best places to visit in new hampshire and vermont

Protect Your Trip »

25 Top Things to Do in Vermont

Outdoor adventures are just one of the high points of the Green Mountain State.

Getty Images

Enchanting views of fall foliage, delicious creemees, tastings at sugarhouses and more await travelers to Vermont.

In 2019 – in an attempt to reverse the state's then-declining population – Vermont was paying people to move there, awarding up to $10,000 as part of a grant program aimed at would-be remote employees of out-of-state companies. Over the last two years, the state has experienced an influx of newcomers relocating there for reasons beyond just a cash incentive (though those grants were still available until recently). In fact, a report this year by a moving company ranked Vermont as the U.S. state with the highest inbound move rate in 2021.

Instead of money, the incentive to move to Vermont is Vermont itself – the same reason people have chosen to vacation here for decades. It's a peaceful, naturally beautiful place to escape, affording outdoor attractions that range from world-renowned ski resorts to the scenic Lake Champlain, which extends into New York and Quebec.

Vermont also touts its share of charismatic small towns, unique lodging choices such as farm stays and all-inclusive resorts , and distinctive food and drink. This destination is worth a visit for its nationally recognized craft beer, the rich offerings of the Vermont Cheese Trail, the maple syrup – since Vermont produces more than 50% of the country's supply – and the "creemees," which are a slightly richer (and arguably tastier) take on soft serve ice cream.

There's no such thing as a bad time to visit Vermont – even the spring mud season has its offbeat perks – but fall is exceptionally beautiful, with perhaps the most stunning foliage in all of New England . Ever seen an iconic photo of a white church amid trees in hues of red and orange? That's Vermont (more specifically, Stowe).

Curious to see the Green Mountain State for yourself? If you're looking for the best things to do in Vermont, these are the experiences that should be on your list.

(Note: Some of the following activities, attractions and locations may be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. New policies may be in place, including capacity restrictions, reservation requirements or mask mandates. Check with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of State and local tourism boards before traveling.)

Lake Champlain

In 1998, Lake Champlain was briefly named one of the Great Lakes after then-President Bill Clinton signed into law a bill in which Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont quietly deemed it as such. Eighteen days – and a heavy dispute – later, the title was rescinded after a determination that, geographically, Lake Champlain doesn't quite measure up to lakes like Superior and Michigan. But residents and tourists today can still recognize it for the great – not to be confused with Great – lake that it is.

With or without the esteemed title, Lake Champlain is a large freshwater lake that spans 435 square miles of surface water and wows visitors with views of the Green Mountains on one side and the Adirondacks on the other. Dozens of public beaches and boat launches line its shores, so you'll find no shortage of opportunities for recreation on the water, including boating, fishing, swimming and keeping an eye out for the mythological lake monster named Champ. The lake's popular island towns such as South Hero offer state parks, farms, orchards, vineyards, and even a few inns and campsites.

Ben & Jerry's Waterbury Factory Tour and Ice Cream Shop

Courtesy of Ben & Jerry's

Have you even been to Vermont if you don't take the factory tour at Ben & Jerry's ? At its flagship location in Waterbury (near Stowe), Ben & Jerry's offers 30-minute guided tours that include a short movie on the company's history, an overview of the production process, a look at the manufacturing area and an ice cream tasting. Of course, there's also an on-site ice cream shop and gift shop, and especially charming are the photo ops and Flavor Graveyard, where you can pay your respects to the "dearly de-pinted." Previous visitors confirm it's as touristy as it seems, but fun nonetheless.

Address: 1281 Waterbury-Stowe Road, state Route 100, Waterbury, VT 05676

One of the top things to do in Vermont is spend a day or two in Burlington , where Church Street Marketplace , the centerpiece of town, offers shopping, restaurants (many with outdoor dining) and lodging such as the boutique Hotel Vermont . Of course, this popular waterfront city also boasts a variety of local breweries. Other highlights in Burlington include ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain , a science and nature museum; the Ethan Allen Homestead , a historical farmhouse site; and, for those who enjoy quirky attractions, the World's Tallest File Cabinet. Whatever you do, don't bypass the Burlington Bike Path, a pleasant paved trail that runs along Lake Champlain and connects beaches, parks and neighborhoods.

[See more of Burlington: Things to Do | Hotels | When to Visit | Photos ]

Island Line Trail

Courtesy of Hello Burlington and Local Motion

The Island Line Trail, an extension of the Burlington Bike Path, crosses the middle of Lake Champlain via a 3-mile marble causeway, allowing you to practically touch the water with your feet in some areas; there's nothing quite like it. This rail trail begins in Burlington and follows the route of a railbed – the Island Line – built in 1899 by the Rutland-Canadian Railroad to connect New England to the Great Lakes, until moving freight by other means became cheaper around the 1950s. The railbed remained abandoned until it became a path for pedestrians and cyclists in the 1980s, and this rail trail has been one of the most unique things to do in Vermont ever since. To reach the end of the 14-mile stretch, you have to take a ferry, which bridges a 200-foot gap in the causeway, before continuing the short journey to South Hero Island.

To acquire a bike, check out Local Motion, a rental shop and advocacy organization in Burlington. This outpost offers conventional and hybrid bikes as well as e-bikes and kids bikes; trailers or tag-alongs are available for certain rentals. Local Motion also operates the bike ferry and provides an interactive map of the trail. Both bike rentals and ferry rides are available seasonally from May to October.

Experience the sugarhouses

As one of the largest producers of maple syrup, Vermont has thousands of sugarhouses, many of which host Maple Open House Weekends in March with tours and tastings. The events align with sugaring season (and mud season), when oscillating temperatures allow sap to loosen and flow through maple trees for sugar makers to collect. If you don't want to visit Vermont during mud season but still want to learn about syrup production and history, check out Baird Farm in Chittenden, which offers free tours and tastings year-round (reservations required). Previous guests rave about the staff's hospitality here.

[Read: The Top Romantic Getaways in Vermont .]

Try out a delicious creemee

Courtesy of Canteen Creemee Company

Creemees are essentially soft-serve ice cream, but there's no real consensus on where the name came from. Perhaps the moniker derives from the fact that Vermont used to make its soft serve higher in butterfat content and, hence, creamier. Either way, the creemee's most iconic flavor is maple, but you can't go wrong with any flavor at places such as Canteen Creemee Company in Waitsfield, The Village Scoop in Colchester and Al's French Frys in Burlington, all of which come recommended by locals and visitors alike. If you're looking for plant-based options, head to Offbeat Creemee in Winooski.

Breweries and beer trails

If you like craft beer, chances are Vermont is already on your list of places to visit . Featuring some of the top-rated breweries in the U.S., Vermont is home to The Alchemist in Stowe, whose Heady Topper IPA has a cult following, as well as Freak Folk Bier in Waterbury and Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro. If you really want to immerse yourself in the craft beer scene, follow one of the Vermont Brewers Association's beer trails (available online or on an app where you can take the Vermont Brewery Passport Challenge). Cyclists may want to check out the bike-friendly Burlington Trail, where you can imbibe highly rated beers at Foam Brewers. Pet owners can take advantage of the Dog Friendly Beer Trail to drink alongside furry friends, while the Tiny Trail will take beer enthusiasts exclusively to nano breweries.

Vermont Teddy Bear

What started as a Burlington street cart in 1981 has grown into a full-fledged store and experience in Shelburne, Vermont. At Vermont Teddy Bear, visitors can take a tour of the factory where the now-famous plush bears are made, including the Bear Hospital, where injured or sick teddy bears are lovingly repaired by the resident bear doctor. For an additional fee on top of the tour cost, visitors can make their own teddy bear to take home or gift to someone they love. It's the perfect way to commemorate a trip to Vermont for visitors of all ages. You can also check out the on-site Bear Shop to browse the selection of bears and Vermont-made products.

Address: 6655 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, VT 05482

Simon Pearce Flagship

Courtesy of Simon Pearce

Another item to immortalize a trip to Vermont (albeit more expensive than a teddy bear) is a handcrafted piece of glassware or pottery from the Simon Pearce store in Quechee, the namesake studio of a legendary Irish-American entrepreneur and artist who resides in Vermont. Located in a renovated historic woolen mill that's hydroelectrically powered by the Ottauquechee River – an attraction in itself – the artist's flagship store includes a workshop where you can watch craftspeople blowing glass pieces that are sold on-site, in addition to fine dining at The Mill at Simon Pearce, which overlooks a waterfall and covered bridge.

Address: 1760 Quechee Main St., Quechee, VT 05059

Hit the ski slopes in Stowe and beyond

Courtesy of Stowe Mountain Resort

Vermont is a world-renowned destination for skiing, with more than two dozen public ski areas on offer. Among them is Stowe Mountain Resort , nicknamed the "Ski Capital of the East" and considered one of the best places to ski in the U.S. This resort touts 485 acres of skiable terrain that cover Spruce Peak and Mount Mansfield, the highest point in Vermont. Just as good as the skiing and snowboarding is the town of Stowe itself, where shops and restaurants line Main Street and hotels such as Topnotch Resort and The Lodge at Spruce Peak offer luxury accommodations and amenities.

Check out other notable ski resorts such as Killington, the largest ski area on the East Coast, and family-friendly Smugglers' Notch, where winter activities include ski lessons for kids as young as 3, snowshoe scavenger hunts and a winter carnival. On any summer voyage to Vermont, don't overlook resorts such as Okemo, where you can ride what's essentially a flying couch – skiers will know it as a bubble chairlift – and hike to a historic fire tower for 360-degree mountain views.

[See more of Stowe: Things to Do | Hotels | When to Visit | Photos ]

Trapp Family Lodge

One of the hotels that make Stowe a popular place to stay is the Trapp Family Lodge , owned by the von Trapp family (yes, that von Trapp family). After the Trapp Family Singers toured the U.S. in the early 1940s, they decided to settle on a farm in Stowe, which reminded them of their home country, Austria . In the summer of 1950, the family opened a 27-room lodge. Later destroyed by a fire, the Trapp Family Lodge was rebuilt with a variety of accommodations, activities and on-site dining, now including von Trapp Brewing, where you can drink in the resort's history, mountain views, and a craft beer or two.

Address: 700 Trapp Hill Road, Stowe, VT 05672

Vermont Cheese Trail

All roads lead to cheese on the Vermont Cheese Trail, composed of more than 45 award-winning cheesemakers including Cabot Creamery. Some farms provide tastings and/or tours, while others simply sell their best products. Check out an online map of the Vermont Cheese Trail to see each cheesemaker's location and offerings.

Wondering where to begin your cheesy commute through Vermont? If you like aged cheddar, stop at Grafton Village Cheese or Shelburne Farms. For goat cheese, try the chevre varieties at Blue Ledge Farm. You also can't go wrong with the offerings at Consider Bardwell Cheese. No matter where you go, the products made by Jasper Hill Farm, whose cheeses rank among the best in the world, are more than worth a taste. While its location in the Northeast Kingdom region isn't open to the public, the farm's artisanal cheeses can be found at local grocery stores (and at select stores throughout the U.S.).

Liberty Hill Farm

Courtesy of Liberty Hill Farm

For a look at where the cheese process begins, Liberty Hill Farm offers tours and overnight accommodations. Guests of this dairy farm's cozy bed-and-breakfast enjoy a farm-fresh morning meal, afternoon cocoa and cookies, and a hardy dinner each day of their stay – with ingredients including Cabot Creamery cheeses. The biggest draw of a visit to Liberty Hill Farm, however, is the opportunity to feed and milk the resident cows. Even if you don't decide to stay at the inn, you can still book this activity through Airbnb Experiences . When you aren't doing kid-approved farm chores or meeting the animals, you will find plenty to do in the surrounding area. Previous guests, especially families with young children, say their farm experience was enriching, adding that the home-cooked meals are exceptionally good.

Address: 511 Liberty Hill, Rochester, VT 05767

General stores

For all things Americana and Vermont, take some time to browse a kitschy general store or two. The Vermont Country Store is the most famous, of course, with several locations throughout the state. Here you can buy everything from candy and gifts to clothing and kitchenware. But even more interesting is the F.H. Gillingham and Sons store in Woodstock: One of Vermont's oldest general stores still run by the same family, it's owned by descendants of Frank Henry Gillingham, who opened the general store in 1886, and Franklin Billings. Its original customer guarantee, "Your money's worth or your money back," is still honored today. Previous patrons love the vintage vibe of this store, with some calling F.H. Gillingham and Sons a mandatory stop in Woodstock.

Visit the former house and grave of Robert Frost

If you've ever enjoyed Robert Frost's poetry, head to the southwest corner of the state to learn more about the time he spent there. The first poet laureate of Vermont lived in a house in Shaftsbury in the 1920s that has since become the Robert Frost Stone House Museum; visitors can see the room where in 1922 Frost wrote his renowned poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening." Explore the poet's life through letters, writing drafts, notes and other documents at this house museum, which is open seasonally from May through October.

Less than 5 miles away, you can make a pit stop at a historic cemetery in Old Bennington, located next to the Old First Church, to visit his grave, which is etched with a line of his poetry: "I had a lover's quarrel with the world." This burial ground is near the also visit-worthy Bennington Battle Monument, a storied structure that happens to be the tallest in Vermont.

Grafton Inn

Hang your hat where Ulysses S. Grant, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Ralph Waldo Emerson and other well-known figures once hung theirs. You'll see those names and the names of other famous guests in the cozy lobby of this inn, a member of the Historic Hotels of America. Grafton Inn offers individually (and beautifully) furnished rooms, suites and guesthouses on top of top-notch dining. The 1801 Tavern also houses Pine Room Bar, and the Phelps Barn Pub offers live music on select evenings. On-site activities include hiking, mountain biking, disc golf and pond swimming in the summer months, as well as cross-country skiing, snow tubing, snowshoeing and sleigh rides in the winter. There may not be tons to do in the village of Grafton itself – it's a small town with a cheese shop and a mercantile or two – but that's the allure.

Address: 92 Main St., Grafton, VT 05146

Shelburne Museum

Courtesy of Shelburne Museum

The Shelburne Museum has a little bit of everything, with attractions and activities located both indoors and out: The 39 buildings housing its collections are scattered across 45 acres. One popular exhibition can be found in the Circus Building, where you can ogle the fantastical, miniature Arnold Circus Parade, a hand-carved display that nearly runs the length of the 518-foot building. This unconventional museum also features historic Vermont structures, including a rare two-lane covered bridge from 1845, a Lake Champlain lighthouse from 1871 and the 1906 Ticonderoga, a restored 220-foot steamboat and National Historic Landmark that visitors can freely explore. Reviewers say the admission cost may be a bit steep but assure you'll understand why once you see just how special this museum is. Note that the Shelburne Museum is open seasonally from May to October.

Address: 6000 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, VT 05482

Basin Harbor

If there's one place that captures the spirit of Vermont, it's Basin Harbor, a resort whose repeat guests span generations – a true testament to the vacation experience at this lakefront lodge. Tucked into the woods of Vergennes, this enchanting resort offers pet-friendly cottages on the water as well as hotel guest rooms, and a variety of on-site dining options that include al fresco cookouts and lobster dinners on the North Dock. Lake Champlain activities range from narrated cruises and shipwreck tours to tubing and paddleboating, while land-based fun includes hiking, biking, tennis, croquet and badminton. Families especially love knockerball, a game similar to soccer where players are encased in inflatable spheres, as well as the Kids Club, with age-specific groups and activities. Bonus: The resort offers a variety of meal plans, including a Full American Plan that includes three meals daily.

Address: 4800 Basin Harbor Road, Vergennes, VT 05491

The Tyler Place Family Resort

Did you know there are all-inclusive resorts in Vermont? Perhaps the most well-known option is The Tyler Place Family Resort in Swanton. This classic resort offers a variety of cozy accommodations such as cottages with screened porches and kitchenettes – but not kitchens, since breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in nightly rates. Speaking of meals, The Tyler Place has a unique setup for dinner: Adults are encouraged to enjoy a quiet meal while children – who get to eat earlier – play with the newfound friends and counselors they meet via the resort's award-winning programs for kids. Together, families enjoy a seemingly endless array of activities, from banana boating and water skiing on Lake Champlain to biking around the property and exploring the gardens.

Note that The Tyler Place is open seasonally and, with the exception of Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends, requires a Saturday-to-Saturday reservation. Families rave about their stay at the resort, noting that it provides the perfect balance of alone time and family time.

Address: 175 Tyler Place, Swanton, VT 05488

Woodstock Inn & Resort

Courtesy of Woodstock Inn & Resort

The Woodstock Inn & Resort was purchased by Laurance and Mary Rockefeller in 1967, but its history traces back to a small tavern built in 1793. Today this inn is one of the best hotels in Vermont . The historic inn offers lovely guest rooms and suites (including pet-friendly options) that combine the Rockefellers' love of nature and historic preservation. Guests can also enjoy its distinct restaurants, including the award-winning Red Rooster, and a top-rated spa. The hotel also offers an activity center where you can arrange off-site excursions such as Orvis-endorsed fly fishing and mountain biking. Nearby, guests can visit the Billings Farm & Museum, enjoy winter sports at the Suicide Six ski area and stroll the quaint village of Woodstock.

Address: 14 The Green, Woodstock, VT 05091

Northeast Kingdom

Referred to by locals as the Northeast Kingdom for its natural splendor, this region in the northeast corner of Vermont borders Canada and is more remote than most places in the state (if you can believe it). In addition to its beauty, this area boasts charming dining and lodging options alongside opportunities for agritourism and ecotourism.

Explore the many vacation destinations along the Northeast Kingdom Byway, a 51-mile corridor that makes for a scenic driving tour. In the town of Burke, you'll find Lake Willoughby, Mount Pisgah and Burke Mountain Resort. Animal lovers may want to check out Saint Johnsbury, which has a lively downtown area and the one-of-a-kind Dog Chapel. Newport, a small city with lots of water activities on Lake Memphremagog, is another potential stop in the Northeast Kingdom. Not quite along the byway but still worth a visit is the town of Jay, home to Jay Peak Resort and the Pump House indoor water park (the only one of its kind in Vermont).

Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park

Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Park is the only national park in Vermont as well as the nation's only national park dedicated to conservation history and the evolving nature of land stewardship in the U.S. Both self- and ranger-guided tours of the park allow visitors to explore an on-site mansion featuring esteemed landscape artwork. You can traverse trails that lead to the Pogue, a 14-acre pond, and take in unparalleled views of the village of Woodstock and the surrounding countryside. It's the perfect place to enjoy a picnic lunch. The park also offers Junior Ranger programming for kids.

Address: 54 Elm St., Woodstock, VT 05091

Courtesy of Twin Farms

If you're looking for a romantic getaway in Vermont, book a stay at Twin Farms , one of the best Vermont hotels. At this intimate, all-inclusive hotel tucked into the countryside, guests have a choice of guest rooms, suites, cottages and the Farmhouse (whose four suites can be booked individually or together for groups), all of which are equal parts luxurious and cozy. Select cottages allow up to two dogs, with beds, blankets, treats, bowls and waste cans included in the additional pet fee.

Unique activities include bee tours, ax throwing and archery when the weather is warm; in the colder months, guests can enjoy options like ice fishing and skating. Of course, the Bridge House Spa (complete with a glass-brick steam room) is perfect any time of year, as is the seasonally inspired food and wine program. In fact, Twins Farms places an emphasis on the dining experience, with premium meal options including gourmet picnic lunches and private dinners in the on-site wine cellar. Previous guests can't say enough good things about Twin Farms, noting the service is beyond compare.

Address: 452 Royalton Turnpike, Barnard, VT 05031

The Essex, Vermont's Culinary Resort & Spa

Courtesy of The Essex, Vermont's Culinary Resort & Spa

The Essex is a culinary resort, which means you'll not only get to eat some of the best food you've ever had, but you'll also get to prepare it. At the resort's Cook Academy, hands-on classes – designed for all skill levels – span cake decorating, curated dinners, brunch, sushi rolling, and Vermont beer and cheese pairings. Of course, The Essex also offers phenomenal dining options, notably Junction: an interactive, award-winning restaurant. Other highlights of the resort include a spa, pool and championship tennis courts. Reviewers say they enjoyed their stay at The Essex and also appreciated its close proximity – about 10 miles – to Burlington.

Address: 70 Essex Way, Essex, VT 05452

The Coffee Roost

Courtesy of Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea

Wake up to the smell of fresh coffee beans at The Coffee Roost , an Airbnb located above a working coffee roaster. The modernly furnished apartment, which is accessible via a private entrance, features a cozy queen bed and a spacious, fully equipped kitchen with bar seating. Guests appreciate the uniqueness of this Airbnb, along with its close proximity to Stowe and Waterbury.

Address: 11 Cabin Lane, Waterbury Center, VT 05677

You might also be interested in:

• The Top Things to Do in New Hampshire
• The Top Things to Do in Maine
• The Top Things to Do in Rhode Island
• The Top Things to Do in Brooklyn
• The Top Romantic Getaways in New Hampshire
• The Top Romantic Getaways in Maine
• The Top Boston Harbor Cruises
• Romantic Hotels Worth a Stay
• The Top Travel Backpacks

Tags: Travel , New England Vacations , US Vacations

World's Best Places To Visit

• # 1 South Island, New Zealand
• # 4 Bora Bora

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

You May Also Like

The 13 best key west tours of 2024.

Gwen Pratesi May 3, 2024

Essentials to Pack for a Cruise

Gwen Pratesi and Amanda Norcross May 2, 2024

Swimming With Pigs in the Bahamas

Amanda Norcross May 2, 2024

The 15 Best Chicago Tours for 2024

John Rodwan May 1, 2024

The 10 Best Harry Potter Tours in London

Marisa Méndez April 30, 2024

12 Cheap Fourth of July Getaways

April 29, 2024

The Best Tours of Buckingham Palace

Laura French April 29, 2024

Flight Canceled or Delayed? What to Do

Amanda Norcross April 26, 2024

The Best Beach Hats

Megan Johnson and Sharael Kolberg April 26, 2024

The Best Florence Tours

John Rodwan April 25, 2024

Tranquil Trekker

“Not all those who wander are lost.” –J.R.R. Tolkein

9 “Don’t Miss” Places for Your Vermont and New Hampshire Road Trip

In this post, I review the New England road trip we took through Vermont and New Hampshire during the summer of 2019.

3 weeks, 13 states, 5,138 miles, and 2 quarts of oil (FYI, Subarus inhale oil) gives you a grand New England Road Trip!  Because, when you live in Western South Dakota, why wouldn’t you drive all the way to the coast of Maine for summer vacation? 😮😛

In 2019 the Trekkers spent three weeks on a whirlwind tour of the Northeast. We spent the first week visiting with Mr. Trekkers’ family in Connecticut, enjoying some of the old haunts from his childhood.  Then we spent a weekend toodling around Vermont and New Hampshire, and then enjoyed several days at Acadia National Park, in Maine.  We finished with a quick visit with my family in Indiana on the way back. Read on for “Don’t Miss” places for your Vermont and New Hampshire road trip! 

