For your trip to Vermont, I'd suggest you select your hotels early. I always travel in October, usually to New Hampshire, around the White Mts for the scenery and fall color. I have found that it's pretty slim pickin's if I wait too long to book, and the rates do go up during leaf peeping season, in my experience.
Carol

You may want to check rates for accommodations for your dates in Boston - rates are their very highest during foliage season, and especially challenging Columbus Day weekend. Sometimes, you can get lucky with Hotwire or Priceline.

Rates will also be high in all of the foliage areas, but not along the coast of Maine.

You would definitely want to have overnight reservations in Boston and Vermont - not only because places tend to fill far in advance, but for better choice of places and rates.

We travel to New England for fall foliage, ending around Columbus Day or a few days after. We have always had all our reservations made in advance in all the NE states. Don't want to be going from place to place to find lodging. Your trip sounds good. After we leave Maine, we go to the White Mountains around Jackson, NH. Lots of pumpkin head scarecrows all around the area.

I did a tour in October some years ago, and all places were full of people. "Leaf peepers" swarm the area, so make your advance reservations.

(and I envy you, it's so beautiful there!)

Central Vermont (Rutland area) seems to peak around Columbus Day so factor that in. If you continue north from that day you will prob. miss out.

I would eliminate Niagra Falls and Michigan from your itinerary. Add NH's White Mountains and/or Lakes region to your list and head to VT and NH first. Put Maine and Boston toward the end of your trip since you should schedule your trip to places when foliage is best.

There is so much to see and do in the New England area that you have plenty to do. For history you could visit: Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth NH and take a harbor cruise, Canterbury Shaker Village near Concord NH, Shelburne Museum in VT, Sturbridge Village and Plimoth Plantation in MA and I'm missing lots of smaller historical venues. If you like national parks, you ought to like NH's White Mountains.

Research past Fodor's threads for suggested itineraries. You might also check out Yankee Magazine's website for suggested drives and photos.

And, ditto, make reservations now. You can always cancel. The weather is usually great in early October but if there's a rainy spell you might want some backup plans such as museum visits.

Good advice so far, though much of the coast of Maine is not really accessible from major highways. You may want to sacrifice distance for detailed exploration.

I think Michigan is too far out of your route to be a good idea on this trip. The best scenery is sort of way up the peninsula, and it is well worth a trip on its own.

In the time you save, I would add a day or two in New Hampshire after Maine. I would agree with MBnancy that Jackson is a great base for the White Mountains, and the scenery is fabulous. Add a day in Vermont for the Burlington-Lake Champlain area. Then drive to Niagara via the Adirondacks and perhaps Saratoga Springs.

In Niagara, it will probably be cheaper to stay on the US side, but the best views and features like "Maid of the Mist" are on the Canadian side. Finally, while you have the chance, visit Niagara-on-the-Lake on the Ontario side, a charming small town completely different from Niagara Falls and only a few minutes away.

As others said, you may wish to stop short of heading to Michigan. The best leaf-peeping along the coast of Maine has traditionally been after Columbus Day, which is helpful to you in that many places have availability. The down side is that many places close after Columbus Day.

We're in Freeport, which is open year round, so taking some day trips from here is very easy and the restaurants are all still open.

However, if you want the best of all worlds, go through VT & NH first as the leaves in the mountains peak earlier than the coast. Then drive toward the coast. You definitely need reservations in peak foliage season.

Acadia National Park is a gem here on the coast (about 3 hours north of where I am). Baxter State Park is inland. And Moosehead Lake area is gorgeous for the fall colors.

You can order 'Maine Invites You' from this website to help in your travel plans: http://www.mainetourism.com/content/4047/Travel_Planners/

Wherever you end up- enjoy your trip!

Boston is a great city. You'll love it. I agree with ME above - go to Acadia.

You will need to make reservations during that time - it will be busy! But there's a reason for the crowds. If you decide to go to Michigan, do that first. The leaves peak earlier there. Canada is not expensive, but you need a passport.

