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It’s the best time to see New England...
And one of busiest seasons for visitors.
Fall in New England really begins in August...
The shortening daylight hours trigger the deciduous trees to begin the process of shedding their leaves. It happens all around North America, and all around the world.
But in New England it’s special.
Why is fall foliage New England so different and special?
It’s a factor of many things but mostly an abundance of different types of deciduous trees, warm autumn days, and cool - but not freezing - nights.
When these and a few other conditions are all mixed in the right proportions, then you get stunning views just like these…
a blaze of orange suggest pumpkin pie… or maybe like me you
enjoy the regal and majestic look of the dark reds.
In this special fall foliage section of the New England Vacations Guide you’ll find information on scenic drives, fall festivals, and other resources to help plan your New England fall foliage tours.
But don’t leave your fall foliage planning any longer, I wasn’t kidding when I said fall is one of the busiest times to visit New England.
In a minute I’ll give you some resources to check out if you still haven’t finalized your travel plans yet.
Now all this talk of fall foliage has me chomping at the bit to tell you more. But you know, autumn in New England is more than just about leaf peeping and scenic drives...
It’s also about apple picking and pumpkin picking, and special fall festivals and fairs. It’s about hot apple cider and delicious fall recipes.
But let’s start by seeing when it all happens…
Fall Foliage New England Peak Reports…
or Chasing the Fall Foliage…
Fall in New England generally lasts between mid-September in Northern New England until Late October in Southern Connecticut and Rhode Island.Here’s peak viewing based on the 2006 and 2007 seasons to help in your fall foliage New England trip planning...
As you can see last year fall came a little later than in 2006. Remember these are just a guide as each year is different.
How come?
Well, the timing of the fall foliage season, the intensity and type of colors seen, and how long the leaves remain on the trees, is all a factor of precipitation, wind, and temperature.
So fall foliage peak viewing times can vary year-by-year by 1-2 weeks.
Why a Fall Foliage New England Vacation?
Here's why the fall is a great time for a vacation... the summer vacationers have all gone home, and school is back... and it's still warm!The conditions are just right if you’re one of the lucky ones that can take a vacation in the peace and quiet of fall foliage vacation season.
Now you’re free from crowds to enjoy the warm autumn days and ramble along roads carpeted in kaleidoscope patterns of fallen leaves…
Or take walks over picture perfect hills and streams made even more vibrant because of the colorful fall foliage New England trails.
If you prefer to be independent and set your own itinerary or stay in a particular area, then a fall foliage vacation rather than a tour could work best for you.
The fall foliage peak color days vary by state but in Massachusetts it’s usually right around Columbus Day weekend.
Lodging for a New England Fall Foliage Vacation:
Book your accommodation early if you can for these vacations, as it’s a popular way of seeing the fall foliage in New England. Lodging and accommodation can be tough to find if you leave it too late.Popular hotels and inns, or bed and breakfasts can be booked solid months in advance of the peak viewing weeks in New England.
To discover where to stay deals, and compare rates and amenities with a trusted and professional travel organization then choose the states you're interested in visiting and use the resources below to see what's available to suit your budget and preference.
For Connecticut fall lodging and accommodations click here.
For Maine fall lodging and accommodations click here.
For Massachusetts fall lodging and accommodations click here.
For New Hampshire fall lodging and accommodations click here.
For Rhode Island fall lodging and accommodations click here.
For Vermont fall lodging and accommodations click here.
Relax on Fall Foliage New England Tours...
One of the most relaxing ways of enjoying a fall foliage New England visit is to sit back and let somebody else do the driving.
Leaf spotting is big business in New England, and there’s plenty of companies willing to take you on fall foliage tours - for just a day - or a whole week if you want.
Join a group as they travel around Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts following the peak foliage views as it travels south day by day.
Tours always leave plenty of time for stopping in local towns and villages decorated for the season, and hiding delights for you at every nook and cranny in sight.
