Fall foliage in New
England really begins in August. The
shortening daylight hours trigger the
deciduous trees to begin the process of
shedding their leaves. It happens all around
North America, and all around the world.
But in New England it’s special.
Why is fall foliage in New England so
different and special?
It’s a factor of many things but mostly
an abundance of different types of deciduous
trees, warm autumn days, and cool - but not
freezing - nights. When these and a few
other conditions are all mixed in the right
proportions, then you get the world famous
stunning shades of reds, yellows, oranges,
and browns on the hills and mountain sides
of New England.
Between mid-September to late-October,
visitors flock to New England to see the
fall foliage. These six scenic drives offer
some of the best autumn views available from
anywhere on the planet.
This is an introduction to a series of
six articles that provide details and routes
on each of these scenic drives.
FALL FOLIAGE SCENIC DRIVE – MOHAWK TRAIL
MASSACHUSETTS
The most popular fall foliage scenic
drives in Massachusetts are along the famous
Mohawk Trail. This trail rolls out through
the northwestern part of the state on route
2, and winds through the hills and mountains
of the Berkshires, touching picturesque
towns like Williamstown, Deerfield,
Shelbourne, Colrain, Charlemont, and
Shelburne Falls.
Mount Greylock, the highest point in
Massachusetts, offers spectacular views of
the surrounding area and Mohawk Trail.
FALL FOLIAGE SCENIC DRIVE – KANCAMAGUS
HIGHWAY NEW HAMPSHIRE
New Hampshire has many scenic drives in
the White Mountain National Forest but at
the top of the list has to be the 34-mile
Kancamagus Scenic Highway that runs along
route 112 from Conway to White Mountains
Visitor Center in Lincoln. This drive is
considered by many to be the top fall
foliage New England scenic drive. It has
beautiful forests ablaze with autumn colors
and plenty of photo opportunities with walks
along gorges and streams, and with views of
the highest mountains in the Presidential
Range.
FALL FOLIAGE SCENIC DRIVE – CENTRAL
VERMONT AREA
In Vermont nature planted all the high
peaks in the south – although the North
Kingdom has great color as well. But
arguably Vermont’s best loved fall foliage
drive is in the Central Vermont area, around
Killington, and the towns and highways of
Woodstock, Rutland and Ludlow. This is deep
in The Green Mountain National Forest area,
and not surprisingly offers spectacular fall
foliage color and scenery.
FALL FOLIAGE SCENIC DRIVE – LAKES AND
LEAVES MAINE
Parts of Maine are the first to display
peak fall foliage color in New England. With
Maine’s many driving loops to choose from,
it’s difficult to single out one. But the
Lakes and Leaves drive that touches the
shores of Moosehead Lake on Route 15 before
heading south on route 201 is ever popular.
You’ll see unparalleled fall foliage views
of the tree-lined banks of the Kennebec
River, and the surrounding mountains on this
Maine Scenic Highway.
FALL FOLIAGE SCENIC DRIVE – RHODE ISLAND
COAST
Fall vacationers in Rhode Island have
open roads and coastal drives to satisfy
their leaf peeping. The 61-mile Rhode Island
Coast Scenic Drive follows the coastline
east from Westerly before turning north
along Narragansett Bay, and eventually over
Newport Bridge on route 138. The drive
finishes over the breathtaking Ocean Drive
in historic Newport. A pleasant seaside
twist to a fall foliage drive.
FALL FOLIAGE SCENIC DRIVE – CONNECTICUT
ROUTE 169
Not to be outdone during fall foliage the
state of Connecticut has in its own little
corner of popular autumn leaf spotting
sites, with some of the most stunning scenic
drives being on Route 169 in the glacial
plains which are part of Quinebaug River
bottomlands.