Northern New England Countryside

I love northern New England!  After traveling the crazy highways that snake all around its southern section, you hit the Vermont state line and life seems to slow down a little, again.  You find yourself quickly returning to the small-town charm of country towns; earthy, damp smells radiate from the walls of green trees and ferns in the woods that surround you.  It feels different here… most of the trees are deciduous hardwoods, whereas we’re used to the evergreens more commonly found in the Black Hills (and areas of Colorado that we frequent).  It feels almost like a rainforest compared to the more arid land we’re used to.  It reminded us a bit of the Redwood forests in California (except without the Redwood trees 😛).

“Don’t Miss” sites in Vermont and New Hampshire

Below are some highlights from our whirlwind tour…

Route 100, Vermont:

We traversed much of this scenic byway that spans the majority of the state, from north to south.  Several of the locations listed below were found on or near that road.  Throughout these travels, we enjoyed one of Vermont’s prime attractions, covered bridges, as well.  

For more pictures of some great waterfalls around New England, check out my friend, Kathy’s blog here .

Ben and Jerry’s Flagship Store, Waterbury Vermont: 

We decided we didn’t have time to actually do the factory tour where you can watch how the ice cream is made (though that would have been REALLY cool).  However, we did get ice cream from the official store, and I’ve got a tie-dyed t-shirt to prove it!  We did take the time to check out a portion of the grounds called the “flavor graveyard”.  It was a little weird 🙃 but it was interesting seeing the various flavor options that have come and gone throughout the years.  Check out the website for the factory here . 

Cold Hollow Cider Mill, Waterbury, VT: 

Just up the road from Ben and Jerry’s is a cool cider mill.  It specializes in fresh-baked, cider donuts.  I thought they tasted more like spice cake, but either way, they were good! Click here to check out the website for the mill! 

The Vermont Country Store, Weston, VT: 

This place was nice.  It kind of reminded me of Wall Drug , in Wall, SD, but was far less immense.  It was definitely a cute place to pick up some local delicacies and check out some cool, retro toys and games from the ’80s, that brought back memories of our childhoods. 😁

Quechee Gorge, Hartford, VT: 

This place was really cool!  The Ottauquechee River cuts through over 100 feet of rock in this area, the result is a GORGEOUS, scenic view.  A hiking trail nearby takes you on an easy hike of less than one mile, to the head of the gorge, where the river is dammed.  This provides a unique view down the length of the canyon. 

The trail also traverses about a mile downhill, the length of the gorge, to where the river emerges from the rock again.  This is a popular swimming area.  Be aware though, as it’s downhill from the main parking lot all the way to the swimming site, you know what that means for the return trip! 😛

Simon Pearce Glass Mill and Store, Quechee, VT:  

Ran using hydroelectric power from the same river that formed the Quechee Gorge, this place was AWESOME!  We were able to watch the artisans blow and shape the glass in the mill, in the basement, while the final product is sold in the store upstairs.  The shop also features a nice restaurant that overlooks the river. 

We decided the creations (even the seconds) were a little too rich for our blood, especially with the risk of breaking them as it was the middle of a lengthy road trip!

Camping at State Parks in Vermont and Maine

Because we enjoy camping, and it helps to keep costs down when on road trips, we spent a few nights at state parks in both Vermont and Maine. The mosquitoes were bad throughout the trip, but that’s to be expected in the middle of the damp woods. 😉

I’m a nature girl, I like critters, even the slithery, skittering, venomous–if we must–kind, as long as we can leave each other alone.  What I can’t abide are mosquitoes.  Seriously, why, just why?  That will be one of the many questions I have for the “Big Guy” someday. 

What purpose do they serve?  Food for other critters?  That’s fine, but why do they have to suck OUR blood, causing welts that itch to high heaven (and are bigger than the critter that left them) that last for days on end, and can even end up infected due to excessive scratching brought on by the extreme itching (I know from experience).  A bug that DOESN’T carry potentially deadly disease couldn’t fill that spot?  I’m just saying. 😛  They say God doesn’t make mistakes but the presence of mosquitoes makes me wonder a bit. 🤔  

The campsites throughout the campgrounds were largely gravel and flat.  They have large stone hearths to use for fires, we aren’t used to that in the Black Hills.  It made me think of the Flintstones. 😂  Most of the sites were large enough they could fit a small trailer/pop-up camper (we just brought the old, trusty, ground tent for this trip).  There were also flush toilets, electricity, and showers (oh my! 😱)  I can’t remember the last time we had those types of “fancy” amenities when camping! 😉 

This may be because it’s been a while since we stayed at a state park.  We’ve gotten used to national forest sites , with their vault toilets (and that’s it). 😋  Other than their more rustic accommodations though, national forests are still my favorite places to camp.

Below are some of the parks we visited:

Coolidge State Park, Plymouth, VT: 

This is a newer park, and it includes buildings from the historical homestead of the 30th President of the United States, Calvin Coolidge.  This was the first place we camped, and the quietest.  Sites were shaded and well-separated from each other.

New Discovery State Park, Marshfield, VT: 

This place was cute.  It rained that night, but not till we were nearing the end of our fire logs, so it was a nice sound to lull us to sleep.  There was a weird bird that kept attacking its reflection in the side mirror of my car, and a garter snake got my heart racing when it crawled out of a hole in our fire hearth! 😱  Other than these visitors, though, it was a decent little campground.

Sebago Lake State Park, Naples, ME: 

Funnily enough, I actually completed a writeup about this park, just a few weeks before we visited, for an online job I had at the time!  This was the busiest park we stayed at, with sites that were placed the closest together.  They were nice, and shaded, and allowed you close contact with all your New Yorker neighbors 😋 (we definitely don’t hear the Brooklyn accent much out in Western South Dakota! 😂)  One unique aspect of this area was all the sycamore trees, with their LARGE, scalloped leaves. 

This park sits on the northern shores of the VERY large, Sebago Lake.  It was cold, but refreshing to swim in.  We enjoyed our almost-lakeside campsite.  It was cool watching the full moon rise over the flat, mirrored waters of the lake after dark.

Camping in Vermont

I love camping!  I love the random, natural experiences you have that you don’t notice cooped up in a house…the sun that dapples through the treetops as water droplets dribble and drip from the still-wet leaves after the rainstorm from the night before…you can see blue sky and stars peeking through the crowns of the trees…the sunbeams filter through the crown of tree leaves and slice through the morning mists that rise from the damp ground…you wake up in the morning to the granddaddy-long-leg who waves at you from his perch on the outside of your tent…

Vermont state parks are pretty nice.  They have lean-to’s that can be rented out, which we’ve never seen at developed campgrounds before.  They don’t seem like they would provide the most privacy or protection from the weather–or any critters–as it appeared people just set their hammocks/sleeping gear up in the shelter that has a roof, but only three walls.  We did see several people putting up tarps as a fourth wall.

They’re big on their “ponds” in New England, except many of them are bigger than the “lakes”.  Many are as big as some of the largest reservoirs in the Black Hills.  They may need to work on their wording a bit. 😋

Scenic Drives in New Hampshire

As we’ve already driven several of the main scenic routes through the White Mountains in New Hampshire, this time we chose to try out the northern route (US 2 to Route 16).  As it turns out, this isn’t nearly as pretty as the scenic byways that are comprised of Route 112 and US 302, that traverse areas such as Franconia Notch.  Those areas are GORGEOUS!

We then ventured into North Conway for lunch.  This was our second time visiting this little town.  We realized we had been there almost exactly 10 years ago, shortly before we got married! 

We had attempted to hike the infamous Mount Washington on that trip, but we didn’t make it to the summit thanks to several factors (including a certain blogger leaving breakfast on the side of the mountain 🤮).  I want to come back and try it again though, Tuckerman Ravine looks SO beautiful!  Now that we hike more regularly and are FAR more used to higher altitudes, I’m hoping we’ll be able to handle it a bit better.

Both of the Trekkers visited New Hampshire several times throughout our childhoods and we always really enjoyed it.   We were surprised to note that, on this trip, we both found the woods of southern Vermont to be more welcoming than the rugged forests of northern Vermont and New Hampshire/Maine. (The northern mountains reminded us of the Black Hills so they didn’t seem as much like a vacation. 😋)  They also reminded us of other northern forests that we’ve been to, such as those in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, those in Glacier National Park/northwestern Montana, those in the Big Horns, and those in northern Colorado (such as in State Forest State Park ).

Looking for more amazing pictures of the New England mountains? Check out the Rusch to the Outdoors blog !

It got us to thinking about how much has happened in 10 years:  we got married; we moved to South Dakota; there were new jobs for both of us; we bought a house…what will the next 10 years bring?  Good things hopefully!

Next up,  Part 2 of our trip, Acadia National Park ! 

Have you ever been to these parts of New Hampshire or Vermont? Tell me about your experiences in the comments! 

Did you enjoy this post?  Pin it!

Like what you read here today?  Please feel free to leave a comment, like or share this post!  Add your email at the bottom of the page, or the sidebar to the right, to be notified when a new post is published.  By signing up for the email list, you will also receive a free copy of the Tranquil Trekker’s Top 10 Tips of Trekking Do’s and Don’ts!

You can also follow the blog on social media by clicking the links below!

Share this:

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)

3 thoughts on “9 “Don’t Miss” Places for Your Vermont and New Hampshire Road Trip”

• Pingback: Mountains of New England – Rusch To The Outdoors
• Pingback: Best Summer Hiking Trails in the US - PhotoJeepers
• Pingback: Acadia National Park: Sunsets, Lighthouses, Hiking and More! : Tranquil Trekker

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Privacy Overview

Terms and Conditions

• Work with us

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 !

Want to find campsites all over the US? Try the Dyrt PRO for FREE for one month! The Dyrt is the #1 camping app in the US! Sign up for a FREE 30 day trial of their PRO version using our code AplusK ! The Dyrt PRO offers many incredible features to make finding campsites even easier (+ cheaper). Some of our favorite features are: -Offline maps, so you can find campsites without cell service -Map layers to find free camping areas (+ cell phone service map layers) -Discounts from PRO partners and on campground bookings (up to 40%!)

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!

Ready to experience the beauty of New England in the fall?

Pin or save this New England fall road trip itinerary to help your planning!

get the behind the scenes scoop!

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.

Comments are closed.

© 2023 Adventures of A+K. All Rights Reserved. Website built with love by  Dreamworthy Design . – Stock Photos provided by our partner  Depositphotos

Privacy Policy

14 Best Places to Visit in New Hampshire

Written by Barbara Radcliffe Rogers Aug 5, 2022

From the historic seaport of Portsmouth and its nearby beaches to the majestic rock-bound peaks of the White Mountains and the vast northern forests, New Hampshire overflows with places to visit and things to do.

Cruise Lake Winnipesaukee on a vintage steamer, ride a train through spectacular fall foliage, photograph covered bridges and idyllic New England villages , or spend summer days watching the kids play in one of the White Mountains' many attractions for families.

Couples will find romantic getaways easy to plan, with country inns and cozy B&Bs in the mountains and overlooking quiet lakes.

The White Mountains alone could fill a vacation with things to see, including beautiful waterfalls and natural wonders like The Flume Gorge and Lost River. Mountain tramways and The Cog Railway ascend to the summits for even more panoramic views. So get started planning your next vacation with this list of the best places to visit in New Hampshire.

1. North Conway and Eastern White Mountains

2. portsmouth, 3. franconia notch and western white mountains, 4. lake winnipesaukee, 5. the seacoast: short and sandy, 6. mount washington, 7. monadnock region towns, 8. kancamagus highway, 10. lake sunapee, 11. hanover and the upper valley, 12. squam lake, 13. manchester, 14. the great north woods, map of places to visit in new hampshire.

North Conway's location, in the middle of the beautiful valley carved by the meandering Saco River in the heart of the White Mountains, makes it a natural center for skiing in New Hampshire in winter and outdoor sports in the summer.

Cranmore Mountain , one of the nation's first ski resorts, becomes a summer playground with its Aerial Adventure Park and Mountain Coaster.

Building on these assets, North Conway took advantage of New Hampshire's lack of a sales tax to become a center for name-brand outlet stores. Along with shopping in the outlets and in the boutiques and shops lining Main Street, one of the most popular things to do here is riding the vintage trains of the Conway Scenic Railroad , either south through the scenic Saco Valley or north into the rugged landscapes of Crawford Notch .

The Saco seems made for kayakers as it flows through the valley; you can rent kayaks or go on guided tours with Saco Bound.

Likewise, Cathedral Ledge and Whitehorse Ledge, which form a scenic backdrop to the valley's west, seems put there for climbers, and are known as two of the country's best trad cliffs . Watching climbers scale these vertical faces is a popular spectator sport.

Hikers will find trails of all levels , from woodland walks to challenging climbs, making North Conway a good base for outdoor sports enthusiasts.

Read More: Best Things to Do in North Conway

Its deep harbor and the availability of an unlimited supply of tall pine trees sought by the British Royal Navy for shipbuilding combined to make Portsmouth one of America's most important Colonial seaports.

The wealth of its merchants is easily appreciated when visiting one of the several historic homes of that era, each with its own special features.

The elegant Warner House , for example, has the oldest colonial wall paintings in their original place, as well as the earliest example of Queen Anne furniture in America. The equally elegant Moffatt-Ladd House , built in 1763, has its original furniture; it and the Rundlet-May House are known for their period gardens.

For a sense of how people lived here during different periods of the city's four-century history, visit the 10-acre Strawbery Banke Museum , preserving homes and other buildings in the old port neighborhood. Rather than restored to the same period, these homes, lodgings, and shops are preserved as they appeared in various eras, and costumed interpreters demonstrate period skills and crafts. Eras represented range from the 1600s to a neighborhood market stocked with foods of the 1940s.

A reminder that even in the north, the wealthy in seaport towns and elsewhere were served by enslaved people, Portsmouth's Black Heritage Trail traces Black culture of the colonial and later periods. Sites include the docks where slaves were auctioned as they came off the ships, and a touching memorial park marking the location of a recently discovered African burial ground.

Portsmouth isn't all about history. Market Square and the adjoining Market Street are lined with independent shops and boutiques, including the ultimate book and toy store for children, G. Willikers! And Portsmouth's dining scene is enough to lure food lovers from Boston.

Along the waterfront, Prescott Park is filled with flowers in the summer, and often with music, as it's the venue for the Summer Music Concert Series . The city's main concert and performance venue is The Music Hall , with a year-round schedule of top names.

Read More: Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Portsmouth, NH

New Hampshire's notches are passes that have been scoured out into bowl-like shapes by glaciers, and Franconia Notch includes some of the best things to do in the western White Mountains. Interstate 93 becomes a two-lane road here to preserve the fragile ledges and wilderness character of the notch.

The Flume is the first stop heading north, a deep gorge with vertical sides carved by the small brook that still runs through it. An optional longer path leads past Table Rock, Avalanche Falls, Liberty Gorge Cascade, and through a covered footbridge. The Basin , a round pool carved out of solid rock, is just up the road.

For another dramatic rock formation, make a short detour to visit Lost River .

At the head of the notch is Echo Lake , where there's a beach and boat rentals. Behind it, a trail climbs to Artists' Bluff , overlooking Echo Lake and the ski slopes of Cannon Mountain .

Near the lake is the base for the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway , which has been airlifting skiers, hikers, and leaf-peepers to the 4,080-foot summit of Cannon Mountain since 1938. The views widen as the giant gondola climbs, and at the top, even more precipitous views are revealed by a walk along the Rim Trail .

Finding things to do around Lake Winnipesaukee is a lot easier than spelling its name. You can drive around it to visit lakeside towns, explore it by kayak, cruise it on a lake steamer, ride alongside it on a train, or just enjoy looking at the lake from an Adirondack chair on your hotel balcony.

And, of course, you can swim in it, at beaches in Weirs, Gilford, and Wolfeboro.

Things for families to do are clustered around Weirs Beach , where you can board the historic cruise boat, MS Mount Washington ; the US Mailboat MV Sophie C .; or the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad for a scenic ride to the lakeside town of Meredith . Nearby FunSpot has a huge arcade and the world's largest video game museum for rainy day fun.

More places to visit are on the eastern side of Lake Winnipesaukee, in Wolfeboro , quieter than Weirs Beach, with galleries, boutiques, and lakeside dining. Step back into the golden age of boating with a ride on the Millie B , a 28-foot mahogany replica of a 1928 Hacker-Craft.

New Hampshire's 18-mile coastline is the shortest of any state, but it packs a lot of summer fun into those miles. Hampton Beach , one of the best beaches in the Northeast , is 700 feet long and at high tide is 150 feet wide.

There's always a lot going on at Hampton Beach. On the boardwalk that lines the beachfront, the 1899 Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom is a live music and comedy venue and there are movies on the beach, fireworks, and frequent concerts at Hampton Beach State Park's Seashell Stage. Along the boardwalk, you'll find all the old favorite beach kiosks selling soft ice cream, cotton candy, beach toys and souvenirs.

North of Hampton, you'll find more beaches in the town of Rye, beginning with the long crescent of Bass Beach, followed by the wide sands of Jenness State Beach , where you'll often see surfers riding the waves. Farther north, Wallis Sands is protected by stone jetties and abuts the even longer stretch of Rye Beach.

Between the beaches is Rye Harbor , the departure point for several seagoing activities. A cute row of fishing shacks contain places to buy tackle or sign up for deep-sea fishing trips . Granite State Whale Watch operates whale-watching cruises .

From a picnic table or bench at Rye Harbor State Park, you can watch the boats go in and out between the breakwaters that protect the little harbor.

New Hampshire's tallest peak and the highest elevation in the northeast, Mt. Washington is the apex of the Presidential Range of the Appalachian Mountains. On clear days, you can see four states from its summit; when clouds roll in, you'll have trouble seeing your hand at arm's length.

You can explore Mt. Washington in several ways, each a different experience. You can drive your car to the summit on the fully paved Mt. Washington Auto Road , climbing more than 4,500 feet at an average gradient of 12 percent, through woodlands that become more dwarfed and twisted until they are replaced with a rock-strewn landscape and endless views. You can ride the same tortuous route in a van, or in the winter climb halfway on a track-wheeled SnowCoach.

The most popular way to the summit is from the other side on the Mount Washington Cog Railway . One of the most popular things to do in the state, The Cog has been carrying passengers up the mountain since 1869. There's plenty of time at the summit to explore the old TipTop House, see the weather exhibits, and take in the views.

You can also climb Mt. Washington from several different approaches. A favorite, with waterfalls and some of the best views, is the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail from the base of the Cog Railway.

Remember that the weather is capricious, and the mountain has claimed many lives. So pay attention to the forecast and to current precautionary warnings.

The southwestern part of the state, known by the name of its prominent mountain, is filled with classic New England villages . White church spires overlook well-kept village greens, and colonial-era homes provide the foreground for scenic views along the Connecticut River valley and of Mount Monadnock , America's most-climbed mountain .

Fall is perhaps the most popular time to visit, when picture-perfect villages such as Walpole, Fitzwilliam, Hancock, Jaffrey Center, and Park Hill in Westmoreland are framed in brilliant foliage.

Fall is also the most colorful time for one of the region's most popular things to do: photograph covered bridges . The town of Swanzey, south of Keene, has the most, and you can follow a route through four of them, with a fifth in neighboring Winchester.

This part of New Hampshire nurtures an especially vibrant cultural community. Throughout the Monadnock region, tourists can admire and buy art glass, handweaving, jewelry, baskets, furniture, and woodenware in craftsmen's studios and co-operatives.

The spine of the Appalachian Mountains divides New Hampshire's White Mountains region into two halves, connected at the center by the 2,855-foot Kancamagus Pass. The two-lane NH Route 112 climbs over the spine in a series of tight switchback turns on the western side and somewhat more gradually on the eastern.

Near the summit, viewing areas overlook layers of mountains and the undeveloped wilderness of the White Mountain National Forest, even finer vistas than you can see from the road itself. Note that unless you already have one, you'll need to stop at the Lincoln or Conway end to get a National Forest pass in order to park in these.

Along with the views, you'll be rewarded with several places to visit along the route. Most of these are on the Conway side, first the scenic Rocky Gorge and Lower Falls , both popular for swimming and picnics along the aptly named Swift River. Among the things to do along "The Kanc" is the short hike to Sabbaday Falls , a waterfall in a 40-foot gorge.

A historic house (there used to be an entire town here) and a covered bridge are also worth a stop, and if you're camping, there are two of the best campgrounds in New Hampshire . Jigger Johnson and Blackberry Crossing each has large, well-spaced tent sites in the forest along the banks of the Swift River.

New Hampshire's capital combines the charms of a traditional main street center with an arts and culture scene that would be the pride of a much larger city. The gold-domed State House (yes, it's real gold) is the centerpiece of Concord's attractive downtown, where you'll find independent shops and boutiques.

Highlights among these are the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen Gallery and Gibson's Bookstore , a Concord tradition since 1898, where you'll find an entire section devoted to books about the state and by New Hampshire authors. Step onto Warren Street for some sweet indulgences at Granite State Candies .

Not far from Gibson's, the Capital Center for the Arts hosts a full schedule of live performances in all genres, as well as films and simulcasts. For public lunch-hour concerts, recitals, and jam sessions, check the schedule of the Concord Community Music School . The intimate Red River Theatres features first-run independent films, classic and foreign films, and on-screen art exhibits.

For a look at the state's past, and an exceptional collection of works by the White Mountain Artists, step behind the State House to the New Hampshire Historical Society .

Outside of the downtown area, the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center honors two New Hampshire natives instrumental in the space program, with exhibits and hands-on activities on space exploration, aviation, and astronomy.

Read More: Top-Rated Things to Do in Concord, NH

The shores of Lake Sunapee, like those of Squam Lake, show very little development, its waterside cottages well hidden by trees. This wooded shoreline combines with the backdrop of Mount Sunapee to make it one of the most scenic lakes in New Hampshire .

Along with swimming at the long beach in Sunapee State Park, the most popular things to do here are a cruise on the MV Mt. Sunapee II or a dinner cruise on the MV Sunapee Lake Queen. Beautiful all season, these trips are especially photo-worthy, when fall foliage paints the shores and mountain.

Skiers at Mount Sunapee Ski Resort get the best views of all, with the entire lake spread out at their feet; the chairlift takes foliage viewers there in the fall.

On the southern shore of Lake Sunapee, stop to tour the outstanding gardens and 22-room mansion of The Fells , among New England's finest summer estates.

The Connecticut River separates New Hampshire from Vermont for most of their border, forming a scenic backdrop to the towns and river-side farmlands along the region known as the Upper Valley.

