Every fall, people flock to the northeast U.S. to take in the fall colors of New Hampshire and Vermont. The bright orange, red and yellow foliage is gorgeous and there’s no shortage of great food and drinks along the way as well. So if you’re planning a weekend getaway or a week long road trip, we’ve pulled together the must-see spots along the way.

New Hampshire

The Kancamagus Highway

The Kancamagus Highway

The Kancamagus Highway, often referred to as just “The Kanc” by the locals, is a must-see for any leaf peeper itinerary. This 34.5 mile scenic drive winds through the White Mountain National forest between Lincoln and Conway, New Hampshire and is widely considered one of the best leaf peeping spots in the Northeast United States. With pull outs and short hikes all along the road, there are plenty of opportunities for you to get out, stretch your legs and take in the beautiful fall colors. It’s highly recommended that you get on the road early though as it can get pretty crowded after around 9 or 10 a.m., especially during peak fall colors.

Franconia Notch State Park

The Man of the Mountain

Franconia Notch is home to some of the most iconic sights in all of New Hampshire, specifically The Old Man of the Mountain which is a cliff formation that is the symbol on highway signs throughout the state and was featured on the back of New Hampshire’s state quarter. Sadly, the Old Man of the Mountain collapsed in May of 2003, but the park has built a viewing area that recreates the experience of seeing the cliff as it once was.

Franconia Notch State Park is also home to Flume Gorge, which is an 800 foot natural gorge at the base of Mount Liberty. The 2 mile loop takes hike takes about 1.5 hours to complete and also features the Flume Covered Bridge, Avalanche Falls, Glacial Boulders and other natural wonders. While the rest of the park is free to all visitors, there is an entry fee for the Flume Gorge hike and is subject to seasonal closures. You can book ahead and check if it’s open on New Hampshire’s State Park Website.

Crawford Notch State Park

Saco River

Crawford Notch is also in the White Mountain National Forest and offers plenty of incredible views of fall foliage. The pond across the road from the Willey House is gorgeous and there are picnic tables, public bathrooms and a gift shop making it a great spot to stop and eat lunch.

 

Vermont

Montpelier

Vermont State House

Montpelier is the capital of Vermont but still keeps a very small town vibe. The modest state house sits in front of a dense forest backdrop and the town is a great place to grab a cup of coffee and walk the quiet streets. If you’re into art or history, there’s plenty for you here as well.

The Vermont Historical Society Museum is a great way to spend an hour or two learning about Vermont’s rich history and the Artisans Hand Craft Gallery features jewelry, pottery, photography, wearable art and more, all crafted by local artisans.

The Ben and Jerry’s Factory

The Ben and Jerry’s Flavor Graveyard

Offering factory tours, a gift shop and, most importantly, an ice cream windows serving up all of Ben and Jerry’s current flavors, the Ben and Jerry’s Factory in Waterbury is a great stop to enjoy a few scoops and see how your favorite flavor is made. The grounds also includes a flavor graveyard for retired flavors and each flavor has an accompanying headstone and eulogy in the form of a short poem.

As you can imagine, this spot gets really busy, especially on weekends, so plan your visit accordingly and make sure to book your tour ahead of time if you want to see the factory.

Cold Hollow Cider Mill

A “Crushee” at Cold Hollow Cider Mill

Cold Hollow Cider Mill is also in Waterbury, VT and is just a 5 minute drive from the Ben and Jerry’s factory, barring any weekend traffic. There’s a nice cafe that serves up sandwiches for a quick lunch and you can get a free taste of Cold Hollow’s apple cider in the back of the gift shop. If you’re lucky, you might even get to see how the cider is made if they’re processing a batch while you’re there.

They also offer other Vermont staples like cider donuts, maple creemees and my personal favorite, a “crushee” which is an apple cider slushee mixed with maple creemee soft serve. Get one and thank me later.

Stowe

Stowe Public House and Bottle Shop

Stowe feels like the quintessential small northeast town and gives serious Stars Hollow vibes if you’re a Gilmore Girl’s fan. With small batch spirit tasting, a bottle shop full of local brews, multiple art galleries, gift shops and Stowe’s iconic church, there are plenty of ways to spend the day here. Plus, if you want to get back out into nature, Smugglers Notch nearby offers plenty of hikes and pullouts to enjoy.