We here in the Commonwealth are so fortunate to have the gorgeous colors of autumn on full display right in our own backyards. There’s nothing like watching local flora flare with brilliant hues of gold and scarlet. The best way to see all the autumnal splendor? A fall foliage road trip, of course. The drive time for this road trip to the best fall foliage in Massachusetts is just shy of nine hours, so you may want to stop at the included overnight destination. For detailed driving directions, click here.
The Route
Google Maps
Appleton Farms, Hamilton and Ipswich
Flickr/MOTT This family-owned farm has been providing an incredible bounty of fresh food and stunning fall colors in Massachusetts for nine generations of Appleton farmers. Roam the open pastures, golden fields, and beautiful orchards to get your fix of autumn beauty. The crimson ivy climbing across the farm’s rock walls is particularly stunning.
Address: MA-1A, South Hamilton, MA, 01982 Appleton Farms, MA-1A, South Hamilton, MA 01982, USA
Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain
Flickr/Bill Ilot Located a mere six miles from Boston, this 265-acre leafy paradise offers plenty of amazing spots for watching the leaves changing colors in Massachusetts. Many of the trees are labeled, so you’ll know exactly what kind of colorful flora you’re looking at. The paths are well-marked and edged with brightly-hued leaves, and the arboretum is open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Address: 125 Arborway, Boston, MA, 02130 Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, 125 Arborway, Boston, MA 02130, USA
Brewster Gardens, Plymouth
Flickr/MOTT This park feels worlds away from hustle and bustle of urban living, but it’s located right in the Plymouth cultural district. Featuring carefully maintained walking paths and a babbling brook, this little park is a hidden treasure that is packed with gorgeous fall colors.
Address: 30 Water Street, Plymouth, MA, 02360 30 Water St, Plymouth, MA 02360, USA
Where to Stay: Longfellow’s Wayside Inn, Sudbury
Flickr/MOTT Longfellow’s Wayside Inn, 72 Wayside Inn Rd, Sudbury, MA 01776, USA
Longfellow’s Wayside Inn This mill is the oldest operating inn in the country and the quintessential autumn hideaway. They’ve been welcoming guests since 1716, and grinding their own corn meal and wheat flour since 1929. This delicious flour is then used in in their mouthwatering baked goods. They offer 10 guest rooms that are furnished with a combination of authentic antiques and period-inspired reproductions. It’s the perfect place to bed down for the night after a full day of foliage hunting.
Address: 72 Wayside Inn Road, Sudbury, MA, 01776
Wachusett Mountain, Princeton
Flickr/Jukie Bot This spot might be best known for its sublime skiing, but the mountain transforms into a wonderland of fall colors around late September. Don’t miss your chance to take in the beauty of this natural landmark without the winter crowds.
Address: 499 Mountain Road, Princeton, MA, 01541 Mount Wachusett, Princeton, MA 01541, USA
Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge
Flickr/MOTT There’s something particularly special about Old Sturbridge Village in the fall. This open-air, living history museum recreates all the charm and stately beauty of colonial New England. There’s no better time to explore than during the autumn months, when the village’s ancient trees are afire with dazzling shades of yellow, orange and red.
Address: 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge, MA, 01566 Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge, MA 01566, USA
Deerfield
Flickr/MOTT Deerfield, MA, USA
Flickr/MOTT Located right along the Mohawk Trail (one of the best routes for admiring the fall colors in Massachusetts). Deerfield is a charming town filled with wide lanes, colonial homes, and a profusion of brightly-colored autumn foliage. Stroll through the historic district and catch an eyeful of rich fall splendor.
Address: Deerfield, MA, 64741
Savoy Mountain State Forest and Florida State Forest
Flickr/MOTT These two magnificent forests are right next to each other, so you can take your pick. Both offer incredible landscapes, especially during peak fall foliage. The Florida State Forest is smaller and lesser-known, so it might be the perfect spot to find a beautiful, shady grove all to yourself. However, Savoy Mountain State Forest has some of the most breathtaking views around.
Address: Savoy, MA, 01256 Savoy, MA, USA
Great Brook Farm State Park, Carlisle
Flickr/MOTT Great Brook Farm State Park, 165 North Rd, Carlisle, MA 01741, USA
Flickr/MOTT This charming state park features a petting zoo and an ice cream shop, not to mention plenty of scenic walking paths and trails. The autumn season really brings out the beauty of the park. Check out Towels Field for a romantic sunset stroll or picnic spot.
