Chasing Peak Foliage: 7 Days Across New England
Three states, mountains, covered bridges & coast, all in peak color.
Seven days of peak fall color: the Kancamagus Highway and Franconia Notch in the White Mountains, Stowe and the Green Mountains of Vermont, and Acadia National Park in Maine.
“I’ve requested to book a Chain Lakes Loop guide on ExplorOFF, and it was the best idea ever! I highly recommend going with their guided option since you get a real human connection on the trail and don’t have to worry about a thing. Yulia was great to talk to!”
27 stops on a real mapEvery stop pinned in order→New England: every stop pinned in order.
White Mountains → Stowe → Acadia · NH, VT & ME
Every stop on this trip, in order, opens as one driving route in the Google Maps app. No copying addresses across one at a time.
New England in photos: 6 of the stops.
Plan and book your 7 days in New England, one step at a time
- Cadillac Summit Road needs a vehicle reservation through October 25, 2026, sunrise included; 30 percent release 90 days ahead and 70 percent two days ahead at 10 am ET on Recreation.gov. Source
- The southern section of Ocean Path, from across the Otter Point parking lot to the trail's end, is closed for repairs; walk it from Sand Beach as far as Otter Point. Source
How 7 days in New England split up
Plan 7 days for New England. Total distance: ~650 mi. Difficulty: Easy. Acadia pass: $35 / car. A New England fall road trip is the classic American leaf-peeping pilgrimage, a loop through the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the Green Mountains of Vermont, and the rocky coast of Maine. Over a week you can drive the most celebrated scenic byways in the region, hike easy trails into the color, and stop for cider doughnuts and lighthouses along the way.
Day 1: Arrive & the Kancamagus Highway
4 stops · Day one
Day 2: Franconia Notch & Mount Washington
4 stops · Day two
Day 3: Over to Vermont · Stowe & Smugglers Notch
4 stops · Day three
Day 4: VT-100, covered bridges & the Green Mountains
4 stops · Day four
Day 5: The long drive to the coast
2 stops · Day five
Day 6: Acadia · Cadillac Mountain sunrise & the Park Loop Road
5 stops · Day six
Day 7: Lighthouses, carriage roads & the drive home
4 stops · Day seven
Arrive & the Kancamagus Highway
Fly into Boston (BOS), Manchester (MHT), or Portland (PWM) and point the car north for the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Base for the next two nights in North Conway or Lincoln, the gateway towns on either end of the foliage country, then drive the trip's signature stretch.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Drive from~2.5 hr to North Conway · DriveFly into Boston (BOS), Manchester (MHT), or Portland (PWM) and drive north into the White Mountains of New Hampshire. It is about 2.5 hours from Boston, 1.5 from Manchester, or 2 from Portland to North Conway, your base for the first two nights.
- Kancamagus Highway
34 mi · National Scenic Byway · DriveThe Kancamagus Highway (NH-112, the "Kanc") is one of the most famous fall drives in America, a 34-mile National Scenic Byway over a 2,855-foot pass through the White Mountain National Forest with no gas, no services, and wall-to-wall color. Fill up in Conway or Lincoln first, and drive it early or late to dodge the leaf-peeping traffic.
Sabbaday Falls~0.6 mi RT · easy waterfall · HikeStretch your legs on the short, easy walk to Sabbaday Falls, a tiered waterfall dropping through a narrow gorge just off the Kancamagus. It is a quick, rewarding stop in peak color and a good break partway across the byway.
grassrootsgroundswell / CC BY 2.0Stay in North ConwayWhite Mountains gateway · 2 nights · lodgeBase in North Conway, the main gateway town on the east side of the White Mountains, with motels, inns, restaurants, and outlet shopping. It books out months ahead for foliage weekends, so reserve early, or stay in Lincoln on the west end of the Kanc.
Franconia Notch & Mount Washington
Spend the morning in Franconia Notch State Park, the dramatic mountain pass that splits the White Mountains. Walk the Flume Gorge, a boardwalk loop through an 800-foot granite chasm running with waterfalls and framed by color, then ride the Cannon Mountain aerial tramway to a summit panorama over the notch and the Presidential Range.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Flume Gorge, Franconia Notch
~2 mi loop · granite chasm · HikeWalk the Flume Gorge, a boardwalk loop through an 800-foot granite chasm running with waterfalls and framed by fall color in Franconia Notch State Park. It needs a timed ticket in peak season and the boardwalk is one-way, so buy online ahead and go early.
