Fall brings out the best of the East Coast with its perfect mix of colorful leaves, crisp air, and harvest season fun. You can drive through winding country roads that lead to apple orchards, craft breweries, and farm markets full of fresh produce.
The East Coast offers some of the best fall road trip experiences in the country, combining stunning foliage with authentic harvest adventures that you can’t find anywhere else. From New England’s famous apple picking spots to the Blue Ridge Mountains’ scenic drives, each state has its own special charm during autumn.
Whether you have a weekend or a full week, you’ll discover hidden gem breweries tucked into small towns, family-owned orchards with hayrides and cider tastings, and harvest festivals that celebrate the season. The fewer crowds and cooler weather make fall the perfect time to explore everything from Hudson Valley wineries to Pennsylvania’s covered bridge tours.
Top East Coast Orchards for Fall Road Trips
The East Coast offers some of America’s best apple orchards for autumn road trips. These three standout destinations combine fresh fruit picking with family fun, delicious treats, and scenic fall views.
1. Honey Pot Hill Orchards, Stow, Massachusetts
You’ll find over 20 apple varieties at this 200-acre farm just 30 minutes west of Boston. The orchard grows everything from classic McIntosh to unique varieties like Honeycrisp and Gala.
What makes it special:
- Pick-your-own apples from September through October
- Fresh apple cider donuts made daily
- Corn maze that changes design each year
- Farm animals including goats and chickens
The farm store sells fresh-pressed cider, homemade pies, and local honey. You can also grab pumpkins for carving while you’re there.
Best time to visit: Late September through mid-October when most apple varieties are ripe. Weekday visits are less crowded than weekends.
The orchard sits in a beautiful valley with views of rolling hills. Fall foliage usually peaks in early October, making your apple picking extra scenic.
2. Lyman Orchards, Middlefield, Connecticut
This family-owned orchard has been growing fruit for over 275 years. You’ll discover 25 different apple types across 1,100 acres of farmland.
Apple varieties include:
- Early season: Ginger Gold, Paula Red
- Mid-season: Honeycrisp, Gala, Empire
- Late season: Fuji, Granny Smith, Rome
The farm offers tractor rides to distant picking areas. Their Apple Barrel Market sells fresh baked goods, including their famous apple cider donuts and pies.
Additional activities:
- Sunflower maze (late summer/early fall)
- Pumpkin picking in October
- Golf course on property
- Corn maze adventure
You can pick apples from late August through October. Each variety ripens at different times, so call ahead to check what’s ready.
The farm also hosts special events like harvest festivals and live music on weekends. Their bakery uses apples picked that same day.
3. Applecrest Farm Orchards, Hampton Falls, New Hampshire
Located just 10 minutes from the Atlantic coast, this orchard combines apple picking with ocean breezes. The farm has grown apples since 1913 and offers 30 different varieties.
Unique features:
- Apple wine and hard cider made on-site
- Scenic views of nearby mountains
- Heritage apple varieties you can’t find in stores
- Pick-your-own raspberries in early fall
The farm’s cider house produces award-winning alcoholic beverages. You can taste different flavors before buying bottles to take home.
Their farm stand sells fresh produce, baked goods, and local crafts. The apple cider donuts are made with cider pressed from their own apples.
Planning your visit: Apple season runs from Labor Day through Halloween. Peak picking time is usually mid-September through early October.
The orchard offers wagon rides on busy weekends. You’ll also find a playground area for kids and picnic tables for lunch.
Must-Visit Breweries Along Scenic Routes
The East Coast offers some of America’s most celebrated craft breweries nestled in stunning fall landscapes. These three destinations combine world-class beer with breathtaking autumn scenery perfect for your harvest road trip.
4. Hill Farmstead Brewery, Greensboro Bend, Vermont
You’ll find this legendary brewery tucked away in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. The remote location makes it feel like a pilgrimage site for beer lovers.
Hill Farmstead sits on a working farm surrounded by rolling hills. During fall, the maple trees create a stunning backdrop of red and gold colors.
What makes it special:
- Consistently ranked among the world’s best breweries
- Family-owned operation using local ingredients
- Farmhouse ales and IPAs are their specialty
The tasting room is small and cozy. You can sample flights while looking out at the Vermont countryside through large windows.
Best time to visit: Late September through mid-October for peak foliage. The brewery opens Thursday through Sunday, so plan accordingly.
The drive there takes you through scenic Route 2 and smaller country roads. You’ll pass farms, covered bridges, and small Vermont towns along the way.
5. Tree House Brewing Company, Charlton, Massachusetts
This brewery revolutionized the New England IPA style. Their hazy, juicy beers have gained a massive following across the country.
