New England consists of six states in the Northeastern tip of the United States. Its natural beauty reaches a peak every fall, when the region becomes a fall foliage wonderland. This one-week itinerary road trips through Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont for the best fall scenery, camping at beautiful locations on the way.

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7-Day New England Itinerary

• Bonus: Cape Cod, Massachusetts
• Day 1: Kennebunkport, Maine
• Day 2: Coastal Route 1, Maine
• Day 3: Acadia National Park, Maine
• Day 4: Acadia & Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire
• Day 5: Franconia Notch State Park, New Hampshire
• Day 6: Stowe, Vermont
• Day 7: Route 100 & Woodstock, Vermont

Bonus: Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Cape Cod is hard to skip on any road trip through New England, even though it’s a destination in its own right. Beautiful beaches, delicious seafood and charming beach towns make it a picture-perfect summer destination. But there’s plenty of charm left in fall. The end of the season on the Cape comes with fewer crowds and beautiful weather. Cape Cod wasn’t part of our New England itinerary this time around, but I loved my visit to the Cape in fall many years ago (as given away by the $12.99 lobster roll).

Day 1: Kennebunkport, Maine

Maine has a picture-perfect summer destination of its own: Kennebunkport is the favorite summer retreat of the Bush Family and many other wealthy Americans. It’s just one of the many destinations that earned Maine the slogan of Vacationland.

Kennebunkport’s Goose Rocks Beach is a three-mile stretch of powdery white sand that we didn’t expect to find in Maine. We did a morning walk from nearby Sandy Pines Campground, past grassy fields and stately summer homes. The water was freezing cold by the end of September, but the wide beach makes for a beautiful walk year-round.

The nearby town of Kennebunkport is lined with restaurants, shops and art galleries in coastal New England-style. We were happy to stick to window-shopping around Dock Square, as the self-proclaimed art did not live up to the hefty price tags.

No visit to Maine would be complete without digging into a Maine lobster. We had our lobster feast at Nunan’s Lobster Hut, a colorful seafood shack in Kennebunkport. To top off a delicious dinner, they serve the best blueberry pie.

Camp: Sandy Pines Campground

Sandy Pines is an enchanting forest hideout. It’s just a pleasant walk away from Goose Rocks Beach, saving a hustle and parking fee in summer months. Besides tent and RV camping, there are many glamping options. We stayed in a tent/pop-up site (Birch Grove-14), which was perfect for our teardrop and tent setup and more secluded than standard RV sites.

Day 2: Coastal Route 1, Maine

U.S. Route 1 runs all the way from Northern Maine to Key West. The stretch along the coast of Maine might be the most scenic of the entire 2,370 miles (although the Florida Keys offer some solid competition), passing picturesque harbors and seaside towns, over 60 lighthouses and even more colorful seafood shacks. We started the drive in Kennebunkport, with stops in Portland, Rockland and Camden, before setting up camp in Acadia.

Portland

We actually drove up to Portland the day prior to our Coastal Route 1 roadtrip, as parking the trailer in the city can be challenging. Whether it’s for a quick stop or a full day, Portland definitely deserves a visit. The Eastern Promenade Trail runs along the Portland Harbor with non-stop scenic views. We walked off breakfast on the trail before fueling back up in the Old Port District.

The Old Port district’s veins are Commercial and Fore Street, both lined with restaurants and shops in historic buildings. The piers house lively waterfront restaurants that make for a great seafood lunch. We tried two New England specialties at The Porthole: steamer clams and Allagash White. The latter became one of our favorite beers in no time, which means something coming from Belgians.

Just a quick drive from Portland awaits Maine’s most iconic lighthouse, the Portland Head Light. The lighthouse is part of Fort Williams Park, a beautiful green space with ocean views.

Rockland

Rockland’s Breakwater Lighthouse is located at the end of a breakwater, almost one mile into the bay. The breakwater was built at the end of the 19th century to prevent storm damage to the Rockland Harbor. Several traditional Schooners sailed by as we were walking on the giant granite blocks towards the lighthouse.