Hanover, home to Dartmouth College, is at the heart of the region, and its cultural center with the Hopkins Center for the Arts ("The Hop") hosting national acts in a 900-seat concert hall and theater productions in its smaller Moore Theater. Adjacent is the freshly expanded Hood Museum of Art .

You can rent canoes and kayaks to explore the Connecticut River from the Ledyard Canoe Club and in the winter, rent skis or skates at the skating rink and cross-country center, or go downhill skiing at the college's Dartmouth Skiway in neighboring Lyme.

It's worth driving north to this pretty little town, set around its tidy common, or on to see the river valley views and the stately homes of Bullfinch Row in Orford . Follow the river south of Hanover to visit the sculptor's home and studio at the Augustus Saint-Gaudens National Historic Park in Cornish.

In Cornish, you'll also find the Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge , the longest wooden bridge in the United States and the longest two-span, covered bridge in the world .

The beautiful and largely undeveloped Squam Lake is best known as the setting for the Katherine Hepburn film On Golden Pond , and it's just as idyllic in real life as in the movie. Unlike neighboring Winnipesaukee, Squam's shore is lined almost entirely with trees, with only a few cottages visible.

The Squam Lake Loon Initiative protects the resident loon population and there are strict limits on power boat speed; cottage lots are large and often passed through generations, so there is little opportunity for shore development.

Squam Lake lies in the towns of Holderness and Sandwich, both worth a stop. In Holderness, the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center has exhibits on local wildlife and offers narrated nature cruises on the lake.

On Route 113 between Holderness and Sandwich, look for a trailhead for the Old Bridle Path to the ledges on West Rattlesnake Mountain (named for the island below) for beautiful views of Squam Lake.

Center Sandwich is a postcard village, traditional white buildings arranged around a green and pond.

The red brick mill buildings that line more than a mile along the Merrimack River are only a fraction of those that made Manchester a major manufacturing center. In the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries, the Amoskeag Falls powered one of the world's largest mill complexes.

Today these buildings house offices, universities, eating places, and two museums. One of these, the excellent Millyard Museum , illustrates the role of the falls from Paleolithic times through the manufacturing era, highlighting the important role the waves of immigrants who worked here would have on Manchester.

The immigrant populations have changed over time, but still make Manchester a vibrant multicultural city. Visitors will notice this in the variety of restaurants: Nepalese, Caribbean, African, Mexican, Creole, Colombian, Greek, Pakistani, and Brazilian.

Manchester is a cultural center as well, home to one of New England's top fine arts museums, the Currier Museum of Art , and the New Hampshire Symphony Orchestra. At the restored 1915 Palace Theatre , you will find performances ranging from ballet and grand opera to improv, classic films, and children's theater.

Baseball fans can cheer for the Fisher Cats at the Delta Stadium in the city center.

Read More: Top-Rated Things to Do in Manchester, NH

North of the White Mountains, New Hampshire's terrain mellows into a scenic landscape of hills and low wooded mountains, thickly forested and largely unsettled. This northern tip is known as The Great North Woods, an appropriate name for the miles and miles of forest.

Lake Umbagog, which is shared with Maine, is a prime spot for kayaking, with paddle-in camping sites on the remote shores of the Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge . Here and throughout the region, loons swim in the lakes and moose are not an uncommon sight along the roads (portions of Route 3 are known as " Moose Alley ").

On the western side, reached by a scenic drive over Dixville Notch , are the Connecticut Lakes , a series of five, connected bodies of water that form the headwaters of the Connecticut River. Loved for their superb fishing; placid waters for canoeing and kayaking; the abundance of wildlife; and, in the winter, the snowmobile trails that crisscross the lakes and woodlands; this region is a paradise for outdoor lovers.

More on New Hampshire

Top New Hampshire Attractions

Things to do in new hampshire, explore popular experiences, popular cities in new hampshire.

Ways to tour New Hampshire

Boston to Kennebunkport with Optional Lobster Tour

WW2 Small Arms Experience

Tea Blending

Self Guided Haunted Walking Tour in Portsmouth APP/GPS/EMF Reader

Kancamagus Scenic Byway Audio Driving Tour Guide

Public|Explore the Islands & Harbor Must See Hidden Sites|2-2.5hr

3-Hour Private Sightseeing Outdoor Escape Game in Littleton, NH

Superman Zipline Tour in Morningside

Boston to New Hampshire Fall Foliage White Mountains Day Trip

New Hampshire White Mountains Autumn Foliage Tour from Portland

Top attractions in new hampshire.

Nature and Wildlife Tours

Fun & Games

Historical Tours

Walking Tours

Private Sightseeing Tours

Extreme Sports

Cultural Tours

Self-guided tours, what travelers are saying.

North America Chevron

United States Chevron

New Hampshire Chevron

15 Best Things to Do in New Hampshire

By Hannah Selinger

The Granite State might be small, but it's also geographically diverse. From ocean beaches to lakes, mountains to quaint cities, this state has pretty much everything you can ask for in terms of activity. Whether you’re heading to New Hampshire for a weekend away or for a quick, one-day excursion, there’s something for you. Here are the 15 best things to do in New Hampshire while you’re there.

Drive to the top of Mt. Washington

Mount Washington, the Northeast’s highest peak, is known for its particularly erratic weather patterns (and, among the daring, for its hike-in ski slope known as Tuckerman Ravine). Drive to the top via the Mt. Washington Auto Road , a steep and narrow 7.6-mile summit on winding roads that yields views all the way to New York (on clear days). No auto summit of Mt. Washington would be complete, however, without the obligatory “This Car Climbed Mt. Washington” bumper sticker every car summiting since the 1950s has received.

Get out on the water on Lake Winnipesaukee

New Hampshire’s largest lake, Lake Winnipesaukee , occupies 69 square miles in the state’s east. Enjoy everything the lake has to offer at the Ekal Activity Center , in Meredith, which offers antique boat rides, private charters, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboard rentals.

Go wine tasting in Amherst

LaBelle Winery produces a line of award-winning wines for visitors to sample on site. The tasting room offers 35 different wines, as well as curated tours of the property, which opened in 2012. LaBelle also operates two restaurants, in Amherst and Derry , with food designed to pair with its signature wines.

Hike off of iconic Kancamagus Highway

New Hampshire’s famed Kancamagus Highway offers 34.5 miles of trails with scenic views within the state’s White Mountains Region . Over 25 hiking trails sprout from the Kancamagus, from the challenging, nine-mile Moat Mountain Trail to the easy, half-mile Rail and River Trail . Both seasoned hikers and novices can enjoy the unspoiled beauty of New Hampshire through this trail network.

Caitlin Morton

CNT Editors

Jessica Puckett

Shop for antiques on Route 4 

Route 4 is known as New Hampshire’s Antique Alley , home to the state’s oldest antiquing district, with more than 500 dealers spread across the towns of Lee, Northwood, Epsom, and Chichester. Antique Alley has been a premier destination for New England antiquing for more than 40 years.

Visit a waterfall in Pinkham Notch

New Hampshire is home to more than 100 waterfalls, but Glen Ellis Falls, a 64-foot-high waterfall on Pinkham Notch’s Glen Ellis Falls trail , is a spectacular beauty. The waterfall is off-limits to swimming, but still provides some of the state’s most sought-after photographs.

Ride the Scenic Railroad in North Conway

Take a ride on the Conway Scenic Railroad, a trip that departs from North Conway Village’s 1874 rail station. The Railroad offers several different experiences, ranging from the one-hour leisure ride to the five-hour Crawford Notch Mountaineering train, which climbs up through New Hampshire to explore stunning vistas. First-class cars, outfitted with lounge chairs and screening rooms, are also available for those seeking an upgrade.

Visit the Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough

This 1913 mountaintop estate sits on more than 5,000 acres of magnificent land. Visitors can tour the property, take advantage of hiking and walking trails, dine at the estate restaurant, and even feed the ducks at Shannon Pond. Originally owned by shoe manufacturer Thomas Plant, the property has a dedicated exhibit to the history of its ownership on-site.

Dive into history at Canterbury Shaker Village

This national historic landmark consists of 24 original Shaker buildings, four reconstructed Shaker buildings, and 694 acres of conserved land. The village was established in the late 1700s and remained an important part of New Hampshire’s religious history until 1992, when the final practicing Shaker in residence died. Today, visitors can tour the homes and grounds for a sense of how the Shakers lived.

Enjoy the sand dunes at Seabrook Beach

New Hampshire’s slim coastline runs about 18 miles from the Massachusetts to Maine borders. Still, the state is home to unblemished beaches, with tufted dunes, soft sand, and a bit of a surf break. Seabrook Beach , New Hampshire’s southernmost ocean beach (it’s known, familiarly, as “The Line,” since it’s adjacent to the Massachusetts border), offers plenty of space for sunbathing, and close proximity to the area’s famed competing beach pizza vendors. Cristy’s Pizza and Tripoli Pizza Bakery make sweet, square, and optionally Provolone-topped slices of pizza that are legendary among locals.

Test your nerves on the Yankee Cannonball

Canobie Lake Park , in Salem, has been open since 1902, when it was established as a lakeside trolley park. Thirty-four years later, the amusement park welcomed the addition of the Yankee Cannonball, a wooden roller coaster that was built in 1930 for use at Westbury, Connecticut’s Lakewood Park. (It was later relocated.) The historic ride, in all its rickety splendor, is one of New Hampshire’s most iconic activities.

Ride Attitash’s Alpine Slide

In winter, Attitash Mountain Resort , which abuts the White Mountain National Park, draws expert skiers from all over the Northeast. In non-ski season, the resort operates two alpine slides that wind passengers down the ski mountain. Take the Flying Yankee chairlift to the top and enjoy the scenic ride down from the 1,750-foot mountain.

Stroll down Portsmouth’s State Street

Located on the Piscataqua River (and just a bridge away from Kittery, in southern Maine ), Portsmouth, a traditional New England city, is marked by Colonial and Federal architecture. The city’s beating heart is the historic downtown area, where shops and restaurants draw visitors from all over. State Street, downtown’s main thoroughfare, offers a walkable view of the city, as well as plenty of nearby shopping and dining options.

Reach for the stars at Concord’s McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center

The name Christa McAuliffe is legendary in New Hampshire: the 37-year-old teacher from Concord was aboard the doomed 1986 mission of the Space Shuttle Challenger . In 1990, this space center —dedicated not only to McAuliffe, but also to astronaut Alan Shepard, a New Hampshire native—opened to the public. The museum offers educational experience for kids and adults alike, and features a state-of-the-art planetarium with rotating shows.

Experience farm-to-table dining in Manchester

The Foundry Restaurant is tucked into Manchester’s Millyard District , an area of historic brick buildings and former textile factories. The restaurant, which opened in 2015, is the city’s largest certified farm-to-table operation, with produce, dairy, and protein representing The Granite State’s local farms.

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions ), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Traveller. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

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.

Pick up a New England Travel Guide from Amazon.com to browse on the plane.

Book Your Accommodation in New England Now

Spending the night? Search Booking.com and VRBO in one place to find the perfect property!

Best New England Attractions and Day Tours

The best attractions sell out! Don’t chance it, get your tickets now and relax when you arrive.

Travel Essentials

Need a universal travel adaptor, power bank charger, or packing cubes? Save time at my Amazon shop and have travel essentials delivered to your home.

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.

Comments are closed.

Your Guide to Wandering

Best Places in New Hampshire: 21 Towns and Attractions to Visit

Ready to visit the best places in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire is a stunning state in New England, the northeastern region of the United States. It offers visitors the chance to explore a range of beautiful landscapes- majestic mountains, endless forests, lakes, and a small 18-mile stretch of Atlantic coastline.

New Hampshire is known for its abundance of outdoor activities such as skiing, kayaking, hiking and camping. Check out the variety of quaint towns and cities to explore, full of history and culture. Fall is a particularly great time to visit New Hampshire, as the leaves turn a breathtaking array of vibrant colors.

I’m a New England native and New Hampshire still is one of my favorite places to visit any season!

But first, do you have these items for your trip? Rental Car : I recommend  Rentalcars.com  for the cheapest prices! Activities :  Viator  is my favorite resource to book fun tours and day trips! Accommodation :  Booking.com  has a variety of hotels, but also rentals and b&bs

Best Places in New Hampshire

New Hampshire is a 4 season destination with its beautiful Atlantic coast and lake region to explore in the summer months, its colorful hikes, and cozy quaint towns to visit in the fall and winter.

1. Lake Winnipesaukee

Lake Winnipesaukee is the largest lake in New Hampshire, boasting more than 288 miles of shoreline and over 40 communities to explore. Whether you want to go swimming, boating, fishing, or just relax on the beach, Lake Winnipesaukee is undoubtedly one of the best places to visit in New Hampshire!

Check out Weirs Beach for a quintessential Lake Winnipesaukee experience. Not only is it one of the most popular beaches on the lake, but it’s also home to a charming boardwalk with plenty of eateries and arcades like FunSpot, where you can play classic arcade video games.

If you are seeking a more nature-centered experience, check out hikes at nearby Mt. Major or check out the Lake Winnipesaukee Museum in Wolfeboro to learn about the lake’s history, as well as its unique wildlife, including loons and bald eagles.

North Conway is a small town in New Hampshire known for its stunning scenery and vast outdoor activities. Outdoor activities such as skiing, snowboarding, and even four-season fun can be found in North Conway making it an ideal destination for adventurers.

It was named one of the Top 10 Best Small Towns in America for Adventure, offering an exciting winter ski scene with six mountain resorts providing state-of-the-art lifts and trail grooming.

It is also conveniently situated near the beautiful Kancamagus Highway, offering even more opportunities to explore and discover what New Hampshire has to offer.

In the summer North Conway has activities like hiking, biking, fishing, and shopping. Cranmore Mountain provides a thrilling Aerial Adventure Park and Mountain Coaster, while Attitash offers an alpine slide, water slides, mountain bike trails, and horseback riding. Wildcat Mountain has a zipline and views of Mt. Washington.

Shopping is also available at Settlers Green Outlet Village with tax-free boutiques and designer outlets, or visitors can find unique gifts at Penguin Gallery. Zeb’s General Store offers local products like berry jams and maple syrup. Check out Conway’s vintage train, Conway Scenic Railroad, built in 1874.

Day tripping from Boston? Click here to book your visit to North Conway to see its famous fall foliage!

3. Portsmouth

The charming town of Portsmouth is one of the top vacation spots in New England and one of the best places to visit in New Hampshire. You can find fabulous boutique shopping and seafood restaurants along the cobblestone streets of downtown.

Take a stroll through the 10-acre waterfront Prescott Park for some fresh air, or visit the amazing Strawbery Banke Museum for an immersive look into history. Visitors can explore 70 different sites around the city on the Portsmouth Harbor Trail, which are listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings and Landmarks.

Visitors can tour some of the historic buildings such as the 1716 Warner House with its original Colonial wall paintings and Queen Anne furniture. The 1758 John Paul Jones House allows visitors to explore collections of china, silver, glass, portraits, and clothing.

Finish your visit with a nice meal at La Maison Navarre Café or Ristorante Massimo located in or near Market Square. With so much to explore, Portsmouth certainly is one of the best places to visit in New Hampshire.

Tour Portsmouth by bike! Click here to book a 2-hour bike ride adventure along New Hampshire’s coast.

4. White Mountains

The White Mountains of New Hampshire offer some of the best hiking in the Northeast. From a gentle stroll, full-on backcountry expedition, or scenic drive, there’s a way for everyone to enjoy the mountains.

For a more challenging hike, head to the Presidential Range for some of the highest peaks in the Northeast. The Appalachian Trail runs through this section of the mountain and provides access to popular destinations such as Mt Washington, Adams, and Jefferson which offer spectacular summit views.

You’ll also find numerous other trails that wind around waterfalls, over rocky ledges, and through alpine meadows where wildflowers bloom in the summer.

Feeling adventurous? Book a paddling tour with views of the White Mountains!

5. Kancamagus Highway

The Kancamagus Highway is a 34-mile stretch of road between Conway and Lincoln, New Hampshire. It is part of the White Mountain National Forest and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountain range.

Along the way, travelers will find numerous scenic overlooks, as well as plenty of opportunities to stop for a picnic or just take in the scenery. The highway is one of the best places in New Hampshire to experience fall foliage, with brightly colored maples and birches lining the way.

Many day hikes start from one of the many trailheads along The Kancamagus Highway. For level trails with waterfall access, check out Diana’s Bath and Sabbaday Falls , both close to North Conway and each a short walk through the forest.

Experience the Kancamagus Highway with a self-driving audio tour! Click here to book!

Concord, the capital city of New Hampshire, has a population of just over 43,000 people, and many great historic and outdoor attractions to explore. The State House dates back to 1819 and offers guided tours. Other historic sites to explore include the National Historic Landmark and McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center.

Concord is also home to a vibrant downtown with plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment options. You can find some unique gift shops on Main Street or take in some live music at one of the local pubs. Concord to a great base to explore nearby Canterbury Shaker Village and Manchester.

Concord has some of the best food in New Hampshire . Concord is bustling with American seafood and meat classics, but many restaurants have popped up with an international and modern twist. Check out award-winning restaurants The Barley House and Tavern and Revival Kitchen.

7. Hampton Beach State Park

Located right on the Atlantic, Hampton is sure to provide you with all of the relaxation and entertainment that you could need! Whether it’s taking a dip in the ocean, exploring shops and restaurants along the boardwalk, or watching an outdoor movie at Hampton Beach State Park, there is something for everyone in this lively spot.

The beach itself is a sight to behold. The white sand and blue waters provide the perfect backdrop for your beach day, while the boardwalk offers plenty of places to sit back, relax, and people-watch. There are attractions nearby such as amusement parks, historic sites, and nature trails that offer incredible views of the Atlantic.

The best part about Hampton Beach is that it’s never overly crowded. Even during peak season , you won’t have to worry about being overwhelmed by other visitors as there’s plenty of room for everyone to enjoy the area. It is also very family friendly with full amenities, weekly summer fireworks and events for kids.

8. Mount Monadnock

Mount Monadnock is a popular destination for hikers! The 3,165-ft summit offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding landscape – perfect for those looking to get away and enjoy some fresh air and nature.

With five main trails ranging in difficulty and 35 miles of alternative routes, it’s easy to tailor your Monadnock hike to suit your skill level and preference. The most popular route is the White Arrow Trail, which is 2.3 miles long and begins at the Old Toll Road trailhead.

On sunny days, the mountain may be busy so be sure to plan ahead! An easy day trip from Boston , Mount Monadnock is one of the best places in New Hampshire for hiking and outdoor adventures.

Keene, New Hampshire is an idyllic place full of charm and historical beauty. Downtown offers picture-perfect views with a unique mix of old and new. You can explore the sights on foot, including the iconic Colonial Theater which hosts lots of music, film, and cultural events.

Every year during autumn, Keene also celebrates its famed Pumpkin Festival which always draws in huge crowds. Keene has a large student population which is accompanied by a cool restaurant and bar scene.

10. Bretton Woods Resort

Bretton Woods Resort offers 100 ski runs, which makes it the largest ski resort in New Hampshire. The resort caters to skiers of all levels, from beginners to experts. Brenton Woods has a ski school that offers classes for beginners, so don’t worry if you’re new to skiing.

The resort has ten lifts that make it easier for the large quantity of winter visitors to access the slopes. And one of the best things about Bretton Woods is that it receives a lot of snow.

Apart from skiing, Bretton Woods also offers plenty of activities like snowshoeing, ice-skating, and tubing. For those who need a break from physical activities, Brenton Woods has areas to recharge after hitting the slopes. There are plenty of nearby spas, dining, and shopping options that cater to visitors’ needs.

Brenton Woods has a rich history dating back to the early 20th century. The resort used to be a popular vacation spot for the rich and famous as multiple U.S. presidents and celebrities used to stay at the resort. The resort is surrounded by breathtaking scenery that makes it an ideal vacation destination.

11. Dartmouth College, Hanover

If you’re a history buff and love architectural marvels, the Dartmouth College campus should top your list of places to visit in Hanover. The college was founded in 1769 and holds a rich history that’s reflected in its academic buildings. There are plenty of opportunities to take a guided tour of the campus and learn the school’s history.

Hanover’s Main Street is filled with boutiques, bookstores, cafés, and restaurants that offer an array of cuisine. Among the best restaurants is Lou’s Restaurant and Bakery, known for its brunch and homemade pies. You can also check out Murphy’s on the Green, a classy American eatery.

Hanover is a town that is heavily influenced by student-life activities and the student population. You can head down to the Hanover Inn, where the locals gather and check out community events, such as farmers’ markets, music festivals, and art exhibitions.

Hanover’s location also makes it a great starting point for outdoor activities in the nearby mountains. If you’re a hiking enthusiast, a day trip to Mount Moosilauke or the part of the Appalachian Trail that runs through Hanover is worth considering.

12. Mount Washington Park

The Washington Auto Road, constructed in 1861, is a steep and winding road that covers 7.6 miles of unguarded roads, making it one of the steepest roads in all of America. It has an average gradient of 11.6%, beginning at the base of 1,527 feet and ending at the peak of 6,145 feet.

It is a journey that should only be undertaken by drivers with extensive driving experience, as it requires knowledge of steep inclines and declines. You will need to double-check your vehicle’s readiness, including good brakes, and fill up your tank.

As you drive up the Washington Auto Road, you will notice that the trees gradually disappear, and the landscape transforms into one with boulders strewn about. It takes about 30 minutes to reach the summit, where the view expands over four states.

13. Mount Washington Cog Railway

Another option you have while exploring Mount Washington is taking a thrilling ride on the Cog Railway built in 1869. The journey toward the summit is approximately 45 minutes, and the round trip takes about three hours, including the time you spend atop the mountain.

At the summit check out the Sherman Adams Visitors Center where you will find a small museum, a cafeteria, and the Mount Washington Observatory, a research station that studies extreme weather conditions. The abrupt and extreme shifts in the weather are prevalent on Mount Washington.

Be warned that weather can be extreme at the summit! In 1934, the wind here was recorded at 231 miles per hour, making it the fastest non-tornado wind flow ever recorded globally. Wind speeds exceeding 74 miles per hour are frequent, and rainfall and snowfall can occur anytime throughout the year.

14. Manchester, New Hampshire

Manchester, the largest city in New Hampshire, offers a perfect blend of urban and outdoor adventures. This dynamic city is easily accessible from Boston, Lake Winnipesaukee, and the White Mountains National Forest, making it a prime location to explore different parts of the state.

The first stop in Manchester should be the Currier Museum of Art, where you can admire a great collection of works by legendary artists such as Monet, Picasso, and Matisse. Additionally, it is worth taking a guided tour of the stunning Frank Lloyd Wright Zimmerman House, next door.

