Ultimate One Week Fall Foliage Itinerary for New England

There’s absolutely nothing better than spending a week in New England chasing the Fall leaves, picking apples and tasting maple candies or hot cider donuts. Here’s my ultimate guide to the best one week fall foliage itinerary in New England. There’s simply no better place for Fall! New England fall foliage is the best I’ve… The post Ultimate One Week Fall Foliage Itinerary for New England appeared first on Helene in Between. There’s absolutely nothing better than spending a week in New England chasing the Fall leaves, picking apples and tasting maple candies or hot cider donuts. Here’s my ultimate guide to the best one week fall foliage itinerary in New England. There’s simply no better place for Fall! New England fall foliage is the best I’ve ever seen and this one week leaf peeping itinerary will ensure you make the most of your trip! This includes the best scenic routes and hidden gems as well as the top spots for leaf peeping in Vermont, New Hampshire, and beyond! Once I experienced Fall in New England I knew I’d come back every single year, I simply can’t get enough. But it’s not just the kaleidoscope of colors of the leaves. There are adorable farm stands, pumpkin patches, apple orchards, Fall festivals, adorable storied towns, and winding roads that lead you from place to place. Before coming to New England to see the colors for myself, I thought the Instagram pictures had to be enhanced. But it’s all real. Having traveled to 54 countries and spent nearly 80% of my time on the road for the past 6 years, this is one of my favorite places on earth. This one week guide to Fall in New England will help you plan the perfect trip. This will share my top tips for seeing leaves- very important! And truthfully, not always easy to see the leaves. I’ll make sure you have all the information you need to get the best chance for leaf peeping. Of course this 7 day guide can be extended, or I have a detailed 2 week guide right here! In this 7-day itinerary I’ll cover my favorite towns, places to see the best color for leaves, photo inspiration, my favorite farms and more. To begin, you’ll travel to the historic New England city of Boston before heading north to the White Mountains in New Hampshire and then the hills of Vermont. After spending lots of time in New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Islands, I suggest you spend the bulk of your time for leaves in New Hampshire and Connecticut. However, if you have extra time or want to see some other states, it’s very easy to drive around to these other states. Table of contentsAt a Glance: One Week Fall Foliage Itinerary In New EnglandBest Time to See the Leaves in New England FallOne Week New England Fall Foliage ItineraryDay 1: Boston, Massachusetts > White Mountains, New HampshireDay 2 : Kancamagus Highway & Mount Washington, New HampshireDay 3 : Franconia Notch, New Hampshire > Montpelier, VermontDay 4 : Smuggler’s Notch & Von Trapp House, VermontDay 5: Stowe, VermontDay 6 : Manchester, VermontDay 7: The Berkshires > Boston, MassachusettsExtra Time in New England? Add this on! Get my free printable New England Road Trip and Map below! At a Glance: One Week Fall Foliage Itinerary In New England Day 1: Boston, Massachusetts > White Mountains, New Hampshire Day 2: Kancamagus Highway & Mount Washington, New Hampshire Day 3: Franconia Notch, New Hampshire > Montpelier, Vermont Day 4: Smuggler’s Notch & Von Trapp House, Vermont Day 5: Stowe & Woodstock, Vermont Day 6: Manchester, Vermont Day 7: The Berkshires > Boston, Massachusetts If you have extra time, I recommend adding on Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor in Maine as well as Salem Massachusetts. Or, opt for adding on Connecticut or Rhode Island. At the end of this post I’ll give a few other ideas for what to do in each! Best Time to See the Leaves in New England Fall Let me be ultra clear: This changes every year. This is the hardest part about planning a New England leaf-peeping trip. I recommend consulting a few different leaf peeping guides: New England Peak Foliage Map – Probably my most consulted guide and even has a handy calendar that predicts New Hampshire Foliage Tracker – Each state in New England maintains a guide and I always recommend consulting that first! Vermont Foliage Report – similar to the New Hampshire one! Jeff Foliage – This is a blog that updates regularly with when you can expect color. The color of the leaves changes with so many elements, including rain, wind, and temperature. And this isn’t just limited to the current month; weather conditions throughout the year might also alter the color. PRO TIP: If you’re not seeing color, head north. We were in Connecticut and it just hadn’t hit there yet so we headed to Northern Vermont and it was absolutely stunning. If you’re after leaf peeping you *MIGHT* have to change up your journey. If you’re wondering about the best times to see the leaves, check out my detailed guide to fall in New England here. One Week New England Fall Foliage Itinerary Here’s where to go for fall foliage with one week in New England and have the ultimate leaf peeping trip! Day 1: Boston, Massachusetts > White Mountains, New Hampshire I recommend flying in to Boston. It’s the best airport for most flights and one of the cheaper options that Hartford, Connecticut or Burlington, Vermont. I HIGHLY recommend renting a car. Especially if you’re going to be chasing the leaves, and as I mentioned things can change rapidly! Last year, we chased the fall colors and changed up our whole trip and it was well worth it! If you haven’t been to Boston, I recommend spending a day here to visit. This is the USA’s oldest city so there’s some gorgeous architecture and history as well as great food. Of course, there are some lovely spots for Fall leaves in Boston. The colors can be seen throughout the city, including at Boston Common, the Public Garden, the Charles River Esplanade, Back Bay, and Beacon Hill. However, I’d been to Boston before, or if you’re wanting the full scale of the Fall colors, I recommend skipping Boston and going straight to the White Mountains in New Hampshire. The drive from Boston up to the White Mountains is about 2 and a half hours. It’s a lovely drive full of gorgeous trees and bright red barns. As you drive there are a few places to stop along the way. I recommend Portsmouth on the coast – a great place to get a lobster roll and a cup of chowder. Another stop is the adorable town of Sandwich, New Hampshire which has a stunning brilliant white church that makes a great backdrop for photos. Next head to Conway, New Hampshire. This is an adorable town that’s great to stay the night in. I also recommend taking the Conway Scenic Railway! You’ll get a classic railway journey that transports you in a vintage train through wooded areas and tiny towns. Book your tickets ahead of time; it may sell out! There are three different rail trips available. We picked the Bartlett-Sawyer Excursion. Day 2: Kancamagus Highway & Mount Washington, New Hampshire Day 2 of our one week trip is one of my favorites! The Kancamagus is one of the best drives ever. The colors here are just fantastic but there’s so much beauty along the scenic highway. Start your drive in Conway and travel West. The Kancamagus Highway (Route 112) is a 34-mile scenic drive with amazing views. There are lots of great places to pull over so you can take photos or go on a short hike. Be prepared for this drive to take There are a few must-see spots along the way: Lower Falls, Swift River, Rocky Gorge Scenic Area, Albany Covered Bridge, and Sabbaday Falls. Next up is the Mount Washington Lodge. This huge resort, now owned by the Omni, was created in less than 18 months by Italian labor in 1902. This is the most massive almost entirely wood structure in New Hampshire. For decades, this has been a favorite getaway of presidents and celebrities. It’s not cheap, but it would be an excellent place to stay the night! This is a bit of a drive, but if you have time head north to Dixville Notch, New Hampshire. The Balsams are an abandoned resort that reflect on the lake with insane tree color. There’s also the nearby hike, Tablerock Top with absolutely epic views! Day 3: Franconia Notch, New Hampshire > Montpelier, Vermont Kick off day three exploring Franconia Notch in New Hampshire. This State Park is stunning! There are a few different hikes you can do. I recommend the Falling Waters Trail which has several waterfalls and cascades along the way. Flume Gorge is another