Season window · Vermont
Vermont + New Hampshire Fall Foliage 2026
Sep 22 – Oct 14
See what's coming up in Vermont →Vermont + New Hampshire (Northeast Kingdom → Kancamagus → CT River valley) · Vermont
This edition has ended
- Next edition
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VT + NH foliage 2026 — Northeast Kingdom peaks ~Sep 28, Kancamagus early Oct, CT River valley mid-Oct.
What you need to know
Vermont + New Hampshire Fall Foliage 2026 ran Sep 22 – Oct 14, 2026. Its next dates are not on our calendar yet.
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, 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.
Safety rules and an insider tip
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.
Official source: visitnh.gov/plan-your-trip/fall/foliage-tracker-app
Where to sleep in Vermont
None of the Vermont campgrounds we verify is matched to this event's town.
Going to Vermont + New Hampshire Fall Foliage? Tell us the nights.
Local owners list their own rigs here. Pick your nights and we'll email you when one is listed for them.
Around Vermont + New Hampshire Fall Foliage
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.
Where is Vermont + New Hampshire Fall Foliage held?
Vermont + New Hampshire (Northeast Kingdom → Kancamagus → CT River valley).
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, 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.
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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 5 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