Wicked Good: 10-Day New England Summer Road Trip

This New England itinerary is for your next summer road trip! We’re calling this one ‘Wicked Good’ because we’re taking you to (can you guess?) New England.

Jon’s parents are from Massachusetts, so when I asked him to define “wicked,” he said… “I don’t know; it’s wicked. It’s an adjective. Wicked good. Wicked hard. Wicked smart.” (Of course, the influence of his parents’ Boston accent got stronger and stronger as he spoke. Wicked smaht.)

For charming coastal towns, lobster rolls, long lake days, and hiking galore, pack up your car and hit the road for a wicked good time on this New England Summer Road Trip!

Want to visit New England in the fall for some of the most gorgeous fall foliage in the United States? Check out our ‘Picture Perfect’ Road Trip here! 🍂🍁

Table of Contents Show

Itinerary Overview

We only share road trips for places we’ve been ourselves, and this Wicked Good route comes from our 2022 Travel Season when we spent 5 months exploring the Northeast. We planned our trip to experience a New England fall, but since we began our travels in June, we were excited about lots of hiking and lobster rolls, too.

As big fans of all things national parks—and there only being one national park in the New England area—we expected a slower season and a harder time finding great things to do. We were utterly and entirely wrong, ha! There are so many incredible places to explore and small towns to enjoy in New England, so we’re stoked to share our favorites with you on this 10-day itinerary.

Here’s an overview of our Wicked Good: 10-Day New England Summer Road Trip.

Day 1: Travel to Boston, MA
Day 2: Acadia National Park
Day 3: Acadia National Park
Day 4: Lincoln, NH
Day 5: The Franconia Ridge
Day 6: Stowe, VT
Day 7: Burlington, VT
Day 8: Lake Placid, NY
Day 9: Mystic, CT
Day 10: Newport, RI

If you’re flying, the best cities to fly into are probably Boston (the star in the image above) or New York City. If you’re driving, drive to the closest point along this route and follow the full loop to return home.

Day 1: Boston, MA

To begin your New England Summer Road Trip, travel to Boston, MA.

Jon’s parents are from Boston, we’ve personally spent time in the area, and our best friends consider Boston a second home. So, we’ve got lots of suggestions to help you start exploring!

Consider these ideas to kick off your road trip:

Grab a coffee at Thinking Cup (our best friends who love Boston… this is their absolute favorite coffee shop!) and stroll through the Boston Commons
Walk The Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile route connecting 16 historic sites in Boston (begin at the Boston Commons Visitor Center and end at the USS Constitution in Charlestown)
Shop and dine at Faneuil Hall Marketplace, also called Quincy Market, on The Freedom Trail (there’s also a great farmer’s market close to Faneuil Hall)
Grab dessert at Mike’s Pastry (home of the cannoli!)
Visit the Sam Adam’s Brewery
Catch a baseball game at Fenway Park
Grab a drink at the Moxy’s rooftop bar (near the Boston Commons) and enjoy gorgeous skyline views!

Day 2: Bar Harbor & Acadia National Park

You can follow this route clockwise or counter-clockwise. We’re going to take you counter-clockwise because if you love national parks, you might be most excited to visit Acadia National Park like we were. So, let’s head there first.

You’ll drive about 5 hours from Boston to Acadia National Park. On the way, you’ll pass Portland, ME. (Keep reading until the very end for suggestions if you want to add a stop in Portland to your New England road trip!)

Acadia National Park Scenic Drive

Our favorite way to start exploring a new national park is by scenic drive. That’s where we recommend starting when you get to Acadia National Park—with the Acadia National Park Scenic Drive.

Arrived in Bar Harbor early? Grab lunch and stroll downtown Bar Harbor. Or walk the Bar Island Land Bridge to Bar Island. Get more ideas with 6 of the best things to do in Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park here.

As you drive Park Loop Road in Acadia National Park, here are some classic stops to explore:

Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and Otter Cliffs (if possible, be at Thunder Hole about an hour before high tide to hear the thunderous sound of waves hitting the inlet)
Jordan Pond
The Bubbles (you can hike to both North and South Bubble Summit from the road, or you can marvel at Bubble Rock from your car- there’s a great viewpoint from a small parking area after Jordan Pond, but before you get to the Bubble Rock parking lot at Bubbles Divide Trail)

Day 3: Acadia National Park

For your full day exploring Acadia National Park, pick one of these five itineraries. All are great ways to spend one day—or five different days—in Acadia National Park!

