Vermont & White Mountains Fall Foliage Loop
Depart from Boston, drive north along Vermont's Route 100, and cross the White Mountains for spectacular autumn colors
The classic fall foliage route, bypassing Maine to dedicate more time to Vermont's charming towns and New Hampshire's rugged mountains. Route 100 is slower than the interstate, but it offers a higher concentration of covered bridges and historic villages. Daily drives are kept to a comfortable one to two hours, with a two-night stay in Stowe. Mount Washington and the Kancamagus Highway are saved for the latter half of the trip, making this ideal for couples and families on their first foliage tour.
Peak foliage in the northern areas typically occurs from late September to early October, though exact dates vary each year.
Day by day
Day 1 · Drive West to Manchester
Manchester, Vermont（Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home、Mount Equinox Skyline Drive、Northshire Bookstore）
Pick up your rental car at the airport and drive to Manchester (approx. 260 km, 3 hours 20 mins).
Hildene is closed on certain days, and the Equinox Mountain Skyline Drive is a toll road; verify schedules before departing.
Stay: Manchester Center
Day 2 · Route 100 to Woodstock
Manchester, Vermont（Weston & The Vermont Country Store） → Woodstock, Vermont（President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site、Billings Farm & Museum、Middle Covered Bridge、Woodstock Village & The Green）
Drive along Route 100 and other scenic backroads (approx. 90 km, net driving time 1 hour 20 mins).
Parking in historic towns can be tight during foliage season. Do not trespass on private property along farm roads.
Stay: Woodstock Village
Day 3 · North on Route 100 to Stowe
Woodstock, Vermont（Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park） → Stowe, Vermont（Ben & Jerry's Factory、Cold Hollow Cider Mill、Stowe Community Church & Stowe Village）
Drive north along Route 100 (approx. 130 km, net driving time approx. 2 hours), which is slower but more scenic than I-89.
We highly recommend booking Ben & Jerry's factory tours and dinner reservations in Stowe well in advance.
Stay: Stowe Village Main Street
Day 4 · Smugglers' Notch & Mount Mansfield
Stowe, Vermont（Bingham Falls、Smugglers' Notch、Mount Mansfield）
Drive from town along Route 108 into the mountains (approx. 20 mins). The notch road is narrow and winding; go early to avoid crowds.
You can drive the Auto Toll Road up Mount Mansfield. The summit can be quite cold in the late afternoon.
Stay: Stowe Village Main Street
Day 5 · East to Mount Washington
White Mountains (North Conway)（Mount Washington Summit、Glen Ellis Falls、Jackson Village & Honeymoon Bridge）
Drive from Stowe to Mount Washington (approx. 2 hours). After descending, drive south along Route 16 to North Conway (approx. 40 mins).
Both the Auto Road and the Cog Railway are weather-dependent; check operational status on the morning of your visit.
Stay: North Conway
Day 6 · West Along the Kancamagus Highway
White Mountains (North Conway)（Cathedral Ledge、Albany Covered Bridge、Lower Falls、Rocky Gorge、Sabbaday Falls） → Lincoln & Franconia Notch（Kancamagus Highway）
Drive west along Route 112 (approx. 56 km, 45 mins direct; allow at least half a day for stops).
There are no gas stations or restaurants along the highway, and parking spaces at scenic overlooks fill up quickly.
Stay: Lincoln and North Woodstock
Day 7 · Franconia Notch & Return to Boston
Lincoln & Franconia Notch（The Flume Gorge、The Basin、Artist's Bluff） → Boston
Explore the gorge in the morning. In the afternoon, drive south along I-93 to the airport (approx. 210 km, just over 2 hours).
Reservations are required for Flume Gorge during foliage season. Allow extra travel time for potential traffic on the return drive.