4 Reasons You Should Take a Road Trip Through New England This Fall

New England in the Fall is like stepping into a postcard, with vibrant foliage, crisp air, and historic towns that seem frozen in time.

We had always heard that this region was the ultimate destination for Autumn, so we decided to see it for ourselves with a 72-hour road trip through Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island in our converted Sprinter van. From breathtaking landscapes to rich history and tasty seasonal treats, we absolutely loved our East Coast adventure. Here are four reasons why we recommend taking a road trip through New England this fall.

Table of Contents

1. New England’s Iconic Fall Foliage

New Hampshire Route 112 is a 56.39-mile-long east–west state highway in northern New Hampshire. The highway winds across the state, connecting Bath to Conway through the heart of the scenic and mountainous White Mountain National Forest. — Amy Sparwasser via Getty Images

New England is world-renowned for the vibrant fall colors that blanket the region every Fall and a road trip is no doubt the best way to experience these bucket list views. There are endless places you could go to find colorful fall trees all around New England, but there are two locations in New Hampshire that we think rise above the rest.

Kancamagus Scenic Byway, New Hampshire: Located in the White Mountains National Forest, the Kancamagus is maybe the most famous place to see fall foliage in all of New England. The Kanc, as locals call it, is 56 miles of winding highway, surrounded by trees in every fall color you could ever imagine. If you drive straight, it takes just over an hour to drive the highway, but there are so many scenic points to stop along the way, you could spend the whole day here. Some of the most popular stops are Otter Rocks, Franconia Falls, and Pemigewasset Overlook.
Mount Washington, New Hampshire: As the tallest mountain peak in all New England, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Mount Washington offers panoramic fall foliage views you couldn’t find anywhere else. There are two ways to reach the peak of the mountain. The first is an 8.2 mile hike with 4,280 feet of elevation gain, perfect for those who are experienced hikers. The second option, better for families, is to take the 3-hour round trip Cog railway to the top. Either option will take you through miles of orange, yellow and red trees up to a panoramic view of what seems like the entire state of New Hampshire. We’d recommend taking the last train up to avoid the crowds and enjoy the sunset.

2. Rich History and Picturesque Towns

Salem, MA, USA October 26 The Ropes Mansion, a historic home in Salem Massachusetts, is decorated with pumpkins and haybales similar to the décor from the movie Hocus Pocus — Kirkikis via Getty Images

From the arrival of the Pilgrims on the Mayflower to the infamous Salem Witch Trials, New England is deeply steeped in history and spooky legends, especially during the Fall.. There are countless picturesque small New England towns that would be perfect additions to a New England road trip itinerary, but there are two towns that are must-visits.

Plymouth, Massachusetts: This famed town is known for being the spot where the pilgrims disembarked from the Mayflower in 1620. The location where they landed is marked by Plymouth rock, which is admittedly smaller than we imagined, but it was still interesting to see the spot where history was made. Nearby, is a recreation of the Mayflower and a recreation of the village that the Pilgrims lived in when they arrived. During the Fall, the historic Plymouth center is decorated with pumpkins and everything is covered in fallen fall leaves.
Salem, Massachusetts: Home of the infamous Salem Witch Trials, Salem is no doubt the spookiest town in New England and during the Fall, the town really lives up to its reputation. Taking a walking tour (evening ghost tour, anyone?) is definitely the best way to learn all about Salem’s complex history, but the tours get booked up fast in the Fall, so make sure to plan ahead. Outside of walking tours, it’s a lot of fun to check out some of the haunted events put on by the town and explore all of the unique shops!

3. Seasonal Delicacies

Hand painted wood pallets with a bake shop menu — cmart7327 via Getty Images

Pumpkin and apple and lobster, oh my! Fall in New England is the perfect time to savor those fall flavors that we all love so much.

Lobster Rolls: Fall is peak lobster season and when you visit you’re likely to stumble across numerous restaurants and stands serving lobster rolls – a favorite in the region. We met a local in Massachusetts that told us their favorite lobster rolls could be found at Lobster Hut in Plymouth. Make sure to order your lobster roll with extra butter!
Apple Cider Donuts & Pumpkin Pie: Every bakery across New England is sure to sell these must-try fall delicacies. The cinnamon sugar-coated apple cider donuts pair perfectly with a cup of hot coffee or hot cider and a scenic drive through the fall trees. These are a must try!
Seasonal Produce: Whether you’re renting Airbnbs along your road trip route or living out of a van, like us, there will be nothing better than winding down after a day of exploring with a warm meal. Why not stop at a market in one of those small towns to pick up some locally grown produce like corn, pumpkin, or butternut squash to cook yourself up the perfect Fall meal?

4. Coastal New England Views

Man silhouetted walking on sandy point at Wellfleet Bay during sunset — Cavan Images via Getty Images

While Fall might not seem like the best time to head to the beach, the coastal towns of New England offer the perfect peaceful place to start or end your day.

We started our New England autumn road trip, by taking a stop in Cape Cod, Massachusetts to enjoy the views at sunrise. While waking up at the crack of dawn, especially on vacation, is difficult, it is never something we regret.

Sunrise over Cape Cod is so peaceful. The sunrise was beautiful and with all of the summer tourists long gone, we found ourselves there alone with the sounds of waves crashing over the rocks, birds flying across the sky, and a New England fog rolling across the water.

Fun Fact: the ocean in New England is the same temperature as an ice bath, if you’re into the idea of a cold plunge. Or maybe we’re the only people crazy enough to jump in the Atlantic Ocean in the middle of October…

Your Turn!

Fall in Acadia National Park — Benqiao Jiang via Getty Images

A road trip through New England in the fall offers an experience that’s both enchanting and unforgettable. Whether it’s the iconic fall foliage, the rich history,, the delicious seasonal treats, or the peaceful coastal views, each stop along the way reveals something new and incredible.

Ready to be inspired for your own autumn adventure? Watch our YouTube video below to see more highlights from our Fall road trip and start planning your journey today!

Hi! We’re Kara and Nate. High school sweethearts from Nashville, TN whose shared love of travel has led us on the adventure of a lifetime. In 2016 we quit our jobs to spend one year traveling around the world. Seven years later, we still haven’t stopped! We quickly fell in love with life on the road and capturing our travels on video. We’ve visited over 100 countries, and have been fortunate enough to build an awesome community of subscribers on our YouTube channel and newsletter Daily Drop. We’re so grateful to do what we love everyday and we hope our story and our content might inspire you to travel somewhere new!

EMEA Tribune is not involved in this news article, it is taken from our partners and or from the News Agencies. Copyright and Credit go to the News Agencies, email news@emeatribune.com Follow our WhatsApp verified Channel