I am a sucker for all things Fall, the sweater weather, the pumpkin spiced chai latte’s, the foliage! UGH! Unfortunately, I live in a state where fall foliage is almost non existent. Apple Cider donuts? Forget about. Chilly Autumn nights? Hard to come by in my neck of the woods. To indulge ourselves in all things Fall last year, my soon to be husband and I jetted off to New England to check off a few items off our bucket list: Like checking out the fall foliage in an old-fashioned railroad experience at Conway, New Hampshire and enjoy some delicious apple cider donuts at an apple picking farm. Keep reading to learn more on how to make the most New England Fall road trip using my 4 day itinerary!
Table of Contents
Where is New England?
Now, I am not going to assume we all know where New England is. My poor sister was so confused she thought I was going to England for a quick getaway. New England is a region in the Northeastern United States made up of 6 states: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
When To Go?
If you’re looking for peak foliage make sure to look into foliage trackers, which give you a general idea of when to visit, like this one. I will say this, use these as a general guide. Alex and I went to New England after “peak foliage” and there was still plenty of beauty to see. There were PLENTY of beautiful trees with gorgeous colors. Good rule of thumb.
How To Get There?
You can access New England from any of the airports in the six states:
- Boston Logan International Airport – Massachusetts
- Bradley International Airport – Connecticut
- Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport -Rhode Island
- Burlington International Airport – Vermont
- Portland International Jetport – Maine
- Manchester Boston Regional Airport – New Hampshire
- Albany International Airport – New York (technically not part of New England, but it’s right outside it)
Depending on where you’d like to start your journey, you have many options to choose from. As I was researching flights though I noticed flights were slightly cheaper when you flew in and out of Boston. This makes sense as it’s a bigger airport, something to keep in mind. With that we start our New England fall road trip itinerary in Boston.
The best way to get around New England will be by car, so renting one will be a must. Now don’t worry if you don’t like driving in a busy metropolitan city like Boston, with this 4 day New England road trip the plan is to be in the city briefly.
New England Fall Road Trip Itinerary: 4 Day New England Road Trip
Your plane is descending into Boston, you’re excited to get started on your extended weekend around New England, but where do you begin? Well, now the adventures begin (rubs hands together)!
Salem, Massachusetts
Any Hocus Pocus fans?! What better way to start a fall road trip than by visiting Salem, Massachusetts and checking out some spooky ghost tours, rejoice in all things Halloween, visit all the sites where the movie was filmed and learn about the town’s history?!
Salem is about 40 minutes from the Boston Logan International Airport, which makes it the perfect place to start your adventure. I recommend spending at least one day in Salem and really taking it in. I’ve only been to Salem once before, but only for half a day. We checked out the history and hauntings of Salem guided walking tour where we learned about the town’s history and spooky sightings, which I highly recommend. There’s a varieties of tours you can do even some at night.
The town rejoices in Halloween festivities so visiting Salem during October is such a unique and wonderful experience you have to check out.
Portland, Maine
After you’ve spent a day in Salem head north to Portland, Maine! At about a little over an hour and a half you’ll find this cool, trendy town, which happens to be the largest city in Maine. Spend a day in Portland and check out Old Port, the heart of the town. This downtown neighborhood is filled with many nick nacks left and right. The city preserves the town’s history, cobblestone streets, wharf and 19th century warehouses, while give it a modern day twist.
If you’re not allergic to seafood take advantage of your one night in Maine and eat some good sea food! Check out Luke’s Lobster Portland Pier, you can’t go to Maine and not eat seafood (unless you’re allergic). Afterwards, walk around downtown, enjoy the ambiance and uniqueness that makes Portland well Portland. Heads up Portland is a harbor town, which can be busy when cruise ships dock, so if you find any restaurants you know you definitely want to check out make reservations ahead of time.
Now you can’t go to Maine and not go light house sighting! Or maybe you want more of a quiet experience in Maine? At only about 30 minutes outside South Portland you’ll find Cape Elizabeth, a small but beautiful town home to the famous Portland Head Lighthouse. Definitely make a pit stop here if you can. The area is beautiful, quiet and peaceful. It’s a wonderful place to stop and enjoy the sunset after a long day.
Use my Maine itinerary and explore more of what this beautiful state has to offer.
Conway, New Hampshire
Next up on our 4 day New England Road trip itinerary is New Hampshire! Get ready to check out some surreal foliage. I think I can safely say, New Hampshire has been the state with the best foliage I have yet seen. You drive along the roads thinking it can’t possibly get any more beautiful, but it truly does. At about and hour and a half north of Portland you’ll come across Conway, New Hampshire. Now you’ll want to wake up early on the third day, because we’ll have so much to cover.
Conway Scenic Railroad
Take a step back in time and check out the fall foliage in an old-fashioned railroad experience. All trains depart from the 1841 train station located in North Conway Village, which is only 10 minutes north of Conway, New Hampshire. Vintage much? Depending on your availability, a train excursion is a great way to explore the town and see more of the scenic road.
