Fall Foliage in New England-where is the best color?
New Englanders are serious about their fall foliage. September rolls around, and hotels are sold out every weekend with leaf peepers. Autumn is the most beautiful season to visit New England, and everyone knows it!
The good news is that you can find beautiful fall foliage almost anywhere in New England. The bad news is that most hotels in Northern New England were booked in July for foliage season. So what is a foliage lover to do if they want to see the leaves in Vermont, New Hampshire, or Maine and everything is booked?
Visit Connecticut and Massachusetts! (Ok, I also added in some of New York State. I know it isn’t New England but it’s close enough to count this time of year!) In other words, visit Southern New England for fall foliage! People forget that their fall display is every bit as stunning as their northern neighbors. You can easily book a hotel for an October weekend in August and September, and you will not be disappointed.
Here are the very best places to go to see fall foliage in New England and New York and my family’s favorite hotels in each location.
Kent, Connecticut Fall Foliage
Photo Credit: Deposit Photos
Although Connecticut is not often discussed when people think about fall foliage, most locals agree that this is the single best place to see fall colors. The variety of colors against the blue of the river is what makes this spectacular. Kent Falls State Park has a fairly easy walk/hike for younger kids and has a fantastic view.
For older kids, Macedonia Brook State Park allows for leaf peeping with a more challenging trail.
Stop by Bulls Bridge Rd. in Kent to see a covered bridge and take some of the most amazing pictures!
The best hotel nearby is in the town of Cornwall Bridge.
Cornwall Inn
If you want to see fall foliage while you are drifting off to sleep this is your hotel! This country inn is surrounded by beautiful vistas and lots of places to take a fall stroll. They also offer a delicious breakfast and a room for a family of 4.
The Berkshires, Massachusetts Fall Foliage
Photo Credit: Travels With The Crew
Although this is an area and not an exact spot, driving through the Berkshires from CT on Route 7 is one of the most scenic fall drives ever. We drove my in-laws up this way in the fall and my father-in-law said it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. The drive is very wooded and the Connecticut River runs right by the road. There are plenty of places to pull over and enjoy a fall walk or picnic.
Tip: Go in the beginning of October and attend the Harvest Festival at the Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge. Our kids loved learning how to make farmers’ cheese, going in a hay maze, and eating terrific food.
There are quite a few choices of nice places to stay in the Berkshires but this is my pick because the grounds are so gorgeous (they have beautiful manicured gardens) and the service is exceptional. But it won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
The Seven Hills Inn
This inn is in Lenox, Massachusetts, and has 57 guest rooms. The rooms are simple and elegant and the hotel feels sumptuous while being moderately priced. You can play chess on the lawn with the oversized board, go for a bike ride, or sit by the indoor fireplace and enjoy the piano. You will feel like you have won the lottery while smugly knowing you have budget to spare.
Saratoga Springs, NY Fall Foliage
Photo Credit: Travels With The Crew
This is another favorite for our family in the fall. The town itself is decked out for fall with pumpkins, mums, and hay bales. The grounds of Congress Spring Park are a wash in color, and Saratoga State Park becomes an autumnal wonderland.
One of the most amazing displays is in front of Saratoga State Park. In October, they create an enormous pumpkin, mum, and hay display. It is free to walk around and you will see plenty of people taking pictures with the colorful backdrop. You can’t miss it!
When you go, time it with the Saratoga International Flavorfeast and enjoy tastes from different restaurants in downtown Saratoga. Most of the time, it takes place the 2nd weekend in October, so the time is perfect for fall foliage.
We have stayed in Saratoga so many times and this hotel is our very favorite.
The Gideon Putnam
This hotel is one of the oldest in Saratoga Springs and is in the middle of Saratoga State Park. It has undergone extensive renovation in the last five years, and it is a joy to stay in. It is our favorite hotel because the State Park grounds are spectacular. Bike trails, hiking, and natural springs.
The hotel rooms are simple and a little on the small side, but we figure it is a small price to pay to be in the location. If you are there over a Sunday, make sure to book the delicious Sunday brunch.
For more information about spending the weekend in Saratoga Springs, check out this post.
Hudson Valley, NY Fall Foliage
Photo Credit: Deposit Photos
The Hudson Valley is a great place to see fall foliage if you live in NYC because it is easily accessible by Metro-North train.
The leaves rise up in flaming color on either side of the Hudson River. Start your day in Tarrytown, New York, enjoying festive autumn celebrations at many of the historic properties. There are some fun family activities at Lyndhurst Manor, Philipsburg Manor, and Kykuit. To get a good rundown on what there is to do visit our guide to Tarrytown, New York.
Then drive along Route 9, up near West Point, and stop at the lookouts along the way for beautiful vistas.
While you are there, visit the Great Jack o Lantern Blaze in Croton-on-Hudson.
My hotel pick for the Hudson Valley is in Tarrytown, and it is my favorite because they have great special deals that combine 2 nights with tickets to the Great Jack o Lantern Blaze.
