Suggestion for a foliage route 7 days - NH, VT and ME

[Davoice]

Hello,
Because of the pandemic , we are trying RV for First time and would like to find a foliage route on Sept 26-Oct 3 and apprecIate any help

1. We live in NJ and would like to drive using our car to NH, pick up the RV and leave the car at owners place (is that possible? Do rv owners allow people to park?

2.  Being a first timer, will i be ok driving a 24 footer around nh, vt and me roads.

3,  Would like suggestions for an itinerary please? And suggestions where to parn of camp along the routes.
     Our main goal is to hike and enjoy the colors and given a beginner, i might shy away from towns and cities

Thanks!

[SeilerBird]

Welcome to the forum. When I went a few years ago I just watched one of the many fall foliage reports web sites. They will tell you when and where the foliage is the best. Basically it starts at the Canadian border and rolls south.

[Chet18013]

A trip across PA on I 80 during the middle two weeks of October rivals the "famed New England" fall colors. Getting off 80 near State College and going around on the north side allows you to make a loop of about 12 covered bridges, which in the fall is really colorful.

[LarsMac]

May suggest renting a 20 foot Uhaul for a couple of days and drive it around to get a feel to the wide vehicle.

Then try a 26 ft truck for a day or two.

Not quite the same as an RV, but will help you get the feel of a larger vehicle. Then, when you get into the RV, it won't feel quite so foreign to you.

And relax. your mind adjusts fairly quickly.
Stick with US and State Highways, and you should be fine.

A nice drive in the fall would be to go up to around Bangor, and the follow US 2 west to Burlington, then South to Saratoga Springs,\

[jackiemac]

A trip across PA on I 80 during the middle two weeks of October rivals the "famed New England" fall colors. Getting off 80 near State College and going around on the north side allows you to make a loop of about 12 covered bridges, which in the fall is really colorful.

Chet, I'm assuming you drive "past" and not "under" those bridges?

I know we drove over several but didn't think that were RV friendly.

[Chet18013]

No. The RV is parked and the bridges are visited by car.

[jackiemac]

No. The RV is parked and the bridges are visited by car.

Ah, OK. I think OP is renting an RV and won't have a car....

[Chet18013]

You can still see all the covered bridges in the area and not have to cross them. Might have to drive a few extra miles, but it possible to visit them.

[Larry N.]

You can still see all the covered bridges in the area and not have to cross them. Might have to drive a few extra miles, but it possible to visit them.

True, but at least some of those covered bridges (most that I have seen) have a narrow road leading to them, and there's often little or no place to turn an RV around before crossing the bridge, along with the lack of clearance. For some it's hard to even find a place to park a small car to look more closely at the bridge, so it's good to check it out in advance if an RV is your conveyance. I'd hate to have to back up a mile or more to exit the area.

[Lynx0849]

Google Earth is your friend here.

[Arch Hoagland]

Davoice...you better be making some reservations pretty soon.

New England is a very popular place in the fall so reservations are a must.

[Hfx_Cdn]

     One thing that a quick read of the post does not mention is that the Columbus Day weekend is considered a must for "Leaf Peeping".  If you are going to be anywhere in the high colour area, make sure you have campground reservations. 
     As for where, you will just have to get out of the towns and villages anywhere into the White or Green Mountains.  I'm not sure if is running, but the western side of Mount Washington has a Cog Railway that is well worth the time and fee. Here is a link to their website: https://www.thecog.com/

Ed

[Rene T]

     
 I'm not sure if is running, but the western side of Mount Washington has a Cog Railway that is well worth the time and fee. Here is a link to their website: https://www.thecog.com/

Ed

I’ve never been on the Cog. We always drove up the Mt. Washington Auto Road. To me, that’s the only way to go up. If you go up in the fall, make sure you have extra warm clothes. Even in the summer it can get pretty cold up there.

[jackiemac]

I’ve never been on the Cog. We always drove up the Mt. Washington Auto Road. To me, that’s the only way to go up. If you go up in the fall, make sure you have extra warm clothes. Even in the summer it can get pretty cold up there.

We tried to do this but it was cold and icy and we were told we could only go so far which we did.  The wind was awful and when I opened the door it whipped it away and it hit the car next to us.  Steve was very impressed.... not.  We did exchange details with the guy and as it was a hire car we were not too worried as we had insurance.

I could not believe how cold it was up there though.  Brrrr. 

We drove on a road called the Kancamagus Pass - US112 - which was really pretty for the trees, this is in NH. I cannot remember the whole road but think it was OK for an RV, in fact looking at Streetview the Google car was following a small RV.  There was a covered bridge, I think the photo from Chet shows it, but this was off to the side if I recall correctly.

Check your route carefully to avoid those covered bridges which are very pretty to see but you don't want to come across them and end up holding up traffic or worse!

We also stayed in the town of Inlet which is still in NY and it was really lovely at that time of year with the fall colours.  I think if you go anywhere with a forest with the right type of trees you won't fail.

Hope it all works out for you.

[Larry N.]

Here are some pix of covered bridges (and their approaches) in Vermont, taken a few years ago.

[Lynx0849]

Just to be clear, the Kank does not have any overhead bridges at all. Any covered bridges are on side roads. In the big picture (which includes real mountains like the rockys), the road is not bad. There is one sharp turn but otherwise is fine. In leafpeaper season it will be bumper to bumper so no one is going fast.
Very nice ride. I do it every few years just cause...