauce at this family-owned eatery.

Next, drive just 20 miles north of Buffalo where Niagara Falls awaits. Get up close to North America’s largest waterfalls with a ride on Maid of the Mist . This 175-year-old attraction recently converted to all-electric boats. Get even closer to the falls at Cave of the Winds where a series of boardwalks lead you to within 10 feet of the thunderous water. Be sure to return to Niagara Falls State Park after dark to view the waterfalls illuminated in shades of red, green and blue. A perfect ending to your epic New York road trip.

The post Stunning Northeast Road Trips to Take with the Kids appeared first on She Buys Travel .

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Solar eclipse 2024: Follow the path of totality

Thinking of taking a last-minute drive to see the eclipse here's what to know.

Geoff Brumfiel

RV traffic sits at a standstill along a two-lane road near Madras, Ore., a few days before the 2017 total solar eclipse. Experts say traffic could be heavy, but eclipse watchers shouldn't necessarily be deterred. AFP Contributor/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

RV traffic sits at a standstill along a two-lane road near Madras, Ore., a few days before the 2017 total solar eclipse. Experts say traffic could be heavy, but eclipse watchers shouldn't necessarily be deterred.

NASA says that roughly 31.6 million people live in the path of this year's total solar eclipse, and a little under half of the U.S. population lives within 200 miles driving distance of the path of totality .

That could mean many millions of Americans will hit the road to get a better view on April 8. If you're still pondering whether or not you want to make the journey, here's what to consider.

Have some destinations in mind, and check the weather and cloud cover forecasts in advance

It's a good idea to scout out one or more locations within driving distance, so that you have some flexibility if traffic or weather is threatening your plans, says Jonathan Upchurch, a professor emeritus of civil engineering at Arizona State University who has studied travel around solar eclipses.

There are several interactive tools that show the path of totality, including Eclipse2024.org and the National Solar Observatory . You can use them to figure out what sites might work best for you.

In terms of weather, check not just the weather forecast, but also the cloud cover forecast. Some websites, such as Windy.com will predict cloud cover ahead of time, giving you a sense of whether you'll actually be able to see the eclipse in all its glory.

Everything you need to know about solar eclipse glasses before April 8

During the total solar eclipse in 2017, Upchurch says he chose to go to Idaho "because there were some great chances of having sunny skies, and I had the opportunity to be nimble and relocate if I wanted to."

Before driving into the path of totality, make sure your gas tank is full and that you've got everything you need

During the last total solar eclipse in 2017, it's estimated some 5 million people took to the roads, and those numbers will potentially be much higher this year.

Given all that, Upchurch says it's important to make sure you're taking what you need into the path of totality. You should make sure your car is gassed or charged up, and that you have plenty of snacks and water with you in case you get stranded for a while, especially when trying to leave.

Solar Eclipse 2024: Totality stretches from Texas to Maine

Simple tips to safely photograph the eclipse with your cellphone.

Also don't forget to bring eclipse glasses, which must be worn anytime you're looking at the sun, except for the few minutes when it is completely blocked by the moon.

Some state emergency planners also recommend bringing a paper map or road atlas in case cellular networks become overloaded with visitors seeking directions from their phones.

Don't forget your eclipse glasses everyone! Erika Goldring/FilmMagic hide caption

Don't forget your eclipse glasses everyone!

Arrive early and stay late

Once you figure out where you're going to watch the eclipse, and you've got your supplies, try to get there early. Although traffic is likely to be heavier than normal on the morning of eclipse day, it still should be possible to reach many destinations without too much hassle, says Upchurch.

"Leaving is definitely going to be more of a problem," he says. As the eclipse concludes, people will take to the roads all at once to try and get home as fast as they can. In 2017, that led to traffic jams that lasted many hours in some areas. If possible, Upchurch says, people should stay put for a while to try and avoid the worst of the post-eclipse rush, which in 2017 stretched even into the following day in some parts of the country.

Here's what time the eclipse will be visible in your region

And one more thing: If you do find yourself on the move near the time of the eclipse, state officials stress that you should not simply pull over to the side of the road or highway you're driving on. It's important to be parked legally and safely at the moment of totality.

If you're already in the path of totality: Relax and enjoy!

Several major metropolitan areas including Dallas, Indianapolis, Cleveland and Buffalo are already inside the path of totality, so there's no need to seek a better view, Upchurch says. You'll probably have the most fun simply staying where you are.

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If you're on the edge of the path of totality, however, you might consider making a short trip to get closer to the center of the eclipse's path.

"If you're within about 40 miles of the center line, you'll have two-and-a-half minutes or more" of complete totality, Upchurch says. It's up to you to decide whether it's worth making the trip to a more central location.

Despite studying the potential hassles of traveling extensively, Upchurch says he's still looking forward to seeing the 2024 eclipse, which he plans to watch from Texas.

"Totality is absolutely spectacular," he says. "If you have a chance to witness it, I would do it."

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