Camden

Coastal towns don’t come much prettier than Camden, Maine. Route 1 cuts right through this elegant town on the Penobscot Bay. Our late lunch plans in Camden overlapped with early diners, resulting in packed restaurants along the harbor. We found a table at the large waterfront terrace of Blaze.

The stretch of Route 1 between Camden and Acadia National Park was the most scenic of all, although golden hour probably had something to do with that. Driving along the shoreline past lakes and mountains, the views are breathtaking.

Day 3: Acadia National Park, Maine

Our first day in Acadia started at the parking lot of Sand Beach, which was completely covered in fog. This should have been an indicator that the nearby Beehive Trail would not reveal its spectacular ocean views to us. But we stubbornly climbed to the top, past vertical staircases and iron rungs. The Beehive trail is one of four “iron rung” hikes in Acadia. The fog actually made the hike less intimidating, concealing the steep drop offs from the exposed cliffs. When we made it to the top after a fun 20-minute climb, we got to see… an ocean of fog.

Luckily, fog is a local affair in Acadia. At the other side of the park, Echo Lake welcomed us with sunny skies for a picnic on the beach.

After lunch, we climbed more staircases on the Beech Cliff Trail. It’s one of the four iron-rug trails, but definitely not as daunting or exposed as the other three. The views at the top over Echo Lake and the surrounding lakes are incredible.

We continued on the west side of the park to the Bass Harbor Head Light, one of Acadia’s landmark sights. Our afternoon visit was slightly underwhelming. We waited in line to park, only to catch a glimpse of the lighthouse from the viewing platform. The lighthouse is closed off to visitors and can only be approached from the slippery rocks below.

For sunset, we drove up to the highest point on the East Coast. Cadillac Mountain is the first place to see the sunrise in the Continental US in fall and winter, so sunrise tickets are in high demand. We reserved a sunset time slot instead and were happy we did. We could battle the cold with a beer and took in spectacular 360-degree sunset views of the islands below. If it was freezing at sunset, I can only imagine how it would feel when you just rolled out of bed in the morning. The stunning sunset from Cadillac Mountain should make any sunset shortlist.

Camp: Mount Desert Campground

Mount Desert is a private waterfront campground on Mount Desert Island, right in the middle of Acadia’s eastern and western loops. Only tents and RVs/trailers up to 20 feet are allowed, as most spots are uneven and the road is tight. The premium waterfront spots are best suited for tents, with wooden platforms overlooking the water.

Day 4: Acadia & Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire

We ended up staying on a private campground because Acadia National Park’s central campgrounds fill up months in advance. Mount Desert Campground has a prime location right on the water. There is a boat launch and kayaks are for rent as well.

Before leaving Acadia National Park, we gave the Beehive Trail another try. Just like the day before, the top of the trail was completely covered in fog. On the way down, our stubbornness was rewarded with beautiful fall views of The Bowl, a scenic mountain pond.

As we were exiting the park, the scenic Park Loop Road finally unveiled some of the stunning Acadia coastline. The Park Loop Road is 27 miles long and connects the park’s most popular lakes and mountains, but is often covered in fog.

We were crossing from Maine into New Hampshire, with destination Franconia Notch State Park. In this case, the journey was just as beautiful as the destination. The Kangamagus Highway is a 35-mile stretch of New Hampshire’s Route 112, well-known for fall foliage viewing. The road runs parallel with the crystal-clear Swift river.

The Kangamagus Highway is scattered with pull-offs and scenic viewpoints. One of our spontaneous stops was Lower Falls, a popular swimming hole in summer and stunning in Fall.

We had this incredibly scenic road almost to ourselves at the end of September, as the leaves were just starting to turn in New Hampshire. Fall foliage usually reaches its peak in this region by the second week of October.

Day 5: Franconia Notch State Park, New Hampshire

Arriving in Franconia Notch State Park, we were in awe of our surroundings. The park road cuts right through the White Mountains, which wouldn’t be out of place in the American West. To find this scenery on the East Coast was a great surprise.

