The Great Connecticut Fall Foliage Road Trip | Connecticut Charm

This year instead of driving up North to Vermont, New Hampshire, or Maine for our fall foliage tour, we decided to stay close to home in Connecticut and explore more of our beloved Litchfield County. Connecticut is actually the perfect place to have an autumn adventure in New England. Kent, a small town in Litchfield County, has been voted the best place to see fall foliage in all of New England, and being the southern most state in New England, the foliage peaks and lasts a little longer here. 

It has been a unique autumn this year with all of the rain on the weekends, the leaves peaking later than usual, and the colder temperatures than Octobers in the past. Yet there are still many opportunities left for outdoor explorations with the autumn leaves. While there are many amazing areas of Connecticut for an autumn road trip, I chose Litchfield County (the NorthWestern area of the state) because of the scenic roads, beautiful historic towns, New England wildlife, and wonderful restaurants and cafes. 

This road trip is best saved for a full weekend where you can split it into two days, however, if you are not stopping in places for long, this trip can be done in just one afternoon. Some places on this list may be closed on weekends or Sundays, so always check on visiting hours if you have special stops in mind. For example, the Limerock Race Track is best visited during the week if you want to see a race. With any road trip, take a pre-planned trip (including mine) lightly. Not everything on my list will interest you. Tweak it and make the road trip work for you. Research scenic drives on Google Maps and find your own places to stop for food and fun. Go at your own pace. Also, don’t feel badly if you cannot see everything on the list. Road trips are not races; when you slow down to take in the beauty of a place, you may want to stay longer and that is ok, in fact, it is the whole point. You will not miss out on anything as long as you enjoy the journey. Remember to dress in layers as temperatures change throughout the day, bring a jacket, and wear comfortable walking shoes for exploring. Most importantly, go with a group of close friends or family members. This trip is a social one. 

•     Start your morning in Litchfield with breakfast at a local restaurant and take a stroll through town.
•     From Litchfield, take Route 63 to Goshen. If you have extra time or are arriving in Goshen during the afternoon, stop for a tasting or walk through Sunset Meadows Vineyard.
•     Follow 63 through Goshen to Canaan to the Great Falls.
•     Take Route 126 to Route 44 to Salisbury. Salisbury has a cute little downtown with farm animals, a general store, a cafe, and an ice cream shop.
•     Drive through Salisbury downtown and continue down Route 44 to Lakeville. 
•     From Lakeville take route 112 to scenic Route 7 to Lime Rock Park. (Dependent on racing hours.)
•     Follow Route 7 down to the West Cornwall Covered Bridge for an iconic Connecticut photo stop, not to be confused with the town called Cornwall Bridge right down the road. It is a narrow bridge that is still used today so proceed through it with caution. 
•     Down Route 7 you will find Housatonic Meadows State Park with a lovely waterfall.
•     Continue down Route 7 to Kent Falls State Park for a hike by the waterfall. 
•     Have lunch in Kent and check out some of the lovely shops. Kent also has a collection of truly wonderful art galleries.

If you’re making this a two day trip, this is the perfect time to end your road trip with dinner and a historic Inn right in Kent. The next morning you can start your day with a lovely hike at Kent Falls. If you’re still exploring for the day, continue the trip.

•     Take Route 341 to Warren to the Warren Country General Store at 265 Cornwall Road. 
•     From Warren go to New Preston driving down Route 45. 
•     Take Route 47 to Washington Depot, stopping at the Henry David Thoreau Footbridge at the Hidden Valley Preserve. 
•     End your trip in Bantam where you can stop by the Bantam Bread Co. or watch a film at the Bantam Cinemas, the oldest cinema in Connecticut, which is still located in the historic barn where it played silent films.

Because we started our trip in Beacon Falls, we stopped for breakfast at The Split Rail in Woodbury. You may want to add in your own unique stops depending on where you start your Connecticut road trip. Woodbury has a lovely historic downtown. When you pass Goshen and make your way to the mountains famous for the Appalachian Trail, you will be amazed with the rolling hills and mountain views. Unfortunately, I could not take pictures form the car as I was driving, but some views are better seen with your own eyes rather than through the lens of a camera anyway. Plus, I have to keep some things a surprise for you. I spy with my little eye…A black bear in a tree! In Litchfield County you might encounter some New England wild life. There are a lot of populated areas of Connecticut so it can be a surprise when you go to this quiet corner of the state and meet a black beer, a bob cat, a mountain lion, a fox, a wolf, or even a rare moose, but it can happen. More likely, the only wildlife you will encounter on your trip might be these little guys in downtown Salisbury. Salisbury may be a very small little town, but there are some lovely places to stop into. And when you make it to the West Cornwall Bridge, you will find this lovely river scene. My handsome road trip co-pilot:Our final stop of the evening was my personal favorite autumn New England town: Kent. All decorated for Halloween. What are your favorite Litchfield County towns, restaurants, cafe’s, parks, and special destinations? I would love to hear about your adventures and recommendations in the comments below.