Fall Leaf-Peeping Road Trip: East Coast Style
Maine, New Hampshire, & Pennsylvania
Start / End
Newark, NJ; New York, NY; or Boston, MA
States Covered
National Parks
Acadia National Park
Total Distance
1,300 miles
Suggested Days
12-14
Suggested Seasons
Fall
#ThisIsMyRoute
Overview
As you may know, vibrant fall foliage can be found all over the East Coast. However, since most folks only have a week or two at a time for vacation, we chose only three states to include in this itinerary. Along the way you’ll drive through others, but you’d need more than a few weeks if you wanted to truly experience it all. To begin this road trip, we recommend flying into Newark, New York City, or Boston—these cities are all located somewhere along the route. From there, you’ll drive north up the coast of Maine, then west into New Hampshire, and finally down to the mountains in Pennsylvania. Other than fall foliage, this road trip will focus on outdoor adventure, city exploration, and good food—all of our favorites!
Preparation
We recommend at least 12 days for this trip, but the more the better! During our 13-day version of this itinerary, we spent six of those days exploring the coast of Maine, two in the White Mountains, three in the Poconos, and two days were allotted for travel on either end. While there are a lot of miles to cover, it’s mostly done in between states, allowing you time to rest and explore in each destination. Choosing the right time to experience peak fall foliage can be tricky, as weather conditions are a big factor of when the leaves change colors. Coastal Maine typically peaks mid-October, while the White Mountains and Poconos tend to be at their boldest anytime from the end of September through the second week of October. We recommend planning your fall road trip between mid-September and mid-October. As always, weather is unpredictable, so don’t plan on it being perfect sweater-weather the whole trip. Rain and snow are definitely possibilities in these areas. Since the map of this itinerary is sort of a “figure 8”, feel free to drive it in either direction. This itinerary is only a guide, and we encourage you to tailor it to your needs and timeline so that you can have the most personalized experience possible!
Itinerary
FLY IN AND DRIVE TO KENNEBUNKPORT, ME
From Boston: 1.5 hours/90 miles
From Newark or NYC: 5 hours/300 miles
Depending on where you decide to fly into, you’ll either drive a short or long distance to your first stop: Kennebunkport, Maine. We flew into Newark in the early afternoon and made our way to a gorgeous riverfront hotel in Kennebunkport—Nonantum Resort, where we spent two nights. You wouldn’t believe how quaint the town of Kennebunkport is until you arrive and spend some time roaming the streets (there aren’t many)! The town is situated right on the coast, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Kennebunk River. Grab a cup of coffee and explore town by foot or bike, then walk over to the sandy ocean beach just a mile away.
PORTLAND, ME
36 MINUTES – 30 MILES
Just about 40 minutes north up the coast is the larger harbor city of Portland. Known for its fresh seafood and historic cobblestone streets, Portland is the most “city-like” experience you’ll get in Maine, though it doesn’t feel quite as big as it is. It’s not all shopping and dining, though. Portland offers a ton of outdoor adventure from kayaking on the Scarborough Marsh to hiking up Bradbury Mountain. If possible, try to stay in a hotel in “Old Port”, where you’ll find the cobblestone streets and historic architecture. We recommend Portland Regency Hotel & Spa.
As you make your way north towards Acadia National Park, stay on Route 1, the highway in Maine that runs parallel to the coast. The drive takes a few hours, so consider stopping along the way for a night in Camden, Rockport, or Lincoln. You can get rustic and camp at Camden Hills State Park or go New-England-luxury at the beautiful Inn at Ocean’s Edge—an infinity pool and oceanfront property?! Yes please!