There are a lot of day hikes in the state park, but we sticked to a shorter three-mile hike. The start of the Lonesome Lake Trail was steps away from our camp spot at Lafayette Place Campground and thus an easy pick. The out-and-back trail climbs 1000 feet, to reach the beautiful Lonesome Lake. As the Appalachian Trail connects with Lonesome Lake, there is a backcountry hut for hikers at the lake. The homemade soup and hot drinks are perfect for a misty fall day.

Turns out that New Hampshire has its own Echo Lake, equally stunning than Maine’s version. Starting November, the fall foliage turns into a winter wonderland and Echo Lake becomes the Cannon Mountain Ski Resort.

Across the road is the trailhead for Artist’s Bluff, a lookout with sweeping vistas over Echo Lake and the White Mountains. We did not hike the 1.5 mile loop, but climbed straight to the top of Bald Mountain. The views at Artist’s Bluff are stunning and well sought after: at the height of fall foliage season, the entire rock is covered in people. We only had to share the view with a handful of people, a perk of visiting before peak foliage.

Camp: Lafayette Place Campground

Lafayette Campground is located within Franconia Notch State Park. It was almost empty in late September, the consequence of fall gloominess and close to freezing temperatures at night. Although the black bears might also keep some tent campers away. The spots are large and secluded in the woods.

Day 6: Stowe, Vermont

The drive from New Hampshire to Vermont is gorgeous, especially in fall foliage season. The rolling hills lead right to Stowe, a charming mountain town in Northern Vermont. Stowe is located at the foot of Mount Mansfield, the highest peak of Vermont.

The Alchemist Brewery in Stowe has a close to legendary status when it comes to brewing IPA. The great outdoor setting only adds to the experience. The Heady Toppers were followed by dinner in Whip, the Green Mountain Inn’s cosy restaurant. With entrees like the Turkey Dinner and Maple Brined Pork Loin, it serves fall on a plate year-round.

Camp: Little River State Park

Little River State Park is located on the Waterbury Reservoir, half an hour south of Stowe. The camping spots are very secluded, but better suited for tent campers. Without a 4×4 and excellent driver, maneuvering the trailer backwards into our elevated spot would have been mission impossible. The misty morning on the reservoir was a stunning surprise.

Day 7: Route 100 & Woodstock, Vermont

We started the day with coffee and cider donuts from Cold Hollow Cider Mill. This working cider mill has become an attraction in Stowe, with tour busses pulling up and an impressive collection of merchandise. Although touristy, it is a fun stop to stock up on souvenirs and learn about the cider making process.

Route 100 is Vermont’s longest state highway, running almost the entire length of the state. It’s designated a scenic byway with good reason: the road cuts through the Green Mountains, past red barns and picturesque New England towns. We followed Route 100 to the Massachusetts border, with a detour to Woodstock along the way.

We stepped up the cider game visiting Poverty Lane Orchards and Farnum Hill Ciders, just across the border with New Hampshire. They make delicious hard cider, which we enjoyed in the beautiful orchards.

Vermont is largely made up of farming land, with a lot of delicious produce as a result. Tucked away in Woodstock’s scenic rural landscape is Sugarbush Farm. They sell a variety of products from cheeses to maple syrup and souvenirs. The informative walk past maple trees takes you on a tour of the tree-tapping process. At the end of September, the leaves were just starting to turn. Videos of the property in October show a stunning display of orange and red.

We couldn’t leave Vermont without passing through a covered bridge. There are still around a hundred historic covered bridges left in Vermont, but they are mainly located in and around towns and away from the main transit roads.

Camp: Mt. Greylock Campsite Park

Mt. Greylock Campsite Park is located on the road to Mount Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts and part of the Berkshire Mountains. Staying at Mt. Greylock marked the end of our trip, but the Berkshires are worth a visit in their own right. We fueled up with breakfast from Bob’s Country Kitchen before hitting the road south, back to Virginia.

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