One of the best things about Acadia is the manageable length of the top park activities. It’s possible to do double-, triple-, or even quadruple-up activities, making it easier to see and do a lot in just one day. Our recommendation is to pick your favorite itinerary from this list here and spend the entire day exploring Bar Harbor and Acadia.

If you’re unsure what sounds best, here’s how we’d spend this day. (Be sure to pack a lunch or make a reservation for / plan to carry out from Jordan Pond House.)

Watch the Sunrise at Gorham Mountain

To begin the day, catch the first sunrise in the US at Gorham Mountain. While catching the first sunrise is only technically accurate from roughly early October through March, watching the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean is one of the most beautiful things to do in Maine, no matter the time of year. It’s 100% worth the early wake-up call.

Our favorite spot to watch the sunrise was from Gorham Mountain Loop.

This was actually a recommendation passed along by my sister, who spent a month in Maine the year before Jon and I did. Because it only takes about 20 minutes to get to a great sunrise spot, start your trek about 30 minutes before the estimated sunrise for the day you’re visiting.

After about 20 minutes, you’ll be at an amazing spot to enjoy the view. While you can walk to the highest point of the trail (about 25 minutes into your hike), we loved the spot just before it. If you’re visiting during the fall, the spot just before the mountain peak is especially great for enjoying the foliage below.

After snapping tons of pictures and watching the sunrise, you can either return the way you came or continue following the Gorham Mountain Loop. We recommend the latter and then taking in the views along Park Loop Drive (and the Ocean Path) on your way back to your car. It’s stunning! You’ll pass Thunder Hole and can walk further on the Ocean Path to view the Otter Cliffs as well.

Both Gorham Mountain Loop and Ocean Path are dog-friendly, so if your pup has joined you for your New England Summer Road Trip, they can tag along for this morning’s hike as well.

man and dog sitting on rock watching sunrise — Sunrise, Gorham Mountain Loop, Acadia National Park

RTL Tip: Acadia National Park is famous for its ladder trails. They’re fun, adventurous, and can be a bit nerve-wracking, depending on whether or not you like heights. Two of the most popular ladder trails in Acadia National Park are the Beehive Trail and The Precipice Trail. If you’re okay with heights and want a bigger adventure, we recommend the Precipice Trail. For that reason, we don't recommend adding the nearby Beehive Trail to the Gorham Mountain Loop, unless you have plenty of time in Acadia or do not plan on doing the Precipice Trail later in the day.

Walk the Boardwalks at Jordan Pond

After your morning hike, head back into Bar Harbor to grab breakfast at a cafe like Cafe This Way or drive Park Loop Drive until you reach Jordan Pond.

While camping with friends on Acadia’s Schoodic Peninsula, we asked a campsite ranger for recommendations on the best things to do in Acadia National Park. The ranger gave us two must-sees: Jordan Pond and Eagle Lake.

Eagle Lake is gorgeous and more remote than Jordan Pond (we always love finding solitude in national parks!), but if you only have one day to explore, we recommend Jordan Pond.

Park your car in the Jordan Pond parking lot and walk to the Jordan Pond Trailhead. Walk clockwise (if you’re facing the pond and the welcome sign, with the parking lot behind you, turn left). This way, you’ll first walk on the half of the trail that requires boardwalks. This is such a fun and unique stroll through the woods and next to the pond!

You can walk the entire 3-mile, mostly flat path around Jordan Pond, detour from the path to hike towards the Bubble Summits, or take our recommendation: Turn around when you get to the light rock scrambling portion of the hike and enjoy the boardwalks back to your car. You’ll get amazing views of Jordan Pond and have longer to enjoy walking through the woods along boardwalk planks. (The other half of the trail is a dirt path.)

Dog-Friendly? Yes! However, just a heads-up, dogs are not allowed to swim in the pond as it’s a public water source.

rocky pond lined by trees and mountains — Jordan Pond featuring The Bubbles

RTL Tip: Once you return to the starting point, or if you don’t want to walk the Jordan Pond Loop, turn right when you’re at the Jordan Pond welcome sign. A short way along this trail, you’ll stumble upon what I thought was the most gorgeous spot for a photo of Jordan Pond and The Bubbles (pictured above).

Hike the Famous Precipice Ladder Trail

The Precipice Trail in Acadia National Park was both Jon's and my favorite hike of our trip. (Click here for a list of other great hikes in Acadia.) If you’re comfortable with heights and up for an adventure, this 2.1-mile loop is a lot of fun.