As the city rests alongside the river Merrimack, exploring the banks and its hidden gems is a must. The Palace Theatre and Manchester’s City Hall Plaza are worth visiting. Take your time strolling through the Millyard Museum, located within a historic textile factory, now converted into a vibrant business district.

If you’re traveling with kids, the SEE Science Center offers an interactive and hands-on learning experience. Apart from the SEE Science Center, check out the Amoskeag Fishways Learning and Visitors Center, where one can witness the wild Atlantic salmon’s migration in the nearby staircase channel.

15. Isle of Shoals

The Isles of Shoals is a cluster of nine islands, four of which are part of New Hampshire (the others are part of Maine ). These islands have a fascinating history that includes tales of shipwrecks, pirates, artisan communities, and buried treasure. The Isles of Shoals have been inhabited by fishing communities for over 400 years.

Today, the islands are a popular leisure destination for locals and visitors alike. Star Island is the only accessible island via ferry boat service from the mainland. The Isles of Shoals Steamship Company in Portsmouth takes passengers to Star Island for a three-hour shore stop.

One of the main attractions of the Isles of Shoals is the Oceanic Hotel on Star Island. It has been a landmark and tourist attraction for more than 100 years. The hotel’s historical charm and architecture make it a unique destination for visitors. The island also has a 200-year-old chapel and buildings from the 19th-century village.

16. Littleton

Nestled in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Littleton is a charming town. With its cute main street, covered bridge, bronze Pollyanna statue, and rich history, this town has something for every type of traveler.

Take some time to shop local at unique stores such as The Nest, Balance Bethlehem, and First Impressions. If you love history and culture, check out the Littleton Museum. Here, you’ll find permanent gallery exhibits and a fascinating look at the town’s evolution.

Don’t miss out on the Thayers Inn Hotel, an impressive building with striking architecture. There’s also The Beal House, which is rumored to be haunted for those who love a good ghost story.

Next up, make sure to visit the Riverwalk Covered Bridge located at 18 Mill Street. It’s a perfect photography spot and a great place to tick off your New England covered bridges bucket list.

If you’re feeling hungry, grab a bite at the Littleton Diner before catching a show at The Littleton Opera House. The Littleton area also has a candy store worth visiting in Chutter’s. It’s home to an extensive collection of candies, including a 112-foot long candy counter.

Just north of Littleton, Christmas fans will find themselves in a magical location when they reach Santa’s Village in Jefferson. This festive amusement park is dedicated to winter and is open all year round. It features theaters, rides, and various characters from Santa’s workshop.

Want to see more covered bridges? Click here to book a covered bridge biking tour!

17. Lincoln

Nestled in the heart of the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Lincoln is a beautiful town bustling with a variety of activities and adventures. From skiing to moose tracking, and natural gorges to indoor theatres, Lincoln offers the perfect blend of excitement, nature, and art.

One of New England’s favorite ski resorts, Loon Mountain Resort offers excellent skiing, as well as snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and tubing. If you’re looking for more winter fun, head to the ice castle installations in Lincoln. It’s an enchanted winter playground of ice sculptures that provides an exciting blend of art, and snow!

For unique activities in Lincoln, take an unforgettable climate-controlled moose safari with Pemi Valley Moose Tours. You’ll have the opportunity to come up close with these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.

After exploring nature, head over to Jean’s Playhouse, Lincoln’s indoor theatre. They offer a variety of shows, ranging from classic plays and music to contemporary theatre pieces.

Feeling thirsty? Click here to book a winery tour in Lincoln!

18. Franconia Notch State Park

Nestled in the beautiful White Mountains of New Hampshire, Franconia Notch State Park and Flume Gorge provide visitors with breathtaking views of wildlife, greenery, and lakes. The park’s hiking trails and natural formations offer an unforgettable experience for nature enthusiasts, history buffs, and everyone in between.

The Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway is one of the oldest aerial tramways in North America. It took its first passengers to the 4,080-foot summit high above Franconia Notch in 1938. The ride to the top on the scenic tramway takes about ten minutes and passengers are rewarded with stunning views of the White Mountains.

The entrance into the park requires a State Park fee. For adults, it is $4, and for youths aged 6-11, it is $2. Anyone under 5 or over 65 gets in free all day.

Specific attractions such as the Flume Gorge, the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway, and the discovery pass (which includes both) are sold separately.

19. Flume Gorge

One of the park’s most popular attractions is the Flume Gorge. The 800-foot-long crack in the rock at the base of Mount Liberty is an incredible natural wonder. The Flume Gorge walls rise 70 to 80 feet above the brook that flows through it, and visitors can follow it on a boardwalk just feet above the water.

Franconia Notch has miles of hiking trails, ranging from easy to difficult. The trails meander through the woods and offer a chance to see wildlife up close. The campground is open year-round and is perfect for overnight stays.

If you’re looking for a place to cool off, Echo Lake State Park offers a beautiful sandy beach and boat rentals.

20. Castle in the Clouds

Are you looking for a dreamy destination on top of a mountain with great scenic views? Then Castle in the Clouds in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire should be your next vacation spot. This classic 1918 manor is an architectural masterpiece that covers an enormous area of 5,200 acres.

The manor was commissioned by Thomas Gustave Plant, who made his riches through the shoe business. In 1913, at the age of 51, Plant handed over his retirement project and commissioned the construction of Castle in the Clouds.

The mansion is opened for tours where visitors get to explore the beautiful rooms with antique furnishings and incredible views. While visiting Castle in the Clouds, visitors must stop at the on-site restaurant. The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating, so visitors can enjoy their meals while taking in the stunning views.

For those who love adventure, hiking the Shannon Pond trail is an excellent way to spend your day. The trail takes you to Shannon Pond, which is surrounded by natural beauty, and you can also get a great view of the mansion from there. Visitors can occasionally spot animals like moose, deer, and other wildlife along the trail.

21. Storyland

Storyland has been creating magical memories for families since its opening in 1954. The park’s immersive attractions are based on beloved childhood classics like Cinderella, Goldilocks, and Humpty Dumpty. But what sets Storyland apart from other children’s theme parks is their clever and original play areas and experiences.

Take a ride in a pumpkin coach, a swan boat, or sail in a pirate ship. Kids can also “drive” parents on a track and through covered bridges in an antique car. With a full-sized pumpkin carriage and an immersive Cinderella’s Castle, children can feel like they’ve escaped into a fairytale world.

If water rides are more your family’s speed, the park has a range of splash pads, fountains, and other water-based attractions to enjoy during the hotter months. Even the littlest ones will love climbing aboard the Buccaneer Pirate Ship, which soars high into the sky before plunging back down into a splash pool.

And for those looking for a bit of nostalgia, Storyland hosts a special “Nostalgia Nights” event for adults to relive their own childhood memories.

Where to Stay in New Hampshire

New Hampshire offers tons of affordable places to stay- from rustic ski cabins to historic farmhouses.

Best Place to stay near Lake Winnipesaukee

Sutton House Bed and Breakfast is an historic Victorian-era home, this Center Harbor B&B features an outdoor pool overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee.

The Center Harbor Village Historic District is 6 minutes’ walk from the Sutton House B&B, which is within 15 minutes’ drive of the Castle in the Clouds. Squam Lake Wild Life Center is 10 minutes’ drive away, while the Loon Center is only 5 minutes’ drive from the property.

Click here to book your stay in Lake Winnipesaukee!

Best Place to Stay near Portsmouth

The Hotel Portsmouth is located in the historic Haymarket Square area and is just a 10-minute walk from Prescott Park on the Portsmouth waterfront. The Strawbery Banke Museum is half a mile away and Kittery Outlets is less than a 10-minute drive away.

Click here to book your stay in Portsmouth!

Best Place to Stay near Conway

Kearsarge Inn offers individually decorated rooms that include a fireplace, and seating area.

North Conway Country Club and Mount Washington Observatory is less than half a mile away from Kearsarge Inn. Story Land amusement park is 10 minutes’ drive.

Click here to book your stay in Conway!

Explore More Places to Stay in New Hampshire

Frequently asked questions: best places new hampshire, what is the best walkable city in new hampshire.

The charming town of Portsmouth is one of the best places in New Hampshire and one of the most walkable cities in New Hampshire. You can find fabulous boutique shopping and seafood restaurants along the cobblestone streets of downtown.

Why do people love New Hampshire?

New Hampshire is so special because of its stunning scenery all year round. The summer offers opportunities to explore the lake region, and hike, while the fall and winter offer chances to experience the fall foliage and ski resorts.

Is Vermont or New Hampshire better?

Neither- New Hampshire and Vermont are very similar in terms of their natural beauty, fall foliage, hiking and world class ski resorts. Check out the top things to do in Vermont!

Wrap-up: Best Places New Hampshire

New Hampshire is a hidden gem that offers a plethora of activities, experiences, and attractions to its visitors. No matter what your interests are, New Hampshire has some of the best places to visit in New England.

Franconia Notch State Park, White Mountain National Forest, Strawbery Banke Museum, USS Albacore Museum & Park, and the Omni Mount Washington Resort are just some of the highlights that make New Hampshire worth visiting.

Plan your trip now and discover why New Hampshire is one of the best-kept secrets in the Northeastern United States!

Touropia Travel

Discover the World

10 Best Places to Visit in New Hampshire

By Alex Schultz · Last updated on February 5, 2024

Lying in the northeast of the States, New Hampshire is a wonderful place to visit and is renowned for its astounding natural beauty. With majestic mountains and endless forests found alongside its glittering Lakes Region and small stretch of Atlantic coastline, it really is no wonder that locals are so proud of the dazzling landscapes on display.

Among the best places to visit in New Hampshire are the state’s stunning natural sights which lend themselves perfectly to outdoor adventuring such as hiking, camping, kayaking and skiing. One of the best times to visit is during fall when all the leaves on the trees turn a myriad of yellows, oranges, and reds.

Tucked away among all these incredible landscapes are some charming towns and cities which are home to some of the oldest historical sights and cultural landmarks in the whole of the U.S.

Founded all the way back in the early 1700s, Keene has long been an important commercial and cultural center. As such, there are some wonderful old brick buildings to be found lining its Main Street, with some fine churches also sprinkled around town.

A very pretty and picturesque city, Keene has a lively and youthful feel to it thanks to its large student population. Lots of great bars and restaurants can be found around its historic downtown area.

While its fantastic Colonial Theater attracts locals and out-of-towners alike with its packed calendar of music, film, and cultural events, many others come to enjoy the annual Keene Pumpkin Festival, which is lots of fun to take part in.

In addition to this, Keene is also a great place to head to if you love the great outdoors, as the wilderness of Mount Monadnock State Park lies nearby.

9. Mount Monadnock State Park

Dominated by the lofty peak of the same name that lies at its heart, Mount Monadnock State Park is a great place to go hiking or skiing; there are a plethora of great paths and cross country skiing trails for you to try out. Meandering their way over hills and through highlands, these routes take you past some fabulous scenery, as verdant forests stand alongside babbling brooks and impressive rock formations.

One of the most popular trails is the White Dot and White Cross loop to the summit of Mount Monadnock. The views from the top of the surrounding countryside are so astounding.

For visitors looking to really immerse themselves in the plentiful natural bounties, camping a night in the state park is a magical experience. A particularly pleasant time of year to visit is during fall, when the leaves turn from lush green to auburn and orange.

8. Bretton Woods Mountain Resort

Located in White Mountains National Park with majestic snow-capped peaks all around it, Bretton Woods Mountain Resort is home to the largest ski area in New Hampshire and is simply a must if you’re looking to hit the slopes.

Renowned for being a popular haunt of the rich and famous in the early 20th century, the resort saw U.S. presidents and celebrities stay. Consequently, it should come as no surprise to learn that there are lots of excellent dining options, golf courses, and spas for you to try out.

Surrounded by breathtaking scenery with over a hundred trails and pistes on offer, Bretton Woods Mountain Resort is well worth checking out if you want to relax in style and make the most of the staggering natural sights all around you.

Lying on the banks of the Connecticut River, right opposite its sister city of Norwich in Vermont , Hanover is famed for being the home of the prestigious Dartmouth College. Much of life in town is dominated both by its campus and its sizeable student body.

One of the oldest higher education institutions in the whole of the U.S., the Ivy League college has some lovely old buildings for dotted around its green and spacious campus, with several great bars, cafes, and restaurants found around Main Street.

Other than visiting the college, there is not all that much to do in town, so visitors may want to hike along part of the Appalachian Trail that runs through Hanover.

The capital of New Hampshire, Concord, is a charming place to spend some time. Its magnificent State House is undoubtedly the highlight of what is on show. Built in a Greek Revival style, the facade of the building is certainly very eye-catching, especially when its golden dome sparkles in the sun. The State House takes its pride of place on the city’s bustling Main Street.

Around this historic area, you can find a number of elegant old buildings, all built out of the same tough-looking granite, as well as lots of cozy cafes, shops, and restaurants. Due to its proximity to both the Canterbury Shaker Village and Manchester, it is well worth combining your visit to Concord with a trip to either location – or any one of the lovely state parks that lie nearby.

5. Mount Washington State Park

Named after the majestic peak that lies at its heart, Mount Washington State Park is full of magnificent scenery. Nature lovers and outdoor aficionados will revel in all that it has to offer. The highest mountain in the northeast of the States, Mount Washington towers to a height of 6,288 feet (1,916 meters).

Its summit contains an observatory of the same name and an accompanying museum, as well as a cafeteria and gift shop. The views from its peak of the surrounding mountains and forests are simply breathtaking. After drinking in the scenery to your heart’s content, there are lots of paths and trails that snake their way down the mountainside for you to explore.

4. Portsmouth

Lying at the mouth of the Piscataqua River just a few kilometers inland from the Atlantic Ocean, Portsmouth is home to a bustling seaport and is the third-oldest city in the whole of the States.

As such, there are loads of fascinating historic sights and cultural landmarks for you to check out around town. Elegant, tree-lined avenues lined by beautiful old colonial buildings make up much of its center.

With several interesting museums also on offer, alongside some fantastic microbreweries, Portsmouth is an intriguing mix of old and new. The vibrant feel about its streets is simply intoxicating as the city thrums with life.

3. Manchester

The largest city in the state, Manchester is a vibrant place to visit and has the most going on in terms of arts and culture, entertainment, and sports in New Hampshire. As such, it attracts many visitors from both near and far.

Its convenient location near to both Boston and the Atlantic Ocean – as well as Lake Winnipesaukee and the White Mountains National Forest – makes it a great base from which to explore the region.

The revitalized mill town has a multitude of shops, restaurants, and bars for you to sample, while the Currier Museum of Art is well worth a visit; its fantastic collection includes works by Monet, Picasso, and Matisse.

Other interesting and educational institutions include the Amoskeag Fishways Learning and Visitors Center and the Manchester Historical Society Millyard Museum – both of which teach you more about local life in the area. With so much going on, it is well worth spending a couple of days in Manchester to take in the atmosphere, see the sights, and explore the surrounding region.

2. Lake Winnipesaukee

Bewitchingly beautiful to behold, Lake Winnipesaukee is the sixth-largest lake in the U.S. Its rugged and indented coastline is lined by wonderful forests, with scenic bays and charming towns dotted here and there. A very popular tourist destination, Lake Winnipesaukee has a wealth of great water sports for visitors to enjoy. Swimming in the lake or going sailing around its many, many islands are favorite pastimes among both locals and tourists.

Alternatively, you can simply relax on one of the lake’s many beaches or go on a peaceful hike along its scenic shore to take in the astounding views. Lying at the heart of New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, Lake Winnipesaukee is not far from many other beautiful lakes and natural sights, so holidaymakers will never be found wanting for something to do.

1. White Mountain National Forest

One of the most popular attractions in the whole of New Hampshire, White Mountain National Forest is an absolute delight to visit, with some simply stupendous scenery for you to enjoy. With a number of mountain ranges, such as the Presidential Range and Sandwich Range, winding through the never-ending forest, there are loads of majestic peaks, as well as a plethora of unique fauna and flora.

Hidden away among the dense foliage are moose, black bears, and bald eagles, along with many more diverse species. Camping overnight in the national forest is a great way to really immerse yourself in the magnificent nature all around you.

As well as the Appalachian Trail that winds its way through the mountains and forests, there is a multitude of other great trails and paths for you to explore. A particularly delightful time of year to visit is during fall when all the foliage transforms into a magical array of yellows, reds, and oranges.

Map of the Best Places to Visit in New Hampshire

Share this post:

18 Best Things to Do in New Hampshire

16 Best Things to do in Portsmouth, NH

14 Best Things to Do in Manchester, NH

25 Top Tourist Attractions in the USA

12 Most Beautiful Regions of the United States

12 Beautiful Midwest States

7 Beautiful Mid-Atlantic States

10 Best States to Visit in the USA

5 Beautiful Southwest States

25 Top Tourist Attractions in Washington D.C.

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes
• Destinations

10 Best Places to See Fall Foliage in Vermont

The Green Mountain State is anything but when its grand hills and small villages are ablaze with fall foliage.

Chun Chen / Getty Images

Of all the parts of the U.S. to see fall foliage, New England is tops. And if we had to pick one state, it just might be Vermont. Each year, native maple trees and other broadleaves in the largely forested state put on a dazzling display of fiery reds, oranges, and golds. And while some areas were affected by floodwaters in July 2023, most locales have bounced back, reopening to tourism just in time for leaf-peeping season.

From bucolic hills and staggering mountain peaks to reflective lakes, there's no shortage of picture-perfect places to see the changing leaves. Get ready to take a drive, tackle a hike, or row out on the water to soak in all the majesty of nature at one of these amazing Vermont fall foliage destinations.

Brattleboro

Alan Schein / Getty Images

This artsy small town not far from the Massachusetts border offers an array of places to see blazing red, orange, and yellow leaves, including Fort Dummer State Park and the Wantastiquet Mountain State Forest , located just next door in New Hampshire. Brattleboro is situated in the lowest point of the Connecticut River Valley, and the rippling hillsides encircling the downtown area ensure the bright colors are on full display. You can also treat yourself to a picturesque, 17-mile tour by following Route 30 to yet another charming Vermont locale, Townshend.

Smugglers' Notch

Loop Images / Getty Images

Known among locals as "the Notch," this mountain pass brings a dramatic lens to leaf peeping. Route 108 is a scenic, winding road sentineled by towering cliffs and boulders that lead to Mount Mansfield, the highest peak in the Green Mountains. Enjoy the spectacular view from your car, or pull over for some epic hiking. Follow the Long Trail, which winds up at Bingham Falls and connects to Elephant's Head cliff , a more challenging trek that will reward you with sweeping vistas.

Kayla Stevenson Photography / Getty Images

Before the neighboring slopes of Stowe turn to powder, this renowned ski area becomes ablaze with bright fall foliage. Take the Gondola SkyRide to the top of Mount Mansfield and hit the hiking trails for breathtaking views. From the peak of the mountain to the valley below, the historic village provides a more grounded frame for the flaming ambers and golds.

Sean Pavone / Getty Images

The piercing white spire of the Congregational Church in this Northeast Kingdom town, framed by rolling hills of contrasting color, is a vision so perfect that Hollywood has been lured by its charms. Despite having big-picture productions roll through — including 1993's "Ethan Frome," starring Liam Neeson and Patricia Arquette, among others — the wee town remains quiet and rural, and ideal for enjoying the simple act of admiring the changing leaves.

Quechee State Park

JaysonPhotography / Getty Images

The 165-foot-deep gorge in Quechee State Park is also known as Vermont's Little Grand Canyon and is an epic spot for foliage immersion. In addition to the mile-long chasm that rises above the clear waters of the Ottauquechee River, the park is home to heaps of hiking and biking trails and scenic picnicking and camping areas. It's also where you'll find the Quechee Gorge dam overlook and its impressive waterfall. Check the park's website for current trail conditions before you head out, as some portions are still recovering after the July 2023 floods. Be sure to stop by neighboring Woodstock for a town as pretty as the leaves themselves.

Tim Graham / Getty Images

A bucolic town at the foot of Mount Equinox in the Battenkill River Valley, Manchester already comes with plenty of allure. The historic home of Abraham Lincoln's son, Hildene has gardens and a farm with incredible views of the Green Mountains, along with 12 miles of walking trails. Similarly, the Southern Vermont Arts Center , nestled atop a hill, features a sculpture garden and opportunities for woodland hiking. The town itself boasts trails offering views of the Green and Taconic mountains, and the Manchester Riverwalk , which ambles along the Battenkill River.

St. Johnsbury

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

The colors tend to come early in this remote northeastern corner of the state. About 50 miles from the Canadian border, the artsy town of St. Johnsbury has an old-timey vibe and offers easy access to nature. Stroll or bike along the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail , which starts and ends downtown and crosses all types of terrain. If you're traveling with your pooch, the 150-acre Dog Mountain is a must so your four-legged friend can run free while you check out the sweeping views.

Mad River Valley

Jeff Hunter / Getty Images

Indulge your desire to see the state's famed covered bridges and vibrant leaves at the same time. In the dynamic town of Waitsfield, you'll find two historic bridges — Big Eddy and Pine Brook — along with the easygoing Mad River Path, offering quintessential fall foliage photo ops. Just nine miles south, the Americana vibe continues in Warren, which not only has its own covered bridge, but a waterfall and historic village to boot.

P A Thompson / Getty Images

A small village in the rolling hills of southern Vermont, Grafton has history, art, delicious dairy, and beautiful foliage. Start by surrounding yourself with 2,000 acres of natural beauty at the Grafton Trails & Outdoor Center . Nearby, The Nature Museum will also lead you to stunning views, either from its own gardens or the Village Park, a wooded trail system that's perfect for ambling up close to the trees.

halbergman / Getty Images

This bustling lakeside city, about a 5.5-hour drive from New York City and roughly 3.5 hours from Boston, has all the ingredients of a great fall getaway: small-town charm, urban culture, outdoor adventure, and some of the best foliage in the northeast. Whether you're strolling pedestrian-only Church Street or hitting the Burlington Greenway , a lovely bike path along the shore of Lake Champlain, the views here are both scenic and colorful. For an even more memorable vantage of the technicolor display, hop aboard one the many local boat tours and see the city in all its glory from the water.

Related Articles

7 Days in New Hampshire and Vermont: The Perfect New England Fall Road Trip

September 14, 2023.

If you’re looking for the best New England fall road trip, you’re in the right place! If you're dreaming of vibrant fall foliage, tasting Vermont maple syrup and summiting mountains with incredible views, this itinerary has you covered.

This itinerary suggests the best things to do, places to stay and more for a week long road trip in New Hampshire and Vermont. If you have less time, I recommend choosing one state to focus on. While you could visit these areas much faster, I recommend at least 2-3 days in each so you can have a full experience, plus have some buffer time for bad weather or unexpected traffic. You could also easily spend a week or longer in just one of these states.

