7-Day New England Fall Foliage RV Trip: Autumn Colors Adventure

New England fall foliage is a short, intense season — peak color moves south from northern Maine to the Berkshires over about three weeks from late September to mid-October. An RV lets you chase the color as it shifts and sleep near the best overlooks. Pick your dates by region: northern Vermont and New Hampshire peak around the first week of October, the Massachusetts Berkshires a week or two later.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Days 1–2: Vermont’s Green Mountains

• Arrive: Burlington (fly in and rent, or start from home).
• Drive: Route 100 Scenic Byway — Vermont’s north–south “backbone” through the Green Mountains, with color starting at higher elevation first.
• Camp: a Stowe or Waterbury area private campground (most Vermont parks are tent-focused; check RV length).
• Do: ride the Stowe Gondola up Mt. Mansfield, walk the Trapp Family Lodge trails, and sample the Cold Hollow cider mill.

Day 3: New Hampshire’s White Mountains

• Drive: south into New Hampshire via I-93 to the Kancamagus Highway (NH-112), a 34-mile scenic road with overlooks and short hikes — no services, so fuel up first.
• Camp: a North Conway or Lincoln area campground.
• Do: the Flume Gorge, or drive the Mt. Washington Auto Road (check your rig’s length and gearing before attempting the steep grade).

Day 4–5: Maine’s Lakes and Coast

• Drive: east to Rangeley or the Sebago Lake area, then toward the coast.
• Camp: a campground near Rangeley (inland color) or south toward Camden.
• Do: the Rangeley Lakes scenic byway; if on the coast, the Camden Hills state park roads and a lobster shack stop.

Day 6–7: Massachusetts Berkshires

• Drive: south to the Berkshires, which peak later than the north — good if your trip runs into mid-October.
• Camp: a Pittsfield or Williamstown area campground.
• Do: the Mohawk Trail (MA-2), Mass MoCA in North Adams, and the village of Stockbridge.

RV Notes

• Reservations: fall is peak season in New England; book campgrounds 2–3 months ahead.
• Length: many state-park and private sites are small; rigs over 30 feet are tight on the Kancamagus and in village centers. A towed car helps for day trips.
• Weather: nights drop near freezing at elevation — pack propane heat and warm bedding; the furnace fan draws battery, so hookups help.
• Leaves: color timing varies by elevation and weather; check a live foliage map (state tourism sites post weekly updates) and stay flexible.

Plan the trip with the RV Trip Budget Calculator.