Spring
Spring arrives slowly. March is maple sugaring season in Vermont, April is mud season, and by late May the orchards bloom and the inns are quiet and well priced.
New England
White steeples, covered bridges, lobster shacks and hillsides that turn red and gold every fall. Close to home, and never the same twice.
By the Global Escapes travel team · Updated
- Best time to go
- Late September to mid-October for color; June to August for the coast
- Trip length
- 5 to 10 days
- From Atlanta
- About 2.5 hours nonstop to Boston
- Time difference
- Same as Atlanta
- Entry
- No passport needed
- Getting around
- A rental car, or a private driver
Why New England never gets old
Small towns with general stores, harbors full of lobster boats, and back roads that seem made for slow afternoons.
The classic fall loop starts in Boston and winds through Vermont’s Green Mountains and New Hampshire’s White Mountains before finishing on the Maine coast. Drives are short, inns are cozy, and there’s a farm stand or cider mill around every bend.
Summer belongs to the coast: Cape Cod, Newport’s mansions, Kennebunkport and Acadia National Park. In winter, Stowe and the Vermont ski towns take over.
Drive times on the fall loop
- Boston to Woodstock, VTAbout 2.5 hours
- Woodstock to StoweAbout 1.5 hours
- Stowe to the White MountainsAbout 2.5 hours
- White Mountains to PortlandAbout 1.5 hours
- Portland to Bar HarborAbout 3 hours
- Boston to Cape CodAbout 1.5 to 2 hours
When to go
The best months, the busy weeks and the quieter windows, so you can choose the trip that fits.
- JanSki season, snowy and quiet
- FebPeak ski weeks
- MarMaple sugaring season
- AprMud season, very quiet
- MayOrchards bloom, few crowds
- JunLong days, lupines bloom
- JulBeach season on the coast
- AugLobster and lake days
- SepEarly color up north
- OctPeak foliage
- NovLate color, then quiet
- DecHoliday towns, ski season opens
Peak season Shoulder season Low season
Average temperatures and rainfall
Jan2.1″
Feb1.8″
Mar2.2″
Apr2.9″
May3.5″
Jun4.0″
Jul4.2″
Aug4.0″
Sep3.6″
Oct3.9″
Nov3.0″
Dec2.5″
Jan3.4″
Feb3.3″
Mar4.3″
Apr3.7″
May3.5″
Jun3.9″
Jul3.4″
Aug3.4″
Sep3.5″
Oct4.0″
Nov3.7″
Dec4.3″
Approximate average daily high and low in °F, with average monthly rainfall in inches.
Summer
July and August are coastal season: Cape Cod, Newport, the Maine harbors and Acadia. Oceanfront inns book well ahead. Expect warm days and cool evenings by the water.
Fall
Color starts in northern Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine in late September, peaks across most of the region in the first half of October, and reaches southern New England by late October. Foliage weekends book out months ahead.
Winter
Stowe, Sugarbush and the White Mountains are the East’s classic ski country. Holiday weeks are lively, and January brings snowy inn stays with fewer people.
Where to go
The places our travelers love most, and what each one does best.
Boston
History on every corner, from the Freedom Trail to Fenway Park, plus great seafood. An easy start or finish to any New England trip.
Best for History, food, a city start
Woodstock & Stowe
Covered bridges and classic inns in Woodstock, and Stowe’s village, mountain and the winding drive through Smugglers’ Notch.
Best for Fall color, inns, skiing
Burlington & Lake Champlain
A lively college town on a big, beautiful lake, with sunset sails in summer and an easy base for northern Vermont.
Best for Lake days, families
White Mountains
The Kancamagus Highway, Mount Washington and grand old resorts with porches made for watching the leaves.
Best for Scenic drives, hiking, foliage
Portland & Kennebunkport
Portland’s food scene punches far above its size, and Kennebunkport is all shingled cottages and lobster rolls.
Best for Food lovers, coastal towns
Acadia & Bar Harbor
Granite peaks meet the sea. Watch the sunrise from Cadillac Mountain, then bike the carriage roads.
Best for Outdoors, families, sunrise
Cape Cod & the Islands
Beaches, lighthouses and ferries to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.
Best for Summer beach weeks, big families
Newport
Gilded Age mansions, the Cliff Walk and sailing on Narragansett Bay.
Best for Couples, history, sailing
From the travel blog
Vermont at peak foliage
Back roads, covered bridges and inns worth the drive, timed north to south as the color moves.
Read the guideGood to know
The small things that make a big difference once you arrive.
Book foliage early
Inns in Vermont and New Hampshire for the first two weeks of October often book six to twelve months ahead. We hold good rooms early and fine-tune as the forecast firms up.
Follow the color
Leaves turn first in the north and the mountains, then move south and down into the valleys. We route your trip to stay with the peak.
Drive, or be driven
A car gives you freedom on back roads. A private driver means you can enjoy the tastings and the views. Both work well here.
Pack layers
Fall days can be in the 60s and nights near freezing in the mountains. A warm jacket and comfortable walking shoes cover most of it.
Leave room for detours
Farm stands, cider mills, sugarhouses and covered bridges are the point. We build in time so you can stop.
Cruise the coast
Fall New England and Canada cruises sail from Boston and New York, a relaxing way to see the color from the water.
Questions we hear a lot
When is peak fall foliage in New England?
Usually late September in northern Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, the first half of October across most of the region, and mid to late October in southern New England and along the coast. Every year shifts a little with the weather.
How many days do we need for a fall foliage trip?
Five to seven days covers Boston, Vermont and New Hampshire comfortably. Add two or three days for the Maine coast or Acadia.
Should we fly into Boston or Burlington?
Boston has the most flights and makes a great start or finish. Burlington or Portland can save driving time if you’re focused on northern Vermont or Maine.
Is New England good for a family trip?
Very. Drives are short, and there’s apple picking, lakes, beaches, whale watching and ski school, depending on the season.
Can we see the foliage from a cruise ship?
Yes. Fall cruises sail from Boston or New York up the coast to Maine and Canada, usually in late September and October.
Let’s plan your New England trip
Tell us when you’re thinking of going and who’s coming along. An advisor will take it from there.