My philosophy is that you should still travel no matter how little time you have. But if you are short on time, I recommend focusing on one area instead of spending a ton of your time in the car.

This is based on my experience spending several weeks in New England in Fall 2022.

Table of Contents

New hampshire vs. vermont, when is peak foliage in new hampshire and vermont, new england road trip: 7 day itinerary, where to stay in the new hampshire white mountains, artist’s bluff at sunrise, drive the kancamagus highway, cheese louise, mt washington, hike the mount lafayette and franconia ridge trail, mount willard, north and middle sugarloaf peaks, nichol’s ledge, explore downtown stowe, where to stay in stowe, mt mansfield, ben and jerry’s headquarters, cold hollow cider mill, gold brook covered bridge, moss glen falls, percy farm corn maze, idletyme brewing company, killington peak, explore woodstock, where to stay in woodstock, final thoughts.

If you have less time and are trying to pick between New Hampshire and Vermont for a fall trip, here are my thoughts!

The New Hampshire White Mountains are the best for hiking. There are so many incredible hiking trails there, at all levels. In my opinion, hiking is the best way to experience the fall colors.

Vermont is superior if you’re looking for quaint small towns and farms. Stowe and Woodstock are exactly what I think of when I think of a New England small town in the fall. Plus, visiting local farms such Baird Farm and Morse Farm is really special.

When it comes to scenic drives, New Hampshire has more mountain vistas while Vermont has more idyllic farm settings and rolling pastures. Ranking the drives really comes down to personal preference as both are beautiful.

In terms of crowds, I found both to be quite busy, but the worst crowds were in Stowe. The traffic in Stowe gets really backed up. This also happens in the New Hampshire White Mountains, but the numerous hiking opportunities in the New Hampshire White Mountains offer you more chances to escape the crowds. No matter where you are, you’ll want to add some buffer time for traffic.

In the end, I personally preferred New Hampshire because I loved the hiking trails so much. But I also spent more time in New Hampshire, so a longer trip to Vermont in the future could change my mind! It really comes down to personal preference and both are worth visiting.

The exact timing of peak foliage in Vermont and New Hampshire will change year to year, so it’s hard to plan a trip perfectly around the leaves. Typically, foliage changes first in higher elevation areas and reaches the valleys a little later. You likely won’t be able to predict the perfect time before you book your travels, so I recommend choosing anytime between the last week of September and the first two weeks of October.

Check out the foliage trackers for Vermont and New Hampshire as your trip is approaching to see what areas will be the best. If seeing the leaves in peak is your top priority, try to book refundable stays and stay flexible. But in my opinion, you can’t go wrong even if you’re not there on the exact day of peak. Foliage may look slightly different on the opposite side of the mountain or a street over. Not to mention that lighting and time of day will make a difference as well. Anytime during these few weeks, you can usually find some beautiful leaves if you keep looking.

In 2022, peak foliage in most of these areas occurred around October 5th - 12th. I explored from September 24th - October 10th and enjoyed beautiful foliage in various areas for the entire time.

This itinerary includes several hiking trails and one trail in particular that is quite difficult. If you’re new to hiking, check out my beginner hiking guide !

Road Trip Overview:

• Day One: Fly into Boston, drive 2.5 hours to the New Hampshire White Mountains
• Day Two: Hike Artist's Bluff, drive the Kancamagus Highway, drive to the tallest peak in New Hampshire.
• Day Three: Hike an epic, but challenging trail in New Hampshire.
• Day Four: Hike one or two shorter trails in the White Mountains and then drive to Vermont to continue your road trip.
• Day Five: Explore destinations around Stowe.
• Day Six: Tour a maple syrup farm, visit the second tallest Vermont peak and explore Woodstock.
• Day Seven: Drive back to Boston to complete your trip.

If you have less time, check out my 5-day version of this itinerary.

New England Road Trip Map

Use this map to visualize the road trip route: each day is a different color!

Fly into Boston and drive to New Hampshire

On day one, I recommend flying into Boston , renting a car and making your way to the New Hampshire White Mountains. Depending on where you’re staying, the drive will likely be two to two and a half hours. You may also want to stop at a grocery store and stock up on snacks and meals for hiking and traveling.

There are several great hotels and Airbnbs in Lincoln, Conway and the surrounding towns, so you can’t really go wrong. I personally love the Lincoln area to be centrally located between the Kancamagus Highway, Artist’s Bluff, Mt Lafayette and other popular trails.

In Lincoln, check out the Holiday Inn Express & Suites for a great, standard stay. For something more unique, check out the Wilderness Inn Bed & Breakfast .

You can also look for accommodations in the Thornton and Woodstock area, just south of Lincoln. Check out the Lumen Nature Retreat if you like glamping. They offer A-frame tents and safari tents with all of the amenities you could need.

I stayed in this modern cabin in Thornton and loved that it was right next to the river, was pet friendly and had fast wifi for us to work remotely.

As for food in this area, I really enjoyed StrEatz, Gypsy Cafe and White Mountain Bagel Co.

Hike to an iconic view, take a scenic drive with stops along the way and drive to the tallest peak in New Hampshire.

Artist’s Bluff is an iconic trail that leads to a view of Echo Lake perfectly framed with the surrounding mountains. When the foliage is at its peak, expect a sea of red, orange and yellow leaves.

Artist’s Bluff is extremely popular so do not expect to have it to yourself. There is a lot of room at the peak, but the crowds during peak times will make you feel like you’re at a concert instead of on a hike.

Personally, I only recommend going at sunrise on a weekday. It wasn’t too packed when I visited for sunrise. Based on the photos and videos I’ve seen, I really don’t think it would be enjoyable during the day or at sunset while the leaves are at their peak.

The hike to reach Artist’s Bluff can be done in about a half mile if you park at the Cannon Mountain RV Park. If you would like to see some more views, I highly recommend doing the 1.5 mile loop trail that includes Bald Mountain.

Start at lot 4, the main parking lot, and go counterclockwise to see Artist’s Bluff first. About a half mile from Artist’s Bluff, climb up on Bald Mountain for additional views of the surrounding area. This is a higher viewpoint where you won't see the lake, but you’ll still have an expansive view of fall colors.

The trails to both Artist’s Bluff and Bald Mountain include climbing over tree roots and some rock scrambling. Climbing to Bald Mountain is harder than Artist’s Bluff. Make sure you have proper hiking shoes and plenty of water. If you are coming for sunrise or sunset, be sure to bring a headlamp.

Artist’s Bluff is crowded but it’s popular for a reason! If it’s your first time in New Hampshire for the fall, this is definitely a spot that should be on your list.

For a complete list of the best day hikes in the White Mountains, check out my White Mountains hiking guide .

Begins 20 minutes from Artist’s Bluff

The Kancamagus Highway is a 35 mile stretch of road that connects the towns of Lincoln and Conway. This scenic drive is the perfect way to see fall foliage and take in a variety of views!

The road has a mix of scenic stops and short hikes, as well as longer hikes if you have time. I recommend spending a half day stopping at a variety of views and doing a few of the trails.

Note that there is a $5 fee for parking at the various viewpoints, or you can display your America the Beautiful pass. You should also know that drones are not allowed to land within a quarter mile of the road or within any forest protection area. Finally, be sure to obey the no parking signs.

Pro Tip: Download the Guide Along Audio tour of the Kancamagus Highway to learn about stops along the way while you're driving!

There is little cell reception on the Kancamagus Highway, so download offlines maps ahead of time and go in with a plan. I also saw a moose during one drive on the Kancamagus! Keep an eye out for wildlife, especially during sunrise, sunset and at night.

Here are the best stops to make from Lincoln to Conway (West to East):

Lincoln Wood Suspension Bridge: Walk out onto the suspension bridge for beautiful views of the East Branch Pemigewasset River and the surrounding trees. Many longer trails begin here too.

Otter Rocks: This is a quick stop where you can have a picnic or enjoy the mini waterfalls in the river.

Hancock Overlook: Hancock Overlook is right at an epic hairpin turn in the road and is a great place to watch the sunset.

Panoramic Overlook: This is an unmarked overlook located about a half mile from the Hancock Overlook. It’s another great place for sunset but parking is limited.

Pemigewasset Overlook: This beautiful overlook has a covered area and a bit more parking than the previous two. It’s another overlook that faces Southwest for sunset.

CL Graham Wangan: This overlook faces northeast, making it perfect for sunrise. It is probably my favorite overlook because of the beautiful mountain and fall foliage views it offers.

Lily Pond: This is a quick stop to see a beautiful pond. You’ll walk on a short path through some trees and the lake will reveal itself. It’s a beautiful place to capture reflections and look for wildlife.

Sugar Hill Scenic Overlook: This is another beautiful overlook that faces Northeast for sunrise.

Sabbaday Falls : This short and easy trail is definitely worth your time, but expect crowds during peak times. You’ll hike an easy 0.7 mile trail to reach a unique waterfall. The water flows through a narrow gorge area, turns a seemingly right angle and is a vibrant blue color.

Bear Notch Road: For a less crowded experience, take the Bear Notch Road spur to see some additional overlooks. There are three overlooks that offer beautiful viewpoints.

Champney Falls: If you’re up for a slightly longer hike, Champney Falls is definitely worth doing. This is a 3 mile moderate hike that has 682 feet of elevation gain. After a walk through the forest, you’ll reach two waterfalls. You’ll discover the more interesting waterfall when you walk past the first waterfall and enter an area with towering rock faces. You may need to walk over some wet rocks to reach it, so be sure to watch your step. The waterfall flows down a seemingly straight wall of rock and it’s really neat to see it up close.

Rocky Gorge and Lower Falls: These are quick but beautiful areas where you can see how water has carved away at rocks in the gorge. Rocky gorge has a bridge and a larger waterfall, while Lower Falls features a smaller waterfall.

Albany Covered Bridge and the Boulder Loop Trail: Boulder Loop is a 3 mile moderate hike that leads to some amazing views. The trail has a little over 900 feet of elevation gain and will take you past some large boulders and through the forest before reaching a fantastic view. It’s a great viewpoint to enjoy expansive views of fall foliage.

Note that you can park at two different parking lots for the Boulder Loop, either before or after the covered bridge. The Albany Covered Bridge is a classic covered bridge that was first constructed in 1858. It’s worth a quick stop even if you’re not planning on hiking the Boulder Loop.

For this itinerary, I recommend choosing between the Champney Falls trail and the Boulder Loop trail so that you have enough time to reach Mt. Washington.

Cheese Louise is a grilled cheese restaurant right at the end of the Kancamagus Highway as you’re reaching Conway! This makes it the perfect spot to grab some lunch.

They serve up some unique and delicious grilled cheese options along with hearty tomato soup. I really enjoyed the Godmother grilled cheese which includes pesto, tomatoes and balsamic reduction.

Located 45 minutes from Cheese Louise

Mount Washington is the highest point in New Hampshire and there are several ways to reach the top! If you don’t have enough time to hike, I highly recommend driving to the top.

The road is quite historic. It first opened in 1861 to the use of horse drawn carriages and is one of America’s oldest man-made attractions. The road has stood the test of time and continues to be improved as necessary.

The drive up is not for those afraid of heights. The road is very steep at times and there are some areas with drop offs. At one point, you reach a grade of 22%. Importantly, you’ll need to put your car in low gear while driving back down so as not to overheat your brakes.

There are multiple viewpoints where you can take a break before reaching the top. At the top, you’ll enjoy incredible views (on a clear day). There are also some gift shops, a museum and a cafe.

Weather can be unpredictable at the top. Mount Washington often experiences high winds; it is known for the fastest surface wind recorded in the Northern and Western Hemispheres was recorded there in 1934 at 231 mph.

There is a driving tour app so you can learn about the road during the drive. Plus, you’ll get the famous bumper sticker that reads “This Car Climbed Mt. Washington.”

During peak times, driving to the top of Mt. Washington typically costs $45 for the car and driver, plus $20 for each additional passenger. It took us 30 minutes of driving each way and we spent an hour at the top.

Other ways to reach the top of Mt. Washington include taking the Cog Railway, going on a guided tour or hiking. The Cog Railway is more expensive than driving to the top but provides a unique experience.

There are multiple hiking trails to reach the top, but you can get there in the shortest distance on the Tuckerman and Lion’s Head trails. This hike is 7.4 miles with 4,242 feet of elevation gain.

No matter how you visit, Mt. Washington is definitely worth exploring on a clear day.

Hike an epic, but challenging trail in New Hampshire

If you’re up for a challenging hike, I highly recommend the hike to Franconia Ridge and Mount Lafayette . This 9 mile loop trail is one of the most popular hikes in New Hampshire for good reason.

Note that the weather on these mountains varies drastically in the fall. I hiked it on a nice, clear day, but there was snow, ice and intense wind just one day prior. Always check the forecast before climbing a peak (I recommend looking at mountain-forecast.com). Also make sure you’re prepared for different conditions with layers, microspikes and the rest of the 10 essentials for this challenging hike.

I recommend going counterclockwise to hike up the steepest area on the Falling Water Trail.

On the Falling Water Trail, you’ll see some beautiful waterfalls and do a few river crossings. There is a lot of rock scrambling on this trail and some areas get slippery with water. You also may have to get your feet wet on a couple of the river crossings. I recommend trekking poles for balance.

After 2.8 miles, you’ll climb out of the forest onto Haystack Peak and be rewarded with incredible views of the surrounding mountains. From there, you’ll hike another 1.5 miles along the ridge and reach the peaks of Lincoln and Mount Lafayette. Both Mount Lafayette and Mount Lincoln have an elevation of over 4,000 feet.

The entire ridge hike has incredible views. There are a few rock scrambling areas but it is not as difficult as the forest portions of the hike (in my opinion).

As you ascend down the last peak, you’ll see the Greenleaf Hut in the distance. This is such a nice treat on this long hike! The hut offers overnight lodging, bathrooms, food and drink. I enjoyed soup, bread and coffee before continuing my descent. Bring cash to purchase food (they also take venmo but service is spotty). You can also refill your water here for free.

The hike down from Greenleaf Hut was a bit harder than I thought it would be. There are several rocky areas and some can be quite slippery. If you’re not used to hiking in the area, expect it to take longer than you think.

Overall, this hike is challenging but incredibly rewarding. If you’re an experienced hiker who wants a difficult hike, this is a must-do on your trip to the New Hampshire White Mountains.

Hike one or two shorter trails in the White Mountains and then drive to Vermont to continue your road trip

Mount Willard popular trail leads to a beautiful view of a narrow valley between two mountains, yellow foliage and Crawford Notch Road.

The trail begins at the Crawford Notch Train Depot, so expect crowds if the train is about to leave. The trailhead is on the opposite side of the tracks. Make sure you pay attention to signage and/or download the map on All Trails, as some miss hikers the left turn and hike the wrong trail.

The trail is 3.1 miles with 895 feet of elevation gain. You will hike up in the forest along a stream (some areas may be slippery) until you reach the viewpoint. The end is quite beautiful and there is a nice amount of space to spread out, have a snack and enjoy the views.

The North and Middle Sugarloaf Peaks are a great place to summit two peaks with expansive views during peak foliage.

The total trail is 3.3 miles with a little over 1,000 feet of elevation gain. If you want the hike to be slightly shorter, I recommend only doing the Middle Sugarloaf Peak. Like Mount Willard, most of the trail is the forest and you won’t get many views until the end. But the views are incredible at the top and this was one of my favorite places to see fall foliage at its peak.

About an hour and 20 minutes from Mt Willard and the Sugarloaf Peaks

Begin your drive to Stowe, Vermont (located a little under 2 hours from the Sugarloaf Trailhead). However, I recommend a detour to hike to the top of Nichol’s Ledge along the way.

Nichol’s Ledge is rated easy and just over a half mile with 242 feet of elevation gain. This quick trail leads to a stunning view of Nichols Pond surrounded by rolling hills. Especially when the foliage is at its peak, this is such a beautiful view.

Note the parking lot is small and this may be crowded during peak times. Also make sure to avoid Town Hwy 58 when driving here if you do not have a 4x4 vehicle.

45 Minutes from Nichol’s Ledge

Arrive in downtown Stowe and explore a bit before or after checking into your hotel. Be sure to take in the view of the Stowe Community Church from Salon Salon!

If it’s still daylight, it’s worth taking a walk on the Stowe Recreation Path. If you’re looking for dinner downtown, check out Harrison’s or Plate (reservations are recommended).

Stowe has several great hotels and Airbnbs to choose from, but it is a small town that receives a ton of visitors in the fall. It is best to book early and expect some places to be expensive.

For a more affordable hotel that is still super chic and in a great location, check out the Field Guide Lodge . They have well-designed rooms and are within walking distance of downtown Stowe.

If you want to be in the center of downtown Stowe, check out Green Mountain Inn . This historic hotel has welcomed guests since 1833 and also has a nice restaurant.

Another place to stay near town is the Timberholm Inn . This cozy lodge offers outdoor amenities such as a fire pit and a hot tub and is the perfect place to stay if you’re looking for peace and quiet.

There are also some great Airbnbs nearby. Check out this studio apartment above a coffee roaster , this cabin in nature near Stowe or this beautiful home within walking distance of downtown Stowe.

Road trip to various destinations surrounding Stowe

Spend your first full day in Vermont exploring the various sights around Stowe.

If it’s a clear day, start by driving to the top of Mt Mansfield (you can hike instead if you have time!). This is a great thing to do earlier in the day to beat the crowds. I tried to go an hour before closing and they had already sold all the remaining spots for the day.

Mt Mansfield is the highest point in Vermont and offers amazing views of the Green Mountains. The road to the top is 4.5 miles, unpaved and includes some hairpin turns. Note that to actually reach the summit from the Auto Road, you’ll need to hike about 3 miles round trip from the parking area to the peak.

There is no food or drink at the top, so pack a picnic and take in the views. Another option is to take the gondola to the top. To reach the peak from the gondola, there is a shorter but more difficult trail to reach the peak. You would follow along the Cliff Trail and climb over boulders along the way.

No matter how you reach the top, Mt Mansfield is an epic peak that offers beautiful views of the surrounding Green Mountains.

25 Minutes from Mt Mansfield

After Mt Mansfield, I recommend driving south to Ben and Jerry’s and then making your way back north towards Stowe with these various stops. Cold Hollow Cider Mill is difficult to turn into if you’re coming from the North.

Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream is headquartered in Vermont and you can tour the factory, enjoy some ice cream and see their flavor graveyard. If you would like to tour the factory, you need to reserve a ticket in advance. Tickets are released every Tuesday for the following Tuesday-Sunday and sell out during busy times.

If you don’t snag a tour ticket, it’s still worth seeing their flavor graveyard. There are humorous gravestones honoring their retired ice cream flavors throughout the years. They also have ice cream scoops and gifts for sale with no tickets required.

5 Minutes from Ben and Jerry’s

Cold Hollow Cider Mill is a must for apple cider donuts and apple cider. They serve the best apple cider and cider donuts I’ve ever had! You can sample their cold cider for free and purchase hot cider, donuts and many more goodies. You’ll find a wide variety of jams, salsas and many more snacks and gifts.

Along with cider and donut shop, they have a farm to table restaurant that serves great breakfast and lunch options. Here you can enjoy breakfast sandwiches, hard cider, paninis and more.

10 Minutes from Cold Hollow Cider Mill

The Gold Brook Covered Bridge is a scenic stop with some sad history. It is also known as “Emily’s Bridge” and is said to be quite haunted. According to legend, a girl named Emily was supposed to meet her partner here to elope in the mid-1800s. When he didn’t show, she took her own life here.

It is said that there have been claw-like marks on the side of cars and strange voices inside the tunnel. The bridge was featured on Most Terrifying Places in America in 2018.

20 Minutes from Gold Brook Covered Bridge

Moss Glen Falls is a scenic waterfall that can be reached via a short, quarter mile hike. There is limited parking and this is a popular spot, so allow some buffer time.

The hike begins on a flat, boardwalk trail and then you will climb a short hill to reach the falls. Be sure to stay on the trail to help protect vegetation.

The trail may be muddy and a bit slippery in areas, I recommend wearing good shoes!

15 Minutes from Moss Glen Falls

If it’s still open for the day, test your navigation skills at the Percy Farm Corn Maze! Nothing says “fall” like a corn maze and this one is extra fun because it can be challenging to navigate.

The maze sits on about 8 acres, is dog friendly and a lot of fun. They give instructions to call them for help if you find yourself unable to find your way out. It took us just under 45 minutes to find our way out!

While you’re in the maze, you’ll get to take in some beautiful views of Mt Mansfield in the distance.

2 Minutes from Percy Farm Corn Maze

Idletyme Brewing Company is a great place for dinner if you enjoy breweries! I enjoyed their brewski sampler which allows you to try 10 beers. My favorite was the Sour Blue.

To eat, I enjoyed the gouda soup and their soft pretzel. This is a popular place but we were able to get a seat outside around 5:15 PM (they have heaters!). If you’re eating later, make a reservation or be prepared to wait.

Check out your hotel and head to another area of Vermont for the next day of your trip. Tour a maple syrup farm, go to Killington Peak and explore Woodstock.

An hour and 45 minutes from Stowe

Vermont is known for its maple syrup for good reason. They produce the most maple syrup in the country by far with over 2.5 million gallons produced in 2022. Therefore, one of the most iconic things you can do in Vermont is tour a maple syrup farm.

I highly recommend a tour of Baird Farm ! They are a family-owned business with a 560-acre farm in Chittenden, Vermont. They offer free tours that include a walk to their maple trees and a tour of the sugarhouse. Make sure you make a reservation in advance!

I learned SO much on my tour with Jacob. We got to see a small portion of the 100+ miles of collection tubes, see how the syrup is filtered and try 7 different types of syrups. I was especially impressed with their infusions and loved the mint infused syrup.

Baird Farm is located a little under 2 hours from Stowe and less than an hour from Woodstock and Killington Peak. I highly recommend including it on your Vermont itinerary! A tour of a sugarbush is worth it in Vermont whether you go here or not, but I recommend supporting a small business if possible.

30 Minutes from Baird Farm

Hike or take the gondola to the second tallest peak in Vermont for stunning views, especially during peak foliage! I actually did both the hike and gondola ride.

There are a few different trails that can lead you to the peak. I hiked it via the Bucklin Trail. This path is 7.2 miles, has over 2,400 feet of elevation gain and is rated hard. It starts flat for the first couple miles, and then gets very steep.

The trail is pretty straightforward until the last bit which includes a short section of rock scrambling. The hike is mostly in the forest and you won’t see expansive views until the end. When I reached the top, the peak was completely socked in with fog and we couldn’t see anything.

