Best places for New England fall foliage

Folks, it’s that time of year again when tourists flock to New England with their Auto Europe car rental: leaf peeping season. You know, when people come from far and wide largely to watch the leaves become saturated with hues of yellow, orange and red. This annual color explosion occurs in late September in northern New England and late October in the south, only lasting for a few weeks each time.

If you’ll be traveling to this region without your own set of wheels, rest assured that there’s no better way to experience New England foliage in the autumn than by renting a car in one of the following six states through our booking platform! Ranging from cost-effective luxury car rentals to large spacious vans for the whole family, our New England car rental partners have the vehicle for you!

Before we delve any further, let’s discern where exactly New England lays on the map.

Where is New England?

Crammed together in the northeast of the United States is the cluster of six New England states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. Each of these states date back the colony days, showcasing immense history but also dense iconic forest lands where all of the leaf peeping action takes place. Considering that you’ll be crossing multiple state lines throughout this journey, the most efficient mode of transport around this neck of the woods is by having your own car, especially since the best leaf peeping destinations are rural towns and New England state parks.

So, without any further ado, here are the best leaf peeping destinations in each of New England’s six states!

Connecticut foliage tour with car rental

Although Connecticut is one of the most densely populated states in the country, there are still good chunks of nature and quaint little towns waiting to be explored with a discounted USA car rental during leaf peeping season! Places like Macedonia Brook States Park in Kent and Mohawk State Forest in Cornwall offer car renters in Connecticut large swaths of land to witness the color burst. Other state forests include Pachaug in Voluntown, Shenipsit in Somers, and Peoples in Barkhamsted.

After a peaceful morning of sightseeing, visitors can then look forward to embarking on some major antique shopping in various towns with their bargain New Haven car rental, for example. Also, one of the best things about the Connecticut foliage season is that it tends to last into November, giving travelers more time to find the perfect car rental to accompany them on their journey!

Massachusetts foliage tour with car rental

As the most populated state in New England, not only is Massachusetts diverse in its demographics but also a variety of leaf peeping locations! From the Boston Common to the Berkshire Mountains out west; prepare for smooth sailing with a rental car from Massachusetts. Leaf peepers will have plenty of specialty options to choose from between our Boston car rental selections or perhaps a short-term lease from Logan Airport before setting off.

A few of the best places for foliage with a Massachusetts car hire include the Mohawk Trail, a historic trading route in the western part of the state used by Native Americans for thousands of years. Today, it’s a 69-mile scenic road crisscrossing through some of the quaintest and most quintessential New England towns with many roadside attractions along the way. Be sure to also drive your Massachusetts car rental through Route 6A!

Vermont foliage tour with car rental

In between renowned maples syrup and world-class skiing, the Green Mountain State is also known for its spectacular leaf peeping season that can be experienced with one of our quality Vermont car rentals! Areas such as Route 100, the Connecticut River Valley and the Champlain Valley showcase some of the most vibrant colors among so many mountains, villages and meadows.

Whether you’re renting a car from Burlington or leasing a vehicle in Essex, having your own automobile is without a doubt the best mode of transport to experience this annual event! Popular cities for leaf peepers and major foliage drives in Vermont include Brattleboro, Grafton, Jeffersonville, Mad River Valley, Manchester, Middlebury, Montgomery, as well as the capital, Montpelier.

New Hampshire foliage tour with car rental

Another must-see New England state for fall foliage is New Hampshire where Auto Europe offers unbeatable car rental rates in cities like Portsmouth and Manchester. Worthy of a visit with your convenient New Hampshire rental car is the 30-mile Currier and Ives Scenic Byway in Merrimack Valley, taking travelers through the village of Hopkinton, Warner, Webster, among others situated alongside the Contoocook River!

Outdoor enthusiasts will also adore driving their Lebanon or hassle-free Manchester car rental through the Kancamagus Highway around the White Mountains National Forest or perhaps Lake Winnipesaukee Loop. Both of these are prominent leaf peeping routes that will take you through amazing waterfalls, covered bridges, and multiple scenic vistas immersed in bright autumn colors.

Maine foliage tour with car rental

Early October tends to be a popular time among visitors to shimmy on over to New England’s northernmost state, Maine, for some quality leaf peeping. Foliage reports say that the season begins mid to late September and reaches its peak by early mid October, meaning there are only a few weeks to see this phenomenon with a Maine car rental. In between apple picking, peepers generally go up Route 1 along the coast after picking-up a car rental in Portland or perhaps a vehicle from Rockland nearby.

For the ultimate leaf peeping road trip in Maine, visitors can drive their rental car from Bangor or its airport in Penobscot County to one of the most northern towns in the state, Fort Kent. The historic fishing and logging village by the Canadian border is replete with wilderness, meaning the leaves are plentiful! Another population foliage spot is the village of Bethel located in the western mountains of Maine by the Sunday River skiing resort. Other great spots for a Maine adventure include Acadia National Park, Baxter State Park, Camden Hills State Park, Rangeley, Moosehead Lake, plus so much more!

Rhode Island foliage tour with car rental

Despite being the smallest and most jam-packed state in the country, Rhode Island boasts a prominent leaf peeping scene between its many towns and coastal drives! October showcases the brightest colors, especially in the western part of the state that’s more wooded. Here travelers with an economic Rhode Island car rental will encounter the Blackstone Valley region with Slater Mill, the place where the American Industrial Revolution began!

Even in the capital with our selection of Providence car rentals are wondrous exhibits of foliage, such as the Roger Williams Park and Zoo, not to mention Bristol’s Blithewold Mansion and Gardens. Newcomers can also embark on a scenic route between Westerly and Wickford on Route 1 and 1A.