NEW ENGLAND ROAD TRIP: VERMONT & NEW HAMPSHIRE

This is the first year I experienced fall foliage in New England and it did not disappoint! I’ve lived in New York for many years but never had the opportunity to go on a road trip to chase fall foliage and now that I’ve done it, I cannot wait to do them every year. Northeast USA is one of the most beautiful places to visit for fall foliage and YOU must experience it for yourself. I’m excited to share with you the places we visited to help you plan your next New England road trip around Vermont and New Hampshire. We spent a total of 6 days and 5 nights exploring New England and below is an itinerary of our trip.

HOW TO PLAN YOUR TRIP TO SEE FALL FOLIAGE

Planning a trip to see the fall foliage can be tricky because the seasonal changes can be very unpredictable. Typically the peak time to visit is the first two weeks of October. We visited on Oct -12th and it was slightly past peak. You can either go with the flow or plan out your trip. Going with the flow allows you to simply explore and see the fall foliage during their peak but there is less flexibility in accommodations since it may be booked. Planning out your trip gives you better options for accommodations at better prices but it may restrict you from seeing the fall foliage in that area.

I highly recommend using the fall foliage map to prepare for your trip. The map was pretty accurate and the leaves turned a week earlier than usual this year. Since we were late planners a lot of the accommodations were already sold out. I recommend planning ahead of time if there are specific locations or cute Airbnb/hotels you want to stay at.

WHAT TO PACK

There are some essential items to pack for your trip to the Northeast. The weather can be a bit unpredictable as well so it’s important to pack just the right clothes. The weather can get warm during the afternoon but it can get quite brisk early in the day and in the evening. I would recommend packing an insulated jacket/light down puffer, raincoat, waterproof boots, hiking boots, sweaters, leggings/comfortable pants, beanies, glove, and a small backpack.

DAY 1 & 2: STOWE, VERMONT

Where We Stayed: Airbnb

Stowe, Vermont is about a 5-hour drive up north from Manhattan. We spent 2 nights in Stowe in an Airbnb which is only a few minute’s drive into town. I would suggest spending at least 3 nights. We barely had the time and did not get much time to explore the town. If you have extra days I suggest spending a few nights in Burlington or Manchester, VT as well.

If visiting Stowe, you must drive Smuggler’s Notch, it’s a scenic road that leads to the top with plenty of pull out areas for photos and hiking trails. You can also take the Gondola Sky Ride for amazing views of Stowe.

A few photo locations are of the Stowe Church located at the Salon Salon parking lot and for a pumpkin patch head over to Shaw’s Market. Other photo options are the Gold Brook Bridge.

DINING

DAY 3: WOODSTOCK, VERMONT

Where We Stayed: The Shire Woodstock Hotel

Just a 1-hour drive down from Stowe is Woodstock, VT. Ideally, you can make a stop here first before going to Stowe but due to our accommodations, we went to Stowe first and spent 1 night in Woodstock. I loved our hotel, it’s super cute and in the center of town.

We stopped by Elm Grove Farm (Sleepy Hollow Farm) for its picturesque scenery, a must-visit when in Woodstock. A few locations that we did not stop by but recommend are Taftsville Bridge, Middle Bridge, and Sugarbush Farm.

Sleepy Hollow Farm VT — Sleepy Hollow Farm

DAY 4: NEW HAMPSHIRE

Early morning on our way to Jackson, New Hampshire we made a few stops along the way that I recommend you doing or you can also spend 1-2 nights in Lincoln, NH where these locations are located.

Our first stop was Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train, about an hour from Woodstock. Although we didn’t get the chance to try the dinner experience we were able to see the train pass by and the bridge behind the cafe. This is a great location for photos but also a unique dinner experience. Make sure to make your reservations in advance, tickets are about $85-$99.

Then we drove 15 minutes from Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train and went hiking at the Artist Bluff Trial. The trial is only a 1.5-mile loop with a lot of stairs and a view of Echo Lake. The view is stunning but it can get quite windy so bring a jacket.

If you’re into hiking, you should visit Flume George at White Mountain Park. It is a 2-mile hike with beautiful waterfalls. This is also about 15-20 minutes from Artist Bluff so if you have time I definitely recommend doing it.

From Lincoln, you will want to drive along the Kancamagus Highway! This is a scenic road that leads to Conway, NH, and has plenty of turn out areas to park for photos. It was already dark when we were driving but I wish we had the chance to see this stunning highway.

Where We Stayed: The Inn at Thorn Hill

Our original plan was to stay in Conway, NH but since we were unable to find accommodations we stayed 20 minutes north in Jackson. I would recommend it, it’s a cute small town and the hotel is rated the top hotel in Jackson. The food is great at the hotel but if you’re looking for some bar food, I recommend ordering the pizza from Red Fox Bar & Grill.

DAY 5: NEW HAMPSHIRE

We spent the rest of our trip taking fall foliage photos in the area! If you have time to explore I recommend Crawford Notch for stunning photos of another railroad track and Rocky Gorge Scenic Area located in the White Mountain National Forest. You will find beautiful waterfalls, walk along the Swift River and the Falls Pond.

DAY: BACK TO NYC

On our way home back to Manhattan we found a beautiful lake, Chocorua Lake. Of course, we had to stop for a few photos! It was absolutely beautiful and the perfect way to end our trip!

Overall our trip went by too fast! I would suggest spending 1-2 weeks if possible and exploring other areas of New England. Next year, I’m definitely going back to chase fall foliage. I hope this blog post helps you plan your next trip!