Self-Launched New England Fall Foliage & NYC: Boston to New York in 12 Days
12 days · New England & New York, USA
DERTOUR charges £2,485
No-markup version: ~£1,780 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of DERTOUR's 12-day Indian summer coach tour through New England. You'll follow the same route — Boston, coastal Maine, Acadia, the White Mountains, Newport, Cape Cod, Plymouth and New York — but using regional buses, trains and the odd rental car instead of a 52-seat coach, staying in hostels and budget motels, and joining self-bookable tours where the group trip included guided excursions. Ideal for solo travellers chasing the best fall foliage in the USA (peak October) without paying coach-tour prices. All costs are approximate per person in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Boston
Boston, MA
Land at Logan Airport and take the Blue Line T (subway, ~£2.30) into town. Check into a hostel near Back Bay or the North End, then spend the afternoon walking the harbour-front, Faneuil Hall and the North End's Italian bakeries. Pick up a CharlCard (≈£15 for 7 days of unlimited subway/bus) at a station kiosk to reduce transport costs the next few days.
🚌Blue Line T from airport ~£2.30
🛏HI Boston Hostel (dorm) or budget inn near Back Bay, ~£45/night
- →Blue Line T from Logan Airport
- →Self-guided North End and Faneuil Hall walk
- →Pick up CharlieCard travel card
Boston to Portland via Cape Neddick, Portsmouth & Kennebunkport
Portland, ME
Take the Amtrak Downeaster train from Boston North Station to Portland (≈£18, 2h40). To hit the coach's stops at York's Cape Neddick Light, Portsmouth and Kennebunkport, pre-book a shared Maine coast day-trip from Portland or rent a car in Boston for the Maine/New Hampshire leg (solo driver ~£55/day; split fuel). Overnight in Portland's Old Port, where lobster rolls are cheaper at the waterfront shacks than in restaurants.
🚌Amtrak Downeaster ~£18 + local/rental car share
🛏Portland hostel/budget motel, ~£55/night
- →Amtrak Downeaster Boston–Portland
- →Cape Neddick (Nubble) Lighthouse viewpoint
- →Portsmouth & Kennebunkport stopovers
- →Lobster roll dinner in Old Port (optional, ~£18)
Portland to Bar Harbor & Acadia National Park
Bar Harbor, ME
Buses from Portland to Ellsworth/Bar Harbor are limited — the most reliable option is a rental car (~1h drive) or a pre-booked Concord Coach Lines to Bangor plus local taxi. Spend the afternoon on Acadia's Park Loop Road (entrance pass £25 per vehicle) and walk Ocean Path to Sand Beach. Bar Harbor's galleries and boutiques fill the evening. Book a hostel in Bar Harbor early — October fills up fast.
🚌Rental car share ~£30 + Acadia entrance £25/vehicle
🛏Bar Harbor hostel dorm (~£50) or Ellsworth motel (~£55)
- →Acadia National Park entry & Park Loop Road
- →Ocean Path walk / Sand Beach
- →Bar Harbor galleries & waterfront stroll
Bar Harbor to the White Mountains
North Conway / Lincoln, NH
Drive west through Maine's lakes and into the White Mountains (≈4h). Stop in North Conway for outlets and a coffee, then continue to Lincoln or Woodstock for two nights. This stretch is where a car really pays off — public transport across the Whites is sparse.
🚌Rental car share & fuel ~£25
🛏Budget motel or hostel in Lincoln/Woodstock, ~£60/night
- →Scenic drive through Maine lakes region
- →North Conway stop
- →White Mountains village base
Kancamagus Highway, Flume Gorge & maple syrup farm
White Mountains, NH
Drive the Kancamagus Highway — arguably the best fall foliage road in the east — with pull-outs at Sabbaday Falls and Sugar Hill. Walk the Flume Gorge boardwalk (~£15 entry) and visit a small family sugar shack such as Polly's Pancake Parlor or Fadden's Sugar House for a self-guided syrup tasting. Fuel up at a diner in Lincoln (~£12).
🚌Rental car share & fuel ~£15
🛏Budget motel or hostel in Lincoln/Woodstock, ~£60/night
- →Kancamagus Highway drive
- →Flume Gorge boardwalk (~£15)
- →Maple syrup farm visit & tasting (~£5)
White Mountains to Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, RI
A long driving day south (≈4h30). Return the rental car in Boston if you're done with it, or keep it for the Cape. In Newport, walk the 3.5-mile Cliff Walk for free ocean views and book a self-guided audio ticket to one of the Gilded Age mansions (The Breakers ~£22 via the Preservation Society). Stay in a hostel or cheap guesthouse in Middletown a mile from the centre.
