A New England road trip is at the top of many people’s bucket lists — especially in the autumn! Yet New England, which is made up of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, covers nearly 72,000 square miles, which is a lot of ground to cover! It is hard to fit all that into a one-week road trip.
If this is your first visit to New England and you only have a week and want to see some of the best parts of New England, follow this scenic New England road trip itinerary. This will give you a taste of Maine’s rocky coastline, New Hampshire’s rugged White Mountains, Vermont’s lush Green Mountains, and Boston’s historic sites.
If you have more time, or you have visited before and want to discover some new parts of New England, try one of these seven different New England road trips that are perfect for fall.
One-Week New England Road Trip Itinerary
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Ideally you would have a week to spend in each state as you can’t see it all in one go. However, if you want to try to see as much variety as you can, try this sample New England road trip one-week itinerary!
You can certainly extend this itinerary to spend as much time as you want in each destination, I have some suggestions for you on how to do that!
Map created with Google My Maps.
Day 1-2: Boston, Massachusetts
I’d recommend starting in Boston – after all, didn’t so much start in Boston? If you are flying in, Boston Logan is the largest airport in the region and you will find the most direct flights. You could always fly home from Burlington, Vermont, or just loop back to Boston.
You can’t visit New England without a history lesson. So begin your day at the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum to learn about the very birthplace of our nation. Follow that up with a walk along the Freedom Trail. By then you might feel a bit burned out, so relax and enjoy shopping on Newbury Street or hop on a Duck Tour of the city.
On your second day in Boston, try a visit to the Children’s Museum, Museum of Science, or New England Aquarium. In the summer, you can also book a whale watching cruise or a harbor boat tour. You can also use a Boston CityPASS to save money on attractions.
Learn More: Things to do in Boston with Teens
Where to Stay: Boston can be an expensive city, so pick a family-friendly, budget-friendly hotel like the Seaport Hotel or Residence Inn.
Day 3: Portland, Maine
On your third day, you can head up the coast to “Vacationland” in Maine – the land of rocky coasts, lighthouses, lobster and moose. On the way, you could make a brief stop in Portsmouth, New Hampshire or just across the border, make a pitstop in Kittery, Maine at Bob’s Clam Hut for what I think are the best lobster rolls and fried clams on the coast!
You can also stop into the lovely coastal towns of Ogunquit or Kennebunkport for shopping or lunch before heading to the Portland Head Light at Cape Elizabeth.
The whole family will enjoy the walking trails, clambering over rocks, and photographing the picturesque lighthouse. If you are hungry, seek out the Bite into Maine food truck for a delicious lobster roll. But save room, because Portland is a foodie city!
Enjoy a delicious dinner and time strolling around the Old Port. If you have extra time, you can sign up for a fun lobster boat tour or visit some of Maine’s local breweries.
Learn more: If you have more time, you can follow this Boston to Bar Harbor road trip itinerary to see more of Maine. See more about planning a Portland weekend getaway.
Where to Stay: I particularly like the Hilton Garden Inn and Courtyard Marriott in the Old Port for families, but the further outside of town you stay, the better deals you will get.
Day 4-5: North Conway, New Hampshire
Making the drive through pastoral Maine and into the White Mountains of New Hampshire will take half a day. You may want to take the route past Sebago Lake and Naples for a short stop at one of Maine’s largest lakes.
Once you arrive in the White Mountains, you will have no shortage of activities to choose from including: splashing around in the waterfalls at Diana’s Baths, driving or taking the Cog Railway to the top of Mount Washington, hiking, or enjoying some of the area’s local theme parks and attractions including zip lining and moose watching tours.
You will want to spend at least two nights in the White Mountains to road trip around the area and explore some of its best attractions.
Learn More: Things to do in the White Mountains
Where to Stay: The Residence Inn in North Conway is a good budget and family-friendly option or you could pick one of the many New Hampshire glamping options in the region, such as Huttopia.
Day 6-7: Stowe, Vermont
From the White Mountains, head to the heart of the Green Mountains in Vermont. But first, if the weather permits, drive along the scenic Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire and take a quick hike through the gorgeous Flume Gorge.
Stop by Cabot, VT for some delicious cheese and Cold Hollow Cider Mill for delicious apple cider (hard or standard) and apple cider donuts. Then, head to the mountains for three season activities such as hiking, mountain biking, treetop adventures, and mountain coasters.
Take another day to enjoy everything this region has to offer, including maybe a day trip to the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory or over to Burlington for the ECHO Museum.
Learn More: Scenic stops on a Vermont road trip
Where to Stay: I’d recommend the Stoweflake Lodge or Smugglers’ Notch for families, but there are plenty of budget-friendly options in this area.
Day 8: Return to Boston
If you need, you can high-tail it back to Boston or take the more scenic route down Route 100 through Vermont and then make stops in Brattleboro, Vermont or Springfield, MA on your way.
Learn More: Take a Vermont Route 100 Road Trip
Looking for other New England trips?
- Fall New England road trips
- Best family vacations in New England
- Best museums in New England for kids
- Where to go glamping in New England
- 40 Boston Weekend Getaways for Every Season
- 110 Things to do in New England with kids
- New England day trips with kids
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Tamara Gruber is the Founder and Publisher of We3Travel. A former marketing executive and travel advisor, Tamara is an award-winning travel writer and recognized expert in family travel. Tamara is a member of SATW, NATJA, IFWTWA, and the Adventure Travel Trade Association, and serves on the Board of the Family Travel Association. She is also the publisher of YourTimetoFly.com and the co-host of the Vacation Mavens travel podcast.
very HELPFUL, THANK YOU.