Fredlyfish4 / CC BY-SA 4.0Cannon Mountain Aerial TramwayTram to a 4,080-ft summit · ViewpointRide the Cannon Mountain aerial tramway to a summit panorama over Franconia Notch and the Presidential Range. On a clear fall day the view sweeps across a quilt of color from New Hampshire into Vermont and beyond.
Famartin / CC BY-SA 4.0Mount Washington6,288-ft summit · Auto Road or Cog · ViewpointClimb the highest peak in the Northeast: drive the Mount Washington Auto Road or ride the historic Cog Railway to the 6,288-foot summit. Mount Washington has some of the worst weather on Earth, so check the higher-summits forecast, dress warmly, and book tickets ahead in peak season.
Pi.1415926535 / CC BY-SA 3.0Second night in North ConwayStay put in the White Mountains · lodgeStay a second night in North Conway so you can hit Franconia Notch and Mount Washington without packing up. Keeping the same base gives you an easy morning before crossing into Vermont tomorrow.
Over to Vermont · Stowe & Smugglers Notch
Cross from New Hampshire into Vermont, trading the rugged White Mountains for the softer, rolling Green Mountains. Make your base for two nights in Stowe, the postcard heart of Vermont leaf-peeping, with its white church steeple, the recreation path, and farm stands selling cider and maple everything.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Drive to Stowe, Vermont~2.5 hr · NH into the Green Mountains · DriveCross from New Hampshire into Vermont, trading the rugged White Mountains for the softer, rolling Green Mountains. It is about 2.5 hours to Stowe, the postcard heart of Vermont leaf-peeping and your base for the next two nights.
- Smugglers Notch (VT-108)
Narrow boulder-lined pass · DriveDrive the Smugglers Notch road (VT-108), a narrow, boulder-lined pass that squeezes between Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak. It is closed in winter but spectacular in fall. The squeeze is too tight for large RVs and trailers, so take it slow and watch for oncoming traffic.
Famartin / CC BY-SA 4.0Stowe gondola, Mount MansfieldRide to Vermont's highest ridge · ViewpointRide the Stowe gondola up Mount Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak, for a sweeping view over a quilt of color, or hike a stretch of the ridge if you have the legs. Either way you get the big-picture view of the Green Mountains in peak fall.
Seasider53 / CC BY-SA 4.0Stay in StoweHeart of Vermont leaf-peeping · 2 nights · lodgeBase in Stowe, the postcard heart of Vermont leaf-peeping, with its white church steeple, the recreation path, and farm stands selling cider and maple everything. It books out months ahead for peak foliage weekends, so reserve early or stay nearby in Waterbury.
VT-100, covered bridges & the Green Mountains
Spend a full day on Vermont's most beautiful back road. VT-100 runs the length of the state down the spine of the Green Mountains, threading through small towns, farm fields, and forests that turn every shade of red and gold. It is widely considered one of the best fall drives in the country, so take your time and pull off often.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- VT-100 scenic drive
Classic Green Mountains foliage road · DriveSpend the day on VT-100, Vermont's most beautiful back road, running the length of the state down the spine of the Green Mountains through small towns, farm fields, and forests in every shade of red and gold. It is a slow, scenic road, so take your time and pull off often.
- Vermont covered bridges
Red spans over rocky streams · ViewpointHunt down Vermont's famous covered bridges, the red wooden spans over rocky streams that define a New England autumn. Many sit on side roads off VT-100, so search them out in the planner and respect that some are on private or one-lane roads.
- Cider mill & farm stand
Cider doughnuts & maple syrup · ViewpointStop at a cider mill or sugarhouse for fresh cider doughnuts and maple syrup, a core part of the Vermont fall experience. Cold Hollow Cider Mill in Waterbury Center is a classic on the way through, and country general stores along VT-100 are worth a browse.
- Second night in Stowe
Stay put before the long drive east · lodgeStay a second night in Stowe to wring the most out of VT-100 and the covered-bridge country, and rest up: tomorrow is the long drive to the coast. Keep your dates flexible and chase the peak color.
