8 Best New England Fall Foliage Road Trips Ranked by Peak Timing

Key facts

• The fall foliage season in New England begins in late September in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom and ends in early November in Connecticut's Litchfield Hills.
• The Kancamagus Highway (Route 112) in New Hampshire is a 34.5-mile drive through White Mountain National Forest with no towns or commercial development.
• The Kancamagus Highway reaches nearly 3,000 feet at Kancamagus Pass, creating an elevation-based color gradient that extends the viewing window.
• The Mohawk Trail in Massachusetts peaks around October 12 to 15 and features the Hairpin Turn, a dramatic valley overlook.
• Vermont's Route 100 runs through the Green Mountains, connecting Stowe and Woodstock, with the Northeast Kingdom turning first in late September.
• Park Loop Road in Acadia National Park, Maine, is a 27-mile route combining coastal scenery and mountain views; Cadillac Mountain offers sunrise views over both ocean and foliage.
• Route 7 runs from Vermont's Green Mountains to Connecticut's Litchfield Hills, with Connecticut's stretch peaking into early November.
• Benefit Street in Providence, Rhode Island, is a mile-long street of 18th-century architecture with mature elms and maples, described as possibly the most beautiful urban fall street in New England.
• Litchfield Hills, Connecticut, is the last area to peak, typically in early November, offering a late-season foliage opportunity.