Scenic Massachusetts Fall Foliage Road Trips

Massachusetts offers a bounty of options for leaf lovers looking to drive and explore. If you’ve only been to the Berkshires, it’s time to branch out and discover new regions of Massachusetts that come alive with color starting in September. Here are some Massachusetts fall foliage driving tours to consider as you plan your autumn excursions. Remember to follow your instincts, too, and don’t pass by beautiful byways that beckon to you.

A Massachusetts Cranberry Bog Driving Tour

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It’s a colorful sight to behold when Massachusetts’ largest cash crop is harvested each fall, and the changing leaves add to the visual splendor. Follow these tips and directions to enjoy your own tour of Cranberry Country, which is located south of Boston.

New England’s First Scenic Drive: Mount Greylock and the Mohawk Trail

Country road at Mount Greylock in Massachusetts
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This scenic drive through the Berkshires of western Massachusetts is one of 30 scenic drives featured in a popular travel book. Therefore, plan a fall drive to the top of Mount Greylock and along New England’s first official scenic road, which is more than a century old.

Berkshires Driving Tours

Road in Cheshire Massachusetts through the Berkshires
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From the Mohawk Trail Association, there are five suggested driving tours in western Massachusetts that are perfect for any season, and they particularly shine in the fall.

Franklin County Driving Tour

Deerfield River, Shelburne Falls Massachusetts
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This driving tour takes you through classic New England towns including Greenfield, Ashfield, Buckland, Shelburne Falls, South Deerfield, and Deerfield. Visiting Yankee Candle Village is a must-stop while you’re in this part of Massachusetts.

Jacob’s Ladder Trail

Church in Lee City, Berkshire District Massachusetts
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Jacob’s Ladder Trail is a colorful nickname for U.S. Route 20 in Massachusetts, serving as a hilly and picturesque alternative to the Mass Pike. Notably, this route is the first auto road built to climb over a mountain range and is also a National Scenic Byway.

Western Massachusetts Foliage Drive

Photo of a river lined with trees with yellow leaves
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Trace the Connecticut River on this 60-mile foliage drive, which is described in Yankee magazine. Along the way, you’ll encounter old cemeteries, farms, small towns, unique shops, and historic sights.

Classic Cape Cod Driving Tour

Photo overlooking Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard
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According to National Geographic, this “drive of a lifetime” encompasses nearly all of Cape Cod. Use this route to navigate through classic Cape Cod scenes during your fall visit. If New England is on your itinerary late in the fall foliage season, Cape Cod is one of the last areas where leaves typically remain vibrant each year.

Massachusetts Fall Foliage and Scenic Drives

Small bridge in Plymouth Massachusetts
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Visit Massachusetts provides suggested scenic driving routes throughout the state, including drives in the Berkshires, along the South Shore, in the Greater Boston area, and much more.

Massachusetts Foliage Driving Tour

Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts
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According to Yankee magazine, explore the hill towns of western Massachusetts on this captivating two-day fall driving tour.

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