When we reached the bottom, we realized that the weather had cleared and we could now see the peak. Therefore, we decided to pay and take the gondola back up to see the view. It was worth it to take in the expansive views! Prices are cheaper if you pay for your gondola tickets online instead of upon arrival. I paid $27 per person.

Kilington is a ski resort by winter and a popular place for mountain bikers and hikers in the summer. The top of the mountain typically has a snack shack, a restaurant and restrooms. You will see views as soon as you exit the gondola, but to get the best views, you should hike about 0.1 miles from the gondola to summit the peak. The trail includes some rocks, so I recommend proper hiking shoes.

No matter how you reach the top, it’s worth seeing Killington Peak on a clear day! You can see views for miles and it’s especially beautiful during the fall.

30 Minutes from the Killington Peak gondola

After Baird Farm and Killington Peak, make your way east to Woodstock to spend the rest of your day.

If Mont Vert Cafe is still open, it’s a great place to grab lunch, coffee and pastries. If you’re in the mood for a treat, try a Maple Cremee from Woodstock Scoops!

A maple creemee is a Vermont speciality: maple-flavored soft serve ice cream. Even if you aren’t a huge maple syrup fan, it’s worth trying one! Many places also have the option to add crumbled maple sprinkles or swirl the maple ice cream with another flavor. Make sure you have a maple creemee before leaving Vermont!

2023 Update: Due to high crowd levels at the Sleepy Hollow Farm, the town of Pomfret will be closing the road off to non-residents from September 23 - October 15. Enjoy my photo and focus on the other beautiful places around Woodstock.

The most iconic spot in Woodstock is the Sleepy Hollow Farm. This picturesque farm is a private home that photographers love, especially during the fall. It’s a beautiful spot because it’s surrounded by rolling hills, has a reflective lake and a rustic barn. The quaint farm tells a story of the idyllic farm life you may imagine when you think of Vermont. This is an especially nice place for photos at sunset or sunrise.

This location is super popular so expect crowds. It’s located on a one way road and you’ll want to make sure to respect parking signs. This is also private property (currently owned by Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry), so avoid walking onto the driveway and stay on the road. The address is 3429 Cloudland Rd, Woodstock VT 05091.

Another beautiful spot in Woodstock is the Middle Covered Bridge. If you have enough time, it’s worth walking around downtown and enjoying the various shops as well.

If you’re looking for an affordable stay in the heart of Woodstock, check out The Shire or The Vesper . The Shire is a cozy hotel that includes some rooms with river views.

The Vesper is a bed & breakfast that is beautifully decorated and family owned. Both of these hotels are within walking distance of restaurants and shops in downtown Woodstock.

If you’re looking for something more quiet, look for a home outside of town. Check out this cozy cabin with mountain views and a firepit, or this rustic cabin right next to a stream.

Drive back to Boston from Vermont

On your final day in New England, make your way back to Boston to catch your flight. Boston is located two and a half hours from Woodstock.

A great stop to make along the way is the Quechee Gorge. If you’re short on time, you can get a great view from the bridge on Woodstock Road. If you have more time, there are some nice hiking trails here.

Another stop you can make is at Gould Hill Farm. Enjoy their apple cider donuts and locally-made ice cream, or take home a souvenir from their farm store.

A fall road trip through New Hampshire and Vermont should be on everyone’s bucket list! But even if you miss peak foliage, this area is worth exploring year round. I hope this helps you plan your trip and get some New England travel inspiration.

For more New England Travel Guides, check out these blogs:

• How to Spend One Day in Boston
• The Best Hiking Trails in Acadia National Park
• The Best Day Hikes in the New Hampshire White Mountains
• The Best Things To Do in the New Hampshire White Mountains
• A Fall Guide for Acadia National Park
• The Perfect Day Trip to Connecticut
• The Perfect 5 Day New England Road Trip
• How to Spend 1 Day in Rhode Island

Thanks for Reading!

Save to Pinterest!

New England

10 of The Most Beautiful Rivers in America (and How We Can Protect Them)

The Perfect 5 Day New England Fall Road Trip (New Hampshire and Vermont)

Let's stay in touch!

Join the Lost with Lydia email list to get monthly travel guides and tips!

You also may like

The 14 Best Hiking Trails in Acadia National Park (Plus Helpful Tips!)

The Best Day Hikes in the White Mountains, New Hampshire

The 25 Best Things to Do in New Hampshire

• Facebook 29

New Hampshire might be one of the smaller states in the US, but it packs a punch with its diverse regions and incredible natural beauty. It’s an outdoor lover’s paradise with its picturesque river valleys, scenic coastline, and soaring peaks offering endless opportunities for adventure. 

Beloved for its stunning fall foliage vistas, its picturesque roads lead to charming New England villages and postcard-worthy rural landscapes. History is around every corner of The Granite State, with the chance to explore its past at fascinating living history museums and natural wonders that date back to the Ice Age. 

New Hampshire is a beautiful destination year-round. You’ll find plenty of hiking, paddling, and lake-viewing opportunities in warmer months and skiing, ice fishing, and other winter sports excursions in winter. Families will find a range of exciting kid-friendly activities to add to their list, from themed amusement parks and train rides to beach destinations. 

With so much to see and do in New Hampshire, you’re spoiled for choice with adventures and activities. We’ve compiled a list of the best of the best, highlighting the top outdoor excursions, fall foliage viewing spots, and family destinations you should add to your New Hampshire bucket list. The best part of this small US state is that its attractions are all nearby, making an adventure-packed vacation to New Hampshire easily accessible! 

Don’t forget to check out our web story: The 25 Best Things to Do in New Hampshire

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of our links we may earn a small commission (don’t worry, it’s at no extra cost to you).

25 cool and unique things to do in New Hampshire

1. reach the summit of mount washington.

Hiking enthusiasts can add Mount Washington to the top of their New Hampshire bucket list, as this is the highest peak in the northeastern US at over 6,000 feet. It offers spectacular vistas from the top, where you can marvel at landscapes in Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, Maine, Quebec, and the Atlantic Ocean on a clear day! 

At the top sits Mount Washington State Park , a 60-acre slice of land that borders the White Mountain National Forest. If you’re not up for the strenuous adventure, you can also reach the summit of this towering mountain via the Mount Washington Cog Railway or the Mount Washington Auto Road. 

While both are worthwhile adventures, the Mount Washington Cog Railway is one of the most popular options. In operation since 1869, it’s often referred to as “the cog” and was the world’s first mountain-climbing railway of its kind. Taking about three hours, your round-trip journey includes a chance to marvel at the incredible panoramic views from a deck at the summit. 

Located on the scenic NH Route 16, the Mount Washington Auto Road is one of the most popular driving routes in the northeast. You can drive yourself from May to October or sign up for a guided tour to take in spectacular views into the Great Gulf Wilderness and the Presidential Mountain Range along the way.

2. Go Hiking in Franconia Notch State Park

Set in the heart of the White Mountain National Forest, Franconia Notch State Park is an outdoor oasis in New Hampshire. In addition to its natural wonders, it offers scenic vistas around every corner and historic sites to explore. 

Spanning an eight-mile portion of Interstate 93 between the high peaks of the Kinsman and Franconia mountain ranges, this park is home to popular attractions like Flume Gorge and Echo Lake. It’s one of the best things to do in New Hampshire if you love the outdoors, as it offers endless recreation such as swimming, boating, kayaking, fishing, hiking, as well as a range of winter activities. 

Walk through the renowned Flume Gorge , then ride the exciting Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway or browse exhibits in the New England Ski Museum . In warmer months, you can swim, canoe, and kayak at Echo Lake, ride your bike on the Recreational Trail, or hike the 1.5-mile Artists Bluff Trail for some of the best views of Franconia Notch. 

Other popular activities include fly fishing at Profile Lake, while those looking for a thrill can try rock climbing. Alternately, opt for a leisurely day of bird watching to see if you can spot hawks and falcons at Cannon Cliffs. Lafayette Place Campground and Cannon Mountain RV Park offer a base for overnight adventures. 

3. Follow the Boardwalk Path at Flume Gorge

Deserving of a spot of its own, Flume Gorge in Franconia Notch is one of the coolest things to do in New Hampshire.  A natural gorge that extends over 800 feet at the base of Mount Liberty, this natural attraction is a must-see. 

Open to the public from mid-May through mid-October, its two-mile loop goes one way. Along the way, you can marvel at the moss and fern-covered granite walls that rise up to 90 feet in height. The walls are about 12-20 feet wide, which provides a unique walkway where you can experience this natural wonder. 

The path is two miles in length and will take you approximately 1.5 hours to explore. It’s worth taking the time to admire the photogenic natural surroundings, which include cascading waterfalls, historic covered bridges, glacier pools, and boulders. 

While you hike the trail’s wood boardwalks and stairs, make sure to take note of some of the highlights. Stop to see the bright red Flume Covered Bridge, massive Table Rock outcropping of pinkish Conway granite, 45-foot-tall Avalanche Falls, and boulder-roofed Bear Cave. 

4. Take a Scenic Drive on Kancamagus Highway

If you’re up for a scenic road trip in New Hampshire, plan a trip on the Kancamagus Highway from Conway to Lincoln. The 34-mile journey along Route 112 is not only an American Scenic Byway, but it’s also considered one of the best fall foliage viewing areas in the entire country! 

This picture-perfect road winds across the state and through the heart of the mountainous White Mountain National Forest , offering a number of vistas along the way. Especially scenic in the fall months, you’ll have the chance to capture views of the White Mountains, Swift River, Lower Falls, Sabbaday Falls, and the Rocky Gorge. 

Most travelers come here to get a glimpse of New Hampshire’s famous fall colors that offer a snapshot of quintessential New England scenery. With its tongue twister name, it’s known to locals as “The Kanc,” offering impressive vistas of the state’s bright red and orange landscapes and covered wooden bridges.

If you want to get out and explore, the region is known for its variety of memorable hiking trails and natural wonders. Stop at Covered Bridge Campground and walk across the wooden Albany Covered Bridge or add a visit to Lower Falls Scenic Area, Rocky Gorge Scenic Area, and Sabbaday Falls to your itinerary. 

5. Go Skiing in North Conway

Nestled in the picturesque White Mountains, North Conway is a hub for skiing in New Hampshire. Come winter, the area’s range of powder-fresh slopes and ski mountains are perfect for expert skiers and beginners alike.  

The most popular destination is Cranmore Mountain , a family-friendly spot with slopes for all ages and skill levels. This winter wonderland offers a long list of activities, including 56 trails with a variety of terrain as well as a snow tubing park, year-round Mountain Adventure Park, and ski and snowboard lessons. Only a quick five-minute drive from downtown, it’s also the area’s most accessible mountain. 

Attitash Mountain is another favorite ski spot nearby that is spread across two connected mountains, featuring 68 trails and 11 running ski lifts. Catering to novice skiers and experts, Wildcat Mountain is loved for its impressive views of Mount Washington, Presidential Range, and the Tuckerman Ravine. 

If you’re looking for a laid-back ambiance, head to King Pine Ski Area . More off the beaten path, this family-friendly ski resort offers a range of fun winter sports options, including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, tubing, and ice skating. Last but not least, Bretton Woods is the largest ski resort in New Hampshire, with 464 acres of skiing and snowboarding on 63 trails. 

6. Visit a Frozen Attraction at the Ice Castles

One of New Hampshire’s must-do things in winter, the Ice Castles in Woodstock is a unique winter wonderland that is fun for the entire family. Each year, this attraction creates a giant ice fortress that is roughly an acre in size, with its tallest points reaching about 25 feet in height. 

This popular winter attraction is a must-see, featuring interactive castles with intricate details, including LED lights frozen inside the 25 million pounds of ice. Adding to its magical ambiance, the castles feature ice-carved tunnels, fountains, slides, and frozen thrones.

While you can visit during the day, at night the spectacle is extra-special with the multicolored lights that allow it to glow from within. Other fun things to do at Ice Castles include a sledding hill, sleigh rides, and the Mystic Forest light walk.

After you explore the life-size fairytale playground, take a scenic stroll along an enchanting forest path or hop on a romantic horse-drawn ride. Along the way, you can marvel at the various ice sculptures that artisans spent hours shaping and discover an array of fun photo opportunities! 

7. Enjoy Saco River Valley Views at Echo Lake State Park

One of the best places in New Hampshire to enjoy the outdoors, Echo Lake State Park in North Conway is a delightful spot for recreation. In addition to its beautiful scenery, it’s an excellent destination for swimming and picnicking and boasts several hiking trails that wind around the lake and connect to Cathedral Ledge State Park . 

Follow the one-mile trail that wraps around the park’s natural wonder for spectacular views of the 700-foot-tall Cathedral Ledge, which towers over the lake. If you want to climb atop Cathedral Ledge, follow the hiking trails or the mile-long auto road to the summit, where you can enjoy panoramic views across the Saco River Valley to the White Mountains. 

Water sports are also popular on the lake, with canoeing, kayaking, and swimming being the area’s top activities. Formed during the retreat of the last Ice Age, the sheer granite face of Cathedral Ledge and White Horse Ledge is also a hotspot for rock climbers. In winter, activities like snowmobiling and ice fishing are available. 

If you want to camp overnight, head to the Saco River Camping Area in Mount Washington Valley. About five miles from Echo Lake State Park is the Beach Camping Area, a family-friendly spot set along the Saco River with a scenic view of the mountains. 

8. Hop Aboard the Conway Scenic Railroad

At the top of many New Hampshire bucket lists, a ride on the Conway Scenic Railroad offers a scenic journey through the state’s most stunning landscapes. Departing from an 1874 Victorian Station in North Conway Village, these round-trip excursions are one of the best ways to see the Valley, no matter what time of year. 

There are various train trips to choose from here, starting with the kid-friendly Conway Valley Train, which is a 55-minute classic rural train journey that will take you back in time. For something a little longer, the Bartlett-Sawyer Excursion Train Ride takes you on a leisurely adventure through the Saco River Valley to Bartlett or Sawyer River. 

However, those looking for an epic train ride can hop aboard the Mountaineer, a five-hour excursion through the Mount Washington Valley and over the rugged Crawford Notch. The 1950s-era streamlined passenger recreates the experience of a post-World War II Transcontinental streamlined train, with upgrades including a premier travel class with panoramic views from its Upper Dome.  

This ride is particularly striking in fall when you can capture views of New Hampshire’s dramatic natural scenery at its peak. Along the way, you can marvel at sheer bluffs, steep ravines, cascading brooks and streams, and panoramic mountain vistas. 

9. Marvel at Waterfalls in Lost River Gorge

Lost River Gorge is considered one of New Hampshire’s greatest natural wonders, offering a self-guided journey past picture-perfect cascading waterfalls. Along the one-mile boardwalk, you can also take in stunning views of jagged rock walls, gigantic boulders, and rock-strewn glacial boulder caves. 

Located in Kinsman Notch, this area is noted for its picturesque natural beauty. The family-friendly destination appeals to all ages, featuring a wooden boardwalk trail carving through the gorge as it winds its way along the Lost River. 

Not only that, but the area also features a Forest Adventure Trail, treehouse, and suspension bridge. You can also test your bravery by climbing into the Giant Bird’s Nest, which offers endless views of the lush forest that surrounds it. 

After taking in the views, kids can pan for gemstones or fossils at the Lost River Mining Company. The unique mining experience allows you to search for treasures, which include shark’s teeth, amethyst, calcite, and pyrite. 

10. Enjoy Water Sports at Lake Winnipesaukee

Lake Winnipesaukee is one of the top destinations in New Hampshire if you want to unwind and relax. Of the 273 bodies of water in the Lakes Region, this natural wonder is one of the most picturesque, sitting at the foot of the White Mountains and offering access to quaint villages and public beaches. 

You can get out on the water on a dinner cruise and see why this gem is said to be the most scenic lake in New Hampshire, charter a boat to explore one of the larger islands nearby, or bring your rod and reel and lure in salmon, trout, and bass. In summer, swimming is popular, while winter brings ice fishing adventures! 

Nature lovers can stay on land and explore one of the preserves or learn about the Lakes Region’s flora and fauna at Squam Lakes Natural Science Center . Hiking is abundant, with trails offering views of Belknap Mountain, Mount Major, and West Rattlesnake Mountain. When snow arrives, snowmobiling and ice skating are available.

There are over 40 communities surrounding the lake, with Weirs Beach, Wolfeboro, and Laconia being some of the highlights. For an overview of the area, follow the almost 100-mile Lakes Region Tour Scenic Drive around the lake to explore the collection of charming towns. 

11. Explore Underground at Polar Caves

Polar Caves is one of the most unique things to do in New Hampshire, offering a fun day of exploring. Family-owned and operated for 98 years, this outdoor experience offers a chance for you to adventure through boulder caves that were formed during the last Ice Age when a glacier moved over the White Mountains. 

Offering a series of caves and passageways for exploring, self-guided tours at Polar Caves get you up-close with a series of fascinating ancient formations. Connected by boardwalks, the granite boulder caves at the base of Hawk’s Cliff are easily accessible.

You can duck, squeeze, and shimmy through the nine caves, then learn the history behind attractions like Polar Pinch, King’s Tut, The Bear’s Den, and Orange Crush. Afterward, you can enjoy lunch in the picnic area or pick up treats and trinkets in the Main Lodge. 

Kids will also love the park’s nature trails and rock garden, while an on-site animal park features a collection of rare and domestic animals. Say hello to white-tailed deer and Fallow Deer and bring quarters to feed them corn! 

12. Take a Refreshing Dip in Diana’s Baths

Located in the southeastern corner of New Hampshire, Diana’s Baths is a series of cascades on Lucy Brook, nestled within the White Mountain National Forest. A must-see at any time of year, this natural attraction in Bartlett is fed from Big Attitash Mountain. 

In summer, this hidden wonder is a great spot for a refreshing dip and a great place for kids and grown-ups alike who want to enjoy the natural water park. Featuring a tranquil setting, it is surrounded by boulders, ledges, swimming pools, and cascading falls. 

After a fairly easy 1/2-mile hike on a flat, wide gravel path, you’ll reach the base of the cascading falls and a shallow area. Once here, you can look upstream and capture a view of the photogenic cascades in all their glory.

In addition to a group of rock formations, you’ll find a series of shallow pools where you can dip your toes in the water or take a soak. After your swim, enjoy a lunch and waterfall view from the picnic area or bask in the sunshine on the smooth rocks. 

Diana’s Baths is currently suffering from over-tourism which is causing parking challenges, overcrowding, and an excess of trash from tourists. There are plenty of other amazing spots along the 32-mile byway that are less touristy and worth a visit including Rocky Gorge (pictured below) .

13. Play at the World’s Largest Arcade

One of the coolest things to do in New Hampshire if you’re a video game lover is visit the world’s largest arcade. Located in Laconia, this Funspot Arcade is officially ranked in the Guinness Book of World Records. 

The arcade actually caters to all ages, offering a collection of vintage video arcade games and pinball machines. You can expect to see throwbacks like Space Invaders, Frogger, and Pong that will take you back to the golden age of video games from the 70s and 80s, with the floor lined with row after row of vintage options like Tetris, Tron, and Toobin’. 

You won’t get bored here, as there are over 600 games, 300 of which are classic arcade games. Not only that, but visitors of all ages will love the 20-lane 10-pin and candlepin bowling center, cash bingo, and 18-hole indoor mini-golf. 

After hours of gaming, you can grab food at one of the arcade’s on-site restaurant options. The family-friendly Braggin’ Dragon is known for its 17-inch pizzas, while D.A. Long Tavern features craft beer, darts, and pool tables. 

14. Admire Art at Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site

You can step into the world of one of the greatest American artists at Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site , which includes the home, studio, artwork, and garden of Augustus Saint-Gardens. Learn more about this famous American sculptor, then follow one of the scenic hiking trails that wind through the woods. 

Located in Cornish, this 190-acre site features more than 100 of the sculptor’s artworks exhibited in its galleries. Get up close to expressive portrait reliefs and full-size bronze casts of some of his most famous works in New Hampshire’s only national park. 

Don’t miss the “Shaw Memorial,” which is widely considered his masterpiece and took him 14 years to complete. Also on display are the $10 and $20 gold pieces commissioned by President Roosevelt, which were minted from 1907 to 1933. Many consider the $20 gold piece to be the most beautiful of American coins! 

The area is also noted for its natural beauty, surrounded by a picture-perfect mountainous landscape. Capture the nature views that inspired Saint-Gardens by following one of the hiking trails, which feature interpretive panels about the area’s natural history. The short 0.25 Ravine Trail takes you to a swimming hole used by Saint-Gardens, while the two-mile Blow-Me-Down Trail ends at a millpond. 

15. Visit America’s Stonehenge

Nicknamed America’s Stonehenge , this archeological site in North Salem is one of New Hampshire’s long-time treasures. It first opened under the name “Mystery Hill Caves” in 1958 and is now a unique attraction for history enthusiasts. 

While it looks nothing like the actual Stonehenge in England, it does include a series of manmade chambers and stone walls. In addition to unique stone arrangements, there are ceremonial meeting places and a one-acre granite outcropping with a collection of rock structures built on top of it. It’s said the site is over 4,000 years old! 

The site is shrouded in legend, with its origin and purpose debated by scholars and amateurs alike for years. Most people believe that a native civilization must have made use of this area, as fragments of bowls and stone tools, as well as fire pits, have been unearthed during various excavations. 

Wherever it came from, there are ancient mysteries locked within this site that make it a cool day trip to see the winding maze of stone structures. History buffs won’t want to miss the giant astronomical calendar made of standing monoliths, while a hike around this area reveals a peaceful path with panoramic views of the lush forest. 

16. Walk Through Period Homes at Strawbery Banke Museum

Set in the heart of historic downtown Portsmouth , the Strawbery Banke Museum is a fascinating outdoor history museum. Within the 10-acre property, this popular New England attraction is dedicated to bringing 300+ years of American history to life. 

It’s one of the best things to do in New Hampshire if you’re a history buff, offering a glimpse into centuries of Portsmouth’s past. The 10-acre attraction is named after the first settlement here on the Piscataqua River, featuring almost a dozen historic homes filled with vintage furnishings. 

Representing four centuries of history, the houses offer insight into what life was like in this time period. Explore the area and you’ll find all sorts of homes – from the grand 1811 Federal-style mansion to a 1762 Georgian home. Some houses are adorned with furnishings that represent the era, while others feature cutaway displays and exhibits highlighting the tools that were used to construct them. 

Staffed with costumed role players, you can learn more about the rich history of the Puddle Dock neighborhood as you explore buildings from the late 1600s until the 1950s. See the fully-stocked Marden-Abbot House and Store that depicts life in the wartime 1940s, then catch one of the live trade demonstrations that include authentic cooking and weaving.

