Over the last few years of living in New England, I’ve been fortunate enough to experience New England’s fall foliage in a number of different ways. It’s my favorite time of year here; the mornings are crisp but the days are still warm, the leaves are changing color by the day, and everyone is outdoors with a sweater and warm drink in hand.
On fall road trips, I’ve hit the ‘popular’ New England spots (Catskills, Berkshires, White Mountains) and done the quintessential drives (I’ll never forget getting stuck in a 3-hour traffic jam with a 1-year-old baby on the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire). While these locations are absolutely beautiful, they often come with crowds, premium rates, and busy trails that can make a peaceful autumn getaway feel much less special. Separately, staying overnight at memorable properties (The Mayflower in Connecticut and Wildflower Farms and Troutbeck in New York all come to mind) in the midst of the leaves changing color has been an entirely different and more relaxed way to experience fall here.
Photos: Wildflower Farms, Hudson Valley, NY
When planning a New England fall road trip there are typically two approaches: you can book accommodations early and hope you land within peak foliage timing, or you can wait until the last minute to maximize the best dates for fall colors and book what little accommodation is left. Both have their pros and cons, but this year I’m taking the early booking route and focusing on inspiring hotels that are destinations in themselves, located near reliable foliage areas that are lesser-known: think still-spectacular foliage, with a more relaxed atmosphere.
Connecticut
Connecticut has some of New England’s most underrated fall foliage. Graybarns Hotel is pure charm with only a handful of rooms and easy access to Fairfield County’s wooded preserves and historic estates. The northwestern corner of Connecticut provides easy access to both Massachusetts’ Berkshires and New York’s Hudson Valley, making it an ideal base for exploring multiple states on an autumn road trip.
The Mayflower Inn & Spa – Washington, CT
Why stay here: The epitome of New England elegance, set on 58 manicured acres with award-winning gardens, luxury spa treatments, and refined dining in the heart of Litchfield Hills. Highly recommend grabbing a drink at their bar and sitting outside by the fire pits before grabbing dinner here.
Foliage access: Steep Rock Preserve trails along the Shepaug River (10 minutes), Lake Waramaug scenic loop drive (15 minutes), Mount Tom State Park tower views (20 minutes), Litchfield village green and historic district (15 minutes)
Belden House & Mews – Litchfield, CT
Why stay here: This one has been on my list since before it opened. Belden House & Mews is a new luxury inn (and sister property of Troutbeck in NY) featuring design-forward rooms and an intimate atmosphere in Connecticut’s most scenic region.
Foliage access: Litchfield Hills country roads (right outside), White Memorial Conservation Center trails (10 minutes), Apple Hill overlook at Bantam Lake (15 minutes), Mount Tom State Park tower hike (20 minutes), Kent Falls and West Cornwall covered bridge via Route 7 (20-30 minutes)
Lost Fox Inn – Litchfield, CT
Why stay here: A charming, design-driven boutique inn with an upscale tavern in the heart of Litchfield. Its moody interior and thoughtfully chosen antique pieces (many of which were sourced locally) make it feel like staying with friends who have impeccable taste. Perfect for a quiet escape close to great food, antique shops, and New England countryside. Note: adults-only, I recommend The Litchfield Inn just down the road for families.
Foliage access: Litchfield town green + historic district (5 minutes), White Memorial Conservation Center trails (8 minutes), Topsmead State Forest meadows and woods (10 minutes), Mount Tom tower hike (15 minutes), Bantam Lake scenic drive + Apple Hill overlook (15 minutes), Kent Falls and West Cornwall covered bridge via Route 7 (30 minutes).
Graybarns Hotel – Silvermine, CT
Why stay here: Scandinavian-inspired design meets New England charm at this old home turned boutique hotel, with one of my favorite restaurants in all of Connecticut on the property. Their charming ‘Provisions’ café across the way is also perfect for your morning coffee and pastry fix.
Foliage access: Silvermine Arts Center grounds and trails (on property), Weir Farm National Historical Park (10 minutes), New Canaan Nature Center (15 minutes), Devil’s Den Preserve hiking trails (20 minutes)
The White Hart Inn – Salisbury, CT
Why stay here: A historic village green inn that balances classic New England architecture with modern sophistication, and delicious farm-to-table dining. Super convenient for a stroll into town for food and drinks.
