From New Hampshire to New Jersey, we’ve compiled a list of the best fall foliage trips along the East Coast. So grab your favorite road trip companions, load up the car and get set for the ultimate autumn adventure!
Before your trip: please check your destination’s official website for the most up-to-date COVID-19 safety measures and guidelines, as these are constantly changing.
New Hampshire
- The Kancamagus Highway or “The Kanc” is a 34.5-mile drive recognized as one of the United States’ best fall foliage viewing areas. This scenic byway takes travelers to an elevation just under 3,000 feet for magnificent views of mountains, rivers and waterfalls.
- Take a ride around Lake Winnipesaukee, where the water contrasts brilliant hues of reds, yellows and oranges. A hike up Mount Major will result in stunning aerial views of the lake.
Massachusetts
- Beauty & The Berkshires is a two-hour drive mapped out by Mass Vacation, with suggested stops ranging from Bartholomew’s Cobble in Sheffield to Natural Bridge State Park in North Adams.
- Consider a trip along the Rt. 2 Mohawk Trail. As you wind through the picturesque northern Berkshires, stay west on Rt. 2 until you hit Shelburne Falls, a quaint village in the Deerfield River Valley featuring natural beauty, talented artisans and small shops. Be sure to walk over the Bridge of Flowers during your visit.
Connecticut
- The Department of Environmental Protection recommends visiting Macedonia Brook State Park, Mohawk State Forest or Pachaug State Forest for a breathtaking display of yellow, orange, red and even blue.
- While the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat offers rides all year long, its fall foliage tours are certainly something special. Trips last about two and a half hours.
New York
- Visit GreaterNiagara to savor some seriously scenic views in Devil’s Hole State Park, Whirlpool State Park and Lower Niagara River. Visit the area’s must-see museums, the Niagara Wine Trail and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin D. Martin House Complex.
- Further downstate, escape to the Shawangunk Mountains Scenic Byway, an 88-mile loop between Kerhonkson and New Paltz. Revel in some of the state’s most spectacular views along the mountains and rural countryside.
New Jersey
- Through the end of November, visit the Crystal Springs Resort and take advantage of local activities including apple and pumpkin picking, local winery tours, horseback riding, hikes, archery, fishing and, of course, visiting the best leaf-peeping spots.
- If visiting an area on the National Register of Historic Places is on your bucket list, check out Old Mine Road — one of the country’s oldest roads — which runs 104 miles.
Pennsylvania
- Fall is the perfect time to visit the Pocono Mountains, home to more than 127 varieties of plants, shrubs and trees. Because the area spans 2,400 square miles, it’s been divided into three distinct color zones, allowing leaf peepers to catch peak colors during three different times.
- The Pine Creek Gorge has been dubbed the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon for its impressive views. Autumn draws nature lovers for hiking, fishing and kayaking against a backdrop of bursting colors and rolling waterfalls.
It’s difficult to predict exactly when a location’s leaves will change due to factors such as temperature and precipitation levels. For a state-by-state guide to peak-peeping times and fall foliage hotlines, click here, and for a Fall Foliage Prediction Map, click here.
