Quebec to New England Autumn Foliage
Journey south from Quebec City through Vermont and the White Mountains to Boston, experiencing French-Canadian charm and autumn colors
This one-way itinerary connects historic French-speaking cities with New England's autumn foliage, following the color change from north to south. The border crossing is south of Montreal; the drive is short, but you should budget time for border control. Highlights include Montreal, Lake Champlain, Stowe, Mount Washington, and the Kancamagus Highway. Ideal for road trippers in early October. Valid US travel documents are required, and you must confirm that your rental car allows cross-border travel and one-way drop-offs.
The best time is around October 1–15; New England autumn accommodations must be booked several months in advance.
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrive in Old Quebec
Greater Québec City（Old Québec、Château Frontenac & Dufferin Terrace、Quartier du Petit-Champlain）
Take a taxi from the airport to the city center, approx. 25 minutes. Explore Old Quebec on foot; use the funicular between Upper and Lower Town.
Stay: Upper Town
Day 2 · Falls & Autumn Colors on Île d'Orléans
Greater Québec City（Montmorency Falls、Île d'Orléans）
Pick up your rental car and drive to Montmorency Falls, 20 minutes, then continue to Île d'Orléans for a 70 km loop drive.
Stay: Upper Town
Day 3 · West to Montreal
Trois-Rivières（Old Trois-Rivières） → Montreal（Old Montreal & Old Port、Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal）
Drive along Autoroute 40 to Montreal, approx. 255 km, 3 hours; stop in Trois-Rivières for lunch.
Stay: Old Montreal
Day 4 · Mount Royal & the Plateau
Montreal（Mount Royal Park、Le Plateau-Mont-Royal & Rue Saint-Denis、Jean-Talon Market）
Mainly travel by metro and walking; leave your car at the hotel. The drive from Old Montreal to Mount Royal takes about 20 minutes.
Stay: Old Montreal
Day 5 · Cross the Border to Lake Champlain
Burlington, Vermont（Church Street Marketplace、Burlington Waterfront & Lake Champlain）
Drive south along Autoroute 15 and I-87 to cross the border, continuing to Burlington, approx. 150 km, 2 hours plus border control.
Ensure you have all necessary US entry documents; weekend border queues can exceed an hour.
Stay: Downtown Church Street
Day 6 · Shelburne to Stowe
Burlington, Vermont（Shelburne Museum） → Stowe, Vermont（Ben & Jerry's Factory、Cold Hollow Cider Mill、Stowe Community Church & Stowe Village）
Drive to Shelburne, 20 minutes, then take I-89 to Stowe, approx. 1 hour.
Stay: Stowe Village Main Street
Day 7 · Smugglers' Notch to the White Mountains
Stowe, Vermont（Smugglers' Notch） → White Mountains (North Conway)（Crawford Notch State Park、North Conway Village）
Drive through Smugglers' Notch, then head east to North Conway, approx. 200 km, 3 hours.
Route 108 through the Notch is very narrow; RVs and large vehicles are not recommended.
Stay: North Conway
Day 8 · Mount Washington & the Kancamagus Highway
White Mountains (North Conway)（Mount Washington Cog Railway、Mount Washington Summit、Sabbaday Falls）
Drive to the Cog Railway or Pinkham Notch, approx. 1 hour; in the afternoon, drive the Route 112 scenic highway round-trip.
The summit is windy and cold, and views can be obscured in poor weather; bring warm clothing.
Stay: North Conway
Day 9 · South to Boston & Return Rental Car
Boston（Harvard University、Boston Common / Public Garden / Beacon Hill）
Drive along Routes 16 and 95 to Boston, approx. 220 km, 2.5 hours; return your rental car today.
Stay: Back Bay
Day 10 · The Freedom Trail & Departure
Boston（Freedom Trail、Quincy Market / Faneuil Hall、North End）
Walk the 4 km trail to the North End; in the afternoon, take the T (subway) to the airport, approx. 30 minutes.