Late September – October
Fall in New Hampshire
Fall is New Hampshire's signature. The hardwoods catch fire from north to south, the air turns sharp and clear, and the whole state becomes a single, slow, deliberate drive. It is the season the Granite State is known for, and the one that rewards arriving early and leaving late.
Quick Facts
Peak color, slow drives, and the season everyone waits for.
Best Time
Late September – October
Temperatures
Highs 55–70°F · Lows 35–48°F
What to Pack
- Fleece & light jacket
- Trail shoes
- Layers
- Camera
- Warm hat for elevations
- Reservation for dinner
Signature Activities
Things to do in fall
Kancamagus Foliage Drive
The most photographed stretch of fall color in the East; go at sunrise.
Franconia Notch Color
Drive, hike, or ride the aerial tram above the basin at the heart of the Whites.
Harvest Festivals
Small-town celebrations built around apples, pumpkins, cider, and fiddle music.
Apple Picking & Cider Donuts
Orchards open the gates for u-pick and the season's first warm donut.
Covered Bridge Tours
String together the state's wooden bridges framed in peak hardwood color.
Scenic Gondola & Tram Rides
Ride above the color line for the long view across the ridges.
Farm-to-Table Dinners
Single-seating harvest dinners built around what the farm pulls that morning.
Monadnock Hikes
The most climbed mountain in the world, and a view that frames the whole color belt.
Cozy B&B Getaways
Wood-frame houses, screened porches, and mornings over the lake mist.
Craft Brewery Foliage Tours
Patio beer under the maples and a harvest release or two on tap.
Pumpkin Festivals
The season's closing parties: squash, lanterns, and one last warm evening.
Events Calendar
Fall on the calendar
Pumpkin Festival
Laconia
NH Fall Foliage Festival
White Mountains
Cider & Donut Days
Merrimack Valley
Sample Itineraries
A plan, to start with
A Perfect Fall Weekend in the White Mountains
Day 1
The Drive
Sunrise Kancamagus drive; lunch at a wayside; afternoon at a covered bridge.
Day 2
The Ridge
Hike Franconia Ridge above the color; fireside dinner at a country inn.
Day 3
The Notch
Aerial tram over Franconia Notch; apple picking on the way home.