The long drive to the coast
This is the transfer day, and it is a real one: Stowe to Bar Harbor is about 290 miles and six hours of driving, east on US-2 through the northern White Mountains and across the Maine woods, then down to the coast. The fall color along US-2 is the day's scenery, so there is nothing else to fit in.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Drive to Bar Harbor, Maine
~290 mi · ~6 hr via US-2 · break in Augusta · DriveThis is the longest driving day of the trip, a long but scenic haul north and east toward the Maine coast and Acadia National Park: about 290 miles and six hours on US-2 and across Maine. Break in Bethel or Augusta, then push on to Bar Harbor, your base for the final two nights. Plan the driving for daylight.
- Stay in Bar Harbor
Gateway to Acadia · 2 nights · lodgeBase in Bar Harbor, the gateway town to Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island, with inns, seafood, and easy access to the Park Loop Road. It is the busiest it gets all year in foliage season, so reserve well ahead, or stay in Ellsworth or Trenton if it is full.
Acadia · Cadillac Mountain sunrise & the Park Loop Road
Wake before dawn for one of the great American sunrises. From October through early March, the summit of Cadillac Mountain is among the first places in the United States to see the sun, and on a clear morning the light spreads over the islands and the sea. The summit road requires a timed vehicle reservation in season, so book it on recreation.gov ahead of time.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Cadillac Mountain sunrise
Timed reservation · first US sunrise · ViewpointWake before dawn for sunrise on Cadillac Mountain, among the first places in the United States to see the sun from October through early March. The summit road requires a timed vehicle reservation on recreation.gov, and sunrise slots go fast, so book as soon as the window opens.
Famartin / CC BY-SA 4.0Park Loop Road27-mi scenic loop · DriveSpend the day on the Park Loop Road, the 27-mile scenic drive stringing together Acadia's greatest hits: Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and the pink granite cliffs of Otter Point. It is one-way for much of its length and parking fills early, so start at dawn or use the free Island Explorer shuttle.
- Ocean Path
~4 mi RT · easy clifftop walk · HikeWalk the easy Ocean Path along the cliffs from Sand Beach past Thunder Hole to Otter Point, with the surf crashing on pink granite and fall color running down to the shore. It is flat and scenic, an ideal stretch of the legs on the Park Loop Road.
- Jordan Pond & the Bubbles
Popovers on the lawn · ViewpointFinish at Jordan Pond for the classic view of the Bubbles reflected in the mirror-still water, then have a popover on the lawn at the Jordan Pond House. It is one of Acadia's most beloved scenes and especially lovely framed by fall color.
- Second night in Bar Harbor
Same base · Acadia on your doorstep · lodgeBack to Bar Harbor for the second night, with dinner in town and an early night if you are chasing sunrise again tomorrow.
Lighthouses, carriage roads & the drive home
On your last morning, slow down for the coast. Drive out to the Bass Harbor Head Light on the quieter side of Mount Desert Island, the most photographed lighthouse in Maine, perched on pink granite above the surf. If you have energy, walk or bike a stretch of Acadia's historic carriage roads, the crushed-stone paths and graceful stone bridges built by the Rockefellers, gorgeous under the fall canopy.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Ken Lund from Reno, Ne / CC BY-SA 2.0Bass Harbor Head LightMaine's most photographed lighthouse · ViewpointOn your last morning, drive out to the Bass Harbor Head Light on the quieter side of Mount Desert Island, the most photographed lighthouse in Maine, perched on pink granite above the surf. Parking is small and fills fast, so go early and follow the short paths down to the rocks.
Niagara66 / CC BY-SA 4.0Acadia carriage roadsWalk or bike under the canopy · HikeIf you have energy, walk or bike a stretch of Acadia's historic carriage roads, the crushed-stone paths and graceful stone bridges built by the Rockefellers, gorgeous and car-free under the fall canopy. Bikes can be rented in Bar Harbor if you did not bring your own.
E-bike the Acadia carriage roads1 to 6 hr rental · 4.78 from 493 reviews · meets at Hulls Cove Visitor Center · activityThe carriage roads run about 45 miles, and a Class 1 e-bike (the only kind the park allows) lets the whole group cover the stone bridges, Eagle Lake and Jordan Pond in a couple of hours instead of walking one short stretch. Island Time meets you with the bikes at Hulls Cove Visitor Center, right at a carriage road entrance, and gives a quick lesson and a route map. Book a short rental so there is still daylight for the drive home.
