Last Updated on August 20, 2024
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Fall is an amazing time to visit New England and the best season in the region according to many. The humidity gives way to crisp air, the whole area explodes with color and there’s no shortage of fall activities to celebrate the season. Even though I’m always sad to see the summer end, I can’t deny, that fall in New England is a great time to live here and visit the area.
If you are one of the fall enthusiasts and New England isn’t on top of your travel bucket list, you need to change that ASAP. Especially if you live somewhere, where you might not experience all four seasons. There is a reason people from all over the world come here for their ultimate fall experience.
The number one is, of course, the world class foliage, that can be experienced across the region in September and October. While this is without a doubt the biggest draw to the area, there is plenty of other fall fun to have. Keep reading to learn about other things to do to fully experience fall in New England.
Fall in New England – best things to do
See the foliage
As far as the perfect fall destination goes, it’s hard to top New England and one of the reasons is the spectacular foliage. Each year, leaf peepers from all over the world flock to states like Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts to see the picture perfect scenery with their own eyes. After living in the area for close to 20 years, I can assure you, that foliage in New England really is as amazing as everyone claims.
So when is the best time to see the fall colors in New England? Generally speaking, the leaves start changing colors mid to end of September and continue through the end of October. The Northern states of Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire are the ones to see the first signs of foliage, which then gradually continues down south. So the best time depends on where you want to visit.
Not only peak times for each state are different, but also the timing and intensity of foliage is very much weather dependent. Rain, draught and temperature all have a direct effect on when the peak foliage happens. While you can’t control nature, you can use a foliage tracker to get a better idea when the peak will happen in each state.
Go Apple picking
Once summer ends and September rolls around, it’s time to kick off the season with one of New England’s favorite fall activity, and that is apple picking. Many orchards across the region, offer pick your own apples for a fee, which makes for a fun outing on a beautiful fall day.
Some of the favorite orchards in New England:
- Honey Pot Hill Orchards in Stow, MA
- Tougas Family Farm in Northborough, MA
- Alyson’s Orchard in Walpole, NH
Go on a hike
There is some great hiking to be found in New England, and fall is the perfect time to get outdoors and hit some trails. The fresh, crisp air and the explosion of color make that time of the year ideal for some outdoor adventure. Whether you are looking for a scenic foliage hike or breathtaking mountain views, you will be spoiled for choices with hiking trails with different levels of difficulty.
I highly recommend downloading the AllTrails app to help you find the perfect hike by length and difficulty level.
Drive the Kancamagus Highway in NH
One of the best ways to experience Fall in New England is to take a scenic drive, and Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire is easily one of the most beautiful ones in the country. This 34.5 mile stretch of Rt 112 from Conway to Lincoln ( or the other way around ), runs right through the heart of White Mountains and it’s during the fall season when the scenery is most impressive.
If the drive itself wasn’t beautiful enough, there are many opportunities to stop along the way. There are hiking trails, river, waterfalls, a covered bridge and several scenic overlooks with views, that will leave you speechless. It’s really hard not to stop at every single one of them. Some of the must stops are Albany Covered Bridge, Sugar Hill Overlook, Rocky Gorge and C.L. Graham.
If you are visiting Boston, but don’t want to rent a car and drive all the way to North Conway on your own, you can still experience the beauty of the Kancamagus Highway by taking this Fall Foliage Tour. This all day tour includes not only several stops at the most scenic spots, but also a couple of easy hikes to the waterfalls, lunch in the beautiful North Conway and a visit to the Omni Mount Washington Hotel. It’s a long day, but you are guaranteed to get your Fall in New England fix.
Book your Fall Foliage Tour from Boston here.
Before you drive “the Kanc“, as it’s known by locals, there are a few things you should know:
- fill up your tank before you start driving. There are no gas stations on the Highway.
- there’s a $5 fee per day ( works as an honor system ) to be able to park at various spots along the way.
- Kancamagus Highway gets really busy on the weekends during peak leaf season. Traffic can back up for miles, especially approaching Lincoln and Conway. My main tip would be to start the drive early in the morning.
- cell phone service is really bad, so be ready for no service for good part of your drive.
Visit a pumpkin patch
Pumpkins are one of the symbols of fall, and while you can buy it pretty much at every store or a stand, why not make it a more fun experience and head to a pumpkin patch.
There are countless farms all over New England, many ran by families for generations, where you can go pick your own pumpkins. The fun doesn’t stop there. They often have hay rides, farm animals, corn mazes and of course one of the fall’s favorite treat: apple cider donuts.
Conway Scenic Railway, NH
The White Mountains area in New Hampshire is one of the prime spots to experience fall in New England, especially in peak leaf season. If you are looking for a fun adventure, that combines riding a historic train with spectacular views along the way, you’ll find it in a charming town of North Conway. Conway Scenic Railroads offers 3 different excursions on board vintage trains, that will sure take you back in time.
The two shorter rides (Conway Valley Train and Sawyer River Excursion) are a fun experience of riding a historic train, but for the best views and the most scenic ride, Mountaineer is the one you want. Especially during the fall, when the whole area just explodes with color.
Departing from the 1974 station right in the heart of North Conway Village, the train sets off on a 5.5 hour journey to Crawford Notch. Have your camera ready, because the views, especially as you ride through Mount Washington Valley during peak foliage, are beyond spectacular.
PRO TIP 1: The right side of the train has better views.
