Vermont + New Hampshire Fall Foliage 2026
VT + NH foliage 2026 — Northeast Kingdom peaks ~Sep 28, Kancamagus early Oct, CT River valley mid-Oct.
Days to go
17days · Sep 22 – Oct 14, 2026
2026 dates
Sep 22–Oct 14
Vermont + New Hampshire (Northeast Kingdom → Kancamagus → CT River valley) · Vermont
Search RVs for these datesWhere to sleep in Vermont
Vermont campgrounds we keep verified — rig limits, fees and booking windows straight from the operator. Distances to Vermont + New Hampshire (Northeast Kingdom → Kancamagus → CT River valley) vary, so check the map before you commit.
- Stillwater Campground (Groton State Forest)Nearest town: Groton · State Park / State Forest$25–$45/nightRigs to 35 ftBooks 11 months ahead via vt state parks portal
- Quechee State Park CampgroundNearest town: Quechee · State Park / State Forest$25–$40/nightRigs to 35 ftBooks 11 months ahead via vt state parks portal
- Grand Isle State Park CampgroundNearest town: Grand Isle · State Park / State Forest$25–$45/nightRigs to 40 ftBooks 11 months ahead via vt state parks portal
- Smugglers Notch State Park CampgroundNearest town: Stowe · State Park / State Forest$25–$38/nightRigs to 30 ftBooks 11 months ahead via vt state parks portal
Going to Vermont + New Hampshire Fall Foliage? Tell us the nights.
Local owners list their own rigs here. You get a single email when one is listed for your window.
What you need to know
The 2026 New England foliage window rolls roughly from September 22 through October 14, with peak color tracking south by latitude — Vermont's Northeast Kingdom typically peaks around September 28, the Stowe-Smugglers-Notch corridor and the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire's White Mountain National Forest peak in the first 7-10 days of October, and the Connecticut River valley + southern Vermont follow mid-October. Vermont State Parks moved to a rolling 11-month booking window in February 2026 with a two-night minimum on any reservation made more than seven days out — peak-Saturday single-night plans are blocked at the booking screen. Three road facts decide the route: Smugglers Notch on VT-108 bans single vehicles over 40 ft (over $1,000 fine), the Mount Washington Auto Road bans RVs + trailers outright, and the six WMNF campgrounds along the Kancamagus are first-come-first-served with no hookups. Plan the rig around the road.
Official source: fallfoliagetracker.com
Safety + legal
Smugglers Notch (VT-108) is RV-impassable for any single vehicle over 40 ft and seasonally closed late October through May depending on conditions. Mount Washington Auto Road and the Mount Washington Cog Railway base road both prohibit RVs and trailers — leave the rig at Twin Mountain or Bretton Woods and drive a tow up. The Kancamagus Highway is fine for rigs but has no fuel for 34.5 mi between Lincoln and Conway; top off either end.
Insider tip
The Pennsylvania northern Allegheny Plateau, the Endless Mountains, and the Pocono highlands typically peak the first 7-10 days of October — about a week before Vermont's Green Mountains — making PA the natural opening leg of a multi-state Northeast foliage RV loop. Pickup near Williamsport or Wilkes-Barre, run Worlds End + Ricketts Glen state parks the first week of October, then track the color north into the Catskills, Adirondacks, and Green Mountains as it advances.
Plan your trip · Sep 22 – Oct 14, 2026 · Vermont + New Hampshire (Northeast Kingdom → Kancamagus → CT River valley)
Rent an RV near Vermont + New Hampshire Fall Foliage
Search runs on your Sep 22 – Oct 14, 2026 window with a one-day buffer on each side — arrive early, leave late. Whether an RV is listed for those dates depends on what Vermont hosts have posted, so the campsite plan below is worth locking either way.
- Dates
- Sep 22 – Oct 14, 2026
- Days away
- 17
- Location
- Vermont + New Hampshire (Northeast Kingdom → Kancamagus → CT River valley)
- Book ahead
- 20+ weeks
- Planning window
- Start early
Hosting near Vermont + New Hampshire (Northeast Kingdom → Kancamagus → CT River valley)? List your rig and put your calendar in front of event travellers.
List your rig →Start early, arrive easy — the whole runway
The honest runway from start-looking to head-home, with a one-day buffer on each end.
Start
~20 weeks out
Give yourself ~20 weeks to line up a rig and a campsite.
Arrive
Sep 21
Roll in a day early and set up camp.
Event
Sep 22–Oct 14
Vermont + New Hampshire Fall Foliage 2026
Head home
Oct 15
Leave a day late and skip the exodus.
Best rigs for Vermont + New Hampshire Fall Foliage
First pick first — each row opens a search for Sep 22-Oct 14, already filtered to the class.
Plan it by rig
Each class above has its own planning page for Vermont + New Hampshire Fall Foliage — class fit and booking guidance in one place.
