It has become so popular to tour New England in the fall to see the changing colors that it has spawned its own group of leaf peepers.

You can immerse yourself in the fall harvest spirit with a road trip.

New England's Best Fall Foliage Driving Tour

The best time to travel is late September to mid- October.

New England Fall Foliage map

The beauty of fall in New England is due to the abundance of trees. The harvest spirit makes for family outings to pick your own farms, leisurely walks along dappled trails and tables groaning beneath delicious seasonal produce.

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Boats are moored at a marina in a brilliant blue lake in autumn, with fall colors on the lake shores; New England fall foliage road trip
Lake Candlewood is the perfect place to start a New England fall foliage road trip © Alan Copson / Getty

1. Lake Candlewood, Connecticut 

Candlewood is the largest lake in Connecticut. The Squantz Pond State Park on the western shore is popular with leaf-peepers. There are specialty wines made from farm-grown fruit at the White Silo Farm winery.

If you want to go north from the southern tip of the lake, you can either take US 7 north or go north alongCT 37 andCT 39.

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mist clings to the surface of a lake in Connecticut as red, orange, yellow and green leaves are reflected in its surface from a hill behind. New England fall foliage road trip
The Litchfield Hills of Connecticut have possibly the best fall colors in the world © DenisTangneyJr / Getty

2. Kent, Connecticut

Kent has been voted the best place in New England to view the fall foliage. There is a view of them from the top of Cobble Mountain in Macedonia brook state park. The view of the foliage from the rocky ridge is panoramic.

The Georgia-to-Maine Appalachian National Scenic Trail goes through Kent and up to Salisbury on the Massachusetts border. The longest river walk along the entire length of the trail is offered by the Kent section.

One of the most scenic drives in Connecticut is the 15-mile drive from Kent to Housatonic. The road goes past thick forests, past Kent Falls State Park, and through West Cornwall, which spans the Housatonic River.

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The picturesque covered bridge in West Cornwall, Connecticut. Image by Jeff Hunter / Photostock / Getty
The picturesque covered bridge in West Cornwall, Connecticut © Jeff Hunter / Getty

3. Housatonic Meadows State Park, Connecticut

The Housatonic transforms into a flat river during the summer months. Guided fishing trips are offered by Housatonic River Outfitter.

One of the most photographed fall scenes is the Cornwall Bridge, an antique covered bridge that spans the broad river and is framed by colorful foliage.

Continue north on US 7 towards the Massachusetts border. After a few miles, you leave the forested slopes of the park and enter a rolling countryside filled with red-and-white barns. Falls Village has an excellent B&B where you can stay overnight.

You can plan a road trip to the national parks in the fall.

Fall colors fill a picturesque Massachusetts valley as a small village peeks through; New England fall foliage road trip
The Berkshires turn crimson and gold, making for a spectacular fall in the hills of Massachusetts © DenisTangneyJr / Getty

4. Berkshires, Massachusetts

The mountains of the westernmost part of Massachusetts turn red and gold in September.

It is a great place to pack a picnic or rest your legs after a hike. Stunning views of Benedict Pond can be seen from the hiking trails. The largest tract of green space in the state is called October Mountain State Forest. The park's name is attributed to Herman Melville and it gives a good indication of when the park is its best.

Driving north on US 7 will take you through Great Barrington. You can get to October Mountain from the highway in Lee. Continue north to Lanesborough. Follow the signs to the park entrance.

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Yellow leaves surround a winding road in Massacusetts; New England fall foliage road trip
Driving to the summit of Mt Greylock in autumn is a sensory overload © PM 10 / Getty

5. Mt Greylock State Forest, Massachusetts

The War Veterans Memorial Tower in Massachusetts is 92 feet high and is the highest peak in the state at 3491 feet. Driving up to the summit may lift you above the gray blanket, and the view with a layer of cloud floating between tree line and sky is simply amazing.

There are 45 miles of hiking trails at Mt Greylock. It's easy to get a little hike in before you reach the top of Mt Greylock because of the frequent trail pull-offs.

Continue north through the quintessential college town of Williamstown. You can go north through the historic village of Bennington. You can take Rte 7A north to Manchester.

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Fall foliage and its reflection at Equinox pond in Manchester, Vermont
Take a rest by Equinox Pond in Manchester after hiking up Mt Equinox © PM10 / Getty Images

6. Manchester, Vermont

Located in New England, Manchester is known for its beautiful architecture. The panoramic view of the Adirondacks, the lush Battenkill Valley and Montréal's Mt Royal can be seen from the 5.2 mile distance.

Hildene is a Georgian Revival mansion that was once home to the Lincoln family. It is located at the edge of the Green Mountains and has access to 8 miles of hiking trails.

You can take US 7 to Burlington. You can get a picnic lunch on the wraparound porch at Lincoln Peak Vineyard.

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A sailboat cruises on a pristine lake as the trees on the hill behind just start to change colors; New England fall foliage road trip
Go out on Lake Champlain for a leaf-peeping adventure and you might run into a mythical sea creature © Larry Gerbrandt / Getty Images

7. Lake Champlain, Vermont

Burlington is a great base to enjoy the lake. Take a swing on the four-person rocking benches on the lakeside bike path if you want to explore it by foot.

The Friend Ship sailboat at Whistling Man Schooner Company is a small boat that accommodates just 13 passengers.

The drive will take you past Camels Hump State Park and CC Putnam State Forest. Pick up US2 going east to St Johnsbury and you can take I-93 south. You can take US 302 east toBretton Woods.

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The sweeping view of the White Mountains from the 2nd floor of the Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire
The sweeping view of the White Mountains from the 2nd floor of the Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire © Rudy Mareel / Shutterstock

8. Bretton Woods, New Hampshire

Put your seat belts on and leave the car. The four-season Bretton Woods Canopy Tour includes a hike through the woods, a stroll over sky bridges and a swoosh down ten cables to tree platforms.

You can get even higher views if you cross US 302 and drive 6 miles to the western base of Mt Washington. Since 1869, this railway has hauled sightseers to the summit.

Driving east on US 302 will lead you to Crawford Notch State Park. At the junction of NH 16 and US 302, take the east route.

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A stream tumbles over gray boulders as fall leaves stick out all around; New England fall foliage road trip
Wrap up your fall foliage road trip in North Conway, a scenic finale © Nils Winkelmann / EyeEm / Getty Images

9. North Conway, New Hampshire

It's an ideal place to end a road trip in the fall because of the expansive views of the nearby mountains. The Valley Train is a short but sweet ride through the Mt Washington Valley that can be used if you want to travel with kids. You will be able to see the Moat Mountains and the Saco River. The Pullman observation car has first-class seats.

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In about 3 hours, this article was updated.