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There is no place like New England in the fall, particularly the White Mountains. There are so many great places to see foliage in New England, but my top recommendation is definitely the White Mountain area of New Hampshire. I’ve spent my whole life visiting this region every year and am never not blown away by how stunning it is in the fall, no matter how many times I see it
The North Conway/Bartlett/Jackson area is the best place to base yourself for the ultimate New England fall road trip. Definitely make sure you have a car, as this area is difficult to explore without one! This area is home to the infamous Kancamagus highway, the ultimate New England fall roadtrip destination.
I’ve compiled my ultimate list of things to do in the White Mountains in the fall below. This list can be completed in 2-3 days, so a weekend or long weekend is perfect! Also, check out my 10 Best Fall Weekend Getaways in New England list for additional fall travel inspo!
Fall in the White Mountains Bucket List:
- Drive the Kancamagus Highway from North Conway to Lincoln
- Drive to Mt. Washington Base Station & Cog Railway
- Drinks at the Mount Washington Resort
- Take the North Conway Scenic Railway
- Visit Jackson & See the Pumpkin People Displays
- Explore Jackson Falls
- Eat Apple Cider Donuts at White Mountain Cider Co.
- Try Wine & Cider at Alpine Gardens Winery
- Drive up to Cathedral Ledge
Also in this Article:
This article contains some links where I earn commission through booking. There is no extra cost to you, and I only recommend things I’ve used and love or places I’ve stayed and enjoyed!
Top things to do in White Mountains in the Fall Map
Top things to do in White Mountains in the Fall
There are so many amazing things to do in the White Mountains in the fall. I’ve compiled a full list of my top recommendations below!
Drive the Kancamagus Highway from North Conway to Lincoln
The drive from North Conway to Lincoln offers some of the best leaf peeping in the White Mountain area! You’ll follown the Kancamagus Highway along the Swift river. This route takes you up over the mountains before descending back down into Lincoln. There are tons of places to stop to take pictures, hike, explore, etc. but I’ve listed my top recommendations below! The drive without stops takes about 40 minutes, but it will be closer to a few hours with stops!
Stop 1: Lower Falls
Lower Falls is my favorite spot in North Conway! In the fall it offers some of the best foliage views of the stops on the Kancamagus highway.
Stop 2: Rocky Gorge
Taking the short walk into Rocky Gorge is highly recommended! It takes about ten minutes to get into the main area of the gorge and the views speak for themselves!
Stop 3: Sugar Hill Scenic Vista
One of the best viewpoints of the Kancamagus Highway drive! This is a great place to stop and get pictures!
Stop 4: Pemigewasset Overlook
The peak of the Kancamgus Highway is Pemigewasset Overlook. This is the highest elevation of the drive and offers some of the best views on a clear day!
Stop 5: Lincoln Woods Trailhead
The last stop on the Kancamagus highway before you reach Lincoln offers some of the best views of the drive! Highly recommend stopping here. If you’re heading back to North Conway and don’t want to go into Lincoln this is a good spot to turn around.
Drive to Mt. Washington Base Station & Cog Railway
The area surrounding Mt. Washington is one of the most beautiful areas of the White Mountains. If you’re interested in going to the top of Mount Washington you can take the Cog Railway to the top, but if you’re short on time or don’t want to take the train, I recommend driving to Marshfield Station (the base of the Cog Railway) for the views. It’s a great place to have a picnic lunch.
There are some good stop along the way to the station as well like Ammonoosuc Riverwalk Scenic Area, Bretton Woods & Fabyan’s Station.
Taking the Cog Railway:
If you want to take the train to the top of Mt Washington trains run daily and depart hourly. It’s a 3 hour round trip roughly (this includes an hour to explore at the top) Pack warm clothes, the summit is freezing and often snowing in the fall! Tickets here. They usually cost $85 round trip when bought in advance!
Drinks at the Mount Washington Resort
The Mount Washington Resort is one of the most stunning hotels in New England and has some of the best views of Mount Washington and the surrounding White Mountains. It’s open to the public even if you aren’t staying there. I highly recommend stopping by for a drink on their deck for epics views like the ones above!
Take the North Conway Scenic Railway
The North Conway Scenic Railway from departs daily in the fall from the railway station right in downtown North Conway. This 4 hour train ride winds through some of the most scenic areas of the White Mountains for insane foliage views. It makes a few stops along the way at a few scenic spots like Willey House on the lake, Crawford Notch Depot (on another mountain lake)
If the train is sold out, or you’d prefer not to take it you can also drive this route by following this map here. I prefer driving because you can combine this with stops at Mt Washington Cog Railway Station and the Mt. Washington Hotel!
Visit Jackson
Jackson is one of my favorite NH towns. It’s a small, quaint area right north of North Conway. They’re known for the fall “pumpkin people” displays. Each restaurant, business, hotel, etc. in the area puts together a fun pumpkin person display. This area is super scenic and fun to spend an hour or two walking around. It’s super small, so you don’t need to dedicate too much time here if you’re in a rush!
Explore Jackson Falls
Jackson falls is a great area to do a bit of hiking/exploring and get some epic foliage and mountain views! You can park right nearby and walk right into the falls without needing to walk too far.
Eat Apple Cider Donuts at White Mountain Cider Co.