Frequently asked about Vermont + New Hampshire Fall Foliage
When is Vermont + New Hampshire Fall Foliage 2026?
Vermont + New Hampshire Fall Foliage 2026 runs Sep 22 – Oct 14, 2026 in Vermont + New Hampshire (Northeast Kingdom → Kancamagus → CT River valley), Vermont.
Where is Vermont + New Hampshire Fall Foliage held?
Vermont + New Hampshire (Northeast Kingdom → Kancamagus → CT River valley), Vermont.
What are the exact 2026 dates?
Sep 22 – Oct 14, 2026.
What RV should I rent for Vermont + New Hampshire Fall Foliage?
Best categories: rv, trucks-vans, towable, classic-touring. The 2026 New England foliage window rolls roughly from September 22 through October 14, with peak color tracking south by latitude — Vermont's Northeast Kingdom typically peaks around September 28, the Stowe-Smugglers-Notch corridor and the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire's White Mountain National Forest peak in the first 7-10 days of October, and the Connecticut River valley + southern Vermont follow mid-October. Vermont State Parks moved to a rolling 11-month booking window in February 2026 with a two-night minimum on any reservation made more than seven days out — peak-Saturday single-night plans are blocked at the booking screen. Three road facts decide the route: Smugglers Notch on VT-108 bans single vehicles over 40 ft (over $1,000 fine), the Mount Washington Auto Road bans RVs + trailers outright, and the six WMNF campgrounds along the Kancamagus are first-come-first-served with no hookups. Plan the rig around the road.
How early should I book an RV?
Recommended lead time: 20 weeks. Event windows book up early, so search and lock your dates as soon as your plans firm up.
What safety and legal guidance applies?
Smugglers Notch (VT-108) is RV-impassable for any single vehicle over 40 ft and seasonally closed late October through May depending on conditions. Mount Washington Auto Road and the Mount Washington Cog Railway base road both prohibit RVs and trailers — leave the rig at Twin Mountain or Bretton Woods and drive a tow up. The Kancamagus Highway is fine for rigs but has no fuel for 34.5 mi between Lincoln and Conway; top off either end.
What's an insider tip?
The Pennsylvania northern Allegheny Plateau, the Endless Mountains, and the Pocono highlands typically peak the first 7-10 days of October — about a week before Vermont's Green Mountains — making PA the natural opening leg of a multi-state Northeast foliage RV loop. Pickup near Williamsport or Wilkes-Barre, run Worlds End + Ricketts Glen state parks the first week of October, then track the color north into the Catskills, Adirondacks, and Green Mountains as it advances.
Ready to roll?
Vermont is waiting.
Complete nightly price on every listing — your exact total itemized before you pay · 48h free cancel. Every rig near you, one checkout.
More Vermont + season window events · 3
Cross-discover same-state events you can stack with your trip, plus season window events in other states.
PickRV is an independent RV-rental marketplace and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the NFL, FIFA, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, the International Olympic Committee, or any event organizer. All event names and marks are the property of their respective owners and are used here only for factual, descriptive reference.
Plan around the event · 3
Hub state · nearest city · nearest park · recommended rig category — one click each.
State rules, safety and legalLicence + towing rules, insurance basics and the non-affiliation notice.
Important: travel + safety + insurance disclaimer
This guide is provided for general informational purposes only. PickRV is not an insurer, legal advisor, or vehicle-safety authority. Trip planning, route selection, rig suitability, weather, and emergency decisions are the renter's responsibility. Always consult the rig manufacturer's owner's manual, your insurance provider, the U.S. National Park Service (nps.gov), NOAA / NWS weather alerts (weather.gov), state and local emergency-management agencies, and current local regulations before and during travel. Cost figures, season windows, road conditions, and fee references on this page are estimates as of May 2026 and vary by season, location, rig, carrier, and operator. Mentions of brand names, state-tourism marks, national-park feature names, or third-party programs are informational only and do not imply affiliation, sponsorship, or endorsement.
Before you rent in Vermont — key local rules
Renters drive motorhomes under 26,001 lbs on a standard license — Vermont DMV
Safe Boating Certificate required for operators born after Jan 1, 1974 — Vermont Legislature — 23 V.S.A. §3305b
VASA membership with Trail Access Decal required; roughly $80-$125 a year — Vermont Dept of Forests, Parks & Recreation
Vermont BAC 0.08%; open container in passenger area prohibited — 23 V.S.A. §1201
Editorial summary, not legal advice. Verify with Vermont DMV before relying. Reviewed in the last 4 months (as of 2026-05-24).
Vermont rules · last verified 2026-05-10
- State rental tax
- 7% · not collected by PickRV
- Min driver age
- 18+ std · 21+ Class A
- Gravel roads
- Allowed — no restriction
- Generator quiet
- 22:00-07:00