Book this →
Magicpiano / CC BY-SA 4.0Getting home: Portland, Manchester or BostonPWM ~3 hr · MHT ~4.5 hr · BOS ~5 hr · DriveThen point the car home. Portland (PWM) is about 3 hours from Bar Harbor and the closest major airport, while Boston (BOS) is roughly 5 hours and Manchester (MHT) about 4.5. Top off the tank, grab one last lobster roll, and leave with daylight to spare for the airport run.
Book the 6 nights
Beds near the trailheads are the one thing on this trip that genuinely runs out. Everything else can be decided later.
Tell us your dates and we will do the checking. We find what is still open near each trailhead and email you this plan back with a booking link for each night. Nothing is charged and you decide at the end.
Request to bookWhat to pack for New England
Built from this route, not a generic list. Every line says why it is here.
On every day of this trip
On your feet
Because you are sleeping indoors
For the driving days
What we actually learned chasing the color.
Time your dates to the foliage map
Peak color moves north to south and high to low, roughly late September in the northern White and Green Mountains to mid-October in the Berkshires and along the Maine coast. Check a live foliage map a week or two out before you lock in dates, and build in flexibility because the peak shifts every year.
Book lodging months ahead
Peak foliage weekends are the busiest of the year in New England. Inns and motels in North Conway, Lincoln, Stowe, and Bar Harbor sell out months ahead and rates spike. Reserve early, consider midweek for lower prices and thinner crowds, and have a backup town in mind.
Drive scenic roads early or late
The Kancamagus Highway, VT-100, and Acadia's Park Loop Road all clog with leaf-peeping traffic midday on peak weekends. Drive them at first light or in the last hour of daylight for the best color, the smallest crowds, and the easiest parking at popular pullouts.
Reserve timed tickets in advance
Cadillac Mountain summit needs a timed vehicle reservation on recreation.gov, and the Flume Gorge, Mount Washington Auto Road, and Cog Railway all sell out in peak season. Book these ahead of your dates so a sold-out slot does not derail a day.
Fuel up and watch the gaps
There is no gas on the Kancamagus Highway and stations thin out on the back roads of Vermont and Down East Maine. Fill the tank in towns before long scenic stretches, and download offline maps since cell service drops in the mountains and on the byways.
Pack layers and rain gear
New England fall swings from warm afternoons to near-freezing summits, and Mount Washington can be brutal. Bring warm layers, a rain shell, and good shoes for short hikes, and check the higher-summits forecast before any mountain-top stop.
New England: questions before you go
New England fall road trip: the questions people ask most.
Peak foliage runs roughly late September in the northern White Mountains of New Hampshire and Green Mountains of Vermont to mid-October in the Berkshires of Massachusetts and along the Maine coast. The color moves north to south and high to low, so a week-long trip can chase the peak by starting in the mountains and ending on the coast. Check a live foliage map a week or two out, since the timing shifts every year.
Seven days is ideal for a full New England fall foliage itinerary. That gives you two nights in the White Mountains of New Hampshire for the Kancamagus Highway and Franconia Notch, two nights in Stowe Vermont for the Green Mountains and covered bridges, a long transfer day across Maine, and two nights in Bar Harbor for Acadia National Park. A long weekend can cover just the White Mountains or just Vermont, but a week lets you link the highlights without rushing.
The Kancamagus Highway (NH-112) in the White Mountains is the most famous, a 34-mile National Scenic Byway over a high pass with wall-to-wall color and no services. VT-100 down the spine of Vermont's Green Mountains is the classic Vermont drive, and Acadia's Park Loop Road brings fall color right down to the Maine coast. Smugglers Notch in Vermont and the Mohawk Trail in the Berkshires round out the best of them.
Boston (BOS) has the most flights and is central to the loop, about 2.5 hours from the White Mountains. Manchester (MHT) in New Hampshire is smaller and closest to the mountains at about 1.5 hours. Portland (PWM) in Maine is the best choice if you want to start or end near Acadia, about 3 hours from Bar Harbor. Many travelers fly into one and out of another to avoid backtracking.