Or, if you prefer a day excursion in and around the Boston area and taking in the local color, then these fall foliage trips are available as well.
Again, the key is to book early to avoid disappointment. Spaces on fall foliage tours fill up quickly. But don’t let that put you off if you’re a late starter.
Here’s a resource to check out for a
fall foliage trip from the Boston area.
Larger Than Life Fall Festivals...
New England is famous for its fall festivals.
If nature is celebrating the seasonal change by painting the leaves for us, why shouldn’t you be bursting with color as well?
Join in the tradition of one of these festivals as you travel through fall foliage New England.
Here’s a quick scan of Fall Festivals in the New England region for the peak foliage months of September and October. More >...
Explore one these Fall Foliage Hikes
If it's the outdoors you're looking for during your fall foliage trip and a chance to stretch your legs and get away from it all, then New England offers wonderful hikes and walks through its region.
These walks can vary from demanding one day hikes in the Presidential Range to an easy one hour stroll in the Vermont woods or a New Hampshire village. There's a walk to suit all abilities and wants.
And many of these walks become even more stunning during peak foliage season. I've gathered a selection of the best hikes and nature walks from each New England state and you're bound to find one that just suits your taste for the day here. More >...
Cruise These Fall Foliage Scenic Drives ...
The popular scenic routes through fall foliage New England become even more crowded come peak fall foliage season.
Driving can be a challenge as you keep one eye on the road and another on the spectacular scenery. But there are usually plenty of scenic view rest areas so you'll not miss anything.
Pay close attention to the driving conditions and plan your stops ahead if possible.
The most popular fall foliage scenic drives in Massachusetts are along the famous Mohawk Trail. This trail rolls out through the northwestern part of the state on route 2, and winds through the hills and mountains of the Berkshires, touching picturesque towns like Williamstown, Deerfield, Shelbourne, Colrain, and Charlemont. Mount Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts, offers spectacular fall foliage views of the surrounding area and Mohawk Trail.
New Hampshire has many fall foliage scenic drives in the White Mountain National Forest but at the top of the list has to be the 34.5-mile Kancamagus Scenic Highway that runs along route 112 from Conway to White Mountains Visitor Center in Lincoln. This drive is considered by many to be the top fall foliage New England scenic drive. It has beautiful forests ablaze with autumn colors and plenty of photo opportunities with walks along gorges and streams, and with views of the highest mountains in the Presidential Range.
In Vermont nature planted all the high peaks in the south – although the North Kingdom has great color as well. But arguably Vermont’s best loved fall foliage drive is in the Central Vermont area, around Killington, and the towns and highways of Woodstock, Rutland and Ludlow. This is deep in The Green Mountain National Forest area, and not surprisingly offers spectacular fall foliage color and scenery.
Parts of Maine are the first to display fall foliage New England peak colors. With Maine’s many driving loops to choose from, it’s difficult to single out one. But the Lakes and Leaves drive that touches the shores of Moosehead Lake on Route 15 before heading south on route 201 is ever popular. You’ll see unparalleled fall foliage views of the tree-lined banks of the Kennebec River, and the surrounding mountains on this Maine Scenic Highway.
Fall foliage vacationers in Rhode Island have open roads and coastal drives to satisfy their leaf peeping. The 61-mile Rhode Island Coast Scenic Drive follows the coastline east from Westerly before turning north along Narragansett Bay, and eventually over Newport Bridge on route 138. The drive finishes over the breathtaking Ocean Drive in historic Newport. A pleasant seaside twist to a fall foliage New England drive.
Not to be outdone during fall foliage season the state of Connecticut has in its own little corner of popular autumn leaf spotting sites, with some of the most stunning scenic drives being on Route 169 in the Glacial plains which are part of Quinebaug River bottomlands.
Are you ready for more details on any of these fall foliage New England scenic drives?
Then here's an offer you can't afford to miss...