Foliage access: Salisbury village green views (immediate), Mount Frissell and Bear Mountain hiking trails (15 minutes), Mount Riga Road scenic drive (5-10 minutes), Route 7 corridor to Kent Falls (20-30 minutes)
New York
The Hudson Valley and Catskills regions have become some of my favorite areas for fall foliage with dramatic mountain views. I’ve had memorable stays in particular here at Wildflower Farms (think luxury-glamping cabins on acres of woods and farmland) and Troutbeck (a cozy, artsy retreat in the woods that is beloved by NYC weekenders). I’ve found this region provides spectacular colors without the heavy tourist atmosphere of some of Vermont and New Hampshire’s most famous destinations.
Wildflower Farms – Gardiner, NY
Why stay here: Auberge’s newest Hudson Valley property combines luxury glamping with farm-to-table dining, offering an immersive nature experience on 140 acres of pristine countryside
Foliage access: Shawangunk Ridge hiking trails and Sky Top Tower (30 minutes), Minnewaska State Park scenic drives (25 minutes), Mohonk Mountain House carriage roads (35 minutes), Hudson Valley Rail Trail (20 minutes)
Troutbeck – Amenia, NY
Why stay here: This historic English-style country estate in the Hudson Valley feels like a secret English countryside retreat, with farm-to-table dining, a working farm, and ongoing events
Foliage access: Taconic State Park hiking trails (15 minutes), Bash Bish Falls scenic drive (20 minutes), rolling Dutchess County backroads through horse farms and vineyards (immediate access), Millbrook countryside drives (25 minutes)
Bedford Post Inn – Bedford, NY
Why stay here: The beautiful nearby town of Pound Ridge is a destination in itself, and Bedford Post Inn offers understated luxury in wooded surroundings with Michelin-noted dining
Foliage access: Pound Ridge Reservation woodland roads and trails (10 minutes), Ward Pound Ridge Reservation hiking (30 minutes), North County Trailway near Croton Reservoir (30 minutes)
Hasbrouck House – Stone Ridge, NY
Why stay here: An 18th-century Dutch Colonial mansion transformed into a boutique hotel on 55 private acres, featuring pools, fire pits, and swoon-worthy interiors with easy access to the Catskills
Foliage access: Mohonk Preserve and Shawangunk Ridge with Sky Top Tower (40 minutes), Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway along Route 28 (30 minutes), Kaaterskill Falls drive and hike (30 minutes)
The DeBruce – Livingston Manor, NY
Why stay here: A culinary-focused 12-room hideaway overlooking Willowemoc Valley, renowned for its acclaimed restaurant and intimate, refined design in a serene Catskills setting
Foliage access: Catskill Scenic Byway Route 28 (20 minutes), Delaware & Ulster Railroad foliage train rides (30 minutes), Hunter Mountain gondola for panoramic views (40-50 minutes)
New Hampshire
While New Hampshire’s White Mountains draw massive crowds (including buses of international visitors) to the Kancamagus Highway and Mount Washington, quieter alternative towns still provide spectacular foliage. Jackson Village, nestled in a valley surrounded by presidential peaks, offers that quintessential White Mountain experience with The Wentworth hotel right in the village center. Here you’ll find easy access to scenic drives, hiking trails, and authentic New England village atmosphere.
The Wentworth – Jackson Village, NH
Why stay here: A classic White Mountain lodge positioned in the heart of Jackson Village, affordable alpine charm with central access to New Hampshire’s most famous foliage routes (half an hour away from Omni Mount Washington, ‘the’ hotel to stay in for fall foliage)
Foliage access: Jackson Scenic Loop and covered bridge (right outside), Kancamagus Highway scenic drive (10 minutes to start), Crawford Notch with Mount Willard and Saco Lake (20-30 minutes)
Pickering House Inn – Wolfeboro, NH
Why stay here: This meticulously restored lakeside inn on Lake Winnipesaukee combines elegant interiors with warm hospitality, offering lake access and quintessential New England small-town charm
Foliage access: Lake Winnipesaukee loop roads (immediate access), Castle in the Clouds estate drive (20-30 minutes), scenic lake cruises from Weirs Beach (20 minutes)
Massachusetts
The Berkshires region is a beautiful option for experiencing peak fall. The southern part of the Berkshires around New Marlborough is typically quieter, where you’ll find hotels and inns surrounded by working farms and winding country roads that burst with autumn colors. This was one of my first New England fall destinations, and the farm-to-table dining scene and quiet inns were perfect. I’m eyeing The Tourists hotel next time, which is perfectly positioned just steps from MASS MoCA and the dramatic Mount Greylock.