It’s not fall without apple cider donuts! The White Mountain Cider Co. in Bartlett makes fresh ones daily and they do not disappoint! Grab some to go and enjoy them as you venture through the White Mountains.
Try Wine & Cider at Alpine Gardens Winery
Alpine Gardens Winery in Bartlett is one of the cutest fall spots in the White Mountain area. This charming resort/campground has a winery where they make all their own wine and cider. There is plenty of outdoor seating with epic foliage views and cute fall pumpkin displays. This is a great place to grab a drink or sample a few of their wines and ciders, they offer 2oz glasses for tastings!
Drive up to Cathedral Ledge
For some of the best aerial foliage views without needing to hike drive the short road up to Cathedral Ledge. This outlook offers stunning views of the White Mountains and of Echo Lake, and is a great spot to grab some photos!
2 & 3 Day White Mountain Fall Itineraries
I recommend a minimum 2 days in this area for exploring in the fall. If you have more time there is plenty to see. I put my top recommendations in days 1 and 2, so if you’re short on time just use those days, if you have more time days 3 is also filled with fun fall activities!
Day 1:
- Morning: Drive the North Conway Scenic Railroad Route. Map here. There are 3 stops to get out and explore the views
- Late Morning: Continue the drive to Mt. Washington Cog Railways base station for lovely views of the mountains. There are tons of pulloffs and stops along the way!
- Early Afternoon: Stop for lunch & drinks at the Mt. Washington Hotel – sit on their back deck for the absolute best views.
- Evening: Explore Downtown North Conway & grab dinner at a local spot. All of my favorite restaurants in North Conway here!
Day 2:
- Early Morning: make an early stop at White Mountain Cider Co. for apple cider donuts
- Morning-Afternoon: drive the Kancamagus highway to Lincoln, NH and back. With all the stops this is likely to take 3-4 hours at least.
- Late Afternoon: visit the Alpine Gardens Winery for a relaxing afternoon with the best views
Day 3:
- morning: visit Cathedral Ledge in North Conway for aerial panoramic views. You can drive or there is a 3 mile loop you can hike
- afternoon: explore charming Jackson, a small town near North Conway with an iconic covered bridge, yearly pumpkin people displays at all the local businesses, and great restaurants. I love drinks at the Wentworth Inn deck and dinner at Shannon Door for amazing bar pizza! Also, check out Jackson falls for stunning mountain and river views with a colorful fall foliage backdrop.
When to visit the White Mountains for Fall Foliage
Foliage generally peaks in early to mid October in the White Mountains – it varies year to year based on weather. There are tons of great trackers online if you have flexibility on when you visit, this allows you to wait for foliage to peak before visiting. If your plans aren’t as flexible visiting between the second and third weeks of October is generally a safe bet.
Fall Foliage Trackers:
Where to Stay in the White Mountains for Fall Foliage
There are so many great hotels in the White Mountains, so there are tons of options for every budget/accommodation need. Some of my favorites in North Conway, Bartlett, Jackson & Bretton Woods are:
Bretton Woods
Omni Mount Washington Resort
If you’re willing to splurge for an epic mountain getaway, Omni Mount Washington Resort, is my absolute top recommendation! This stunning hotel is a located near Mt. Washington & Bretton Woods, about 40 minutes north of North Conway.
This resort has everything – the best mountain views (see pic above), restaurants, bars, a pool, a golf course, a gym & spa. It really is a bucket list White Mountain stay, and one of my favorite hotels anywhere.
North Conway
North Conway Grand Hotel
North Conway Grand Hotel is one of my favorite places to stay in North Conway! It’s located right downtown and is walkable to the Settlers Green shopping and restaurant area. The hotel has an outdoor pool that’s heated year round with epic mountain views. There is also an indoor pool, onsite restaurant, gym & more. This hotel can a bit a bit on the pricy side, but to me, the location and amenities make it worth it!
Golden Gables Inn
If you’re looking for a more affordable option that is still right in downtown North Conway, I highly recommend the Golden Gables Inn. The location is perfect, the rooms are updated & clean, there is a nice outdoor pool and the grounds are great when the weather is nice!
Residence Inn by Marriott North Conway
Residence Inn by Marriott is another one of my favorite places to stay in downtown North Conway. The location can’t be beat, and it’s easy to walk or drive to any of the nearby shops and restaurants on Rt. 16. The rooms are clean and modern, the breakfast is great and there is an indoor pool that’s great in the winter!
Jackson
The Wentworth
The Wentworth in Jackson is another one of my favorite places to stay in the White Mountains. Jackson is a tiny, charming town just north of North Conway. It’s picturesque, and has some of my favorite bars & restaurants in the North Conway area. The Wentworth is a quintessential New England hotel with a fun bar, mountain views, a golf course & more.
Bartlett
Grand Summit Hotel at Attitash
I stayed at the Grand Summit Hotel at Attitash on my most recent trip to North Conway and can’t recommend it enough! This hotel is in the perfect location for exploring the White Mountains. It’s located right at the base of Bear Peak in Attitash, making it the perfect place to stay in the winter, but it’s also great for summer and fall exploring! The outdoor pool is open year round, there is an onsite restaurant & pub, and a to go cafe for breakfast, lunch, coffee, snacks, etc.
This is a great place to stay with kids!
More North Conway Travel Guides
See all my North Conway guides below for planning your perfect trip!
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