Yes. The Cadillac Mountain summit road requires a timed vehicle reservation in season, booked on recreation.gov, and the sunrise slots in particular go fast. From October through early March, Cadillac is among the first places in the United States to see the sunrise, so reserve as soon as the booking window opens. You also need an Acadia entrance pass, about $35 per vehicle for 7 days or an America the Beautiful pass.
Yes, and that contrast is what makes Acadia special in autumn. Acadia National Park is where the mountains meet the sea, so the fall color runs right down to the pink granite shore, the Park Loop Road, Jordan Pond, and the lighthouses. Pairing the inland mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont with the coast of Maine gives you the full range of a New England fall in a single week.
Peak foliage weekends, especially around Columbus Day, are the busiest time of year across New England. Scenic roads clog midday, popular pullouts and trailheads fill, and inns book out months ahead at premium rates. The fixes are to travel midweek if you can, reserve lodging far in advance, and drive the marquee roads at dawn or in the last hour of daylight to dodge the worst of the traffic.
On a clear day, yes. From the 6,288-foot summit, the highest in the Northeast, you look out over a sea of fall color across the Presidential Range. You can drive the Mount Washington Auto Road, take a guided van, or ride the historic Cog Railway up the other side. The catch is the weather: Mount Washington has some of the worst weather on Earth and can be socked in cloud, so check the higher-summits forecast, dress warmly, and have a backup plan.
If you can, yes. During peak October foliage the small two-lane passes, like Vermont Route 100 and New Hampshire's Kancamagus Highway, can slow to a bumper-to-bumper crawl on weekends. Driving the marquee scenic legs Tuesday through Thursday makes a real difference, and it helps to book your lodging hubs well ahead, often 6 to 12 months out for the busiest peak weekends.
Yes. Tell us your dates and we check what is still open for the plan on this page, then send it back with a booking link for each night and the total. Nothing is charged and nothing is held, and you pay the normal rate.
Pick how you want to go.
Same 7-day route. Same 13 stops.
- 2 nights, a campsite near North Conway
- $44
- 2 nights, a campsite near Stowe
- $44
- 2 nights, a campsite near Bar Harbor
- $44
- Acadia carriage roads e-bike rental (Island Time)
- $260
- 2 nights, a room in North Conway
- from $350
- 2 nights, a room in Stowe
- from $350
- 2 nights, a room in Bar Harbor
- from $670
- Acadia carriage roads e-bike rental (Island Time)
- $260
- A private local guide, rooms and campsites booked
- Included
- Airport pickup and every drive
- Included
- Park, permit and campsite fees paid
- Included
- All the gear and the trail meals
- Included
Written and walked by Yulia Vasilyeva · Co-founder · Lead planner and guide
Three years leading guided hikes in the Pacific Northwest, rated 5.0 by 20+ verified guests, and she builds every custom itinerary herself. Based in Seattle.
Last checked September 2026
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Guides for this tripBest Time to See New England Fall FoliageDriving the Kancamagus Highway for Fall FoliageBest Fall Hikes Near Stowe, Vermont for Peak FoliageNew England Road Trip Itinerary
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All reviews are from verified guests. ★★★★★ 5.0 average from 20+ bookings.
"Felt like going out with a really knowledgeable friend who just happens to know everything about the area. No awkward tour-guide energy, just a magnificent day."
"Yulia is an incredible guide. She knew every trail, every viewpoint, and exactly how to pace the day for our group. The photos she took of us were stunning. 100% booking again."
"I was visiting Seattle solo and this was the best decision I made on the trip. Yulia picked me up, had snacks, and took us to a trail I never would have found on my own. Absolute must-do."
"We did this as a couple's trip and it was perfect. Yulia adapted everything to us, our pace, our interests, our photo obsession. The mountain views were unreal."
"Phenomenal experience. Yulia has deep local knowledge and a real passion for the outdoors. She went out of her way to show us the hidden gems tourists never see. Will remember this forever."
"I've done a few guided hikes and this was by far the best. Yulia is warm, funny, and genuinely expert. The trail she chose had the most insane wildflower bloom, we got so lucky."
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The best hikes in America run on lotteries that open once a year and sell out in minutes. Every trail runs on its own calendar. Pick the ones you want and we do the watching.
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