17. Wander Market Square in Portsmouth (& Prescott Park)

After a visit to the Strawbery Banke Museum, you can explore more of the charming coastal city of Portsmouth. Once one of the most important ports of the Colonial Era, this popular day trip from Boston is now one of New England’s most popular port towns. 

Start your visit in the buzzing Market Square, which is filled with boutique shops, cafes, and art galleries. You can also take a break in the leafy Prescott Park , a tranquil area set along the banks of the Piscataqua River, where you’ll find a collection of beautiful blooming flowers. It’s particularly noted for its tulip displays in spring!

History lovers will find plenty to explore in Portsmouth. The Moffatt-Ladd House is considered one of America’s finest Georgian mansions (where two signers of the Declaration of Independence lived), while the 1716 Warner House boasts the oldest painted murals in the US. 

Alternately, the Black Heritage Trail is a self-guided walking tour through the historic center that offers insight into the Black culture of the Colonial and Federal periods. For a scenic journey, hop on one of the cruises from Portsmouth Harbor to the Isles of Shoals for an excellent view of the Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse and historic Fort Constitution.  

18. Stroll the Shoreline at Rye Beach

One of New Hampshire’s most charming seaside towns, Rye offers stunning ocean views and a laid-back atmosphere. This coastal gem has 17 miles of coastline where you can enjoy beautiful beaches, delicious seafood, and easy access to nature. 

In summer, the coastline is a popular draw with local surfers, with surf shops dotting its main road. Catch the surfers in action or ride your bike to Rye Harbor, where you can catch a fishing tour or cruise to the Isles of Shoals and Star Island.

Go swimming, picnicking, and seashell collecting at Jenness State Beach , or drive 10 minutes to nearby Wallis Sands State Beach to hike its rocky walking paths and enjoy views of the Isles of Shoals in the distance. If you’re on a family vacation, head to Odiorne Point State Park and visit the kid-friendly Seacoast Science Center.

Make sure to wrap up your day with a seafood dinner, as you’ll find some of New England’s freshest offerings served at casual restaurants. Petey’s Summertime Seafood and Ray’s Seafood are two local favorites with items like lobster rolls, chowder, and jumbo shrimp on the menu. 

19. Learn About Marine Mammals at Seacoast Science Center

Located on the grounds of Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, the Seacoast Science Center offers science education through hands-on learning. At this family-friendly attraction, you can get up close to aquatic life, explore woodland paths, discover inhabitants of a tide pool, and learn about how to save seals and other marine mammals. 

One of the most popular exhibits is the Tide Pool Touch Tank, where you can actually hold a sea star, green sea urchin, and hermit crab. You can also observe fascinating live animals in the Gulf of Maine exhibit, including lobsters, mussels, dog whelks, and winter flounders. 

Learn about whales through Tofu’s story, a humpback that lived in the Gulf of Maine, and marvel at the 32-foot whale skeleton on display. The Edge of the Sea allows you to see animals under a high-powered microscope, while Working Underwater highlights the challenging world of undersea exploration. 

Little ones can explore the Discovery Dock, where they can become fishermen at sea. After you visit the museum, get outside and enjoy the picturesque rocky coastline that defines the 330-acre Odiorne Point State Park. In addition to a wooded picnic grove, there is a playground and miles of walking trails. 

20. Escape to the Coast in Hampton Beach

Nestled on a small strip of sand on the Atlantic Ocean coastline, Hampton Beach is just a short drive from Rye and one of the most popular beach destinations in the state. In addition to its sun-kissed beach, you’ll find an array of family-friendly activities to enjoy in this small town. 

Visiting Hampton Beach’s Funarama Arcade is a must, with video games, skeeball, and pinball machines lining this venue since 1905. For some adults-only fun, head to Hampton Beach Casino and try your luck at Craps, Poker, Black Jack, and Roulette. Other popular attractions in Hampton include the Casino Ballroom , which hosts world-class concerts and comedy acts.

Hampton Beach State Park offers year-round outdoor recreation, offering Atlantic Ocean-facing facilities and miles of sandy coastline to enjoy. Pack your sunscreen and enjoy a fun day of swimming, fishing, picnicking at this outdoor oasis. You can even stay overnight in the RV park.

Pick your own apples and purchase homemade pies at Apple Crest Farm Orchards , the oldest and largest farm in New Hampshire. If you want to learn more about the ocean and its marine life, visit the Blue Ocean Discovery Center , where you can explore its large touch tanks filled with crabs and periwinkles. 

21. Day Trip to the Picturesque River Town of Exeter

A popular stop on most New Hampshire bucket lists, Exeter is a picturesque river town located about 10 miles inland from the coast. Once a Revolutionary War capital, this town is rich in history and known for its beautiful scenery and small-town ambiance. 

You can take a step back in time with a visit to the American Independence Museum , which is a National Historic Landmark that boasts an original copy of the Declaration of Independence. If you time your visit right, history buffs can also attend the annual American Independence Festival in summer with battle reenactments. 

Take the afternoon to browse Exeter’s picture-perfect tree-lined streets, including the main stretch of Water Street with its collection of quaint boutique shops, antique stores, and art galleries. Pick up produce at the seasonal Exeter Farmers’ Market at Swasey Parkway, then sit and enjoy the tranquil water views by the Squamscott River. 

Exeter is home to a range of charming eateries, including Trackside Cafe with its tasty breakfast options. The Green Bean is an Exeter favorite with its homemade soups, salads, and sandwiches, while Laney & Lu Cafe serves fresh food made with local ingredients. 

22. Plan a Family Day Out at Story Land

Absolutely one of the coolest things to do in New Hampshire if you’re traveling with kids, Story Land is an exciting theme park attraction in Glen. This children’s theme park is packed with fun for the entire family, offering rides and entertainment for over 65 years. 

There are over 30 kid-friendly attractions at Story Land to keep you busy for an entire day, including the Roar-O-Saurus wooden roller coaster and the Bamboo Chutes ride that ends with a big splash. Hop on the Huff Puff & Whistle Railroad tour or ride in a Pumpkin Coach, then battle it out at the Splash Battle or say hello to the farm animals. 

If you’re more of a Christmas fan, make sure to add Santa’s Village in Jefferson to your New Hampshire itinerary. Designed for kids 13 and younger, this Christmas-themed amusement park has fun winter-themed rides like Rudy’s Rapid Transit Coaster, Santa’s Express Train, and The Great Humbug Adventure. There’s also an on-site water park for summer fun. 

Canobie Lake Park in Salem is another popular family destination in New England. With more than 85 attractions to choose from, including family and kid-friendly rides, water rides, and games, this park has been open for over 100 years. It also features a huge collection of arcade games and a range of family-friendly live shows. 

23. See the Highlights in Manchester

Manchester is the largest city in New Hampshire and is considered a must-visit destination when exploring The Granite State. Serving as the state’s center of art and culture, it’s also beloved for its leafy parks and historic sites. 

Start your Manchester adventure at the Currier Museum of Art to see a collection of European and American artwork. You don’t even have to be an art enthusiast to appreciate masterpieces from the likes of world-renown artists like Matisse, Picasso, and Monet. 

You can also take a guided tour of the Zimmerman House , the only Frank Lloyd Wright home open to the public in New England. One of the city’s most historic landmarks is The Palace Theatre , which was built in 1914 and now hosts a range of live performances and plays. 

If you prefer to get outdoors, enjoy New Hampshire’s natural beauty at Massabesic Lake. This natural area is a great spot for fishing, biking around the lake, hiking, and paddling via kayaks and canoes. Sports lovers can also catch a game at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium , which is home to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats baseball team. 

24. Take a Trip Back in Time at Canterbury Shaker Village

A National Historic Landmark and museum, Canterbury Shaker Village sits among the picturesque rolling hills of central New Hampshire. A short drive from Boston and just south of the New Hampshire Lakes Region, this unique village serves to preserve the heritage of the Canterbury Shakers.

Sign up for a guided tour of this historic venue for an insider’s look at the property from knowledgeable guides, or explore the village on your own on a self-guided adventure. You can browse the village’s beautifully preserved 25 original and reconstructed Shaker buildings. 

It’s like a step back in time, where you can get an in-depth view of the daily life of the Shaker Community from long ago. Admire the architecture, as well as the vintage Shaker furniture, crafts, and objects on display. You can even visit a Bee House and Infirmary. 

Spread across almost 700 acres, you’ll also discover the village is home to beautiful forest and nature trails, as well as scenic gardens and ponds. In fall, the countryside scenery is picture-perfect with the changing colors of the leaves! 

25. Enjoy Panoramic Views From the Top of Mount Monadnock

Those up for a hiking challenge should add Mount Monadnock to their New Hampshire bucket list. One of the most popular hikes in the region, this 3,165-foot beauty towers 1,000 feet higher than any other peak in the area. 

The mountain is accessible from several towns and trailheads, each varying in degree of difficulty. Overlooking the lush forests and shimmering bodies of water and with views that extend all the way to the Boston skyline and Mount Washington, it’s easy to see why this is such a popular trek in New Hampshire. 

You can follow trailheads in Dublin, but the most popular option starts at Monadnock State Park in Jaffrey. The two-mile White Dot Trail is a common route up to the summit, while the 2.2-mile White Cross Trail offers a convenient way down. 

Along the way, you’ll have to traverse a variety of terrain. In addition to rock stairways, there’s part of the trail that becomes steep and includes large boulders that require some climbing. However, the stunning nature views will keep you motivated, especially as you reach the summit. Fall is a particularly photogenic time to hike this scenic trail. 

There you have it! The 25 best things to do in New Hampshire. What’s your favorite thing to do in The Granite State?

Planning a trip to New Hampshire? Check out our favorite books and travel guides!

SHARE THIS ON PINTEREST

Frequently Asked Questions

Hiking enthusiasts can add Mount Washington to the top of their New Hampshire bucket list, as this is the highest peak in the northeastern US at over 6,000 feet. It offers spectacular vistas from the top, where you can marvel at landscapes in Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, Maine, Quebec, and the Atlantic Ocean on a clear day!

If you’re up for a scenic road trip in New Hampshire, plan a trip on the Kancamagus Highway from Conway to Lincoln. The 34-mile journey along Route 112 is not only an American Scenic Byway, but it’s also considered one of the best fall foliage viewing areas in the entire country!

Nestled in the picturesque White Mountains, North Conway is a hub for skiing in New Hampshire. Come winter, the area’s range of powder-fresh slopes and ski mountains are perfect for expert skiers and beginners alike. The most popular destination is Cranmore Mountain, a family-friendly spot with slopes for all ages and skill levels. This winter wonderland offers a long list of activities, including 56 trails with a variety of terrain as well as a snow tubing park, year-round Mountain Adventure Park, and ski and snowboard lessons. Only a quick five-minute drive from downtown, it’s also the area’s most accessible mountain.

One of New Hampshire’s must-do things in winter, the Ice Castles in Woodstock is a unique winter wonderland that is fun for the entire family. Each year, this attraction creates a giant ice fortress that is roughly an acre in size, with its tallest points reaching about 25 feet in height. This popular winter attraction is a must-see, featuring interactive castles with intricate details, including LED lights frozen inside the 25 million pounds of ice.

Lost River Gorge is considered one of New Hampshire’s greatest natural wonders, offering a self-guided journey past picture-perfect cascading waterfalls. Along the one-mile boardwalk, you can also take in stunning views of jagged rock walls, gigantic boulders, and rock-strewn glacial boulder caves.

Located on the grounds of Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, the Seacoast Science Center offers science education through hands-on learning. At this family-friendly attraction, you can get up close to aquatic life, explore woodland paths, discover inhabitants of a tide pool, and learn about how to save seals and other marine mammals.

About the Author:

Born and raised in Florida, Charity moved to London after college and caught the travel bug. She then traveled full-time as a digital nomad for over a decade, living in the UK, New Zealand, China, and Thailand. With around 60-ish travel stamps in her passport, her favorite memories include skydiving in Switzerland, eating sushi in Japan, island hopping in the Philippines, and camping overnight in the Sahara Desert. She’s now a freelance writer living in Portugal with her husband and son.

View all posts

Related Posts

The 15 Best US National Parks to Visit in Summer

The 15 Best Things to Do in Santa Fe, New Mexico

The 15 Best Places to Travel in August

1 thought on “the 25 best things to do in new hampshire”.

Nice article Charity North Conway is a winter paradise for skiing in New Hampshire. With diverse slopes and family-friendly spots like Cranmore Mountain, it’s perfect for all skill levels. North Conway’s charm and vibrant après-ski scene make it a must visit for creating lasting winter memories.

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Summer in Vermont: 17 Top Places to Go & Things to Do (2023)

• Latest Posts

• 21 Family Vacations in New England for Every Season (2024) - February 26, 2024
• 15 Wonderful Weekend Getaways in Maine (2024) - February 3, 2024
• 33 Best Beach Towns in New England to Visit in 2024 🌊 - January 28, 2024

Summer in Vermont is incredible, and there are so many great ways to get outside and enjoy the gorgeous scenery and weather. While so many people flock to Vermont during the fall to see the foliage, this state is beautiful year-round. Especially in the summertime when the Green Mountain State is so… well, so green!

Even though Vermont isn’t a huge state, there are tons of different summer destinations in Vermont to consider when planning a summer trip. We can help point you toward the best places to visit for a Vermont summer trip to save yourself some research.

PS: Don’t miss this list of all the fun activities in Vermont !

Table of Contents

Summer in Vermont: Where to Go

Brattleboro.

Located in southeastern Vermont is beautiful Brattleboro , an excellent spot for a summer vacation! This town is easily one of the most-visited in the state, especially during the summer in Vermont. You’ll find lots of fun, small town activities, and lots of fun right over the state line in New Hampshire, too!

What to Do in Brattleboro

For a classic summer Vermont activity, get out on the water with Vermont Canoe Touring Center ! You can rent SUP boards, canoes, and kayaks for fun on the river. Afterwards, revive and relax at the Grand Tasting Room of the Saxton Distillery , where you can play board games, enjoy snacks and some of the best craft cocktails in Vermont!

A definite must while in Brattleboro is to hop over the state line to Madame Sherri’s Forest and the possibly haunted remains of her dramatic stone chateau. The park is a beautiful place to hike, so if you’re looking for a great summer hike, add it to the list!

Plan a visit to the always charming Creamery Covered Bridge , one of the quaintest covered bridges in the state; pack a little picnic and you’ll have a very wholesome summer in VT activity. For fun indoor things to do that get you out of the summer sun, check out the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center , the Vermont Jazz Center, and the historic Latchis Theatre.

Brattleboro is a cute little VT town, with cute little places to stay, like the Inn on Putney Road . This darling B&B is the perfect place for a romantic getaway, so if you’re planning a summer couples trip, check this one out!

Click Here to Check Prices & Book!

Bennington is one of the most underrated places to visit during summer in Vermont. Located in the corner of southwestern Vermont, this is an excellent gateway to the northeast. Bennington has a strong connection to the Civil War, as one of the victories happened here; Bennington Battle Day is celebrated each year in August with a huge parade and festivities.

What to Do in Bennington

In true small town VT fashion, you’ll find lots of adorable local shops to peruse – keep your eyes peeled as your make your way around to see if you can find all the cool moose sculptures around town! If you want to learn more local history, head to the Bennington Museum. For a very cool experience and view, be sure to ride to the top of the Bennington Battle Monument .

You can also check out the Apple Barn’s annual Blueberry Festival in July with live music, activities, and of course, blueberries!

Bennington also has some great restaurants , including many tasty places to cool off with a summer treat! Gassaway’s Tastee Freeze is the place to go for a sweet summer snack, whether it’s a specialty sundae or soft serve you crave.

Looking for where to stay in Bennington? Consider booking a room at The Four Chimney’s Inn , voted one of the best inns in the state by Fodor’s!

As the capital of Vermont, Montpelier can’t be missed in summer or any other time. While it doesn’t have a huge population, there is still is still plenty to do and see! Fun fact: this is one of the least populated capitals of a state in all of the country.

What to Do in Montpelier

One of the top attractions in Montpelier is the Vermont State House, an architectural marvel. You can tour the inside for free! Other must sees around town include the darling Coburn Covered Bridge, one of the most picturesque in the state , and Hubbard Park (be sure to see Hubbard Tower – so cool!)

One of the coolest things to do in Montpelier in summer or beyond is to check out the local sugar houses! Both Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks and Bragg Farm Sugar House offer sugarhouse tours and plenty of yummy treats to sample. Make sure you get a maple creemee from Bragg Farm Sugar House!

To cool off indoors, you can head to the Vermont Historical Society Museum, the Capitol Theater, the T.W. Wood Gallery and Arts Center, and any one of the cute shops in downtown Montpelier.

There are lots of places to stay in Montpelier, but Capitol Plaza Hotel keeps you within walking distance of lots of local fun! Oh, and their steakhouse restaurant is one of the top places to eat in Montpelier, so there’s that, too!

You might be thinking… there’s a Peru in Vermont? Yes, there is! This town is the gateway to one of the most popular ski resorts in the state, Bromley Mountain. In the summer, this popular winter fun destination becomes a Vermont summer fun center !

What to Do in Peru

Historically, Peru was known as Bromley, and Bromley Mountain turns into an adventure park in the summer! There are a variety of rides, a water park, and even an exhilerating alpine coaster that is fun for all ages.

There’s lots of lodging at and around Bromley Mountain, but if you’re looking for rustic modern tranquil accommodations, that’s Seesaw’s Lodge !

Located in the middle of the state is none other than Middlebury, the perfect destination for summer in Vermont. It’s a cute college town because it’s where Middlebury College is located, and it has a great historic downtown.

What to Do in Middlebury

You’ll absolutely want to add lovely Lake Dunmore to your travel itinerary if you’re visiting Middlebury. This huge lake is the perfect spot for camping, walking trails, and even swimming. Nearby Lincoln Peak Vineyard is a fun spot for wine tasting and live music, and the Henry Sheldon Museum is perfect for learning and cooling off on a hot summer day!

Biking is a classic summer Vermont activity, and Middlebury has some great options, including the always popular Trail Around Middlebury . You can rent a bike at Frog Hollow Bikes if you aren’t traveling with your own.

When it comes to where to stay in Middlebury, consider the beautiful Middlebury Inn . This historic property is GORGEOUS, and there’s a day spa, pub, and great events like Jazz Nights hosted in the tavern.

Another popular destination spot in Vermont for summer is the beautiful town of Manchester. It’s commonly visited for being home to Hildene, the historic estate where one of Abraham Lincoln’s children lived. It is also home to luxury outlets, making it the perfect place for some summer shopping!

What to Do in Manchester

There’s no avoiding the view of Mount Equinox in Manchester – not that you’d want to, of course! You can either hike or drive up to the summit, but either way, it’s an incredible view and should certainly be on your itinerary.

There’s plenty of great hiking in the area, including some great options for cooling off. Lye Brook Falls Trail leads to a gorgeous waterfall, and feeling that waterfall mist float through the air is always refreshing! There’s also beautiful Emerald Lake , with a lovely swimming beach that’s perfect for a dip on a hot summer’s day. Dorset Quarry is another very popular local swimming hole, or you can tube down Batten Kill River!

After a day spent out exploring beautiful Manchester, head to one of the top restaurants in town to refuel: hard to go wrong with a burger from Depot Street Burgers.

When it comes time to book accommodations in Manchester , you’ve got some incredible options! We loved staying at Kimpton Taconic Hotel . It’s a beautiful boutique hotel with a fantastic onsite restaurant. In fact, it’s one of our favorite brunch spots in Manchester , too.

Located in northern Vermont, almost on the border of Canada, is Newport! This is definitely one of the top destinations if you’re visiting during the summer in Vermont. There are tons of lake houses here, great local restaurants, and even a huge lake.

What to Do in Newport

A lot of the best things to do in Newport are outdoors. They include going on bike rides, hiking, and taking in gorgeous water views at the only lake in New England that is shared with Canada.

Lake Memphremagog is particularly idyllic, and the perfect way to take it all it in is on a Northern Star Cruise ! If you’d rather stay on land, consider renting a bike at waterfront Prouty Beach and taking a lovely bike ride through the 36 acre park.

When you’ve worked up an appetite, head to the popular East Side Restaurant & Pub where you can enjoy fantastic waterfront dining on the shores of Lake Memphremagog!

If you want a tranquil vacation spot, Newport is perfect, and there are several gorgeous lakefront vacation rentals to choose from. I like this one that can sleep up to 10 (great for a summer family vacation in VT!) and has a deck, firepit, and great lake access!

Between Bennington and Brattleboro is the quaint town of Wilmington . This town is incredibly historic and has one of the most beautiful downtown areas! You won’t find many name-brand shops here; in fact, almost everything is local.

What to Do in Wilmington

Arguably one of the best things to do in Wilmington is the flea market. Local vendors sell tons of fun items, and it’s always interesting to go treasure hunting and see what you can find!

There is so much great hiking in and near Wilmington, so if you’re looking for summer outdoor activities, check out Hogback Mountain , Haystack Mountain Trail , and Mount Olga Fire Lookout Tower Trail. For a great variety of kid friendly VT hiking trails, head to lovely Molly Stark State Park .

There are some great little restaurants around Wilmington, but a definite don’t miss is Dot’s of Vermont , an adorable throwback diner that’s perfect for summer grub!

As for where to stay in Wilmington, it’s hard to imagine a more breathtaking property than The White House Inn ! This historic mansion sits on a hill, overlooking gorgeous Vermont views.

If you visit during the summer in Vermont without stopping in Burlington , you’re truly missing out. This is honestly one of the most picturesque places to visit in the whole state and it’s located right on Lake Champlain.

What to Do in Burlington

Church Street Marketplace is a must visit for shops, restaurants, cafes, and more. This makes up most of the downtown area, and it’s great because it’s pedestrian-only. If you can swing dinner at Honey Road on Church St, you’ll really be set, because this Mediterranean restaurant is next level delish!

Summer in Burlington VT means swimming and boat rentals on Lake Champlain, fun community events at Waterfront Park , hiking around town , and more! For a quirky attraction, stop by the World’s Tallest Filing Cabinet. Trust me, it’s a thing.

Burlington has more than enough to fill a fun summer vacation, plus cool hotels , vacation rentals (including waterfront rentals!), cafes , breweries , restaurants , and a surprising amount of free things to do for those on a budget! Hotel Vermont has a great location near both the waterfront and Church St, plus it’s home to one of the most popular brunch spots in town, Juniper .

Another smaller town in Vermont is Woodstock . While this is one of those VT towns that are very, very popular in the fall, you can experience the local culture and summer scenery of this small town without the crowds by visiting before then!

What to do in Woodstock

To begin, Woodstock is adorable. Just strolling around downtown and the Village Green is fun because there’s eye candy all around. There are several covered bridges in Woodstock, and interesting little shops like FH Gillingham & Sons , one of the oldest family run general stores in the state! The historical preservation in Woodstock is phenomenal.

