New England Fall Foliage Bus Tours

The safest way to view the vivid fall foliage on an autumn drive through New England is to let someone else do the driving. Thankfully, there are several tour operators who do just that. Bus tours through the area range from a day trip up to a full week on the road, stopping nightly in charming hotels or bed and breakfasts sprinkled throughout the New England countryside. Leaving the itinerary to a tour guide also means you can take the guesswork out of where to go and when, since they'll know exactly where to catch the peak autumn foliage.

Of all the ways to see autumn's highlights on a guided tour, bus trips offer the most comfort and some of the best opportunities for bonding with fellow leaf peepers.

Keep in mind that several tour companies have canceled organized group tours for fall 2020. But if you can't book a bus tour, that doesn't mean you can't visit the most scenic places in New England on your own.

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Celebrate Connecticut

Autumn on the Housatonic River in the Litchfield Hills of Connecticut — DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

You don’t have to venture beyond Connecticut’s borders to spy dramatic fall colors. Celebrate Connecticut is a travel consultant that helps visitors plan out the perfect Connecticut itinerary. Instead of joining a guided tour, let travel planners know what you want to see, who you're traveling with, and how long you'll be there, then just sit back and let them do the rest. They'll map out the best places to see fall foliage in the state based on when you're visiting, in addition to recommending the best places to stay and eat, and arrange transportation if needed.

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Bluebird Guided Tours

Tours by Bluebird Guided Tours are canceled in 2020.

Bluebird Guided Tours company offers a New York and New England trip available for would-be leaf peepers. Fly to New York City on your own, then set out for a week of memorable experiences in Newport, Rhode Island; Boston, Massachusetts; Manchester, Vermont; and Niagara Falls. The bus route takes you through every New England state except Maine, but you'll also travel the width of scenic upstate New York.

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One-Day Fall Foliage Bus Trip from Boston

Fall Foliage and Apple in Massachusetts — candylouhou / Getty Images

The One-Day Fall Foliage Bus Trip is canceled in 2020.

Set out from Boston on a nine-hour bus tour of the New England countryside this fall. Cute towns, apple orchards, mountain scenes, a farm store visit, and lunch in New Hampshire are among the sights and experiences you'll enjoy. Book your seat on the Fall Foliage Sightseeing & Lunch Tour via Viator.com, priced from $115 per person including complimentary hotel pick-up.

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Caravan Tours

Tours by Caravan Tours are canceled in 2020.

Caravan Tours offers eight-day New England Fall Foliage escorted bus tours departing from Boston on many dates throughout September and October. You'll see lovely leaves in all six New England states, along with many of New England's notable attractions and destinations.

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Go Collette

Northeast tours by Go Collette are canceled in 2020.

Go Collette offers a number of bus excursions each fall to New England destinations. The eight-day Colors of New England tour through four states includes quintessential fall activities like apple cider making and regional treasures like Main seaside views.

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Go Ahead Tours

Tours through New England with Go Ahead Tours are canceled in 2020.

Departures sell out fast for Go Ahead's Vermont to Massachusetts Fall Foliage Tour, which starts in Burlington, Vermont, and takes you to New England's cherished landmarks along byways festooned with fall color. On this eight-day bus trip (with optional Boston extension), you'll experience fall's best tastes and see famous attractions in four states including Boston's Freedom Trail and the Ben & Jerry's ice cream factory.

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Holiday Tours

Tous in New England by Holiday Tours are canceled in 2020.

North Carolina-based Holiday Tours offers a seven-day Rail & Sail New England Fall Foliage bus tour that takes passengers on some of the best New England foliage stops, including the famed Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire. It also includes scenic train trips and boat excursions for prime leaf viewing.

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Cosmos

Breaching Humpback during a Massachusetts Whale Watch — Marty Coleman / MAKE Studio / Getty Images

New England tours offered by Cosmos are canceled in 2020.

Departing from and returning to Boston, the eight-day Classic New England tour offered by Cosmos features comfortable motorcoach transportation and experiences in all six New England states, including an optional whale watch, an authentic lobster bake add-on excursion, a visit to Vermont's oldest sugarhouse, and more.

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Northeast Unlimited Tours

Fall tours with Northeast Unlimited Tours are canceled in 2020.

Northeast Unlimited makes an eight-day Taste of New England escorted bus tour of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts. Tours depart from and return to Boston, so you can fly in from anywhere and join in the fun.

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Tauck

Tauck tours are canceled for all of New England in 2020.

The British tour company Tauck keeps travelers on the go throughout the fall foliage season in New England with a number of motor coach itineraries to consider, including the Grand New England tour featuring insights from filmmakers Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan. Departures from Boston are available.

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Gunther Charters & Tours

The Burying Point, Salem Massachusetts — David Parsons Photography / Getty Images

All fall tours by Gunter Charters & Tours are canceled in 2020.

The Maryland-based bus tour company Gunther Charters & Tours offers a five-day New England Fall Foliage tour, which includes stunning views and memorable sights in Vermont and New Hampshire. Other seasonal tours include the Coastal New England Ghosts, Witches, and Gravestones tour.