Best Driving Roads in New England
New England was practically made for day trips out on the road. It might not have wide stretching highways like California, but its packed with fascinating history, storybook towns, sprawling mountains, rugged coastline, evergreen forests that make it perfect for a beautiful drive. If you want to explore New England, home to the states of New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Maine, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, you’ve got a lot of ground to cover. And there’s so much diversity, with Cape Cod in the summer, the White Mountains in the winter, the region’s fiery foliage in the fall, and so much more. If you’re lucky enough to be able to get on the road in New England, you’ve got plenty of roads to choose from. To help narrow it down, here are five of the best driving roads in New England.
We’ve given estimated driving times, but we’re sure you’ll want to stop off and explore. Be sure to factor this in when planning your trip.
1. Route 2, Massachusetts
Distance: 69 miles Driving time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Route 2 is a 142-mile-long highway in Massachusetts, but what we’re interested in is the 69-mile corridor between Athol and Williamstown. This is otherwise known as the Mohawk Trail, the first scenic drive in New England. The Mohawk Trail has various unofficial starting and end points depending on who you ask, but the stretch between Athol and Williamstown is the designated Mohawk Trail Scenic Byway. This road has so much history - it once served as a trade route, connecting Native American tribes along the Atlantic coast.
The route traverses through deep forest, farmland, quaint towns, with scenic views the whole way. The famous hairpin turn is 1,700 feet above sea level, offering beautiful views of Hoosac Valley, Mount Greylock, Mount Prospect and more. When driving through acres upon acres of forest trees, it’s not hard to see why fall is the most popular time to make this drive.
Although there is so much natural beauty to take in, including the Natural Bridge State Park, the Bridge of Flowers, and the glacial potholes at Shelburne Falls, there are also sites of cultural interest along the way. The Massachusetts Museums of Contemporary Art is right near the famous hairpin turn, with immersive exhibitions, restaurants, and even a brewery.
2. Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire
Distance: 36 miles Driving time: 50 minutes
The Kancamagus Highway, or the ‘Kanc’ as it’s known locally, stretches for 36 miles through the sprawling White Mountain forest. Unlike most of the other drives on this list, the Kanc doesn’t pass through towns. It’s blissfully free of civilisation. Between Conway and Lincoln it’s just you, the open road, and New Hampshire’s backcountry. And maybe some eagles, deer, bears, and moose, if you get lucky.
New Hampshire’s famous White Mountains stay in sight as you snake through the forest. Although that’s beautiful enough, we recommend stopping off at some key points. There are plenty of places to swim in the Pemigewasset River, which travels fresh water from the White Mountains for 65 miles. And the Sabbaday Falls are just half a mile away from the Kanc, the perfect opportunity to stretch your legs and gape at the picture perfect waterfall.
3. Park Loop Road, Maine
Distance: 27 miles Driving time: 40 minutes
There’s only one national park in New England, Acadia National Park, so it’d be remiss to not take a lovely drive around it. Like the name suggests, this road is a loop - starting and ending in Bar Harbor. Along the way, drivers get to see the park’s lakes, mountains, and shoreline. There are many places to stop along the way, including Sieur de Monte, Sand Beach, Otter Point, Cadillac Mountain, and Jordan Pond. Be sure to keep an eye out for wildlife - you’re likely to spot mink, otters, beavers, raccoons, bobcat, and sometimes even coyotes, bears, and moose.
It’s a short drive, but you could spend hours exploring the park and its rocky shores. It’s a delightfully twisty drive on smooth asphalt, but still a comfortable drive for those that aren’t too confident. You’ll probably want to spend longer here than you might think, so be sure to bring water and snacks with you for a scenic picnic. Bare in mind that the only place to eat is at the Jordan Pond House, but there are plenty of restaurants and bars at Bar Harbor.
4. Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway, Maine
Distance: 35 miles Driving time: 50 minutes
This inland road snakes through deep forestry, dips in and out of hills and valleys, and loops around lakes. It’s a wonderfully scenic drive, along Route 17 and 4, perfect for a day trip in the great outdoors. They don't call Maine the Pine Tree state for nothing, and on this drive, you’ll see thousands of them. Like many of the drives in New England, this route is most popular during the fall when the trees are storybook shades of burgundy and ochre. But most of the time, this route is nice and quiet. If you’re looking for peace and tranquility, while getting to experience stunning views, you won’t be disappointed with this drive.
There are many places to stop and take in the scenery, but the Height of Land along Route 17 is a highlight. It’s 2,247 feet above sea level, with views for miles across Mooselookmeguntic Lake. Another brilliant stop is Angel Falls, it’s take about forty-five minutes to hike there from the road, but it’s worth it.
5. Route 169, Connecticut
Distance: 32 miles Driving time: 50 minutes
Take a trip back in time down Connecticut’s Route 169. It’s just over 30 miles, between Lisbon to the border of Massachusetts, but there’s so much to see in a relatively small area. Cruise through hilly farmlands, passing quintessential country stores, Colonial-era mansions, white chapel-fleck villages, and stone walls. It’s as New England as it gets.
While much has changed along this historical route, the history and traditions are still very much a part of the communities. In some towns, the feel of an early American community is still prevalent. Be sure to visit the churches of Pomfret, which date back to the 1800s. And stopping off at Woodstock is a must for its unique and beautiful architecture. It seems everything along this route is bursting with history and tradition, and the Mashamoquet Brook State Park is no different. There, you’ll find the Wolf Den national historic site, the Brayston Grist Mill, and Indian Chair natural stone formations. Visitors can also swim in the lake, hike one of the paths, and even go fishing.