Due to our schedule, and to the last minute adjustments, we only had time to ride the Conway Valley train. This 55 minute ride was perfect for us, because it helped us stay dry during the light rain storm we woke up to, plus, it made the perfect place to take a quick cat nap. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as scenic as I thought it would have been (check out the Mountaineer!), but we were still able to experience an old-fashioned train ride! Prices vary by excursion so make sure to check out there site for more information on ticket sales.
North Conway Downtown Shops
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again I love exploring small towns in the middle of nowhere and Conway is no exception. Visit the heart of Conway, New Hampshire by checking out some local shops:
- Zeb’s General Store – a Conway staple, here you will find an assortment of items from food, souvenirs, and so much more!
- White Birch Books – love books? Then check out this independent, women’s owned book shop!
- North Conway 5 & 10 cents store – go back in time when you visit North Conway 5 & 10 cents store for some vintage candy and legit New Hampshire souvenirs.
- The Met Coffee House – need a quick pick me up? Then check out the Met for some coffee, tea or light pastries as you gear up for the day!
- Sea Dog Brewing – Not necessarily shop, but a damn good place to go eat at!
Besides getting to experience new places, I love, love, love supporting small, local businesses wherever I travel to. After all when you’re supporting a small business you’re supporting a dream. So make sure to stop by these shops and more next time you’re in downtown Conway!
If you have the luxury of time, check out my 5 day New England travel guide!
Covered bridge
I never realized how popular covered bridges were in New England until I saw them all over the area this past year. This one in particular is called Swift River Covered Bridge, which can be found on your way towards Conway, New Hampshire before you get on the Kancamagus Highway. Picturesque isn’t it?
Kancamagus Highway
If your main goal is to witness the fall foliage add this destination to the top of your New England fall road trip itinerary right now! If there is one thing you do make sure it’s checking out this area. This almost 35 mile scenic drive is known for the best fall foliage in the country for a reason. Located along route 112, between Lincoln and Conway, New Hampshire, you can drive up and down the highway to see the foliage from your car or stop by the road and check out a short trail to immerse yourself in it all.
Lincoln, New Hampshire
Now for the last pit stop on this 4 day New England road trip I recommend to end it at Lincoln, New Hampshire! You’re probably wondering, ‘Grace, what the heck is in Lincoln, New Hampshire?’ and to that I say just trust me (😉). Now, I will admit Lincoln, New Hampshire blew my own expectations. I didn’t realize there would be so much beauty and New Hampshire in general! Now this day is packed with loads of activity so saddle up!
Flume Gorge
Flume Gorge is located within White Mountain National Forest. It’s a natural gorge hiking area where you can see Conway granite walls stand tall at 70 to 90 feet. The trail itself is about a 2-mile loop, which can take about an hour and and-a-half to complete, depending on your pace. The trail consists of some uphill walking, stairs, waterfalls and slippery boardwalks. There is so much to see, from moss growing along the walls, waterfalls, ferns and much more.
On the day we visited it was raining , which was great because we had the whole place to ourselves. It was quite serene. We were told rain would definitely provide us with some waterfalls and they were right. There is a fee to visit the gorge of about $18/ person if you make your reservations online, make sure to do so to see availability. Definitely a place to check out.
White Mountain National Forest
Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to explore the White Mountain National Forest, with the exception of visiting the Flume Gorge and stopping along the Kancamagus Highway, as much as I would have liked. So if you’re a nature enthusiasts/ hiking fan make time to visit the forest. Check out this link for a list of hiking trails to check out.
Artist Bluff
Make sure to check out this hike next time you visit Franconia, New Hampshire; only 20 minutes up the road from Lincoln, New Hampshire. This 1.5 mile loop trail has some great panoramic views! Depending on your pace the trail can take about an hour to complete. There is no fee to do this trail and parking is also free. This is a highly popular trail so I suggest going at the break of dawn to avoid the crowds. Luckily for us, it had rained on the day we intended to check this hike out so crowds were minimal, but we paid the price with slipping over a rock or two (rocks were slippery due to the rain).
Concord Apple Picking – Apple Cider Donuts!
Is it a trip to New England without getting some apple cider donuts?! Prior to this trip I had never had apple cider donuts and boy was I missing out! As you are making your way back to Boston make sure to stop by Carter Hill Orchard for some apple picking and, the main star of the attraction, apple cider donuts. Walk around the farm, pick some apples all while snacking on a donut or two. This is the perfect way to end your New England fall road trip.
Map of Attractions
In conclusion…
Yes, I might love dead leaves, but the beauty they leave behind lights my soul with so much joy. Truly an indescribable feeling I only hope you get to witness one day. Meeting people from all over the world come out to New England to experience the foliage themselves reminds me of how truly blessed I am to be able to live in a place with so much beauty. I not only hope this itinerary helps, but most importantly it inspires you to get started on your 4 day New England fall road trip.
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