Tourists – North Adams, MA
Why stay here: A modern-rustic riverside retreat featuring Scandinavian-inspired design, woodland trails, and fire pits, perfectly positioned near MASS MoCA for a cultural autumn escape
Foliage access: Mount Greylock summit drive (20-30 minutes), Mohawk Trail Route 2 through northern Berkshires (10-20 minutes), backroads into Williamstown and Hoosac Range (15-30 minutes)
Old Inn on the Green – New Marlborough, MA
Why stay here: This candlelit 18th-century inn is renowned for its romantic atmosphere and exceptional dining, surrounded by quiet farmland and winding Berkshire backroads (less $ and down the street: Gedney Farm)
Foliage access: Berkshire backroads between Monterey, Tyringham, and Sandisfield (10-20 minutes), Route 7 and Great Barrington corridor (25-30 minutes), Mount Greylock and Mohawk Trail (40-50 minutes)
Vermont
Vermont is exceptional for New England fall foliage, and it’s also quickly become my favorite state to visit in all of New England. I can’t get enough of the friendly local attitude, charming towns and shops, and the incredible restaurant scene. The preserved village of Grafton, home to The Grafton Inn, represents Vermont at its most authentic, where every building dates to the 1800s and the surrounding countryside unfolds in perfect pastoral scenes. West Dover offers dramatic mountain views, and Woodstock feels straight out of a movie set. A fall trip here offers intimate accommodations, laid-back hiking trails, covered bridges, and authentic Vermont charm.
Woodstock Inn & Resort – Woodstock, VT
Why stay here: Vermont’s quintessential resort is situated in one of the most beautiful villages in New England, with a spa, golf course, and classic hospitality in the heart of prime foliage territory
Foliage access: Woodstock village walking paths and covered bridges (immediate), Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park trails (5 minutes), Mount Tom hiking trails with panoramic views (10 minutes), Route 100 scenic corridor (immediate access)
The Grafton Inn – Grafton, VT
Why stay here: This storybook Vermont inn dating to 1801 is set in a perfectly preserved historic village, offering classic accommodations, nearby covered bridges, and countryside tranquility
Foliage access: Route 121 through Grafton to Bellows Falls (10-20 minutes), southern Vermont’s Route 100 corridor (30-45 minutes), covered bridges in Rockingham and Chester (20-30 minutes)
The Hermitage Inn – West Dover, VT
Why stay here: This 112-acre luxury estate features refined dining, an on-site vineyard, and panoramic valley views at the doorstep of Mount Snow and Haystack Mountain (also check out nearby: Farm Road Estate)
Foliage access: Vermont’s famous Route 100 (immediate access), Haystack Mountain scenic overlook (30 minutes), Molly Stark Byway Route 9 between Brattleboro and Bennington (30-45 minutes)
The Pitcher Inn – Warren, VT
Why stay here: An intimate luxury hotel where each room is individually designed with whimsical themes, offering high-end service and prime access to Mad River Valley’s autumn displays
Foliage access: Route 100 north to Waitsfield and Stowe (10-30 minutes), Lincoln Gap Road for dramatic mountain vistas (20 minutes), Warren village backroads with farm and river views (immediate access)
I can’t wait to slow down and truly savor the best of this upcoming season: sitting around outdoor fire pits with friends, enjoying local warm apple cider, taking leisurely walks through crunching leaves, and seeking out the best farm-to-table dishes at cozy restaurants.
If you’re looking for fall-inspired destinations and boutique hotels in Europe, check out my fall trip to Sweden and Norway.
