Whether you’re on the hunt for rare maples or just out for the pretty colors, New England’s last party before the long winter is undeniable Insta-candy. Here are 14 brilliant routes to drive, hike, and experience across New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.

New Hampshire’s Kancamagus Highway

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Call it the Kanc, if you want to sound like a local, and drive its 35 miles, starting in Lincoln, through the White Mountain National Forest in late September/early October. Be sure to stop at the C.L. Graham Overlook just below the summit of Kancamagus Pass, then picnic at Sabbaday Falls in Conway, a half-mile walk from the trail head that ends in a waterfall, before heading north to Bretton Woods on 302. There, you’ll be treated to blazing views of Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast.

Stay: The Omni Mount Washington in Bretton Woods READ REVIEWS

Lake Winnipesaukee Loop in New Hampshire

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A road trip around Lake Winnipesaukee, the largest lake in New Hampshire, offers a scenic route where you can see some of the most colorful and impressive foliage in all of New England. Prepare to stop multiple times during the 97 mile drive: you'll want to have an autumnal picnic in one of the charming towns you'll find en route, like Meredith, and can even partake in some outdoor activities (think boating, fishing, and hiking) in the surrounding area as well.

Stay: Center Harbor Inn in Center Harbor READ REVIEWS

Stay: The Wolfeboro Inn in Wolfeboro READ REVIEWS



Vermont’s Route 100

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The billboard-free Route 100 winds through some of Vermont’s most quintessentially Vermonty villages, with all the cider donuts and country stores that go with them. For peak views, hike to the top of Mount Killington, then continue on. Your ultimate destination: The 11-mile Green Mountain Byway which runs between Waterbury and Stowe. End with a weekend in Stowe or Mad River Valley for farm-to-table dining and plenty of craft beer and the chance to fly among the foliage at Stowe’s ZipTour, a nearly two-mile zipline.

Stay: Field Guide in Stowe for an in-town option READ REVIEWS

Stay: The Inn at Round Barn in Waitsfield for a rural B&B READ REVIEWS

The Shires of Vermont Byway

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The Shires of Vermont is the name of the southwest corner of Vermont, which includes the historic shire towns of Bennington and Manchester. Fifteen other charming towns and villages dot Historic Route 7A, also known as the Shires of Vermont Byway. In Bennington, climb to the top of the 306-foot-tall monument built in 1891 to commemorate the Battle of Bennington; it's the state's most popular historic site and offers an unparalleled bird's eye view of the surroundings. The nearby Bennington Museum includes the largest collection of Grandma Moses paintigs in the world.

Stay: The Equinox in Manchester READ REVIEWS



Montgomery, Vermont

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This tiny town in Northern Vermont is home to some of the most beautiful fall foliage spots in the region. Known as "Vermont's Covered Bridge Capital," Montgomery is famous for its many scenic bridges, like the one pictured above, with six covered bridges located within the town limited—all of which are extremely Instagram-worthy. In addition to visiting these six bridges, make sure you hike through the 15 miles of trails preserved by the Hazen's Notch Association in Montgomery.

Stay: Phineas Swann Bed and Breakfast Inn in Montgomery READ REVIEWS

Woodstock, Vermont

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The historic town of Woodstock, Vermont, is one of the best destinations to see fall foliage this year. It's considered the "quintessential New England village," so you can expect classic American charm, colorful and lush foliage, along with a quaint town bustling with shops and restaurants. Make sure you visit Billings Farm & Museum to taste some fresh, local Vermont cheese, and go for a hike in the 550 acres of woodlands that make up the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park to experience the foliage firsthand.

Stay: The Woodstock Inn & Resort READ REVIEWS

Maine’s Coastal Route 1

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Start in Portland and head north on “Old Route 1” for one of New England’s most scenic coastal drives. Stop along the way in Brunswick, Bath, or Rockport (you can’t go wrong with any) for seaside mansions, lighthouses, and late-season lobster rolls; hit up Freeport for the L.L. Bean flagship. End in the quaint town of Camden, whose prime leaf-peeping vehicles include Merryspring, a 66-acre park and nature center, and autumn sails on the Schooner Surprise.

Stay: Whitehall in Camden READ REVIEWS

Maine's Acadia National Park

Jordan Pond in Acadia National Park. PictureLake Getty Images

Seventy miles northeast of Camden, the 47,000-acre Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island is a nature lover's paradise. Its 27-mile Park Loop Road is filled with places to observe and photograph the foliage, and the park's Cadillac Mountain is the highest point on the East Coast. Mid-October is the best time to leef-peep, but the surroundings are beautiful year-round. Perhaps it should come as no surprise that David Rockefeller chose Mount Desert Island as his getaway; the late philanthropist's estate, Ringing Point, sold for $19 million in February.

