A two-week loop from Boston, from Cape Cod to the cliffs of Acadia, by way of the Newport mansions, the Berkshires, Vermont and the White Mountains. Do it in autumn, when the maples turn red, from the Kancamagus Highway to Cadillac Mountain.
| Days | Stop | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1 to 2 | Boston | Start |
| Days 3 to 4 | Chatham (Cape Cod) | 141 km · 2h |
| Day 5 | Newport | 150 km · 2h20 |
| Day 6 | Lenox (Berkshires) | 254 km · 3h20 |
| Days 7 to 8 | Stowe | 367 km · 4h40 |
| Days 9 to 10 | North Conway | 212 km · 3h25 |
| Days 11 to 12 | Bar Harbor (Acadia) | 319 km · 4h45 |
| Day 13 | Portland (Maine) | 256 km · 4h |
| Day 14 | Back to Boston | 171 km · 2h10 |
Road route calculated from the stops (OpenStreetMap). Driving times assume no stops and no traffic: add time for photo breaks.
Late September to late October for the foliage, which moves from north to the coast: around mid-October in the Maine mountains, mid to late October on the coast and in Acadia. In winter, Smugglers' Notch and the Mount Washington road close, as does Acadia's Park Loop Road, from 1 December to 15 April.
🚗 141 km · 2h of driving from Boston
Route 3, the Sagamore Bridge, which is free, then Route 6 along the cape. Frequent traffic jams at the bridge in summer.
🚗 150 km · 2h20 of driving from Chatham
Route 6 and the Bourne Bridge, then I-195 towards Fall River and Route 24 to Aquidneck Island.
🚗 254 km · 3h20 of driving from Newport
The Newport Bridge, tolled with no booths, then I-95 and the Mass Pike (I-90), with electronic tolls, to Lee.
🚗 367 km · 4h40 of driving from Lenox
The Mass Pike, then I-91 along the Connecticut River and I-89. At Waterbury, Route 100 climbs to Stowe.
🚗 212 km · 3h25 of driving from Stowe
I-93 through Franconia Notch, then the Kancamagus Highway (Route 112), which crosses a pass at 870 m on the way to Conway.
🚗 319 km · 4h45 of driving from North Conway
Route 302 into Maine, the Maine Turnpike (I-95, tolled) to Augusta, then Route 3 via Belfast.
🚗 256 km · 4h of driving from Bar Harbor
Route 1 via Bucksport, Belfast and Camden, where the mountains drop into Penobscot Bay, then I-295.
🚗 171 km · 2h10 of driving from Portland
In 10 days, drop Cape Cod and Newport: from Boston, head to Lenox on the Mass Pike, then follow the loop via Stowe, North Conway, Bar Harbor and Portland (9 nights). In one week, keep only the White Mountains, Acadia and Portland.
| Car, Boston, January | ≈ $46 a day (€40) |
|---|---|
| Car, Boston, July | ≈ $91 a day (€80) |
| SUV, Boston | ≈ $85 a day (€74) |
| Annual average, Boston | ≈ $65 a day (€57) |
| Vehicle | Saloon or compact SUV: the whole route is paved, a 4x4 is no use. |
|---|---|
| Where to pick it up | Logan Airport (BOS), returning it there: a one-way hire generally costs extra. |
| Electronic tolls | Ask about the rental company's toll package: the Massachusetts tolls and the Newport Bridge have no booths. |
| Insurance | Take the LDW or CDW (damage to the vehicle) and extended liability cover (LIS or SLI). |
| Age | 21 at Enterprise, 20 at Hertz; a surcharge of about $25 a day under 25. |
| Licence and card | Hertz requires a licence held for more than a year and a card in the driver's name, preferably a credit card. |
| Prices recorded | Kayak averages in Boston, September 2026, excluding additional insurance. |
⚠️ Without a transponder, each electronic toll is billed by number plate and then recharged by the rental company: compare its toll package before signing.
For a tourist stay under ESTA. International Driving Permit strongly recommended.
As in mainland Europe. Almost all hire cars are automatics.
75 mph in Maine, 70 on some stretches in New Hampshire; 50 to 60 mph off the motorways.
0.08% in all five states, zero tolerance under 21. Open bottles go in the boot.
The Mass Pike, the Boston tunnels and the Newport Bridge bill by number plate; the Maine Turnpike accepts cash.
Hand-held phones banned while driving in all five states on the route, texting included.