You’ll use iron rungs and ladders to climb about 1,000 feet of elevation, making this hike feel a bit more like a Via Ferrata than your typical hike through the woods. You’ll be standing on exposed rocks and cliffs as you climb, so if you’re afraid of heights, skip this one… at least until after you successfully complete the Beehive or Beech Cliffs Trail.

Otherwise, prepare for a fun and challenging climb while you get to take in the most gorgeous views of the Mount Desert Narrows!

Be sure to view the trail map at the beginning of the loop because, rather than returning along the same iron-rung-and-ladder path you follow on your way up, we recommend following the easier Orange/Black Trail to Park Loop Road.

Dog-Friendly? No. Acadia National Park has a ton of dog-friendly hikes, but all ladder/rung trails are NOT dog-friendly.

man holding iron rung to walk along a cliff — The Precipice Trail, Acadia National Park

RTL Tip: If you’re comfortable with heights and your climbing ability, take our suggestion to let this be your afternoon hike rather than the more popular morning hike. We started hiking the Precipice Trail on a Saturday around 4:30pm and only saw a handful of other hikers the entire way. (We only passed two hikers on the actual ladder/rung portion of the trail.) This is opposed to the Beehive Trail we hiked first thing that same morning and essentially hiked back-to-back-to-back with other climbers.

Grab Dinner at The Travelin’ Lobster

During our 2022 Travel Season, we spent three weeks in Ellsworth, Maine, just outside Acadia National Park, with two main goals: (1) do and see as much as we could in Acadia National Park and (2) eat as many lobster rolls as possible.

You can click here for a full recap of the spots we tried… or take our word for it and visit our favorite, The Travelin Lobster! Here, we had the best hot lobster roll AND clam chowder of our trip. It’s the perfect place for dinner after a long day exploring Acadia National Park.

Day 4: Lincoln, NH

You’ll drive about 5 hours from Bar Harbor to Lincoln, New Hampshire for the next stop along your New England Summer Road Trip. Grab a coffee and breakfast at Dunkin Donuts on your way out of town like the temporary New Englander that you are… truly, do as the locals do!

Our recommendation for your drive is to take the route that runs through Conway, NH. This way, you can drive one of the most scenic drives in New Hampshire, The Kancamagus Highway, on your way.

The Kancamagus Highway runs between Conway and Lincoln, and although it’s most scenic in the fall, this drive is beautiful year-round. If you’re hungry, stop at Cheese Louise in Conway for delicious grilled cheese sandwiches.

Climb Mount Washington or Float on Lake Winnipesaukee

You’ll probably only have time for one activity the day you arrive in New Hampshire. We recommend either going north to Mount Washington or south to Lake Winnipesaukee.

If you choose Mount Washington, you can hike Mount Washington following the Mount Washington Loop via Tuckerman Ravine, drive Mount Washington along the Mount Washington Auto Road, or take the Mount Washington Cog Railway to the summit.

All three options are considered to be some of the best things to do in New Hampshire because the view at the summit of Mount Washington is gorgeous!

If you choose Lake Winnipesaukee, grab a rental (canoe, kayak, or paddleboard) at Wild Meadow Paddlesports and spend a few hours on the water. Make reservations in advance if possible. Then, once you check in, ask if there have been any wildlife sightings lately. We found out earlier paddlers had sighted a bald eagle near One Mile Island, so we knew to look for one once we got there… it was incredible!

If you want us to recommend one activity or the other, we say go south to Lake Winnipesaukee and get on the water. The morning we spent canoeing was probably my favorite day of our entire month in New Hampshire. Plus, there’s no better summer activity than an afternoon on the lake. On your way back to Lincoln, complete your summer day with an ice cream flight at The Ice House Creamery!

Day 5: The Franconia Ridge

This is a full-day, iconic hike in New Hampshire’s White Mountains.

If you’d rather not spend all day hiking, consider one of these hikes instead, or perhaps go rock climbing at Mount Rumney. You could also drive the Mount Washington Auto Road or spend the day on Lake Winnipesaukee (choosing to do whichever activity you didn’t do yesterday).

Click here for our pick for the 6 best things to do in New Hampshire!

If you are up for an all-day hike and want to tackle one of the most unique hikes in New Hampshire, we highly recommend The Franconia Ridge Loop. This is an amazing hike with vast views and a grand sense of accomplishment. You’re walking the ridge of three mountains; It’s incredible!