Address: 165 North Road, Carlisle, MA, 01741
You can’t go wrong with a road trip any time of year, but the autumn months are a particularly splendid time to hit the road to the best fall foliage in Massachusetts. For another amazing trip across the state, check out our amazing waterfalls roadtrip.
Google Maps
Flickr/MOTT
This family-owned farm has been providing an incredible bounty of fresh food and stunning fall colors in Massachusetts for nine generations of Appleton farmers. Roam the open pastures, golden fields, and beautiful orchards to get your fix of autumn beauty. The crimson ivy climbing across the farm’s rock walls is particularly stunning.
Address: MA-1A, South Hamilton, MA, 01982
Appleton Farms, MA-1A, South Hamilton, MA 01982, USA
Flickr/Bill Ilot
Located a mere six miles from Boston, this 265-acre leafy paradise offers plenty of amazing spots for watching the leaves changing colors in Massachusetts. Many of the trees are labeled, so you’ll know exactly what kind of colorful flora you’re looking at. The paths are well-marked and edged with brightly-hued leaves, and the arboretum is open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Address: 125 Arborway, Boston, MA, 02130
Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, 125 Arborway, Boston, MA 02130, USA
This park feels worlds away from hustle and bustle of urban living, but it’s located right in the Plymouth cultural district. Featuring carefully maintained walking paths and a babbling brook, this little park is a hidden treasure that is packed with gorgeous fall colors.
Address: 30 Water Street, Plymouth, MA, 02360
30 Water St, Plymouth, MA 02360, USA
Flickr/MOTT
Longfellow’s Wayside Inn, 72 Wayside Inn Rd, Sudbury, MA 01776, USA
Longfellow’s Wayside Inn
This mill is the oldest operating inn in the country and the quintessential autumn hideaway. They’ve been welcoming guests since 1716, and grinding their own corn meal and wheat flour since 1929. This delicious flour is then used in in their mouthwatering baked goods. They offer 10 guest rooms that are furnished with a combination of authentic antiques and period-inspired reproductions. It’s the perfect place to bed down for the night after a full day of foliage hunting.
Address: 72 Wayside Inn Road, Sudbury, MA, 01776
Flickr/Jukie Bot
This spot might be best known for its sublime skiing, but the mountain transforms into a wonderland of fall colors around late September. Don’t miss your chance to take in the beauty of this natural landmark without the winter crowds.
Address: 499 Mountain Road, Princeton, MA, 01541
Mount Wachusett, Princeton, MA 01541, USA
There’s something particularly special about Old Sturbridge Village in the fall. This open-air, living history museum recreates all the charm and stately beauty of colonial New England. There’s no better time to explore than during the autumn months, when the village’s ancient trees are afire with dazzling shades of yellow, orange and red.
Address: 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge, MA, 01566
Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge, MA 01566, USA
Deerfield, MA, USA
Located right along the Mohawk Trail (one of the best routes for admiring the fall colors in Massachusetts). Deerfield is a charming town filled with wide lanes, colonial homes, and a profusion of brightly-colored autumn foliage. Stroll through the historic district and catch an eyeful of rich fall splendor.
Address: Deerfield, MA, 64741
These two magnificent forests are right next to each other, so you can take your pick. Both offer incredible landscapes, especially during peak fall foliage. The Florida State Forest is smaller and lesser-known, so it might be the perfect spot to find a beautiful, shady grove all to yourself. However, Savoy Mountain State Forest has some of the most breathtaking views around.
Address: Savoy, MA, 01256
Savoy, MA, USA
Great Brook Farm State Park, 165 North Rd, Carlisle, MA 01741, USA
This charming state park features a petting zoo and an ice cream shop, not to mention plenty of scenic walking paths and trails. The autumn season really brings out the beauty of the park. Check out Towels Field for a romantic sunset stroll or picnic spot.
