The best scenic road trips the US has to offer – New England

With international travel severely restricted due to Covid-19, a lot of Americans are turning to domestic travel. Having visited all 50 states, I decided to put together my top recommendations for scenic road trips. For this trip, we’re actually going to hit 4 different states- Welcome to New England.

New England – The Ultimate Fall Foliage Experience

Northern New England is rightfully regarded as having some of the most spectacular scenic roads in the country – particularly for those pursuing the best Fall Foliage you can find. I know us Aussies call it Autumn, but ‘Autumn Foliage’ just lacks the rhythmic alliteration worthy of the incredible colorful artistry on display, so I’m happy to adopt the local terminology – ‘Fall Foliage’!

Did you know that people who go chasing the Fall Foliage are known as leaf peepers? I didn’t, but since moving to New England and witnessing these aforementioned leaves in all their glory – I am happy to count myself amongst the throngs of leaf peeping aficionados.

For this journey, you could just as easily start from Portland, ME, Burlington, VT, or Manchester, NH. However, I stuck with the major airport in Boston, which in itself is a fantastic city to explore, packed full of culture, history and great cuisine.

• Leaving from Boston, I would suggest heading to Greenfield, NH to do some of the Monadnock Scenic Loop. Mt Monadnock State Park offers great hiking with excellent views. Keane is a great town to peruse, and there are some cute accommodation options for the first night.

• The drive to Marlow is pretty, and I would then head up to Burlington, VT. Set on Lake Champlain, the views are beautiful, and the town is an easy and enjoyable walk. If you have more time, the drive North on Highway 2 traverses through small islands, with lots of great spots to stop and explore.

• Heading back east for a couple of hours past Mount Moosilauke, you will cross back into New Hampshire and reach Lincoln; a great stop for lunch. A short drive north of Lincoln will lead you to Flume Gorge, part of Franconia Notch State Park, with a really nice trail over bridges and past waterfalls. Then head back to Lincoln and jump on the 112. The hours drive from Lincoln to Conway, known as the Kancamagus Highway, is generally regarded as one of the best fall foliage viewing areas in the entire world. Leaf Peepers – get excited!

• After a night at Conway, I would recommend heading further north into the White Mountain National Forest to Mount Washington – the tallest peak in the North East. It is known for its crazy wind (especially biting in winter), so dress appropriately, but the drive to the top is beautiful, and the hiking is great!

• The next stop is the longest stretch of driving to Acadia National Park in Maine – about 4.5 hours away. You could break it up by spending a night in Augusta or Waterville. Acadia is somewhat unique in that the National Park is scattered with towns and villages. This gives the option of using the RV or camping, or instead staying in cute Air BNB’s or hotels.

• I would suggest at least 3 days to explore the park. There is amazing hiking, beaches to enjoy, and water sports to try out if the weather is warm enough. Plus the local seafood is second to none.

• From Acadia, it’s only 4.5 hours back to Boston, and easily doable in a day. However, if you are looking for additional stops, Portland ME is home to some iconic breweries and antique stores. There are also some fantastic seaside towns such as Kennebunkport, Ogunquit and Newburyport, though they really hit their peak of popularity in the summer months.

There are so many other beautiful spots to explore in New England. I could probably come up with an amazing route for every different season- it just means you will have to go back four times a year to see it all in its seasonal glory. But I do really love the fall! Leaf Peepers Unite!

Happy Walkabout!

Open Scenic Drive Route in Google Maps

Please note, these suggestions are based purely on the destination, and do not factor in latest case numbers or government regulations. Please refer to the latest local government requirements regarding travel during the COVID-19 outbreak, and travel responsibly and carefully.

Forever on Walkabout

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