Stay: Balance Rock Inn in Bar Harbor READ REVIEWS



Bethel, Maine

A look at the Androscoggin River in Bethel, Maine. Cappi Thompson Getty Images

This mountain village in Maine offers exceptional fall foliage viewing opportunities. The best way to see the changing leaves is on foot: Bethel offers hiking access to multiple well-known trails situated in some standout conservation lands, including the White Mountain National Forest, Grafton Notch State Park, and the Appalachian Trail. Be sure to check out the Androscoggin River Recreation Trail, home to some unique wildlife and gorgeous foliage. You can also visit the Sunday River ski resort, where guests can pair your leaf peeping with a host of activities, like mountain biking, golfing, and zip lining.

Stay: Sunday River READ REVIEWS

Stay: The Bethel Inn and Resort READ REVIEWS

Connecticut’s Route 7

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Northwestern Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills region is filled with village greens, rolling hills, and Housatonic river views. Start the route near Norwalk, detour through Kent Falls State Park—a hike that includes covered bridges and waterfalls—and then continue on to Woodbury, known as the “antiques capital of Connecticut.” End in Litchfield Hills for a rural, classic New England aesthetic explorable on foot, horseback, or by hot air balloon. For an upscale meal, visit Arethusa al tavolo in Bantam, which is affiliated with a local dairy farm owned by two Manolo Blahnik executives and has been named by OpenTable as one of the 100 best restaurants in America.

Stay: Mayflower Inn & Spa, Auberge Resorts Collection in Washington READ REVIEWS

Connecticut's Route 9

The Lieutenant River seen from the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme Stephen Saks Getty Images

The Lower Connecticut River Valley has been dubbed "the next 'new' Hamptons," and while the beaches of Long Island Sound may not have the waves of the Atlantic Ocean to the south there are more than enough activities to keep anyone busy in the charming region. Essex, for example, was named "The Perfect Small American Town" in 1,000 Places to See Before You Die; it's home to the Essex Steam Train, which features a real steam locomotive and vintage railcars that offer an excellent way to see the changing leaves. Located just across the Connecticut River, the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme is a boarding house-turned-museum where American Impressionist painters like Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, and Henry Ward Ranger once lived and worked. Today it's a National Historic Landmark with a separate 9,500-square-foot gallery building.

Stay: The Bee & Thistle Inn READ REVIEWS

Massachusetts’s Mohawk Trail

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The 63-mile trail, which follows a Native American trade route, runs east to west through the northwest part of the state, straddling the Berkshire Mountains between the Hudson and Connecticut River valleys. There are mountain streams and plenty of pit stops, including the Golden Eagle restaurant, along the trail’s famous Hairpin Turn (the food is decent, the view unbeatable). End in (or circle back to) North Adams, where a 130,000-square-foot expansion completed in 2017 has rendered MassMoCA, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, constructed in a converted factory complex, one of the country’s biggest museums.

Stay: Porches READ REVIEWS

Stay: Blantyre (a recently renovated hotel in a Gilded Age mansion) READ REVIEWS

Massachusetts’s Route 6A

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Passing through several postcard-perfect classic Cape Cod villages, rural route 6A is a lot more pleasant with fall’s traffic reprieve. Start just after the Sagamore Bridge and follow the road through scenic Sandwich, the Cape’s oldest town. From there, roll on to Yarmouth Port and through to Dennis and finally Brewster, home to 19th century sea captain homes and Nickerson State Park, whose 22-mile Cape Cod Rail Trail offers plenty of views to be seen on foot. Peak season hits late here, so it’s perfect if you find yourself looking for leaves come mid-October or even later.

Stay: The Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club in Brewster READ REVIEWS

Boston, Massachusetts

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If you're looking for some accessible foliage, Boston is an easy destination that won't disappoint. Stroll through the trees in Boston Common and the Public Garden. Walk, bike, or run along the Charles River Esplanade. And head to the Arnold Arboretum, an outdoor museum of trees and the oldest public arboretum in North America. For the academics, rent a car and drive to Walden Pond, where you'll see Henry David Thoreau's (surprisingly tiny) cabin where he wrote the famed Walden, along with beautiful fall foliage reflecting off the pond. Once you return to Boston, treat yourself to gourmet Italian food in the city's iconic North End.

Stay: The Four Seasons Boston READ REVIEWS

Stay: The Ritz-Carlton, Boston READ REVIEWS

Rhode Island’s Ocean Drive

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This one you can, and should, do by bike. Rent a pair of wheels and then start out on the Bellevue Avenue side of the Ocean Drive Loop, an 11-mile waterfront route that passes through the American yellowwoods, European beeches, and stately mansions of Bellevue before opening out onto Ocean Drive, offering dual views of Rhode Island Sound on your left and jaw-dropping colors on your right. End at the equally scenic Newport Harbor, where you might pull up to Belle’s Café in the Shipyard for coffee and yacht views.

Stay: Gilded (for a downtown option) READ REVIEWS

Stay: Gurney’s Newport (for waterfront) READ REVIEWS



Sam Dangremond Contributing Digital Editor Sam Dangremond is a Contributing Digital Editor at Town & Country, where he covers men's style, cocktails, travel, and the social scene. Maggie Maloney Associate Digital Editor Maggie Maloney is the associate editor at Town & Country and ELLE Decor, where she covers style, beauty, jewelry, and the many members of the royal family.

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