Tree House’s Charlton location features a large outdoor space perfect for fall weather. You can enjoy your beer while surrounded by Massachusetts woodlands.
Popular beer styles:
- Double IPAs with tropical fruit flavors
- Barrel-aged stouts and porters
- Seasonal harvest ales using local ingredients
The brewery operates on a retail model. You buy cans to take home rather than drinking pints on-site, though you can sample before purchasing.
Planning your visit: Check their website for current beer releases and hours. They often sell out of popular beers quickly.
The surrounding area offers apple orchards and farm stands. You can easily combine your brewery visit with other harvest activities.
6. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, Delaware
Delaware’s most famous brewery offers a full destination experience. The Milton location includes tours, tastings, and a restaurant serving beer-paired meals.
Signature experiences:
- Brewery tours showing their unique brewing equipment
- Beer garden with outdoor seating among native plants
- Tasting room featuring rare and experimental brews
Dogfish Head is known for unusual ingredients and ancient beer recipes. You might try ales made with herbs, spices, or even chocolate.
The fall season brings special releases like pumpkin ales and Oktoberfest-style beers. Their “Punkin Ale” uses real pumpkin and seasonal spices.
Food pairings: The on-site restaurant matches dishes with specific beers. Try the beer-braised short ribs with their 90 Minute IPA.
The brewery sits near Delaware’s beaches and state parks. You can explore coastal areas and see fall colors along waterways and marshlands.
Iconic Harvest Festivals and Fall Markets
The East Coast comes alive each fall with harvest celebrations that showcase local apple varieties, craft ciders, and seasonal traditions. These festivals offer apple picking adventures, pumpkin patches, and tastings of fresh-pressed ciders that capture the essence of autumn.
7. Hudson Valley Apple Picking and Pumpkin Festival, New York
The Hudson Valley transforms into a fall paradise each October. You’ll find dozens of orchards hosting harvest celebrations across the region.
Popular Orchards:
- Lawrence Farms Orchards in Newburgh
- Fishkill Farms
- Pennings Farm Market in Warwick
You can pick over 20 apple varieties including Honeycrisp, Gala, and Empire. Most farms offer hayrides through the orchards and corn mazes for kids.
The pumpkin patches stretch for acres. You’ll see everything from tiny decorative gourds to 50-pound carving pumpkins.
Many orchards feature fresh cider donuts made on-site. The warm donuts pair perfectly with cold apple cider pressed that morning.
Festival Activities:
- Live bluegrass music on weekends
- Petting zoos with goats and sheep
- Face painting for children
- Farm-to-table food vendors
Peak season runs from late September through October. Weekends get crowded, so arrive early for the best picking and parking.
8. Great Pumpkin Fest at Iron Kettle Farm, Candor, New York
Iron Kettle Farm hosts one of New York’s largest pumpkin festivals each October. The 200-acre farm grows over 30 pumpkin varieties.
You’ll walk through massive pumpkin fields to find your perfect jack-o-lantern. The farm grows specialty varieties like white pumpkins and warty gourds.
Festival Highlights:
- 10-acre corn maze with spooky themes
- Pumpkin cannon demonstrations
- Wagon rides to distant pumpkin patches
- Live music and craft vendors
The farm’s cidery produces hard ciders from apples grown on the property. You can taste seasonal flavors like cinnamon spice and cranberry apple.
Kids love the barnyard animals including miniature horses and pot-bellied pigs. The farm also features a giant jumping pillow and pedal cart races.
Weekend festivals run from mid-September through Halloween. The farm stays open until 10 PM on Friday and Saturday nights for haunted maze experiences.
Admission includes access to all activities except the corn maze and pumpkin purchases.
9. Sterling Cider Harvest Festival, Sterling, Massachusetts
Sterling’s annual cider festival celebrates the town’s apple-growing heritage. Local orchards unite each October for this community celebration.
You’ll taste ciders from five area producers including Davis Farmland and Sholan Farms. Each orchard brings their signature blends and seasonal specialties.
Cider Varieties:
- Traditional sweet ciders
- Hard ciders with 6-8% alcohol content
- Spiced varieties with cinnamon and nutmeg
- Cranberry apple blends
The festival features live demonstrations of old-fashioned cider pressing. You can watch apples transform from whole fruit to fresh juice in antique wooden presses.
Food vendors serve apple-themed dishes like apple sausage, apple pie, and apple butter on fresh bread. Local bakeries compete in an apple dessert contest.
Activities Include:
- Apple pie eating contests
- Children’s apple bobbing
- Live folk music performances
- Craft booths with local artisans
The festival runs for one weekend in early October. Tickets cost $15 for adults and include unlimited cider tastings and entertainment.