Address: 165 North Road, Carlisle, MA, 01741
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Fall Foliage In Massachusetts August 16, 2019 Beth Price-Williams What is the best time to see peak fall foliage in Massachusetts? Excited for the peak fall foliage in Massachusetts? Start making plans now. The peak fall foliage depends on where you are in the state. If you’re inland, expect the best explosion of colors from early to mid-October. However, if you’re on the coast, you’ll enjoy the changing of the colors from mid-October through just before Halloween. Where are the best places in Massachusetts to see fall foliage? Not sure where to see the fall colors in Massachusetts? You’ve got a ton of choices! Listen to the crunching of the already-fallen leaves as you admire the trees, drenched in the colors of fall, at Forest Hills Cemetery in Boston, or take a stroll around Boston Public Garden for spellbinding views. If you’re up for a little bit of exploring as you go leaf peeping, plan a visit to one of the state parks that promise spectacular leaves changing color in Massachusetts. Leominster State Forest in Leominster and Borderland State Park in Easton and Sharon are both perfect for an autumn adventure. What are the best Massachusetts hikes to take in the fall? On the hunt for fun things to do in fall in Massachusetts? Lace up your hiking boots for an unforgettable autumn hike. If you prefer a leisurely, easy hike, you have plenty of choices. Skyline Trail at Middlesex Fells Reservation, Monument Mountain Trail in Great Barrington, and Birch Pond in Saugus all offer picture-perfect ways to see the leaves changing color in Massachusetts. If you prefer to kick back and relax as the fall landscape rolls by, how about a fall foliage train trip? Hop aboard a train with the Cape Cod Central Railroad for a fall leaf peeping excursion.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Fall Foliage In Massachusetts
August 16, 2019
Beth Price-Williams
What is the best time to see peak fall foliage in Massachusetts? Excited for the peak fall foliage in Massachusetts? Start making plans now. The peak fall foliage depends on where you are in the state. If you’re inland, expect the best explosion of colors from early to mid-October. However, if you’re on the coast, you’ll enjoy the changing of the colors from mid-October through just before Halloween. Where are the best places in Massachusetts to see fall foliage? Not sure where to see the fall colors in Massachusetts? You’ve got a ton of choices! Listen to the crunching of the already-fallen leaves as you admire the trees, drenched in the colors of fall, at Forest Hills Cemetery in Boston, or take a stroll around Boston Public Garden for spellbinding views. If you’re up for a little bit of exploring as you go leaf peeping, plan a visit to one of the state parks that promise spectacular leaves changing color in Massachusetts. Leominster State Forest in Leominster and Borderland State Park in Easton and Sharon are both perfect for an autumn adventure. What are the best Massachusetts hikes to take in the fall? On the hunt for fun things to do in fall in Massachusetts? Lace up your hiking boots for an unforgettable autumn hike. If you prefer a leisurely, easy hike, you have plenty of choices. Skyline Trail at Middlesex Fells Reservation, Monument Mountain Trail in Great Barrington, and Birch Pond in Saugus all offer picture-perfect ways to see the leaves changing color in Massachusetts. If you prefer to kick back and relax as the fall landscape rolls by, how about a fall foliage train trip? Hop aboard a train with the Cape Cod Central Railroad for a fall leaf peeping excursion.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Excited for the peak fall foliage in Massachusetts? Start making plans now. The peak fall foliage depends on where you are in the state. If you’re inland, expect the best explosion of colors from early to mid-October. However, if you’re on the coast, you’ll enjoy the changing of the colors from mid-October through just before Halloween.
Where are the best places in Massachusetts to see fall foliage?
Not sure where to see the fall colors in Massachusetts? You’ve got a ton of choices! Listen to the crunching of the already-fallen leaves as you admire the trees, drenched in the colors of fall, at Forest Hills Cemetery in Boston, or take a stroll around Boston Public Garden for spellbinding views.
If you’re up for a little bit of exploring as you go leaf peeping, plan a visit to one of the state parks that promise spectacular leaves changing color in Massachusetts. Leominster State Forest in Leominster and Borderland State Park in Easton and Sharon are both perfect for an autumn adventure.
What are the best Massachusetts hikes to take in the fall?
On the hunt for fun things to do in fall in Massachusetts? Lace up your hiking boots for an unforgettable autumn hike. If you prefer a leisurely, easy hike, you have plenty of choices. Skyline Trail at Middlesex Fells Reservation, Monument Mountain Trail in Great Barrington, and Birch Pond in Saugus all offer picture-perfect ways to see the leaves changing color in Massachusetts.
If you prefer to kick back and relax as the fall landscape rolls by, how about a fall foliage train trip? Hop aboard a train with the Cape Cod Central Railroad for a fall leaf peeping excursion.
