The beautiful northwestern region of the United States makes the perfect place for a road trip and there are so many different routes you can take to get the best of each season.
From chasing the best fall colors to mesmerizing coastal drives, national parks, and cities. New England has it all. In this post, travel bloggers share their favorite road trips in New England to inspire your own adventure.
So get ready to explore some of the best places in New England!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase through one of those links, I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
What to prepare for a road trip in New England
To make sure you get the most successful road trip in New England you need to be well prepared. Not only do you need to make sure you have a big enough car, but if you travel with children or pets, you need to make sure they have everything they need to assure a comfortable trip for everyone.
Will you be camping or staying in hotels along the way? Will you be doing any outdoors activities you need to pack for? Here are the main things to think about before you head off.
Car
Before you head off for a New England road trip, you need to make sure you have an adequate car. Make sure you have a car that is big enough for the people that are going including all the luggage. If you travel with dogs, you need to think about space for them too.
When driving for several hours in a row, it’s crucial to be comfortable, so enough space for everyone in the car is a must. You can check out different rental cars to fit your need here.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance is essential whenever you go on a road trip through New England. Make sure you’re covered for your needs. If you go hiking, diving, or do other adventure activities during your trip, you need to assure that your travel insurance covers it.
World Nomads is my go-to for travel insurance. They are super easy to understand and you can buy what you need in only a few moments. The good thing with World Nomads is that you can add only the coverage you actually need.
Cover your camera gear, electronics, and adventure activities during your trip in an instance here.
While World Nomads is easy it’s also a responsible travel insurance company giving back to local communities through its Footprint Program. You can choose to give a micro donation when you buy travel insurance that will go to the project you choose.
Buy World Nomads travel insurance HERE.
Accommodation
When you plan your New England road trip itinerary, you need to decide what kind of accommodation you want to stay in during your trip.
If you prefer staying in high-end hotels it’s a good idea to book it upfront so you make sure you find one that suits your needs and can plan your overnight stops accordingly.
Some rural places might only have B&B’s or campgrounds to stay at. If you like car camping, then you might want to spend the night in different destinations. You can also read my complete camping packing list here.
No matter what your thing is, make sure you check for accommodation so you don’t get stranded sleeping in your car, especially in high season.
You can search for and book accommodation here.
If you plan on camping, make sure you check out the best pop up tents here and the best tents for camping with dogs here.
You might also like: Best weekend trips from Boston
Best road trips in New England
Now, let’s check out some amazing New England road trips for your next vacation.
Vermont
Recommended by Karen Warren of Outdoor Adventure Sampler
- Length of the road trip: 332 km/206 mi
- Start and endpoint: Brattleboro to South Hero Island
- Recommended number of days: 2-3 days
- Best time of year: Fall
For a New England road trip full of cultural experiences and astounding natural beauty, driving through Vermont is an incredible option. With its world-famous foliage, fall is definitely the best season for a road trip through Vermont and makes for one of the best road trips in the US.
Starting in Brattleboro, drive up Route 30 to see the West Dummerston Covered Bridge, one of over 100 covered bridges in Vermont. Continuing north on scenic Route 100, drive through picturesque villages with no stoplights in the heart of the Green Mountains.
Stop at any general store to get a dose of Vermont culture with your coffee. Don’t miss the Vermont Country Store in Weston for a dose of Americana and unique travel gifts.
The charming village of Stowe is worth a visit. A destination for skiers in the winter, Stowe is also lovely in the fall with foliage colors ablaze on the surrounding mountains. The gondola ride gives marvelous views of Mt. Mansfield, the highest peak in Vermont.
As you leave Stowe, make sure to stop at Ben & Jerry’s in Waterbury for a tasting and tour of Vermont’s most famous ice cream.
The next stop is vibrant Burlington, the largest city on your Vermont road trip. Grab a maple creme and stroll the walkways along Lake Champlain for views of the Adirondack Mountains across the water.
Be sure you stay overnight here so you can watch the best sunset in New England and then catch the nightlife on pedestrian-friendly Church Street. The Hilton Burlington has rooms with a view of Lake Champlain.
Finish your trip with a drive through the bucolic Champlain Islands. Search for the roadside miniature stone castles of South Hero Island. Visit one of the apple orchards or the Snow Farm Vineyard and Winery for a taste of local agrotourism. Stay at the Crescent Bay Farm Bed & Breakfast, a restored 1820’s farmhouse.