Come to a full stop and give way to pedestrians, unless there is a NO TURN ON RED sign. Never on a red arrow.
Where every approach has a stop sign; if you arrive at the same time, the vehicle on the right has priority.
As long as their red lights are flashing, except on dual carriageways.
In the northern part of the loop. Hitting a moose is often fatal in a car.
In peak season, leaf peepers fill the roads and car parks, especially at weekends.
≈ €1.01 to €1.03 a litre depending on the state ($4.37 to $4.46 a gallon, AAA, 24 September 2026)
Price recorded in September 2026: it changes every week, sometimes by 10 to 20 cents in a month. Today's price: AAA Gas Prices →
⛽ 1,870 km at 7 l per 100 km: about €130 at September 2026 prices, to share between passengers.
Little difference between the five states, with New Hampshire slightly cheaper. Non-US card: pay inside at the till.
| Mass Pike (I-90) | Electronic, more expensive without a transponder |
|---|---|
| Boston airport tunnels | $1.75 with a Massachusetts E-ZPass, more without a transponder |
| Newport (Pell) Bridge | $4 with an out-of-state E-ZPass, $6 without a transponder |
| Maine Turnpike (I-95) | $8 for the full length, cash or E-ZPass |
| Hampton toll (I-95, New Hampshire) | $2 in cash, $1.40 with a transponder (2020 rates) |
| Cape Cod bridges | Free |
| Acadia | $35 per vehicle for 7 days plus $100 per non-resident aged 16 and over |
| Cadillac Summit Road | $6 per vehicle, booked online from 20 May to 25 October |
| Mount Washington Auto Road | $36 per adult, $15 for ages 4 to 12 |
| Flume Gorge | $18 online, $21 at the ticket office |
| Cape Cod National Seashore beaches | $25 per car, in season only |
| America the Beautiful non-resident pass | $250 a year |
| Cadillac Summit Road (Acadia) | Cars until 21:00, closed from 1 December to 15 April |
|---|---|
| Park Loop Road (Acadia) | Open from 15 April to 1 December |
| Smugglers' Notch (Route 108) | Generally closed from late October to May; no articulated lorries |
| Mount Washington Auto Road | Daily from 23 May to 1 November 2026 |
| Mount Washington Auto Road, opening hours | Last ascent at 16:30 until 18 October, 16:00 after that |
| Flume Gorge | Open until 25 October 2026, walkways removed in winter |
| Kancamagus Highway | Open in winter, with brief closures for snow clearing |
| Mount Greylock road | Seasonal: check it is open outside summer |
| Mountaineer train (Crawford Notch) | From May to November |
Two weeks for the full loop from Boston: 13 nights, eight stages, never more than five hours' driving between two stages. In 10 days, drop Cape Cod and Newport. In one week, stick to the White Mountains, Acadia and Portland, with two nights in the same place to catch your breath.
From late September to late October. The foliage moves from north to the coast: in Maine, it peaks in late September in the north, around mid-October in the mountains, and mid to late October on the coast. Vermont publishes a weekly report in September and October: on 23 September 2026, the peak had not yet been reached.
Yes, by car, from 20 May to 25 October: one timed entry slot per vehicle, $6, sold only online and in advance, with no re-entry once you leave. On top of that comes the Acadia entry fee: $35 per car for 7 days and $100 per non-resident aged 16 and over. The park does not accept cash.
Excluding flights and accommodation: $650 to $1,300 of car hire over 14 days (Kayak, Boston, September 2026), about €130 of petrol at September 2026 prices for about 1,850 km, $235 for Acadia entry for a couple, $72 for Mount Washington for two, plus the electronic tolls recharged by the rental company.
Rarely on this loop: only Acadia charges $100 per non-resident aged 16 and over. For a couple, entry costs $235, against $250 for the non-resident pass. It pays off if you visit another major national park within the year, such as the Grand Canyon or Yosemite.
Yes, for a tourist stay under ESTA: an EU licence is tolerated. An International Driving Permit is strongly recommended; apply for it in the country that issued your licence, at least a month before you leave.
Driving rules, prices and closures checked in September 2026; hotels checked on OpenStreetMap and then on Booking. Rules change: read the official source before you leave, and check your own government's travel advice for the country. Stop photos: Wikimedia Commons, authors and licences under each image.
Off We Gooo road trip guide · offwegooo.com/en/road-trips/new-england · by Tom, updated 1 October 2026