Maybe these will help you: and send for their brochures. There will be good maps and info and may be some good coupons for hotels and such.

http://www.michigan.org/News/Detail.aspx?ContentId=F7C690E1-1354-452F-8C85-4075DBE557AA

http://www.discovernewengland.org/driving-tours/

http://www.visitnewengland.com/current_category.2922/companies_list.html

Thanks for all the suggestions. I am getting concerned about driving in downtown Boston. If we start the trip on Oct 11 to miss the Columdus Day crowds would the leaves and weather be ok? Plimoth plantation sounds good. Where is a good place to stay close to Acadia natl park? we will also extend the trip in the northeast and skip Michigan as you suggested? which way home would you suggest? Thanks again.

Boston is like every other city in the NE. Get to your hotel, park the car and use public transportation. It won't be as bad as you think. You could start driving up during the holiday weekend and arrive after it. If you are nervous about Boston driving, then I would also avoid the NY city area - there are lots of ways to avoid it, but you can't really avoid toll roads. Be prepared for that. Get a good map or road atlas to plan it out.

Check tripadvisor.com for hotel reviews in Bar Harbor, ME. Lots of b&b's if you prefer. If you can make refundable reservations now (in case you change your mind) I would do that. Have fun planning.

You need to be in Vermont before or on Columbus Day weekend or you 'll miss the fall colors.
VT has a website to track where the colors are at their peak.
Book your rooms now as many book ad far as a year ahead.
You are in for a treat.

I agree to arriving the week before Columbus Day and heading to the northern areas first where the color will be peaking. I would suggest heading thru VT and NH then over to Portland ME and up to Acadia leaving Boston and Plimoth for last. I would map out where you want to be each night and check a local website for lodging so you find the non-chain motels as well as the chains. There might be a 2 night minimum. The crowds will be at the well known spots so I wouldn't drive the Kancagmus hwy in NH on Columbus Day weekend but there are plenty of beautiful roads and lesser known parks that will be overlooked. I live in NH. There is no extra traffic in my town on Columbus Day weekend but on Sat morning and late Sunday afternoon, Rt 93 will be slow moving. Get a detailed road map of the state, not just the one for all of New England. We use the DeLorme atlas for traveling back roads in ME, NH and VT. It shows all roads including seasonal (not open in winter), location of waterfalls and covered bridges. There's a lovely small country fair in Sandwich NH on Columbus Day weekend. We didn't find travel to and from bad as long as we weren't on the hwy during the hours the day trippers would be traveling.

Don't forget that if you decide to include the Canadian side of Niagra Falls on your tip you will need a passport.

I finally made reservations for 3 nights 9/29-10/1 at the comfort inn in rutland, vt. what should we see in the area?
we then plan to do the Kancagmus hwy in NH on saturday 10/2. How long will it take?
Do we need a hotel in the area (suggestions) or can we drive to Acadia park area on Saturday?
Where is a good town to stay along the coast so we can drive over to Acadia? Thanks for all the help.

From Rutland take Rt.4 over to Rt.100, head N for beautiful scenery.

From Rutland you can also drive north thru Brandon, Middlebury etc. The western side of VT along Lake Champlain has many beautiful farms so the scenery is different that Rt 100. From Bristol you can take the Lincoln Gap road over to Rt 100 and then south to Rutland. There are other roads thru the mountains. Brandon is having a Harvest Festival on 10/2. But so is Wolfeboro NH, a beautiful town on the northern shore of Lake Winnipesaukee which is near the White Mountains. Since it is a long drive between Rutland and Acadia, I would suggest you enjoy both the Kancamagus and Lake Winnipesaukee. Portland ME is about an hour from Wolfeboro and the Conway NH area. You could take a harbor cruise of Portland ME, have a great lunch and then drive to Acadia. Or stay in Portland after a day in NH. There are lots of motels/hotels. The Old Port Area is a fun place to walk and shop.