Unforgettable Fall Foliage and Scenic Drives
The East Coast offers some of America’s most stunning fall drives, from Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains to New Hampshire’s White Mountains. These routes combine brilliant autumn colors with apple orchards and craft breweries perfect for harvest season adventures.
10. Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia
The Blue Ridge Parkway stretches 469 miles through Virginia and North Carolina. This scenic highway offers incredible mountain views and colorful fall foliage from late September through mid-October.
You’ll find dozens of apple orchards along the parkway. Carter Mountain Orchard near Charlottesville features pick-your-own apples and hard cider tastings. Graves Mountain Farm offers apple picking plus country store treats.
The parkway passes several craft breweries too. Stop at Blue Mountain Brewery for farm-to-table food and mountain views. Wild Wolf Brewing sits right off the parkway with outdoor seating perfect for leaf peeping.
Best viewing spots:
- Skyline Drive overlooks
- Humpback Rocks
- Peaks of Otter
Peak foliage usually hits around October 10-20 in Virginia. The drive takes about 8 hours without stops, but plan for a full weekend to enjoy orchards and breweries.
11. Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire
This 34-mile stretch through the White Mountains is famous for its fall colors. The “Kanc” runs between Lincoln and Conway with no commercial development blocking your views.
Fall foliage peaks in late September to early October here. Maples turn bright red and orange while birches add golden yellow. The colors reflect beautifully in the Swift River.
You’ll find great apple orchards near both ends of the highway. Meadow Ledge Farm in Loudon offers 20 apple varieties plus fresh cider donuts. Apple Hill Farm features a corn maze and pumpkin patch.
Must-see stops:
- Lower Falls swimming hole
- Sabbaday Falls hiking trail
- Sugar Hill overlook
Several breweries sit within 30 minutes of the highway. Woodstock Inn Brewery serves craft beer with mountain lodge atmosphere. Tuckerman Brewing offers outdoor patios perfect for October weather.
The drive takes about 2 hours, but expect traffic during peak foliage weekends.
12. Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Skyline Drive runs 105 miles along the ridge of the Blue Ridge Mountains. You’ll drive through Shenandoah National Park with 75 scenic overlooks showing off the Shenandoah Valley.
This drive offers some of the East Coast’s most reliable fall colors. Foliage typically peaks from October 5-25, depending on elevation. Higher elevations change first, then colors move downhill.
The park entrance fee is $30 per vehicle for seven days. Many overlooks have short walking trails to better viewpoints.
Top overlooks for foliage:
- Stony Man Summit
- Hawksbill Mountain
- Mary’s Rock Tunnel
Apple orchards dot the Shenandoah Valley below. Stribling Orchard grows 40 apple varieties and makes fresh cider. Showalters Orchard offers wagon rides through their apple groves.
Local breweries include Stable Craft Brewing with vineyard views and Adventure Brewing featuring outdoor games. Both sit about 20 minutes from Skyline Drive entrances.
Plan 4-6 hours for the full drive with stops at overlooks and short hikes.
Unique East Coast Farm Adventures
The East Coast offers hands-on farm experiences that go beyond typical orchard visits. You can navigate intricate corn mazes in Pennsylvania’s countryside and witness traditional cranberry harvesting methods in Massachusetts bogs.
13. Corn Mazes at Cherry Crest Adventure Farm, Pennsylvania
Cherry Crest Adventure Farm in Ronks, Pennsylvania creates some of the most challenging corn mazes on the East Coast. The farm designs new maze patterns each year using GPS technology.
You’ll find multiple maze options ranging from beginner-friendly paths to expert-level challenges. The main maze covers about 5 acres and takes most people 45 minutes to complete.
What makes Cherry Crest special:
- Night mazes with flashlights on weekends
- Themed mazes that change annually
- Multiple difficulty levels for all ages
- Prize stations throughout the maze
The farm operates from late September through early November. You can combine your maze adventure with hayrides and pumpkin picking.
Plan to spend 2-3 hours at the farm. Wear comfortable shoes since you’ll be walking on uneven ground.
14. Cranberry Harvesting at Makepeace Farms, Massachusetts
Makepeace Farms in Wareham, Massachusetts offers guided tours during cranberry harvest season from late September to early November. You’ll see the traditional wet harvesting method where farmers flood the bogs.
The cranberries float to the surface creating a red carpet effect across the water. Workers use special equipment to corral the floating berries for collection.
Tour highlights include:
- Walking through active cranberry bogs
- Learning about 150+ years of farming history
- Seeing antique harvesting equipment
- Tasting fresh cranberries
Tours run on weekends and cost around $15 per person. You’ll want to bring a camera since the flooded bogs create stunning photo opportunities.
The farm is located about 45 minutes from Boston. Reservations are required since tours fill up quickly during peak harvest season.