That said, this hike is challenging, particularly for your knees, ankles, and hips (and corresponding stabilizing muscles). In our opinion, this is a trail best for intermediate to advanced hikers, with the most challenging part of the trail being the constant, rocky descent.

We’re not trying to deter you. This is our pick if you’re looking to tackle one of the most iconic hikes in New England. We’re just giving you a heads-up, so you’re prepared to get the most out of this hike and really enjoy it.

Here’s everything you need to know about hiking the Franconia Ridge during your New England Road Trip!

Looking for somewhere to eat near Lincoln? Consider Mad River Coffee House for breakfast, One Love Brewery for lunch, and Covered Bridge Farm Table for dinner.

dog standing on mountain ridge — Lincoln in front of Mount Lincoln on the Franconia Ridge

RTL Tip: If you want to get a taste of New Hampshire's White Mountains but want to skip this 8+ mile hike, consider The Welch-Dickey Loop (my favorite shorter hike in the White Mountains), Middle Sugarloaf at sunset (a local’s recommendation), Franconia Falls (make sure to bring a bathing suit and enjoy the natural waterslides at the end!), Mount Morgan (for another classic New England ladder trail), or Artist’s Bluff (for a short hike with great views).

Day 6: Stowe, VT

Here’s another Pick Your Adventure for this part of your Wicked Good: New England Summer Road Trip!

You can (1) visit all three of these popular Vermont cities: Stowe, Burlington, and Woodstock, (2) skip Woodstock and save it for your NE fall road trip, or (3) visit Stowe and Burlington on your way to Lake Placid then stop by Woodstock on your way to Connecticut.

Our recommendation is to save Woodstock for your fall road trip and focus on Stowe and Burlington this summer instead. Stowe is about two hours from Lincoln, NH, and Burlington is another 45 minutes from Stowe.

Mini Foodie Road Trip in Stowe, VT

Once you arrive in Stowe, Vermont, we recommend a road trip within your road trip—The Foodie Tour. This was our favorite thing to do in Stowe!

If you’d like, start the day hiking Mount Hunger (because is there a better way to kick off a FOODIE tour!?), then eat and drink your way through town at Stowe Cider, the Alchemist Brewery, Stowe Maple Products, Cold Hollow Cider Mill, Cabot Cheese Farmers Store, and Ben & Jerry’s.

Here’s everything you need to know about creating your own foodie road trip in Stowe, Vermont.

This is a full day in Stowe, so after your foodie tour, head to Burlington, Vermont, for another wicked good day tomorrow.

Day 7: Burlington, VT

Spend today in Burlington exploring the city. Start your day seeing one of the things that make this city so unique: Burlington Waterfront Park. There aren’t many cities sitting on Lake Champlain with a gorgeous mountain backdrop across the water.

Park at the waterfront (we parked in a lot about a 5-minute walk to the Boathouse Marina), and take in the views while walking towards the main streets of Burlington.

Next, head to Church Street, which offers one of the most iconic Burlington views of Church Street’s Church (First Unitarian). (Google “Burlington, Vermont” or “Church Street Marketplace,” and you’ll see the view I’m mentioning.)

As you explore, grab food at whichever Burlington restaurants excite you most. We enjoyed brunch at the Skinny Pancake and drinks at Citizen Cider. If you want to sit on the water, try Splash at the Boathouse. Burlington also has a ton of breweries if you want to experience the city through craft beer!

If you want to plan more for your time in Burlington, here are our picks for how to spend one day in Burlington, VT.

At the end of your day in Burlington, head to Lake Placid for the night so you can start exploring there first thing in the morning.

Day 8: Lake Placid, NY

White New York is not technically one of the six New England states, Lake Placid is just a hop across Lake Champlain from Burlington, VT, and it’s a great addition to your summer road trip.

So, if possible, stop for a night in this town once home to not one but two Olympic Winter Games. There are so many amazing things to do in Lake Placid and the surrounding Adirondack mountains!

Here’s our pick for the perfect full weekend itinerary in Lake Placid, but if you only have one day, we’re sharing our top recommendations below.

Take a Hike in the Adirondacks

There is SO MUCH going in and on around Lake Placid. The number of incredible trails in this area is one of the reasons I didn’t want to leave—even after three weeks here. If you’re a hiker, we HIGHLY recommend making time for Lake Placid on your New England Summer Road Trip to explore the Adirondacks.

Grab breakfast in Lake Placid—consider Bluesberry Bakery, and eat at Mid’s Park while watching the sunrise over Mirror Lake—then pick a hike to start your day.