READ: Best waterfall hikes in Brevard NC
Kancamagus Highway
Recommended by Jamie Andreson of Travel Addict
- Length of the road trip: 60 km/36 mi
- Start and endpoint: Conway, NH to Lincoln, NH
- Recommended number of days: 1 – 2 Days
- Best time of year: Autumn: last week of September or first two weeks of October
The Kancamagus Highway is a beautiful scenic drive that makes one of the best fall foliage drives in New England. While it’s prettiest in autumn during the fall foliage peak in New Hampshire, it can be visited during any season of the year. It’s a fantastic experience in New Hampshire for all of its rural beauty.
You find some of the most beautiful East Coast hiking locations, viewpoints, and picnic spots along the route that are worth stopping at. There are also a few traditional covered bridges worth viewing and visiting on the route as well.
One of the hikes not to miss is the Moat Mountain Trail, located near Conway. It is roughly 10 miles long and leads past Diana’s Baths.
Another fantastic hike is Sawyer Pond Trail, located near Lincoln, it’s a shorter route of 3 miles to Sawyer Pond on a densely forested, and shaded path.
The Albany Covered Bridge is one of the few covered bridges near the Kancamagus Highway. It’s located towards the Lincoln side of the route and right next to the Boulder Loop Trailhead, another great hike, and with two local campgrounds nearby.
There are no hotels along the route, but plenty at either end (Lincoln or Conway). There are plenty of campgrounds along the route though, for those who fancy a bit of a rustic trip.
Acadia National Park
Recommended by Neha from Travelmelodies
- Length of the road trip: 27 mi/43,5 km (Park Loop Road)
- Start and endpoint: Loop from Hulls Cove Visitor Center
- Recommended number of days: 1-2 days
- Best time of year: Spring to Fall with summer being the busiest
Acadia National Park in the state of Maine is one of the sought-after national parks on the East Coast for its diverse landscape.
A road trip across this 47,000-acre wide area by the Atlantic Coast gives you an opportunity to experience the rugged coastline, beautiful lighthouse, and mountain with magnificent vistas that will leave you mesmerized. And for sure to come back again for more.
The best way to explore the area is by driving the 27-mile Park Loop Road beginning near the Hulls Cove Visitor Center. The road traverses through diverse terrain and making it a memorable drive.
There are multiple scenic spots on the route that are worth stopping and enjoying the beauty like Thunder Hole, Sand Beach, Otter Cliff, and many more. Jordon Pond in the park is another attraction that is a must-visit.
There is no better place to eat except the Jordan House restaurant with mesmerizing views of the Jordon Pond and delectable food.
If adventure attracts you then, there are many scenic hikes that take you through some untouched parts of the park.
One of them is to the summit of Cadillac Mountain. It is the highest point in the national park that offers some scintillating views of the waters and the flora and fauna around. Cadillac Mountain is also accessible by road and is worth visiting in the dawn for views of the sunrise.
Bass Harbor Lighthouse is not on the Park Loop Road but is one of the most photographed lighthouses.
There is an entrance fee to avail the pass to Acadia National Park which is valid for 7 days of purchase. There are campgrounds inside the national park that need to be booked well in advance.
But if campgrounds are not the choice then the town of Bar Harbor is the best place to stay. Bar Harbor Inn & Spa is one of the best places to stay near Acadia National Park.
Fall Foliage Route
Recommended by Jenny of Limitless Hiker
- Length of the road trip: 400 mi/644 km
- Start and endpoint: Start in Maine and finish in Vermont
- Recommended number of days: 1-2 weeks
- Best time of year: Last week of September to the first few weeks of October
New England is a must visit destination in the fall. Since fall colors change North to South, it’s best to start as far North as you can. Every year fall comes at a different time.
To maximize your New England road trip itinerary, it’s best to be flexible so you can adjust accordingly to the leaves changing. Local tourism boards will update their websites with information on the status of the leaves.
It’s best to plan this trip from the last week of September, through the first few weeks of October.
To really be able to capture the full essence of fall on this trip, one to two weeks is recommended.
Start in Maine and explore Acadia National Park. You can drive through the park, or get out and hike as much as you want. Explore all of the nearby lighthouses, before heading to New Hampshire.
Stop by Dixville Notch State Park in New Hampshire. There are fall foliage photo opportunities everywhere! From there head to the White Mountains and drive along Kancamagus Highway, which is 37 miles through the White Mountains.
