New England Fall Foliage Road Trip
Fall Foliage Road Trip Map
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
Getting Started
As you may know, vibrant fall foliage can be found all over the East Coast. However, we are focusing on New England fall foliage for this itinerary. To begin, we recommend flying into Newark, New Jersey; New York City; or Boston, Massachusetts. From there, youāll 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 foodāall of our favorites!
Choosing the right time to experience peak East Coast 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 donāt plan on it being perfect sweater-weather the whole trip. Rain and snow are definitely possibilities in these areas, so pack accordingly.
While this is the route we recommend, you can always skip or add days as you see fit. If you donāt have enough time to see it all you may just have to plan another road trip in the future!Ā
Itinerary
FLY IN AND DRIVE TO KENNEBUNKPORT, ME
From Boston: 1.5 hours/90 miles
From Newark or NYC: 5 hours/300 miles
To start, depending on where you decide to fly into, youāll either drive a short or long distance the first day of your New England fall foliage excursion. Regardless, your first stop is Kennebunkport, Maine. We flew into Newark in the early afternoon and made our way to a gorgeous riverfront hotel in KennebunkportāNonantum Resort, where we spent two nights. You wouldnāt believe how quaint the town of Kennebunkport is until you arrive and spend some time roaming the streets! 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 ā 30 MILES
Next, just about 40 minutes north up the coast is the larger harbor city of Portland, Maine. Known for its fresh seafood and historic cobblestone streets, Portland is the most ācity-likeā experience youāll get in Maine without feeling overwhelmed. Itās 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 āOld Portā, where youāll 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 treat yourself at the luxurious Inn at Oceanās Edgeāan infinity pool and oceanfront property?! Yes please!