🚌Rental car share & fuel ~£30
🛏Newport/Middletown hostel or guesthouse, ~£65/night
- →Cliff Walk self-guided stroll (free)
- →The Breakers or Marble House self-guided mansion ticket (~£22)
Newport to Cape Cod
Hyannis, MA
Drive or take the RIPTA bus to Providence then Peter Pan bus to Hyannis (~£20 total, 3h). Settle into a Hyannis hostel or motel, then take the free-ish shuttle or bike to Craigville or Kalmus Beach for a late-afternoon walk and seashell hunting as the light softens.
🚌Peter Pan/Plymouth & Brockton bus ~£20
🛏HI Hyannis Hostel (dorm ~£45) or budget motel ~£60
- →Beach walk on Cape Cod
- →Seashell & sea-stone hunt at Craigville Beach
Cape Cod: Martha's Vineyard or Provincetown
Cape Cod, MA
Pick one island day. Ferry from Hyannis to Martha's Vineyard (Steamship Authority, ~£14 return, 45min) and hire a bike to cycle Edgartown and Oak Bluffs. Or take the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority's Flex bus to Provincetown (~£6, 2h) to walk Commercial Street, see the Pilgrim Monument and visit the JFK exhibits. Either way, pack a picnic to keep costs down.
🚌Ferry or regional bus ~£14
🛏HI Hyannis Hostel or budget motel, ~£50/night
- →Steamship Authority ferry to Martha's Vineyard (~£14 return) or Flex bus to Provincetown (~£6)
- →Bike hire on Martha's Vineyard (~£25) or Provincetown sightseeing
Cape Cod to Boston via Plymouth & the Freedom Trail
Boston, MA
Take the Plymouth & Brockton bus to Plymouth (~£12, 1h), see Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower II replica (exterior free, ship entry ~£15), then continue on to Boston. In the afternoon walk the 2.5-mile Freedom Trail with the free NPS app audio guide, finishing at Quincy Market for clam chowder (~£8). Overnight near South Station for tomorrow's train.
🚌Plymouth & Brockton bus ~£18 total
🛏South Station area hostel dorm, ~£45/night
- →Plymouth Rock & Mayflower II replica
- →Self-guided Freedom Trail with NPS audio app
- →Quincy Market & Boston Common
Boston to New York City
New York City, NY
Take the Amtrak Acela or Northeast Regional from Boston South Station to New York Penn Station (~£45–70, 4h) — book 4+ weeks ahead for the cheaper Regional fare. Check into a hostel in Brooklyn or the Upper West Side (NYC hostels ~£55–70/night dorm) and spend the evening in Times Square before a cheap slice of pizza.
🚌Amtrak ticket ~£55
🛏HI New York Hostel (Upper West Side) dorm, ~£60/night
- →Amtrak Northeast Regional Boston–New York
- →Evening stroll through Times Square
New York hop-on-hop-off & Top of the Rock
New York City, NY
Buy a Big Bus or Gray Line hop-on-hop-off 24h ticket (~£40, book via GetYourGuide for discounts) covering downtown, uptown and Brooklyn loops — the same experience the coach tour includes. Add timed Top of the Rock tickets (~£30) for sunset views over Central Park and the Empire State. Use your MetroCard (£2.90/ride) for transfers to Chinatown and the 9/11 Memorial.
🚌MTA MetroCard ~£8
🛏HI New York Hostel dorm, ~£60/night
- →Hop-on-hop-off double-decker bus ticket (~£40)
- →Top of the Rock observation deck (~£30)
- →Chinatown & 9/11 Memorial walk
NYC museums & departure
New York City, NY
Choose a museum using the pay-what-you-wish entry at the Met (suggested £22, pay what you can for NY State residents only — otherwise budget the full ticket), or the free American Museum of Natural History halls. If you're still in town, walk the High Line and Chelsea Market before heading to JFK via the A train (£2.90) or LIRR.
🚌MTA A train to JFK ~£3
🛏Departure day — check out by 11am
- →Metropolitan Museum of Art or AMNH
- →High Line & Chelsea Market walk
- →A train to JFK
Self-launched vs. DERTOUR
| This itinerary (self-launched) | DERTOUR | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,780 | £2,485 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £705 per person (28%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more DERTOUR-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,780
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched New England Fall Foliage & NYC: Boston to New York in 12 Days cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,780 per person for 12 days in New England & New York, USA. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with DERTOUR?+
Yes — DERTOUR charges around £2,485 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,780 — a saving of roughly £705 (28%) per person.
How long is the New England & New York, USA trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 day-by-day stops through New England & New York, USA.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, foodie trip through New England & New York, USA, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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