October is here, meaning that the leaves have already started changing, and dropping, in New England. Before the trees are bare and you’re sad because it’s winter, a fall foliage excursion is necessary. It’s basically our right of passage as Bostonians – after all, we have to put up with blizzards and brisk winds for what feels like most of the year.
So, while the fleeting fall season is still here, let’s make the most of the landscape surrounding us in Massachusetts and the other New England states. We’re rounded up some of the best driving routes in the area to help you make the most of the changing leaves while they’re still hanging on. Most are done by car (hint: save up your gas money), but others can be taken by train, which sounds like a great time to get some inspiration for that novel you’ve been meaning to work on, no?
Read up on our favorite routes, share yours in the comments, and set off to warm your soul with the oranges, reds and yellows of the treetops before winter settles in.
Route 6A (Old King’s Highway), Massachusetts
While Cape Cod is most associated with summer vacations and sandy beaches, the driving route that begins in Sandwich, Mass. and ends Orleans is one of the most scenic drives in the state, especially in fall. The 40-mile cruise combines the salty air and weathered by-the-sea shacks with the gold of the trees that line the road. Want to keep going? Route 28 from Orleans to Chatham is just as scenic.
Route 2 (Mohawk Trail), Massachusetts
Venture to Western Massachusetts via Route 2, a 100-mile stretch that starts in Shirley, Mass. and ends in Williamstown. Highlights of this trip include a pass through the mountains of the Berkshires, apple orchards, farm stands and more. If 100 miles sounds like too much, try the 26-mile route that takes you from Lanesborough, Mass. and heads up Mt. Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts. In other words, fall foliage as far as the eye can see.
Route 201 (Old Canada Road), Maine
If you head to Maine, try this 78-mile drive from that starts in Solon and ends in Sandy Bay, cruising along the Canadian border. Worth a weekend-long trip, this route will take you through the thick of the Maine pine forests (look out for moose) and past farmlands, over rivers and more. Be sure to stop at Moxie Falls, a 90-foot waterfall near The Forks.
Conway Scenic Railroad, New Hampshire
Don’t have a car to take on a fall foliage drive? New Hampshire offers scenic train rides that provide great views of the landscape, while you just sit by and watch. One, the Conway Scenic Railroad, departs from a historic train station in North Conway Village. The old fashioned trains can take multiple routes through more historic towns, and snacks and meals can be ordered. Rates vary.
Route 112 (Kancamagus Highway), New Hampshire
If you’d prefer to drive through New Hampshire, the Kancamagus Highway starts in Conway and travels through the White Mountain National Forest, yielding 34.5 miles of scenery as you wind your way through the mountains. The drive ends in Lincoln, where a turn on to 93 North will take you through Franconia Notch State Park.
South Vermont Loop
This Vermont route is closest to Massachusetts, beginning on Route 7A in Manchester Center and traveling through Bennington, Searsburg and more. The route also goes past the scenic Somerset Reservoir, the Robert Frost Museum, and other local attractions. Directions and sites are available here.