Tarrytown House Estate
This hotel overlooks the Hudson River and is in a 19th-century mansion. The views are spectacular, and the rooms are modern while preserving historical details. The hotel has a very reputable restaurant located on the premises. If you book early enough, there are lots of special deals on the home page.
Connecticut River Valley Fall Foliage
Photo Credit: Deposit Photos
This is the latest foliage in all of New England, extending into the beginning of November. So if you find yourself wanting one last look at Autumn leaves, this is the place for you. Drive along Route 9, and stop in Essex to walk around their charming downtown. The town goes all out for holidays, and the decor makes the entire place so festive.
Take the Chester/Hadlyme ferry or the Essex steam train to see this beautiful area from a different vantage point.
The best place to stay in Essex has to be the following:
The Griswold Inn
This inn has been continuously operating since 1776 and is in the charming downtown of Essex. Although the inn is old it has been meticulously updated on the inside to provide some of the finest rooms I have ever stayed in. There are large rooms for families as well. Plus, the food here is first-rate!
North Adams, Massachusetts Fall Foliage
Photo Credit: Deposit Photos
Another Southern Massachusetts Fall must-see! North Adams and nearby Shelburne offer great fall colors for the foliage enthusiast. Drive along Route 2 to be able to see both North Adams and Shelburne.
North Adams is home to Natural Bridge State Park, which has a white marble archway created by glacier melt-off. It also offers a stunning view of the valley of North Adams. If you want another reason to visit, North Adams has a Fall Foliage parade the first weekend in October. In addition to the parade, they offer kids crafts and a road race, all with a background of beautiful reds and yellows.
Visit the famous Shelburne Falls Bridge of Flowers and see flowering mums, gourds, and pumpkins on an old trestle bridge. The bridge has become an attraction, as are the local falls that feature glacial potholes. Be sure to make a stop for an hour or so and visit both!
Our favorite place to stay in this part of Massachusetts is:
The Porches Inn
This cozy inn is romantic and charming and all the rooms are slightly different and a little bit quirky. Their continental breakfast is a leap above an ordinary hotel breakfast. Plus there is an outdoor heated pool and gorgeous foliage view.
Final Thoughts
Photo Credit: Deposit Photos
There are many beautiful places to see fall foliage in Southern New England! You won’t be disappointed with any of these places. Our family has been to all of them, and I can’t recommend them more enthusiastically.
If you are a fall travel lover like me, you will want to check out our other favorite Fall Destinations!
Fall weekend in New Haven, Connecticut
5 Things you must do in the Berkshires this fall
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We have never been to New England and would love to see the fall colors there!
Fantastic suggestions! I’ve lived in Boston the last several years, but we have yet to travel to most of the places you’ve mentioned. Thanks for making such a wonderful resource guide; my husband and I will definitely use it this fall 🙂
Thanks for your kind words.
I’m actually planning a trip to the U.S. in mid October and your tips came in just in time. Thanks for the tips and for sharing those lovely pictures, it’s going to make planning my trip a whole lot easier 🙂
You will love it! It is truly beautiful.
The Northeast in general is so lovely when it comes to Fall colors. I grew up in Pennsylvania and I terribly miss the beautiful foliage, landscapes, and nature.
You should come back for a visit!
Wow!! These places look so awesome, I would love to visit them when I visit New England. Thanks for sharing.
Great Article!! I live in Maryland and although we love our Falls too, it seems like it gets shorter and shorter every year. I might have to take a road trip up there!! I also love Newport RI. I dont know how it fares in the Fall but thats as far north as I have ever been and I loved it!
Newport is beautiful any time of the year, but it wouldn’t be my favorite in the fall for foliage because it’s a city. I love state parks and drives where all you see is foliage.
The leaves turning in fall is one of the most beautiful sights! I have never been to New England, but I can only imagine how much more beautiful it is there compared to Ohio. We’ll have to be sure to plan a trip well in advance one of these years to see it!
There are beautiful fall leaves everywhere. For some reason New England colors seem to be more vibrant. They are a sight to behold.
Wow they are all so so beautiful! I wish we had such beauty to visit here in the UK!
The UK has beauty. So much!!!
What a great list of places to see the fall foliage. We have never seen the changing leaves in Vermont, but it’s quite lovely in New York.
The place looks so dreamy! i would so relax there and have tons of fun!
Good info for when we go to New England – we drive out of NYC so maybe try to stay in the South for the weekend.
Was that photo in the Berkshires section really taken there??? It looks identical to the red school house on M-22 between Glen Arbor and Leland in Michigan’s Leelanau county. If so, I want to go there just to get a photos “twin.” Yes we have fall foliage that rivals New England too. (Grew up in NE but have called northern MI home for many years. Love them both.)
Yes it is a photo from the Berkshires. How funny that it is so similar to one in Michigan! I believe it is right off Route 8. Michigan is beautiful!