Find out the best times to visit: Peak color begins in early September in northwestern Maine, then moves south and east until it ends in late October in Connecticut and Rhode Island. October is the prime color season for the majority of the region.
Visit Maine to get a glimpse of New England's first hint of color, usually found in the western mountains and north of Baxter State Park in late September. Later in the fall, visit the area around Acadia National Park, where color peaks from early to mid-October; further south along the coast toward Kittery, the color will change just slightly later in the season. Central Maine usually peaks in early October.
Explore Vermont, considered the center of New England color. Good choices include the Green Mountains, Route 9 from Brattleboro to Bennington, and Smuggler's Notch State Park. The Northeast Kingdom area hosts an annual Foliage Festival outside of St. Johnsbury.
Head for the White Mountains of New Hampshire for color - if you don't mind crowds. Drive the ever-popular Kancamagus Highway from Conway to North Woodstock, as well as some of the less-traveled roads off this main artery. In southern New Hampshire, explore the area around Mount Monadnock State Park.
Visit western Massachusetts midweek, when the pace is slower than on weekends; views are breathtaking. The Mohawk Trail, known more prosaically as Highway 2, starts in Orange and heads west to North Adams. Stop for the view at Hairpin Curve. Before heading out, explore the Quabbin Reservoir and the area around Barre. Along the way, consider a detour to explore Shelburne Falls or Highway 116. Further west, Highways 7 and 8 provide panoramas of the Berkshires.
Explore Connecticut in a day on a circle route that follows the state's borders. For a stay in a charming 18th-century town, plan a base in Litchfield and explore Highways 4 and 7 in the northwest corner of the state.
Consider the forests of northern Rhode Island for the best autumn foliage tours, including the popular Highway 6 and the less crowded Highway 101. Check with local tourism offices for byways that are off the beaten track.
Keep in mind that there is some fine foliage in upstate New York, even if it may technically be part of the mid-Atlantic states. Lakes and highways riddling the Adirondack invite exploration. Travel north on Interstate 87 out of Albany, then start exploring side roads once you reach Adirondack Park.
