U.S. 1 is the most scenic drive through New England. It snakes through Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine and is the address for numerous historic attractions. Many of the beaches in Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine are located on U.S. 1 and its extension, Scenic U.S. 1A. The original East Coast highway also features many coastal villages and state parks.
If you start your self-guided tour in Greenwich, Connecticut, you travel through scenic and rural areas of the Nutmeg state including the town green in Madison, the salt marsh in Guilford, the cities of Bridgeport and East Haven, and the seacoast towns of Old Saybrook, East Lyme, New London and Groton.
U.S. 1 crosses into Rhode Island in Westerly and follows the coast into the historic town of Wickford. From there, you can reach alternate routes to visit Providence, the Ocean State's capital city. Hooking back up to U.S. 1 brings you into Boston, Massachusetts. The beauty of the Bay State can be appreciated on scenic 1A as it winds through the quaint towns of Cape Anne, Salem and Newburyport.
U.S. 1 and 1A lead into the coastal towns of New Hampshire, among them Hampton and the seafaring city of Portsmouth with its majestic mansions. Continuing on to Maine, U.S. 1 is lined with factory outlet stores in Kittery and Freeport and also provides access to the seaside towns of Ogunquit, York, Portland and many others.
When planning self-guided driving tours through New England states, consider the time of year. New England enjoys four different climates throughout the year and a seasonal self-guided tour takes advantage of the many activities unique to New England. During the winter months, the New England scene turns to sledding, skiing, snowboarding, ice skating and other winter sports. Northern New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine offer the best mountains and ski areas for winter sports.
In the spring, maple sugaring is the focal point in most New England states, but especially in New Hampshire and Vermont. All major highways in these states point the way to maple sugar houses where maple sugaring tours and sugaring parties are traditional seasonal events.
Summer in New England is an active time with activities centered around the Atlantic Ocean. It is a time for swimming, boating, picnicking and camping. Self-guided driving tours to Essex, Connecticut; Narragansett, Newport and Watch Hill, Rhode Island; Cape Cod, Massachusetts; Lake Winnepeusakee in New Hampshire; Manchester and Stowe, Vermont, and Ogunquit and Old Orchard Beach in Maine are the most popular summertime destinations.
In the fall, New England is known for its foliage tours. Among the scenic drives through New England for viewing the colors are northern Rhode Island; the Mohawk Trail and the Berkshires in Massachusetts; the Kancamagus Highway in the White Mountains of New Hampshire; Brattleboro and Weston, Vermont, and Bar Harbor and Arcadia National Park in Maine.
