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After experiencing a Fall in New England, I am not sure if anywhere else will ever be able to compare, for Fall trips that is!

The charm of the New England small towns coupled with the skittle colored hills of the North East makes exploring this area an absolute dream.

On this list you will find my favorite Fall activities in New England- this list has something for everyone- whether your heading here with your family, want a romantic getaway or want to spend time exploring the great outdoors- you will find something for you!

Without further ado…here are 9 of the top Fall Activities in New England!

 Table of Contents:

1. New England Scenic Drives

2. Visit Woodstock Vermont

3. Go Apple Picking

4. Visit Stowe, Vermont

5. New England Fall Hikes

6. Stay At A Cozy Cabin

7. Check Out The Maine Coast

8. Go Canoeing

9. Fall Foliage Roadtrip

10. More Info- When To Go, Map, Why Go

11. Where To Stay

12. What to Wear

Disclaimer: This blog post does have affiliate links in it- if you buy through any of the links I get a little kickback- at no extra cost to you!

The Top Fall Activities In New England

1. New England Scenic Drives

The single best thing you can do while exploring New England in the Fall is go for a scenic drive. With the hills full of color and the air fresh and crisp- these drives will take your breath away and they are the best way to experience as many views as possible.

Here are some of the top scenic drives in New England Fall:

– Kancamagus Highway in the White Mountains of New Hampshire

– The Mohawk Trail (or Route 2) in Massachusetts

– Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway in Maine

– Monadnock Region Loop in New Hampshire

– Smugglers Notch, Vermont

READ MORE: Your Ultimate Guide To Yellowstone In October

2. Visit Woodstock, Vermont

Visiting Woodstock, Vermont is by far the closest thing I have ever felt to stepping into a Disney Halloween movie. The entire town seems to have fully embraced it’s place as the go-to town for leaf peepers and road trippers.

The town itself is decked out in holiday cheer with pumpkins on doorsteps, cute signs and a beautiful dusting of fallen leaves.

We spent an afternoon meandering the shops of Woodstock and having dinner at a local brewery! This could be a gorgeous base location for a romantic weekend getaway or a fun place to take the kids, it’s truly fit for both!

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3. Go Apple Picking

If you are looking for a Fall activity the whole family will enjoy, look no further than apple picking! Nothing says Fall like a bag of fresh apples, a hot cup of cider and a soft doughnut (at least to me!)

We visited Chapin Orchard in Vermont and had an absolute blast picking apples to bring home, finding maple syrup in their store and enjoying the Fall decorations.

Sugar Bush Farm is another wonderful option if you are closer to Woodstock than Stowe!

4. Visit Stowe, Vermont

Stowe, Vermont is another quintessential Fall town. With gorgeous Fall colors surrounding the town, the cutest downtown and very kind people, you will find yourself wanting to keep extending your trip!

This is a very popular place to visit come Fall so you will want to make sure to book it a bit earlier as you will have some competition.

We spent a few days here in Stowe, exploring the town, eating at yummy breweries, people watching (everyone here wears tons of plaid- I loved it) and going on scenic drives (check out this post for a few drives you can take!)

Sadly, we were a bit late for peak colors but it was still a beautiful area to check out and I would highly recommend it.

READ MORE: Your Ultimate Guide To Grand Tetons In The Fall

5. New England Fall Hikes

One of the best ways to experience the gorgeous New England Fall, is by getting out in it! Heading out on a hike through beautiful Fall trees is an experience like no other.

Listen to the crunch of the leaves beneath your feet, the fresh smell of the forest and the coolness of the brisk air and you will find more than just a workout here amongst the trees- you may even find peace 🙂

Make sure to download a map offline before heading out- I personally use All Trails and it has never failed me!

Some of my favorite Fall hikes in New England are:

– Crane Mountain, Adirondacks

– Cadillac Mountain, Maine

– Flume Gorge, New Hampshire

– Artists Bluff, New Hampshire

– Tumbledown Mountain, Maine

– Crawford Notch, New Hampshire

READ MORE: What To Wear Hiking In The Fall– A Beginners Guide

6. Stay At A Cozy Cabin

Nothing says Fall like a hot mug of cider, a cinnamon bun, and an A-frame cabin, am I right!?

On our road-trip through New England we found two gorgeous cabins in Maine to stay at. I personally love staying at cabins as I feel it’s much easier to immerse myself in the environment.

