3 East Coast Fall Road Trips That Leave Room to Breathe

Peak fall color can bring leaf-peeper traffic, full parking lots, and a lot of people headed for the same overlook. You can still visit the places you've been dreaming about. The trick is to keep going once you've seen them.

I've road-tripped through all 50 states, and some of my favorite stops were never on the original itinerary. If you want a fall trip with room for those moments, these three routes give you a place to start.

Adirondacks to the Thousand Islands: Make the Drive the Trip

If mountains, lakes, rivers, and small towns sound like your kind of fall scenery, start with the Adirondacks. I drove this route a little early for full color, and almost immediately wanted to come back when the leaves were at their peak.

Follow the road toward Alexandria Bay

Our route took us through Chimney Point and Keene Valley, then on to Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, and Tupper Lake.

We continued toward Potsdam, a quirky little town where we spotted toilets sitting around town, before reaching Alexandria Bay and Clayton in the Thousand Islands.

The Thousand Islands boat tour was fantastic. Alexandria Bay was a pleasant surprise, too: it's a cute town to explore, and you can get great views of Boldt Castle from the park.

But you don't need to race toward the boat tour. One of the stops I remember most was lunch beside a peaceful river. It wasn't fancy. We'd found a good spot, so we stayed awhile.

See Lake Placid, then keep going

Lake Placid is popular in the fall, and you don't have to skip it. Don't make the famous stop your entire trip. Continue to Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake, or pull over somewhere that looks interesting even though it wasn't on your list.

If you can give yourself several days, you'll have more room to follow the color as conditions change. And if you like stickers, check the visitor centers at Chimney Point or Lake Placid. I found a great selection of free ones.

New Hampshire and Vermont: Classic Fall Scenery Beyond Stowe

Covered bridges, mountain towns, and farm stands might be exactly what you picture when you think of a New England fall road trip.

For this route, we traveled from Concord, New Hampshire, to Montpelier, Vermont, then headed up to Stowe and over to Burlington. I checked out the capitals in Concord and Montpelier along the way.

Use I-89, then get off and explore

We mostly followed I-89 between Concord and Montpelier. An interstate might sound like an odd choice for a scenic trip, but you don't need to avoid highways completely. Use one to cover some distance, then slow down where you want to explore.

There are small towns, secondary roads, and covered bridges throughout this area.

Pick a couple of places where you want to spend time rather than trying to drive every famous scenic road. That leaves room for a farm stand or a lunch stop you hadn't heard of that morning.

Visit Stowe without building the whole trip around it

Stowe is popular in the fall. Go if it's on your list, then get back in the car and see someplace else. You can have a plan and still let an unexpected stop become the best part of your day.

For lodging, look about 15 to 20 minutes outside the busiest town instead of automatically staying in it. You may find better availability, possibly a better price, and another town you wouldn't have discovered otherwise.

Maine and Acadia: Donuts, Coastline, and a Quieter Park Stop

This route starts in Hartford, Connecticut, heads north to Wells, Maine, and continues to Acadia National Park. Yes, Acadia can get busy in the fall. You can still enjoy the park without spending all your time at its busiest overlooks.

Stop in Wells for the donuts

Wells is exactly the kind of town I like to add to a road trip. It's cute, it breaks up the drive, and it has Congdon's Doughnuts, which has been in business since 1955.

We arrived before 7:00 a.m. and there was already a line out the door. Apparently, getting there early doesn't mean you'll have the donuts to yourself!

Give smaller Maine towns some time on your itinerary instead of making the national park your entire vacation.

Give Schoodic Point and the carriage roads time

Schoodic Point, on the Schoodic Peninsula, is one of my favorite spots in Acadia. You get rugged Maine coastline and beautiful ocean views. In my experience, it hasn't felt nearly as busy as some other areas of the park.

I'd also spend time on Acadia's carriage roads for a different way to experience the park away from the busiest overlooks.

Start early, explore beyond the stops everyone heads for, and check the National Park Service's Acadia information as your trip gets closer.

How to Avoid the Worst Fall Road Trip Crowds

The route matters, but so does the way you plan your days. A little flexibility gives you a better chance to enjoy the places you came to see.

Follow foliage reports, not just the calendar

Fall color doesn't peak everywhere at the same time. As your trip gets closer, check local foliage reports for the areas you plan to visit rather than counting on one date to work for every stop.

If your schedule allows it, travel in the middle of the week. Tuesday through Thursday is usually the sweet spot. You'll still see other travelers, but I'd rather explore on a Wednesday than a Saturday afternoon.

Leave space for the stops you don't know about yet

Trying to do too much can make one traffic jam or full parking lot feel like it's ruined your day. If you have a three-day trip, don't pack it with six days' worth of things to do. Pick your priorities and leave some time open.

That's how you get to turn down an interesting road, stop at a farm stand, or spend an extra hour beside a river because you found the perfect picnic spot.

If you're working on turning a route idea into an itinerary, the step-by-step road trip planning guide can help you sort out your stops and driving days.

Take care of the unglamorous stuff

Before you head onto quieter roads, download offline maps. Cell service can disappear quickly once you're away from towns. Check your gas gauge before driving too far into rural areas, and pack layers because fall can give you several seasons in one day.

None of that is glamorous, but it helps keep a beautiful drive from becoming a stressful one.

Pick the Scenery, Then Leave Room for the Road

For mountains and lakes, head through the Adirondacks toward the Thousand Islands.

For covered bridges and classic New England towns, choose New Hampshire and Vermont.

If you want small-town Maine, coastal views, and a national park, make your way through Wells to Acadia.

Whichever route you choose, mix the famous places with the quieter stops between them. The leaves don't know whether you're on a famous road or a back road, and some of your favorite moments might happen after you leave the crowd behind.

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