You’ve seen the lighthouses. You’ve marveled at the fall foliage. You know that New England is a region of beauty, and this must-see destination is just built for the road trip crowd.
At 72,000 square miles – slightly larger than the state of Washington – New England is an easily navigable road trip destination sprinkled with attractions and adventures just a stone’s throw from each other. If you’re visiting the land of lobster, rocky coasts and lighthouses, here are 16 stops for the perfect New England road trip.
MAINE
1. Portland Head Light:
2. Acadia National Park: Hikers, climbers and nature lovers flock to
3. The Lobster Shack: Enjoy “lobstah” and that gorgeous New England coast at
4. Breweries: Maine is the East Coast’s version of Colorado, with an impressive brewery roster that includes
NEW HAMPSHIRE
5. Mount Washington: At 6,288 feet,
6. Story Land: While designed for kids,
7. White Mountain Trail: This
VERMONT
8. Lake Champlain: Sure, the formal name is Lake Champlain, but people in Burlington call this scenic area “The Islands.” For roughly 30 miles, The Islands are connected via U.S. Route 2, and are accessible from Burlington and further up north near Champlain, New York. Visitors flock here in spring, summer and fall for relaxed walks on the shoreline, outdoor adventures and the tasty
9. Downtown Burlington: Colonial spires and outdoor cafes decorate Burlington’s charming brick streets. Whether it’s the Church Street Market – Burlington’s open-air mall – or a stroll along the Waterfront Park, this laid-back Vermont town is a great stopover for any New England road trippers.
MASSACHUSSETTS
10. Cape Cod: The Cape is everything you’d expect for summer in New England: lighthouses, dune beaches, fishing boats and lobster – all the lobster! If you’re looking for a party, head to Provincetown (an accepting haven for the LGBTQ community), or for a truly nautical adventure, take the ferry out to Nantucket, a 105-square-mile island with bike paths, restaurants and the absolutely delicious
11. Harpoon Brewery: If you’re brave enough to road trip into Boston (kudos to you), hit up
12. Salem: If spooky is your thing,
RHODE ISLAND
13. Brown University: Providence is a hilly mix of canals, colonial churches and college campuses. Perhaps the most beautiful of those campuses – Brown University – is as much a tourist sight as it is a college. The historic, antique campus is filled with students throwing the Frisbee or playing a game of Quidditch (no, seriously – I stayed and watched the whole thing). To blend in as a Brown student, grab a bite on bustling Thayer Street, one of the university’s most popular restaurant rows.
14. Newport Mansions: Just because you can’t afford a mansion doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate them. Such is the case with Newport, Rhode Island, a historic area filled with
CONNECTICUT
15. Mystic: Stroll along the
16. Mark Twain’s home: Bookworms, brace yourself: You can actually see the place famous characters like Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer were born at
What place would you add to your perfect road trip?
This is a guest post by Stephanie Vermillion.
Stephanie Vermillion is a travel writer and blogger based in New York City. Her writing has been published in outlets like Mental Floss, MSN, Matador Network and Travelettes, and she is a contributing author to Thought Catalog’s travel book, “Let’s Get Lost.” Stephanie is also a member of the Society of American Travel Writers, and runs road trip travel blog,