There are stops and hiking trails along the entire drive that take you through some of the most beautiful fall foliage in New England.
From New Hampshire, head to Vermont, which looks like it was taken right out of a storybook.
Woodstock, VT is full of photogenic farms to take photos of. Plus you can support some of the local farms by grabbing some maple syrup!
Woodstock is also a cute town to explore in itself. There are several restaurants and shops to enjoy wandering through.
Boston to Portland
Recommended by Tegan and Alex of Why Not Walk
- Length of road trip: 112 miles (180 kilometers)
- Start and end point: Starting in Boston, ending in Portland, Maine
- Recommended number of days: 4-5 days
- Best time of year: All year round
For an ideal mix of New England’s best coastal cities and towns, consider a road trip beginning in Boston, Massachusetts and ending in Portland, Maine.
This trip is very easy to do, as it hardly strays from Interstate-95, but is also highly customizable, allowing you to plan stops and brief detours along the way to explore some of New England’s most quintessential towns.
Be sure to stop in Salem, Massachusetts to learn about the history of the Salem Witch Trials, as well as in Plymouth to visit the infamous Plymouth Rock.
Nearby, Gloucester, Newburyport, and Rockport have adorable town squares and ample opportunities to gaze at the rocky outcroppings that make New England beaches so renowned.
Rockport in particular is home to Motif #1, the most-painted building in America.
Not too far away, the town of Ipswich is known as “America’s best-preserved Puritan town”. Mainly due to its fabulous period architecture dating all the way back to the 17th century. But also the Crane Estate is a great example of the opulence of post-Industrial Revolution summer homes.
Continuing north, stop in Portsmouth, New Hampshire for more architectural splendor and perhaps some tax-free shopping, as well as many boutique hotels to stay for the night. A particular favorite is the centrally-located Ale House Inn.
Portsmouth is located right on the border with Kittery, Maine, also an outlet-shopping haven, as well as very close to the gorgeous beach communities of York, Ogunquit, and Old Orchard Beach.
If you’re seeking lighthouses, don’t miss Maine’s unparalleled variety, perhaps stopping at the Cape Neddick Lighthouse in York and of course, the Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth, Maine’s oldest lighthouse, prior to arriving in Portland.
While in Portland, be sure to check out the Old Port area, as well as walking around Commercial Street.
READ: Best day trips from Boston
Boston to Hanover
Recommended by Nicole Hunter of Go Far Grow Close
- Length of the road trip: 200 km/126 mi
- Start and endpoint: Boston to Hanover
- Recommended number of days: 5 days
- Best time of year: Late spring and early fall
A road trip that captures the beauty of New England is the one between Boston, Massachusetts and Hanover, New Hampshire.
You will get to experience Boston, a large city with lots of history, food, and shopping, and then Hanover, a charming small College town with a Main street and all the lovely restaurants and shops that it has to offer.
Boston is a fantastic walking city. There are lots of amazing hotels in downtown Boston, including the Hyatt Regency which is ideally situated so you can explore the Freedom Trail – a 2.5 mile walk that connects 16 historically significant sites – or take a food tour of Little Italy or the Boston Public Market.
The drive between Boston and Hanover is relatively flat and mostly through forests and rolling hills. If you want to experience the outdoors, for camping and hiking, make sure you stop at Bear Brook State Park and Mt. Kearsarge State Forest Park. Lake Sunapee is wonderful for relaxation but also swimming, kayaking, or paddleboarding.
Hanover is another lovely walking town right on the border of Vermont. One of the best places to stay is at the Hanover Inn, right across from Dartmouth College and at the start of Main Street. Dartmouth College offers daily tours to explore the beautiful historical buildings.
If you are feeling particularly active, you can access the Appalachian trail and go for a beautiful hike. If you go in the spring or fall, don’t forget to bring a packable rain jacket in case it rains.
On the other hand, if you are in love with Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, you can take a day trip to its factory in Waterbury, Vermont and take a delicious tour.
IF YOU HAVEN’T GOT A RENTAL CAR YET, MAKE SURE YOU
Reflections on these New England road trips
There are so many amazing options for road trips in New England and no matter what you opt for it will be a wonderful experience. From mesmerizing New England scenic drives to towns and cities where you can spend days exploring, this corner of the US is absolutely worthwhile for your next driving vacation. I definitely know I’ve got a few new ideas for my bucket list!
Pin it for later!