The tree house pictured above is from Purposely Lost and the A-Frame is the Maine A Frame on VRBO.

READ MORE: Check Out These 11 Stunning Cabins in Washington

7. Check Out The Maine Coast

Heading to New England in the Fall doesn’t mean you can’t venture away from the mountains for a little bit to enjoy the coast! Maine has some beautiful coastal areas that would be perfect for exploring in Fall!

We ended up at the Porthead Lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth, Maine and it was a gorgeous little excursion.

Here is a list of a few more coastal excursions to check out:

– Acadia National Park, Maine

– Bar Harbor, Maine

– Kennebunkport, Maine

– Camden, Maine

8. Go Canoeing

If you are looking to get a bit more adventurous on your trip to New England- then getting out on the water may be the answer! There are tons of gorgeous lakes and water ways that are perfect for paddling, and if you can get out in the early morning you may even find yourself paddling through a lovely mist past orange trees.

We were lucky enough to have a canoe and lake at one of the cabins we rented (the treehouse from Purposely Lost!) but there are tons of public areas to canoe or kayak as well!

Here are some of the top spots to canoe in New England:

– Acadia National Park, Maine on Jackson Lake

– Greenfield State Park, NH

– Umbagog Lake State Park, NH

– Purity Spring Resort, New Hampshire

– Lake Champlain, Vermont

9. Fall Foliage Roadtrip

As you have probably gathered at this point, the best spots are spread out all over New England, making a road trip by far the best way to explore! This time of year is busy so make sure to book a car in advance to get the best deals- my favorite place to book is through Discover Cars.

I would highly recommend starting your road trip in Boston and then working your way North.

You can easily create a loop that starts in Boston, hits up the White Mountains in New Hampshire and then makes it way West to connect with Stowe, Vermont and then down through Woodstock and back over to Boston OR loop in the Maine Coastline with the New Hampshire White Mountains!

More Info On Fall In New England

Why is New England known for Fall?

New England comes alive in the Fall with a brilliant display of colors. This area is filled with thick, forested hills, gorgeous lakes and the perfect temperature to produce stunning Fall colors! Fall here is unbelievably beautiful and draws people from all over the country!

Is New England Busy In The Fall?

Fall is definitely the best time to road trip through New England, and with that, comes the crowds. Luckily, New England is large and so you can easily find secluded spots to get away. In saying that, hot spots like Stowe, Vermont, Woodstock and the Kancamagus Highway through New Hampshire’s White Mountains are sure to be busier than ever.

Don’t let that deter you though! Most of the crowds will be there on the weekends so if you can plan a week long escape you can easily find some less crazy places.

When is Peak Fall Foliage In New England?

New England is quite a large area the time for peak colors will change depending on weather, elevation and latitude. The Northern areas, and higher elevation areas will turn quicker while the farther South you go the later it will turn.

Spots in Northern New England, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine will generally peak around late September to early October.

The Southern areas of New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut will peak closer to mid-October and then even farther South of that will generally peak mid to late October.

If you are hitting some of the spots recommended in this blog post then I would recommend the first week of October! Although, keep your eyes on it (there are Fall color radar maps you can watch) as it does change slightly each season.

New England Fall Map

Where To Stay In New England

What to Wear For New England Fall

Outerwear

Crisp air and cool evenings and mornings make a nice warm jacket, beanie and rain shell a must– these are some of my favorites!

Sweaters

Fall in New England is the perfect time to show off new Fall fashion. With the crisp air you will be happy you brought along your favorite sweaters. Below I have linked some pieces I think would be super cute for a New England Fall road trip!

Cute Basics

Under those warm jackets and fuzzy sweaters a few cute basics are a must. I personally love matching my clothes to the environment so I tend towards reds, browns, burnt oranges and creams for Fall!

Boots

The best part about Fall Fashion- boots! I love a good bootie but I also think a riding boot style could be perfect for exploring the east coast. I love these because they all have a good balance of being stylish and comfortable- perfect for walks around town!

Fall Activities In New England: Conclusion

I hope this list of Fall Activities in New England inspired you to book your next adventure on the East Coast.

There really is nothing like Fall in the Northeast. From exploring the cute towns of Stowe, Vermont, leaf peeping on the endless highways and enjoying time outdoors in the perfect Autumn setting, you really can’t get much better than this.

Let me know if I missed anything important- I already want to plan my next trip back and would love some advice!

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