There is not much to see in Rutland itself, but it is a good central location for day trips. dfrostnh mentioned Brandon and Middlebury. Both are an easy drive north on Rt. #7. Middlebury is a college town with lots of good restaurants and shops, the Sheldon Museum and UVM Morgan Horse Farm. On your way back to Rutland, take Rt. 30 south, past Lake Hortonia and Lake Bomoseen to Rt. 4 east to Rutland.

Another idea for a day trip is south from Rutland to Manchester, Dorset and Weston.

On your way to the Kancamagus, drive Rt. 4 east to Woodstock and Quechee. Stop for lunch at Simon Pearce in Quechee Village and be sure to stop at Quechee Gorge. You can then access I 89 to I 91 north to Woodsville NH to begin your drive on the Kancamagus.

From there I would follow dfrostnh's suggestions. To drive from Rutland to Acadia would take all day, especially if you want to go through the White Mountains.

At Acadia National Park, I recommend staying at Inn at Southwest Harbor. SW Harbor is quieter & less commercialized than Bar Harbor. Drive over to Schoodic Peninsula for some beautiful, unspoiled & wild coastal scenery. If it is still open, have lobster at Thurston's Lobster Pound in Bernard.

I also live in LR and have lived in ME (02-05). Mount Desert Island (MDI) is our favorite place in the world (better than Switzerland or Italy I might add) and we spent as many weekends on the island as possible. MDI is home to Acadia, Bar Harbor, SW Harbor, etc. It sounds like you are getting your trip dates nailed down. You can visit www.maine.gov/doc/foliage/ and find historical data on leaf drop and color by region. They also do a weekly update (also available via email) during foliage season based on state park rangers reports. I agree w/Kwoo, SW Harbor is much quieter than Bar Harbor and a great place to stay. If you do stay in Bar Harbor, consider the Castle Maine Inn (http://www.castlemaineinn.com/), the The Inns at Ullikana (www.ullikana.com) located on the Shore Path where you can watch the sunrise from the Atlantic, or the Acadia Hotel (www.acadiahotel.com) which is clean, comfortable, and reasonably priced. I'll throw in the Bar Harbor Inn (www.barharborinn.com) but the $$ was too much for us. I've stayed at all of them and would do it again. The one nice thing about staying in Bar Harbor is that it eliminates the parking problem.

While on MDI, consider the following: walk the Shore Path in Bar Harbor at early morning (or anytime really), drive to the top of Cadillac Mtn at sunrise, visit the quaint book store Port in a Storm in Bernard (near Bass Harbor Light, another must), visit one or more of the gardens...Asticou Azela Gardens/Thuya Gardens (www.asticou.com/bar-harbor-vacation-resort/information/nearby-gardens.html), and ride the carriage roads in Acadia (http://carriagesofacadia.com/tours.html).

Needless to say I enojoy MDI way too much. Try to spend at least two nights on MDI if you can...you won't regret it. I hope this isn't information overload (it probably is), but I'm excited for you (and a bit jealous) of your trip. Enjoy.

From a Michigan gal... we traveled to upstate New York and Vermont to see the color - late September - Early October... those states didn't have anything on Michigan color! The reds, yellow and oranges are beautiful here - we saw more color going into back and forth to work than we did on our entire week long trip. However, I would agree that if you are planning Boston and Maine (which I loved visiting)- I would plan a separate trip to Michigan. From the great lake to the Upper Peninsula we have a beautiful state with variety of sceneries.

We have made more reservations. we are leaving arkansas on 9/26 for Niagara falls, ontario arriving on 9/27 and leaving on 9/29. what is the best way to see the falls?

we then plan to take the Lake Ontario Readers Digest Seaway trail, hwy 18, over to Rutland, Vt. What should we do along the trail?

We then plan to do Vermont and NH as we indicated before. We also made reserv at portland, me and then two nights Belfast, me. However, i am not sure about Belfast as a place to stay for Acadia natl park, should we stay closer to the park?

We then want to do the trail downtown Boston. where can we park and catch the subway coming south from maine?

we then have two nights at raynham, ma to see the Plimouth plantation. is it worth it?

we then plan to come home through the Smokies, any suggestions? i know these are lots of questions, thanks for all the help.