PRO TIP 2: The Coach cars are the only ones with windows you can slide open, if you prefer not to take pictures through the glass.
The historic train rides are a seasonal attraction, and the exact times of operation vary depending on type of the excursion. Check the Conway Scenic Railroad website for season dates and rates.
For more things to do in North Conway, check out The Perfect Fall Weekend in North Conway, NH
Celebrate Halloween in Salem, MA
Halloween is one of the highlights of the fall season and no place does it better than Salem, Massachusetts. The small coastal town, known as the site of the infamous Witch Trials of 1692, is a great day trip from Boston year round, but it’s in the fall, when it truly comes alive.
Not only are the streets, stores and houses decked out with skeletons, witches, ghosts and other spooky decorations, but also many people join in the Halloween fun by hitting the streets in costumes.
On top of that, Salem is home to the world’s biggest Halloween celebration known as Haunted Happenings. Various parades, costume parties, movie showings and psychic fairs are just a few of the events you can expect throughout the month of October. Check the official Haunted Happenings website for more details.
Salem has, without a doubt, a very dark and tragic history, but the town was able to embrace it and make it its biggest draw, especially during Halloween season. Knowing Salem’s past will sure make your visit a much better experience, and one of the best ways to learn about it is by joining a History and Sightseeing walking Tour of Salem.
Some of the other great tours you might enjoy are:
Visiting Salem in October is definitely a fun experience, but keep in mind that the small town gets insanely busy during that time of year. The closer to the big day it gets, the more crowded it is, especially on the weekends. If you can, visit on a weekday.
Check out How to plan an epic Halloween in Salem for more ideas!
Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular in Providence, Rhode Island
If you are in or anywhere near Providence, Rhode Island during the month of October, one event you simply cannot miss is Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular. It’s held annually at the Roger Williams Park Zoo and it’s basically an amazing display of over 6,000 carved and illuminated pumpkins. Each year, there’s a different theme.
During the visit, you walk the trail in the dark past glowing pumpkins, with spooky music playing, which I can guarantee, will get you in the Halloween spirit instantly. Some of those carved pumpkins are truly works of art and the further you go, the more amazing they get. It takes about 45 minutes to walk the entire trail.
In 2024 Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular will return on September 26 and run until November 2. It will be open from 6-10.30 pm every night, rain or shine. This is a hugely popular attraction, so it does get crowded. I highly recommend going on a weekday, if you can. Tickets are also cheaper during the week, and you can only book them online.
Visit a Cranberry bog
Did you know that half of the cranberry crop in the US comes from Massachusetts? The state is home to about 400 cranberry bogs and most of them can be found south of Boston and on Cape Cod. If you are in the area in September or October, add a visit to a cranberry bog as another activity to experience fall in New England. This is the harvest season, which is the most picturesque time for cranberries.
Not only you can pick up a fresh bag of cranberries, but also get a close up look at how they’re grown and harvested. You can join a guided tour of cranberry farm like this one to learn all about it.
READ MORE:
- How to plan an epic Halloween in Salem, MA
- The perfect Fall weekend in North Conway, NH
- Free things to do in Boston – visiting Boston on a budget
- 13 Best Day Trips from Boston
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I loved getting a whole top-down view of fall in New England. As a New Englander, I will definitely need to hit up some of these places next year, so thanks for the inspiration!
This was the first year, after many years of living in the area, that I actually fully enjoyed fall here and all the activities, that come with it. I guess, one of the up sides of being stuck at home:)
I absolutely love all of these beautiful pictures from New England! I’ll have to plan a trip for next fall to New England to experience some of these amazing places
It really is pretty spectacular here during the fall season.
Beautiful post, I’d love to experience the fall in New England. I’ve been over that side of the country a couple times but never at this time of year. I’m sure the colors and the outdoor activities make it just even more spectacular than usual
Great places for fall. Even though I’ve been to a bunch of these places it’s always great to them through someone’s eyes. Beautiful pics.
Thank you!
Thank you for sharing the foliage trackers! I am a native New Englander, and even still I can never tell exactly when the best time for leaf peeping is because, as you said, it is so dependent on weather and location. Your post makes me really, really miss New England fall. Drinking warm apple cider, taking in the beautiful colors on a nature walk and picking out pumpkins. Sounds like such a dream right now! I’ve never take a bog tour. Definitely adding this to my future plans!
It really is, as you know, pretty nice here in the fall. Even though, if you looked out the window today, it looks more like winter, since we got our first snow yesterday:) I guess, that’s New England weather for you!
I would love to explore New England in fall! The colors look so amazing there! Thanks for sharing all the possible activities!
Definitely a great time to visit!
Missing New England so much right now, it’s home for me. Thanks for sharing these fantastic photos and suggestions for New England. Apple Picking is such a great shout and the cranberry bogs are always so overlooked.
Great blog post 🙂 I have never been to New England, but I’ve seen it lately everywhere. I didn’t know there are so many things you can do there, but I would love to go on a hike and visit the pumpkin patch! Also, the foliage is stunning. I am saving your post for future trips 🙂 I hope I can visit it one day.
This post, along with things to do in Salem, MA are a gem. You offer so many tips and specific, helpful ideas within one post that one typically has to find in multiple articles. Thank you for making our upcoming fall trip more of a breeze to plan.
I’m happy you found it helpful in planning your trip! You will LOVE New England in the Fall.