Central Hills Loop In Massachusetts Is An Underrated Scenic Drive

The Bay State is home to numerous country roads that will take your breath away any time of year, but this 57-mile scenic drive that starts and ends in New Salem is truly gorgeous. Next time you’re looking for a way to take in all that Massachusetts’ nature has to offer, hop in your car and take the under-appreciated Central Hills Loop on US-202. This scenic highway drive will take you by amazing scenes like forests, foliage, and second-to-none views of the Quabbin Reservoir. For an underrated scenic drive, don’t pass up the 57-mile-long Central Hills Loop in Massachusetts which starts and ends in New Salem.

Welcome to Central Hills Loop in Massachusetts!

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While there are plenty of beautiful byways and highways to drive, this 57-mile scenic byway in Masachhusetts is second to none.

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This underrated scenic drive in Massachusetts starts in New Salem and takes you through towns like Pelham, Belchertown, Ware, Hardwick, and Nichewaug before taking you back to beautiful New Salem.

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We all know that fall foliage in New England is absolutely breathtaking, and this scenic drive is one of the best ways to view it.

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While taking Central Hills Loop in the fall is spectacular, this underrated scenic drive is breathtaking any time of year.

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Besides the forests and incredible overlooks along the way, you’ll also see Quabbin Reservoir—the largest inlet body of water in our state—in the background, making for a truly picturesque backdrop for your drive.

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There are plenty of photo-worthy opportunities along this drive, so make sure to bring your camera!

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Next time you’re looking for a leisurely drive through some of Massachusetts’ most incredible scenery, hop in your car and take the highly underrated Central Hills Loop in New Salem.

Dave Lawler / Moment Open via Getty Images To view the entire route of Central Hills Loop in Massachusetts on Google Maps, click here.

Have you ever driven the 57-mile Central Hills Loop in Massachusetts, a scenic drive that starts and ends in New Salem? What time of year did you go? Was it as breathtaking as these photos make it look? We’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments, and don’t forget to then go share photos from your Massachusetts outdoor adventures with us in our Massachusetts Nature Lovers group on Facebook, or by tagging us at #onlyinmassachusetts on Instagram for a chance to be featured!

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Matthew Stallone / Moment via Getty Images

Dave Lawler / Moment Open via Getty Images

To view the entire route of Central Hills Loop in Massachusetts on Google Maps, click here.

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Address: US-202, New Salem, MA, USA

The OIYS Visitor Center

Central Hills Loop In Massachusetts June 29, 2021 Melissa M. What other scenic drives can I take in Massachusetts? A state as scenic as Massachusetts certainly has its fair share of scenic drives around the state. Route 6A through parts of Cape Cod follows along on the Old King’s Highway, a route that will take you from Bourne up through Provincetown. Along the way, you’ll see several historic buildings and lovely scenery. Jacob’s Ladder Scenic Byway, or Route 20, through the Berkshires, leads travelers through the quaint town of Lee. It’s a lovely 35-mile drive. You can read about several other scenic drives in Massachusetts in this post. What are some of the best Massachusetts road trips? We have a roundup of 10 of the best road trips you can take in Massachusetts that will lead you to some unforgettable places. Some of these are hidden gems and places you may not have heard of or thought about visiting before. Included on the list is a hidden beaches road trip that will take you to some gorgeous stretches of pristine sand from Wellfleet to Gloucester and several spots in between. If you love discovering abandoned places, take our abandoned places road trip for a spooky adventure and some great photographic opportunities! Can I drive to any scenic overlooks in Massachusetts? Along the Mount Greylock Scenic Byway, you can pull over at Adams Overlook or park in the available parking area. Here you will get a panoramic view of the surrounding Berkshires. You can also drive all the way to the top of Mount Greylock for another vista point in the area. At Quabbin Reservoir, you can drive up to the Quabbin Reservoir Overlook for some gorgeous water and landscape views. Learn about additional scenic overlooks in our previous coverage.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Central Hills Loop In Massachusetts

June 29, 2021

Melissa M.

What other scenic drives can I take in Massachusetts? A state as scenic as Massachusetts certainly has its fair share of scenic drives around the state. Route 6A through parts of Cape Cod follows along on the Old King’s Highway, a route that will take you from Bourne up through Provincetown. Along the way, you’ll see several historic buildings and lovely scenery. Jacob’s Ladder Scenic Byway, or Route 20, through the Berkshires, leads travelers through the quaint town of Lee. It’s a lovely 35-mile drive. You can read about several other scenic drives in Massachusetts in this post. What are some of the best Massachusetts road trips? We have a roundup of 10 of the best road trips you can take in Massachusetts that will lead you to some unforgettable places. Some of these are hidden gems and places you may not have heard of or thought about visiting before. Included on the list is a hidden beaches road trip that will take you to some gorgeous stretches of pristine sand from Wellfleet to Gloucester and several spots in between. If you love discovering abandoned places, take our abandoned places road trip for a spooky adventure and some great photographic opportunities! Can I drive to any scenic overlooks in Massachusetts? Along the Mount Greylock Scenic Byway, you can pull over at Adams Overlook or park in the available parking area. Here you will get a panoramic view of the surrounding Berkshires. You can also drive all the way to the top of Mount Greylock for another vista point in the area. At Quabbin Reservoir, you can drive up to the Quabbin Reservoir Overlook for some gorgeous water and landscape views. Learn about additional scenic overlooks in our previous coverage.

The OIYS Visitor Center

A state as scenic as Massachusetts certainly has its fair share of scenic drives around the state. Route 6A through parts of Cape Cod follows along on the Old King’s Highway, a route that will take you from Bourne up through Provincetown. Along the way, you’ll see several historic buildings and lovely scenery. Jacob’s Ladder Scenic Byway, or Route 20, through the Berkshires, leads travelers through the quaint town of Lee. It’s a lovely 35-mile drive. You can read about several other scenic drives in Massachusetts in this post.

What are some of the best Massachusetts road trips?

We have a roundup of 10 of the best road trips you can take in Massachusetts that will lead you to some unforgettable places. Some of these are hidden gems and places you may not have heard of or thought about visiting before. Included on the list is a hidden beaches road trip that will take you to some gorgeous stretches of pristine sand from Wellfleet to Gloucester and several spots in between. If you love discovering abandoned places, take our abandoned places road trip for a spooky adventure and some great photographic opportunities!

Can I drive to any scenic overlooks in Massachusetts?

Along the Mount Greylock Scenic Byway, you can pull over at Adams Overlook or park in the available parking area. Here you will get a panoramic view of the surrounding Berkshires. You can also drive all the way to the top of Mount Greylock for another vista point in the area. At Quabbin Reservoir, you can drive up to the Quabbin Reservoir Overlook for some gorgeous water and landscape views. Learn about additional scenic overlooks in our previous coverage.