Other things to do during your summer trip to Woodstock is go to Billings Farm & Museum, a working farm where you can get up close and admire some of the residents of this idyllic farm. They also participate in National Ice Cream Day in July, so if the stars align…

The Marsh Billings Rockefeller National Historical Park is another great outdoor attraction, and for a quintessential Vermont activity, head to Sugarbush Farm to try local cheese and maple syrup.

Woodstock has some great inns and hotels to stay in during your visit, but 506 on the River Inn is a great option. Rooms with a view of the Ottaquechee River are the best, and the indoor pool was pretty great, too!

St. Albans is a city in Vermont that is known for how historic it is. There are tons of great activities here no matter your interest, and the area is picturesque. While it’s not as big as some of the other destinations on this list, it’s still pretty great.

What to Do in St. Albans

Be sure to rent a bike and go along the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail for some great views. The Saint Albans Museum is the perfect place to learn more about the area while visiting. The downtown area also can’t be missed because it’s completely historic.

Looking for where to stay in St. Albans? Back Inn Time is absolutely gorgeous!

You’ve heard of the famous Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, right? By this point, who hasn’t? Well, Ben & Jerry’s is hand-packed and produced in none other than Waterbury, Vermont. The factory helped to put Waterbury on the map!

What to Do in Waterbury

As mentioned, easily the can’t miss attraction in Waterbury is the Ben & Jerry’s Factory. Visitors can go on a free tour of the factory , which ends with a fun taste testing. Throughout the tour, you’ll be able to get an inside look at the process the ice cream goes through. After, don’t forget to stop at the Ben & Jerry’s Flavor Graveyard!

You’ve also got Cold Hollow Cider Mill in town, where you can take a self guided tour of the working mill and pick up some of the flavors of Vermont: apple cider donuts, maple syrup treats, and more! If you’re looking for a full and hearty meal, don’t skip out on Prohibition Pig , one of the best restaurants in the state.

Waterbury isn’t very big, but it’s got a very, very cool place to stay: Grunberg Haus . This delightful micro boutique hotel is a unique place to stay right off of scenic Rt 100.

Shelburne is a beautiful town located right along Lake Champlain! Even though it’s one of Burlington’s suburbs, it’s the perfect place to visit during summer in Vermont. Almost everything to do here is outside, but there are a few indoor attractions too.

What to Do in Shelburne

The Vermont Teddy Bear Factory is a sweet place to visit, especially if you’re visiting with children. The Shelburne Vineyard is perfect for some wine tasting, and you can even tour the vineyard. Shelburne Farms and the Shelburne Museum are also great attractions to visit while traveling here.

Summer in Vermont: Things to Do

Go camping/glamping/rent a cabin.

There are so many great campsites, cabins , and glamping sites in Vermont, so you can find the perfect spot to set up to enjoy a Vermont summer!

If you’re looking for a beautiful summer romantic getaway, you could book a cabin like this adorable tiny house in Granville with a hot tub on the patio and river views, and Granville Gulf Reservation nearby with its beautiful waterfalls and hiking trails!

If you’re looking for more of a group outing or family vacation summer destination, there are tons of great vacation rentals suitable for a larger crowd like this stunning lakehouse in Cabot, Vermont that has a canoe and kayak for guest use and is perfect for summer activities like swimming and fishing!

Read Next: 15 Gorgeous Lake House Rentals in Vermont for Waterfront Bliss

Check out Vermont Festivals

There are always fun things happening around Vermont in summer! Check out this VT events calendar to see what’s happening during your visit, but these are a few of the most popular summer events happening around Vermont in summer 2023:

Moos & Brews & Cocktails Too in Woodstock, VT – This 21 & up event includes live music, local foods, craft brews and cocktails, and lots of adorable cows at Billings Farm & Museum.

Best of Vermont Summer Festival in Ludlow, VT – Looking for family friendly Vermont summer things to do? This late summer fest has music, kids activities, delicious foods and beverages, and even hot air balloons!

Rockfire in Websterville, VT – Live entertainment, fire performers, art, and more!

Quechee Hot Air Balloon Festival in Quechee, VT – You’ve got hot air balloon flights, tethered rides, live music and entertainment, and lots of great children’s activities, so this would be a great one to schedule if you’re planning a Vermont summer family vacation!

Get On Two Wheels

Biking is a pretty popular way to explore the Green Mountain State, and there are lots of great bike trails all around. If you’re not sure you’re up to hit the trails yourself on a mountain bike,  you can even sign up for a mountain biking class and tour that will teach you the basics and get you out on two wheels in the scenic Stowe countryside like this one !

Splash Around in a Swimming Hole

There’s plenty of outdoor warm weather fun out there, but summer fun at a swimming hole is classic Vermont! You’ve got your pick too. Do you want to have to hike out to your swimming hole? Or do you like to pull the car up and park right next to where you’ll be taking a dip?

Either way, you’ll find something that works for you at one of these Vermont swimming holes!

There are so many unique places to visit in Vermont! Honestly, summer in Vermont is the perfect time to visit if you love outdoor activities. This state is filled with epic hikes , waterfalls , lakes , views, and cool historic sites.

You might also like:

• 19 New England Flower Fields, Farms, and Gardens You Will Love!
• 15 Best Hotels in Vermont for An Incredible Stay
• 15 New England Islands to Visit This Summer

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?

New England Wanderlust contains affiliate links, and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may earn a commission from any purchases you choose to make from our links, at no additional cost to you. For more information, please refer to our  Privacy Policy .

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!

You might also enjoy

Subscribe To My Newsletter

• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions
• Disclosure Policy

New England Fall Road Trip Itinerary: 10 Stunning Stops

by Mark and Kristen Morgan

Published: August 23, 2021

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

Was This Guide Helpful? Pin It For You New England Fall Road Trip!

Note : This article contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

All Rights Reserved © Where Are Those Morgans, LLC. Republishing this article and/or any of its contents (text, photography, maps, graphics, etc.) in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.

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 .

29 thoughts on “New England Fall Road Trip Itinerary: 10 Stunning Stops”

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.

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!

@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.

Hi Sharon, Visiting New England in fall is an amazing trip and you will have a wonderful time! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a nice comment and downloading our guide. Just let us know if you have any specific questions as we get closer to fall season 🙂

@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.

Hi Sharon, you will have covered almost all of the best fall spots between Lake Placid and Woodstock. We like Manchester but it isn’t going to ruin your trip if you skip it, especially if you really want to see more of Boston. After 10 days or so you will have had your fill of fall colors anyway, so Boston will be a welcome change of scenery and pace. Have a fantastic time!

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

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.

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.

@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

Thank you, Carol! We’re happy to hear you are planning a New England trip this fall. You can follow this link to see more details about our digital guidebook. If you do purchase the guidebook, remember to open up the map on page 45 when you are in each place to see the best hikes, foliage spots, attractions, restaurants and hotels. And if you have any specific questions, feel free to ask away. Have a fantastic trip!

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!

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 ?

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!

Love your site! we are planning a a Fall Foliage trip for 2023 over our 34th Anniversary. thinking any where from 10 – 14 days from the last week in Sept. to the first week of Oct. We are thinking to end our trip in Boston for a few days. If I followed tour 10 day trip guide would it make sense to fly into Albany, NY and out of Boston. Or are we better off to make Boston a long weekend trip?

Hi Randy, thanks for getting in touch and we’re happy to hear you’re planning a trip to New England next year, congrats on the 34th! Absolutely, flying into Albany and out of Boston makes perfect sense. If you make your trip 14 days total, you can follow the 10 day itinerary in our guide and then spend 2 or 3 days in Boston at the end. Something to consider is whether or not you want to see Acadia NP, it is a stunning place but it’s a long way out from the rest of New England’s top foliage spots. If you don’t include Acadia, you can spend longer in the fall color hotspots of Stowe, Woodstock and Manchester in VT, plus Franconia Notch, Kancamagus Highway and Lake Winnipesaukee in NH. Let us know if you have any more questions and best of luck with planning!

We are planning a trip to Maine in the fall of 2023 for our 40th anniversary for a total of 7 days. We would be interested in mainly leaf peeping,Arcadia NP, sight seeing/boat tours, driving the back roads and easy hikes. I really like the coast. Now that I have run across this post, I am rethinking our trip. What city should we fly into? Do you recommend spending 2 days in Arcadia NP? Should we hit some of the areas you mentioned in NH? I don’t think we have time to do your whole itinerary in 7 days. Your thoughts?

Hi Randi, glad to hear you have a trip planned to Maine for your 40th anniversary – congrats! Honestly, 7 days isn’t enough time to be rushing around New England trying to cram in everything. If you like the coast and you want to do Acadia, why not fly into Portland in Maine and slowly drive up to Bar Harbor via the back roads? Acadia is great but it is touristy and expensive, plus you won’t get the best fall colors (when compared to NH or VT). Boothbay Harbor is a nice place to stop between Portland and Bar Harbor, and you can do whale watching tours right out of the small town. If Portland doesn’t work for flight times or prices, Boston will be your best bet. Let us know if you need any more help before you travel next year.

Hi. I’m glad I found this. We are planning our 50th Anniversary to see Vermont and Maine in late September. Is it possible to stay in one place and drive to see the sights? We don’t want to keep changing hotels. This is a lifetime dream for us. Thank you.

Hi Jan, congrats on your 50th anniversary! Without knowing exactly which places in Vermont and Maine you want to see, it is possible to stay in one place but that would mean quite a lot of time spent in the car. If you have a 50/50 split, maybe stay somewhere in New Hampshire in the middle? Or if you plan to spend more time in VT, stay somewhere just inside VT near the NH border? Somewhere near Franconia NH might be a good fit so you are central to most of the fall hot spots and far enough North to see peak colors at the end of September. Have a great time!

Great article! While planning and researching for our New England Fall Foliage Adventure we saw right away that trying to predict “peak” conditions was a difficult proposition, at best. With that in mind and because we have a bit of time on our hands we decided our adventure would be from mid September to mid October 2022. We have booked all of our accommodations and now it’s all about deeply researching the areas and filling in the days. Finding your well written and in depth blog helped confirm our research was spot on and added to our happiness that we are actually going to pull this off. Plus, now we have an excellent study guide to boot! Bring on the trails, the mountains, the breweries, the lobster, cheese, cider donuts, Octoberfests and even the rain! Thank YOU and keep up the fantastic and insightful work!

Hi Jeff, thanks for getting in touch and we are so happy to hear you have planned a full month up in New England! Your list of activities is spot on – hiking, scenery, fall colors, food and beer … recipe for a perfect trip! Good luck filling in the days and hopefully you’ll get optimal weather conditions leading into the peak, just remember to keep an eye on the peak fall colors tracker when you are on site in New England. Have a wonderful trip!

Hello! This post is really very useful! We are planning to go to New England from September 30th to October 8th (we have already booked our flight from Italy). Since we would like to spend a couple of days in Boston too, do you recommend to begin with Boston and then start our road trip or to do the other way round? We would very glad if you could give us more details! Thanks a lot!

Hi Simonetta, thanks for getting in touch and we’re happy to hear you will be visiting New England this fall! This is a tough question because nobody can predict when “peak” fall colors will be in each part of New England. You can keep an eye on a live peak foliage tracker and book everything last minute, but that is risky as accommodation will book up. So, we would suggest starting with Boston and then driving up as far North as you will go on your trip (ie Stowe in VT or Franconia in NH) and then working down South to follow the peak. Please let us know if you have any more questions and you might even see us up there somewhere this year! Have a great time 🙂

I’m so happy to have found your blog post. I know how much time and effort goes into planning these type of trips, so I appreciate you writing about it and sharing it. We are looking at doing a mix of rural/city for both NH, VT, and ME. Looking closer to a 10 day trip and flexible on the dates. Would you say the hikes are fairly easy, medium, or difficult? Do you think looking into Air BNB’s out there would be better vs. hotels?

Hi Ani, thanks for getting in touch and we’re glad to hear you have a trip planned for VT, NH and ME. There are countless hikes spanning the difficulty range on this road trip route, so you do have a lot of flexibility over how long you want to spend hiking and how hard the trails are. Artists Bluff is short but has a steep climb, so we would say it is moderate but well worth it. Flume Gorge is easy and shouldn’t be missed. Acadia (if you make it that far) has a host of easy through hard hikes. Lake Winnipesaukee has plenty of hikes to suit all. If you’re looking for hard hikes take on Mt Washington or Mt Mansfield, tallest in NH and VT. You’ll likely only be spending one night or a maximum of 2 at any given place so we would say go for hotels. AirBnB’s are great for uniqueness and meeting people but for one night they are always more expensive with cleaning fees / service fees etc. By all means check prices and see if you can find any good deals or special places but we will be sticking to hotels ourselves the next time we are in New England. Let us know if you need any more help and have a fantastic trip!

Great information, love your post! We have never been to New England and would like to go see the fall colors in late Sept. or Oct. We also want to spend some time in Boston and Cape area. We are flexible on dates and number of days in itinerary. We would be interested in some hikes. After looking at you post I’m thinking Vermont and New Hampshire might work after seeing Boston. Can you help with an itinerary? We would be flying from San Diego, CA. Would appreciate any information! Thank You!

Thanks for getting in touch, Marilen – we’ll respond through email so we can provide more information.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest in travel straight to your inbox

Click here to subscribe

23+ Ideas for New England Vacations With Kids

W e are so lucky to live in Massachusetts because there are so many fantastic places to visit in New England which are located just a short car ride away. We can drive in one direction to see some of the best sandy beaches in the United States, and we can drive in a different direction to see beautiful mountains. There are so many great places for New England vacations with kids – including cities and beach towns.

With so many vacation options, you could easily do something different each season. There are so many different options for family fun – outdoor activities, hiking trails, museums, beaches, and much more. This past winter break, we spent our break visiting Boston, Portland, and New Haven – all just a quick drive away from each other.

Whether you live in New England or are planning to visit a few different locations during your New England family vacation, here are some places to go in New England with kids, along with some ideas of attractions to visit.

If you are specifically looking for New England family resorts , check out this post. We have also reviewed some of the best places to visit in New England on this site individually.

Note: We experienced some of these New England vacations and attractions in New England during media trips or hosted stays/media rates and have also paid our own way many times. Affiliate links are included – if you click/purchase through an affiliate link, we may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own.

Places to Go in New England With Kids: New England Family Vacation Ideas

We don’t seem to go to Maine nearly enough, and it’s really just a quick drive from the Massachusetts border. Every time I visit, I just love it. Kittery, Maine , just over the New Hampshire border, offers lots of great outlets as well as delicious seafood restaurants.

Kittery is also right near Portsmouth, New Hampshire, which is another great waterfront destination. It’s easy to visit both on the same trip. It may seem surprising that the three states are all located just a few minutes from each other, but this is the case right at the coastline.

For one of the best summer Maine family vacations, visit the all-inclusive Migis Lodge , located on Sebago Lake. It’s a luxury family vacation spot that is rustic and fun. Families return year after year, and with good reason, because it’s a special place. We enjoyed a media stay there a while back and my kids still talk about it.

Of course, you can’t miss the original LL Bean store in Freeport, Maine . There are other outlet shops in Freeport as well, as well as a beautiful state park. It’s a great place to visit for back-to-school or holiday shopping.

For a fun vacation at any time of year, visit Portland, Maine with kids , where you’ll enjoy delicious food, great shopping beautiful views, and fun attractions. Although you may think of it as a summer vacation spot, we usually visit during the winter and still love it. You’ll want to have at least two nights there so that you can enjoy the restaurants and attractions.

Portland has some great museums, especially for families. While you’ll probably need to drive to those locations, the downtown Old Port area is extremely walkable. You can also take the Amtrak Downeaster train from Boston to Portland.

When visiting Portland, you can take a quick trip to the beautiful Portland Head Light , which is located in Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth. While you can’t go up in the lighthouse, it’s beautiful to see. A little bit further away is the Nubble Lighthouse in York, Maine.

Visiting during the summer? The quintessential beach town of Ogunquit offers fun shops, delicious restaurants, and a fantastic beach. Stay at one of the nearby hotels and walk everywhere for the best experience. There is quite a bit of traffic in the summer, so it’s best to walk when you can.

Acadia National Park and the nearby town of Bar Harbor are also popular Maine vacation spots – especially in the summer.

If you like to ski, there are some great options in Maine. Popular ski resorts in Maine include Sunday River, Sugarloaf, and Shawnee Peak.

Find hotels in Maine on TripAdvisor .

Vermont 

Even if you aren’t a skier, there are so many places to go with kids within Vermont and so many things to do in Vermont . We absolutely love visiting Smugglers’ Notch Resort . Although it’s a ski resort, it’s also one of the best places to visit in Vermont in the summer.

The kids really enjoy the day camp, and my husband and I spend the afternoons exploring the area (including the Boyden Valley Winery). It’s also a fantastic spot to visit in the winter – with lots of skiing for the whole family.

Down the road from Smugglers’ Notch is Stowe, Vermont, where we can recommend two family-friendly resorts – Stoweflake and the Lodge at Spruce Peak . It’s also a popular place to ski.

In Waterbury, on the way into Stow, you can stop at the Ben & Jerry’s Factory, as well as the Cold Hollow Cider Mill. Don’t miss the factory tour at Ben and Jerry’s, which is definitely worth visiting at least once.

We also really enjoyed our visit to the Montshire Museum of Science, located over the NH border in Norwich, Vermont. We visited there on our way to Smugglers’ Notch from Boston.

Other ski resorts in Vermont include Killington, Sugarbush, Jay Peak , and Okemo Mountain.

Find hotels in Vermont on TripAdvisor .

New Hampshire

I’ve enjoyed family vacations in New Hampshire since I was a child, visiting with my parents. It’s not a huge state, but there are so many things to do in New Hampshire with kids.

My family recently enjoyed our stay at the Mountain Club at Loon in Lincoln, NH. While on that side of the famous, scenic Kancamagus Highway , be sure to stop at Clark’s Trading Post – home to a fun, unique trained bear show. In the summer, you can also visit Whale’s Tale Water Park.

When visiting Lincoln, NH with kids , another popular spot in the area is Franconia Notch State Park.

On the other side of the highway, within the White Mountains, you’ll find North Conway, NH, home to lots of premium outlets (and NO sales tax). Enjoy the drive – it’s absolutely beautiful!

We’ve stayed at several hotels in North Conway New Hampshire and enjoyed our stays at the North Conway Grand , and the Residence Inn . If you have little kids, be sure to visit one of the best attractions for kids in New Hampshire – Story Land in Glen, NH . Santa’s Village in Jefferson, NH is also worth the trip.

In the winter, Attitash is a great family ski resort. There are so many things for kids to do in New Hampshire .

Another popular New England vacation spot with kids is Lake Winnipesaukee. There are various motels, inns, hotels, and home rentals on the lake.

If visiting New Hampshire without kids, you’ll find plenty of quaint bed and breakfasts. Some are kid-friendly, but you’d definitely want to check that before visiting.

Find hotels in New Hampshire on TripAdvisor .

Rhode Island

My home state of Rhode Island may be small, but it has a lot to offer. The capital city, Providence , is just an hour from Boston and has quite a few family-friendly attractions.

On weekend nights in the summer, you can enjoy WaterFire , a performance work of art. WaterFire is one of the more unique outdoor shows to experience. It takes place in Providence, the capital city of RI. Providence is a fun place to explore – while it’s a small city, it offers a lot of things to see.

Our top vacation choice in Rhode Island is Newport , which is just a quick ride from Providence. We recommend a stay at the Hotel Viking , which is located within walking distance of many Newport restaurants and shops.

Don’t miss the kids’ tour at the Breakers mansion , located along the famed Cliff Walk. There are also plenty of beaches in Newport and the surrounding area, as well as Fort Adams State Park. If you love tennis, be sure to stop in for a visit at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, located right in Newport.

For a nice day trip, consider taking the ferry over to Block Island, which is part of Rhode Island. It’s a great day trip, and a beautiful, unspoiled area of the state.

Find Rhode Island hotels on TripAdvisor .

Massachusetts

I’ve lived in Massachusetts for over 20 years now, and still find fun places to explore in the state. Of course, the capital city of Boston is a must-visit, especially in the warmer months. There’s so much to do right in the city, including the Boston Museum of Science, Fenway Park, and the New England Aquarium.

In the summer, don’t miss a trip to the Boston Harbor Islands , a quick ferry ride away from the Boston waterfront. Several different islands can be explored, so check out the list in advance. It’s a great option for a day trip.

Boston is a great destination to learn more about US history. Walking tours (or self-guided tours) are available on the Freedom Trail, and it is definitely worth doing. As you’d expect, these outdoor activities are best in the summer months. July and August are especially busy in the Boston area.

See more to do in Boston with kids here .

Cape Cod and the Islands , including the Cape Cod National Seashore, are another beautiful New England vacation spot. There are several hotels we recommend in Cape Cod Massachusetts – the Sea Crest Beach Hotel in Falmouth, Ocean Edge in Brewster, and the Harbor Hotel in Provincetown. Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket are also absolutely beautiful in the summer.

While you could visit Cape Cod for the day, we recommend staying there for a longer trip. You’ll want to enjoy the beach, eat seafood outdoors, try some great ice cream, and just enjoy the relaxed vacation atmosphere.

On your way down to the Cape, you can also stop in Plymouth, MA to check out Plimoth Patuxet Museums, which is definitely a must-do for history buffs. This is an easy stop on your drive – you won’t have to stay in Plymouth overnight.

North of Boston is a different cape. Cape Ann is where you’ll find many family-friendly coastal towns , such as Rockport and Gloucester. Also on the North shore is Newburyport, MA, as well as Salem .

All four are great places to shop, eat, and explore the waterfront. You can also do whale-watching tours leaving Gloucester. There are some beautiful beaches in this area of the state. If you want to visit one of the Gloucester beaches in season, be sure to book your parking in advance.

Springfield, MA, located in the Western part of the state, is another spot that offers great attractions for families. Basketball lovers will want to visit the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. There’s also a new Dr. Seuss Museum, located in Springfield.

Find hotels in Massachusetts on TripAdvisor .

Connecticut

Last winter, we visited Mystic, Connecticut, which offers several great things to do with kids , including the Mystic Aquarium and Mystic Seaport. Stay overnight so you can spend much of the day at both attractions. During our trip, we stayed at the Hilton Mystic , which is right across the street from the aquarium.

This winter, we spent two nights in New Haven, which is about midway between Boston and NYC . We stayed at the Study at Yale , and enjoyed visiting the Yale Museum of Art and the Peabody Museum of Natural History . It’s a surprising city with loads of culture and delicious restaurants.

Find hotels in Connecticut on TripAdvisor .

What is your favorite destination for a New England vacation?

The post 23+ Ideas for New England Vacations With Kids appeared first on Family Travel Magazine .