New England Fall Road Trip
The minute the temperature slightly changes at the tail end of summer, I am in full fall mode. To say it’s my favorite season is a complete understatement. The big cozy sweaters are broken out, my ghost and pumpkin shaped mugs set up shop on the counter next to our coffee pot, and everything I cook or bake has some hint of apples, cinnamon or pumpkin spice. So living in the northeast, and close to the viral New England Fall Road Trip route, we decided to actually take the trip but put our own spin on it. By no means am I a camper, but I don’t mind camping when it’s cool out and you can mix in a hotel or Airbnb stay one of the nights to shower and refresh. So that’s what we did! Four days, three nights driving throughout New England where we camped for two nights and stayed at a quaint Airbnb in Vermont. Hope you enjoy our journey!
This is my fiance and I’s personal itinerary we followed as we explored NY, CT, MA, NH, and VT for a leaf-peeper long weekend in 2025. We live in North Jersey so this is the route we took.
Day 1 - Thursday
Get up at early, check luggage, check camping gear, and do hair/skincare routine
Make sandwiches for lunch
Bread Alone whole wheat sourdough, Trader Joe’s organic turkey breast, cheddar cheese with apple butter and arugula
First stop: Dater Mountain Nature Park/Harriman State Park (NY)
Get there around 11am
Walk the trails along the lake for an hour
Have morning snack and stretch legs
Be sure to look at all the trees changing on the drive up!
Head to Kent Falls State Park/Kent Falls in CT
Start drive to Bigelow Hollow State Park
Stop at D’Angelo Grilled Sandwiches for early dinner
Get to Bigelow Hollow State Park for sunset -$10 a car
https://connecticutstateparks.reserveamerica.com/posProductDetails.do?id=8450&contractCode=CT
Campsite: Chamberlain Lake Campground
Get there before it’s dark out to set up campsite & make sure to give owners a heads up on arrival since it’s a gated campground
Get up and clean up campsite
Get on the road around 8:30 am
Tougas Family Farm to grab some cider, donuts, apple butter
Head north to Kancamagus Hwy
Put into maps - Conway, NH
Places to stop along the way:
Rocky Gorge Scenic Area
Champney Falls Trailhead
Sabbaday Falls
Hancock Overlook
Otter Rocks Day Use Area
Lincoln Woods Trailhead (cable bridge)
Campsite: Hancock Campground
Get to campsite before dusk, unpack and set up tent (lock everything up)
Head to Black Mountain Burger Company down the road and enjoy the fall menu!
Day 2 - Friday
Wake up, clean up campsite
Eat breakfast while on drive to Loon Mountain Gondola Ride
Be sure to book in advance!
Enjoy the morning mountainside and take in the fall foliage views
Drive to Basin Cascade Trailhead (NH)
Flume Gorge ($18 a person)
Historic Flume Covered Bridge
Franconia Notch State Park
Artists’ Bluff
Very popular spot so be sure to get there with enough time to enjoy!
Drive by Lake Willoughby for gorgeous views of the trees and houses that line the lake
Drive down to Waterbury
Get to Airbnb/hotel and check in early evening
Freshen up for dinner
Go to American Flatbread and check out their specials which source from local farms!
Walk around downtown and get ice cream from Red Barn Ice Cream Shop for Maple Creamies
Day 3 - Saturday
Get up early and have breakfast with Bed & Breakfast host Walter
Head to Cold Hollow Cider Mill and get some donuts/cider
Head up to Smugglers Notch
Check out Barnes Camp Loop Trail
Go by The Lodge at Spruce Peak and check out the stores and cafes
There is also a gondola ride from this resort (the viral fall ride on social media)
Stop into Stowe to check out all the adorable local shops
On the way out of town, drive up to the von Trapp Lodge to see property and the highland cows!
At the edge of the property heading toward Waterbury, get all your maple goodies from Stowe Maple Products
And don’t forget to hit up the Cabot Creamery and the Ben & Jerry factory on the way out of town!
Our final stop on the fall road trip: King Arthur Bakery
Get coffee, pastries, and baking goodies!