Here are 10 of the best hikes near Lake Placid and 4 short and easier hikes in the Adirondacks where you can get big views for less effort.

Our pick would be Cobble Lookout for the best effort-to-view hike (bonus: this is right next to Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway if you want to do these activities back-to-back) or Balanced Rocks (which is down the street from one of the Olympic Legacy Sites).

But truly, you can’t go wrong with whichever hike you choose!

three rocks balancing on a cliff — Balanced Rocks

Visit the Olympic Legacy Sites

Lake Placid was the host of two Olympic Winter Games, one in 1932 and one in 1980. That makes visiting the site of former Olympic events one of the most unique things to do in Lake Placid.

You can explore the Olympic Center, Olympic Jumping Complex, Mount Van Hoevenberg, and Whiteface Mountain. Learn more about the Legacy Sites here.

The hockey arenas are at the Olympic Center (which is in town). To view the ski jumps (about 5 minutes from town), go to the Olympic Jumping Complex and consider riding a gondola & elevator up to 360-degree views of Lake Placid.

At Mount Van Hoevenberg, you can ride North America’s longest coaster (the Cliffside Coaster) and/or experience the sport of luge or bobsled.

In the summer, you can hike, bike, or drive Whiteface Mountain. Try to visit all four sites, or pick whichever interests you most!

Kayak Mirror Lake at Sunset

Lake Placid sits on Mirror Lake, while Lake Placid Lake is to its side. In our opinion, no trip to Lake Placid is complete without spending time on Mirror Lake.

Have dinner on a restaurant patio in downtown Lake Placid, then walk to Mirror Lake Boat Rentals to rent your boat of choice for a sunset paddle.

Note: Mirror Lake is non-motorized, which makes your paddle very peaceful. You can rent a paddleboard, canoe, kayak, aqua bike, or electric boat. We chose a tandem kayak since it was just the two of us. If Lincoln were with us, we would have rented a canoe. Mirror Lake Boat Rentals is dog-friendly!

Plan to be on the water at least 45 minutes before sunset. Golden hour on Mirror Lake is gorgeous.

RTL Tip: For dinner, we ate at Players Sports Bar. Their patio is directly above Mirror Lake Boat Rentals, so you can watch groups leave and come back from being on the water and use this time to decide which rental you want. For a dog-friendly dinner option, consider The Cottage at Mirror Lake Inn.

Day 9: Mystic, CT

You’ve got about a 5-hour drive from Lake Placid to Mystic, CT.

The fastest route will take you mainly through New York, but if you prefer the scenic route, drive through the Green Mountains in Vermont (along VT-30 S). (Pick up VT-30 S near Middlebury and continue through Brattleboro.) If time allows, consider stopping on your way for a hike in the Green Mountain National Forest.

Mystic, Connecticut, is best known for its maritime history, charming waterfront, and classic New England coastal charm. The town’s most famous attraction is the Mystic Seaport Museum, the largest maritime museum in the U.S., featuring historic ships, a recreated 19th-century seafaring village, and hands-on exhibits.

Another highlight is the Mystic Aquarium, home to beluga whales, sea lions, and interactive marine exhibits. The town also boasts a picturesque downtown filled with boutique shops, waterfront restaurants, and the iconic Mystic River Bascule Bridge, a drawbridge that opens regularly for passing boats. Walk and shop downtown, grab brunch at Rise or lunch on the water at Red 36, and enjoy dessert at Sift Bake Shop. Food lovers will recognize Mystic Pizza, made famous by the 1988 movie of the same name.

If your New England summer road trip won’t be complete without a day at the beach, consider heading to Dubois Beach in Stonington. Eat at Noah’s if you do!

Day 10: Newport, RI

Drive about 50 minutes to Newport for the final stop—and final state—along your road trip. Walk the Newport Cliff Walk, enjoy a Mansion Tour (or three), and drive ‘Ocean Drive’ for 10 miles of beautiful coastline views.

After completing your wicked good road trip, drive about an hour and a half back to Boston (or your starting destination) and return home… perhaps dreaming of a fall road trip next! :)

FAQs for Planning a New England Summer Road Trip

What’s the best time of year to visit New England?

