Foliage

About New England’s Foliage

Every autumn throughout New England, diminishing length of daylight and falling temperatures induce trees to shed billions of tons of leaves. Preceding this preparation for winter the trees present a spectacular color show. Leaves that have been green all summer turn to brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red.

These color changes are caused by transformations in leaf pigments, primarily the green pigment chlorophyll. During summer, the leaves of trees are producing sugar from carbon dioxide and water by the workings of light and chlorophyll. Chlorophyll causes the leaves to appear green.

The shorter days and cool nights of autumn set off changes in the tree. One is the growth of a corky membrane at the base of the leaf stem, which interrupts the flow of nutrients into the leaf. This stops the production of chlorophyll in the leaf, and the green color of the leaf fades, allowing the reds, oranges and yellows to burst forth. The best autumn colors are produced when dry, sunny days are followed by cool, dry nights.

Color may begin to appear in isolated spots in far northern New England the first week in September. Typically, the color change begins at the higher elevations and in the northern part of the region mid-September and moves southward through mid-to-late October, ending in southern New England coastal areas at the end of October.

Visitors who travel to see our spectacular foliage are known as, “Leaf-Peepers.” While on your excursion do stop at country stores, orchards, local restaurants and shops. We have suggested some routes for you to drive. We also suggest that you try some backroads. Get a local map, and don’t worry about getting lost. You’ll always bump into a main road sooner or, hopefully, later.

Foliage Maps and Reports

Use the New England Foliage Map to determine where and when you are likely to see the best foliage. Once foliage season begins the Foliage Reports will be regularly updated.

Rhode Island Foliage Map

Rhode Island Foliage Report

Rhode Island State Map

Scenic Drives

Blackstone Valley

Gloucester Loop
Ride along country roads, dotted with farms and picturesque apple orchards. Take Exit 7 off of I-295 and travel on Route 44 West. Pass through Chepachet and stay on Route 44 to the hamlet of West Glocester where you will turn left onto Route 94 South. You will travel through the other small hamlets of North foster and Foster Center. Route 94 ends at Route 14 where you will turn left. Follow route 14 through Scituate and at Route 116 turn left to travel north. When you reach Route 44 turn right and return to I-295. Chepachet

Newport

Bellevue Avenue
Newport, RI
This short scenic drive will take you past many of the mansions that Newport is famous for. Most of the popular attractions are visible from the road, as well as many fine homes that remain privately owned and closed to the public.
Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI

Ocean Drive
Newport, RI
Take a winding drive that offers great views of the Atlantic Ocean and Fort Adams State Park. Follow the signs for Ocean Drive as you approach the end of Bellevue Avenue or from the Fort Adams area. Hint: If your making the drive on sunny afternoon travel Ocean Drive beginning at the Fort Adams end to avoid glare from a setting sun.
Ocean Drive, Newport, RI

Conanicut Island
Jamestown, RI
Driving the roads of this island town will provide spectacular scenery of Narragansett Bay, rolling fields, historic homes and the quaint village center in Jamestown. Take one of the exits off of Route 138 between the bridges. Enjoy meandering and don’t worry about getting lost. Jamestown

South County

Route 3
Route 3 parallels I-95 from Exit 1 to Exit 6. This drive is a nice break from the interstate. Traveling north on I-95 take Exit 1 just after your cross into Rhode Island from Connecticut and get on Route 3 North in Hopkinton. You’ll drive through the little village of Hopkinton with its old country store and then on to Hope Valley. At a traffic light in Hope Valley Route 3 forks to the left, and Route 138 to Newport goes to the right. Bear left staying on Route 3 pass the State Police barracks and then under the interstate. Stay on Route 3 as you travel through Exeter and West Greenwich. After you pass a big field and cemetery on the left and travel down hill you will see an elevated I-95 running parallel on your left. You can soon rejoin I-95 at Exit 6. Hopkinton - West Greenwich

Route 138
Hope Valley and North Kingstown, RI
This route will take you past scenic farmland and the historic site of the University of Rhode Island. Route 138 may be traveled from Exit 3 on I-95 to the Jamestown Bridge North Kingstown. Hope Valley - North Kingstown

Route 1A
Westerly – Charlestown - So. Kingston, RI
Route 1A is a delightful, scenic diversion from US Route 1. The road meanders along the coves and inlets, affording riders with views of water and the countryside. Accessible from Route 1 at several points in South County. Westerly - South Kingstown

Providence

Foliage can best be appreciated on foot in the city, rather than trying to leaf peep while negotiating traffic. Take a walk along Benefit Street in the College Hill neighborhood and enjoy the old colonial era houses. Blackstone Boulevard on the East Side is another fine walk that features majestic homes and lawns. At the north end of the boulevard enter Swan Point Cemetery which overlooks the Blackstone River. Adjacent is the Riverside Cemetery with an impressive array of trees. Providence

Warwick – East Greenwich

Goddard Park has miles of woodsy horse trails, open fields with large old trees, a beach and nine-hole golf course. Exit 8 form I-95 to Route 2 South. At the first set of lights turn left onto Route 401 and take 2.5 miles into the village of East Greenwich. Turn right onto Route 1 South. At next light turn left onto Forge Road. Goddard Park comes up on left behind the very long stone wall. Entrance is at the far end of the wall. East Greenwich

Scituate Loop

This drive will take you around portions of the Scituate Reservoir, the pristine water source for much of Rhode Island. Access to the shoreline and water is not allowed. From I-295 take Exit 4 to Route 14 West. Go through the intersection with Route 116. You will pass over part of the reservoir and then into the pretty town of Scituate. Continue on Route 14 out of town and then turn left onto Route 12. This will take you across the Hope Dam. At Route 116 turn left, traveling north. At Route 14 turn right and retrace your drive back to I-295.
Scituate