Summer or fall is the best time of year to go on a road trip through New England. Summer is great for hiking, spending time on the water, and enjoying summer favorites like ice cream and lobster rolls. (Though maybe not together?) On the other hand, fall is fantastic for gorgeous foliage and sweater weather. (Which is great if you happen to book a rental without AC. Mentioning this because no AC is common in New England, and these Texans weren’t ready for a few heat spells sans relief LOL)

Treats like hot apple cider and cider donuts tend to hit the spot best with cooler temperatures, plus you can time your trip to kick off “spooky season” with the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular in Providence or Haunted Happenings in Salem, Massachusetts. If this sounds like your perfect New England Road Trip, be sure to check out our ‘Picture Perfect’ Autumn trip next!

But while fall in New England is magical, summer has one thing fall can’t beat when it comes to road trips: long days with lots of daylight. There’s a ton to do and see in New England, so every hour counts!

What’s the best way to get to Acadia National Park?

Whether you’re driving or flying into Boston and grabbing a rental car, follow the coast on I-95/295 through Portland and Augusta, then take US-1A to Bar Harbor when you get to Bangor. Once in Bar Harbor, you’ll see plenty of signs for Acadia National Park.

What are some of the best things to do in Portland, ME?

All road trips at Road Trip Locals are “Pick Your Own Adventure!” That’s especially true for this New England Summer Road Trip itinerary. Since you’re visiting multiple states so close to one another, there are tons of options for routes, stops, and fun activities. On your way from Boston to Acadia National Park, you’ll pass through Portland, Maine. Portland’s a beautiful waterfront city with activities to keep you busy for the day (or an entire stay). So, if you’d like, spend a day or two in Portland before moving on to Acadia National Park. Explore the cobblestone streets and seafood restaurants of the Old Port, admire Casco Bay views from the Eastern Promenade Trail, visit the iconic Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth, browse the Portland Museum of Art and historic Victoria Mansion, and indulge in fresh lobster rolls at spots like Eventide Oyster Co. and The Highroller Lobster Co.

What are the top scenic drives in New England during the summer?

The Kancamagus Highway (NH), Route 100 (VT), Acadia’s Park Loop Road (ME), and the Connecticut River Byway are some of the best summer drives in New England.

What are the best beaches to visit on a New England road trip?

Check out the Cape Cod National Seashore (MA), Ogunquit Beach (ME), Hammonasset Beach State Park (CT), and Narragansett Town Beach (RI).

What are some other top outdoor activities to do in New England in the summer?

New England’s summer is all about the great outdoors! Hike the Franconia Ridge Loop in New Hampshire’s White Mountains for epic views, or take on Camel’s Hump in Vermont for a scenic challenge. If you love the water, kayak along Acadia National Park’s rocky coastline, paddleboard on Lake Winnipesaukee, or take a sunset cruise in Newport, Rhode Island. Whale watching is a must—join a boat tour from Cape Cod or Bar Harbor to see humpbacks and fin whales. For something unique, explore Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket by bike, take a lighthouse tour along Maine’s coast, or go tubing down the Saco River in New Hampshire.

What should I pack for a New England summer road trip?

New England’s summer weather can be a mix of warm beach days, cool mountain nights, and surprise rain showers, so layers are key. Pack lightweight clothes, but bring a fleece jacket or hoodie for the mountains and evenings. A rain jacket is a must since summer storms pop up quickly. Hiking shoes or sneakers are essential if you plan to explore trails, while sandals or water shoes will come in handy for beach stops and rocky coastal walks. Don’t forget sunscreen, bug spray (for those pesky mosquitoes in wooded areas), sunglasses, and a reusable water bottle. If you’re hitting the beach, bring a swimsuit, quick-dry towel, and a small cooler for snacks. A car phone mount and road atlas are also helpful since cell service can be spotty in rural areas.

Are there any festivals or events to check out on a New England summer road trip?

Absolutely! New England comes alive in the summer with festivals celebrating music, food, and culture. Music lovers should check out the Newport Folk Festival (July) in Rhode Island, a legendary event that once hosted Bob Dylan and continues to draw top artists. The Tanglewood Music Festival (June–August) in the Berkshires is perfect for classical and jazz fans, featuring performances by the Boston Symphony Orchestra. If you’re a seafood fan, don’t miss the Maine Lobster Festival (early August) in Rockland, ME, where you can feast on fresh lobster rolls, watch cooking contests, and even see the crowning of the Lobster Queen. Looking for something quirky? Try the Yarmouth Clam Festival (July) in Maine, complete with clam-shucking contests and a parade. And for a laid-back but lively time, the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival (June) in Vermont is a fantastic way to experience live music with a view of Lake Champlain. Wherever you go, summer in New England is packed with fun events!