New England Quick Facts

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Getting here

  • The six New England states are: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
  • New England is best experienced as a fly-drive destination with city stops that bookend the trip. It is advised to spend about 3 nights in a major city and then retrieve a rental vehicle to tour over 10 – 14 days the beautiful scenery and culture of America’s Main Streets in all six states.
  • New England’s principal gateway is Boston, Massachusetts, the region’s largest city with Boston-Logan International Airport (BOS) being the major airport. Hartford, Connecticut’s Bradley International Airport (BDL) has regular flights from Dublin, Ireland. New England is in close proximity to the Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) and the NYC-John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
  • Vehicles travel on the right side of the road. Distances are measured in miles (1.60 km). You can rent vehicles from many companies and pick them up at the airport. Most rental cars will use unleaded gasoline. Many highways in New England have tolls requiring cash or the use of electronic tolls (EZPass). Be on alert for wildlife, including deer and moose in the early mornings or late evenings – note, moose eyes do not reflect light. There can be gaps in cellular connection in rural areas. It is advised to download GPS maps in advance. If flying into Boston-Logan International Airport (BOS), traffic leaving Boston is very heavy in all directions on Thursday and Friday evenings, so it is encouraged that visitors intending to stay in the city plan their stay in Boston over the weekends and then pick up a rental and drive to New England’s countryside starting on Sunday or Monday.
  • Train is a popular option for travelers who don’t feel comfortable driving or those who want to pick up their rental vehicles outside of the busy cities for easier driving. Amtrak and local lines are more prevalent along coastal Connecticut, up through Hartford and continuing north through the state of Vermont, east throughout Rhode Island and eastern Massachusetts, and partially along the Maine coast. It’s important to research in advance which stops are walkable to points of interest or have rental vehicle services at the stations. In the rural areas of New England, ride share should be scheduled in advance as these drivers are not readily available.
  • Private charter air travel and drivers can be arranged for vacations with companies such as Joshua’s Worldwide, Air New England and North America Traveler. Private planes can land in smaller airports closer to your destination, like Bangor International Airport  is a 1.25-hour drive to Bar Harbor, Maine, and Providence T.F. Green International Airport (PVD) in Rhode Island is the closest to Newport, Rhode Island and Mystic, Connecticut.
  • New England’s major cruise ship ports are Newport, Rhode Island; Boston, Massachusetts; Portland, Maine; and Bar Harbor, Maine. These cities offer visitors plenty sightseeing and activities. Fall foliage cruises are very popular.

Other Resources

Population

  • New England is home to approximately 15 million people and offers a rare mix of vibrant cities and quiet countryside within a compact, easily navigable region. Population is concentrated in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, where historic cities, cultural institutions and coastal communities are closely connected. Boston, the region’s largest city, has about 675,000 residents and serves as the primary international gateway. At the other end of the spectrum is Vermont, the least populated state, with roughly 650,000 residents statewide, known for its mountain landscapes, picturesque villages and outdoor recreation. This balance of urban energy and rural charm allows visitors to experience world-class museums, scenic coastlines and peaceful natural settings, within a single trip.
  • The people of New England are known for their warm hospitality, friendly and direct manner, and down-to-earth approach to life. New Englanders generally love the great outdoors and are passionate when it comes to sports.
  • New England is one of the most historic and culturally rich regions of the USA. It has indigenous cultures dating back over 10,000 years. Today’s indigenous communities include the Wabanaki, in Maine, which are comprised of five principal nations: the Mi’kmaq, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy, Penobscot and Abenaki; The state-recognized sovereign nations in Connecticut are the Eastern Pequot, Golden Hill Paugussett and Schaghticoke tribes, and as well as the federally recognized Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes. Massachusetts has two federally recognized tribes: the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head. Many New Englanders can trace their roots to English pilgrim and Puritan ancestors who widely colonized this area in the 1600s. In the 1800s, large numbers of Irish, Italian, French Canadian and Eastern Europeans came to find work as the region became the world’s leading industrial force. Also in the 1800s, New England’s whaling industry attracted large numbers of Cape Verdean and Portuguese settlers in coastal communities. All of these cultures are present, celebrated and strong today.
  • New England’s progressive values pioneered religious freedoms and LGBTQ+ rights in the United States. The region was one of the earliest English settlements in the “New World” following the arrival of the Pilgrims, who set sail from England aboard the Mayflower in 1620 in search of religious freedom. This religious persecution laid a foundation of activism in the region.

Climate & Seasons

  • New England has four distinct seasons and is truly a year-round destination.
    • Summer: June to August – Average temperatures range from 60-85 degrees Fahrenheit (15-29 degrees Celsius). Pack a sweatshirt or light sweater for the evenings and cool days.
    • Fall: September to November – Average temperature range from 37-63 degrees Fahrenheit (3-17 degrees Celsius). Pack layers.
    • Winter: December to March – Average temperature is 25 degrees Fahrenheit (-3 Celsius). Pack snow gear.
    • Spring: April to June – Temperatures range from 40-60 degrees Fahrenheit (4 – 15 degrees Celsius). Bring a raincoat and be ready for any kind of weather.

Language

  • English is the dominant language. After English, the most common languages are Spanish and French, particularly along the border with Quebec, Canada. There are also communities in southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island that speak Portuguese.

Currency

U.S. Dollar. Many businesses in New England are converting to cashless transactions, preferring credit cards or other forms of payment apps. In small businesses, it’s not unusual for them to have a credit card minimum of $10.00.

Food

  • All of New England celebrates the foods that make the region special. Fresh shellfish is a staple for southern New England including clams, oysters, mussels and scallops. Maine lobster is a species of lobster caught in cold waters off the coasts of Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Tip: The smaller the lobster, the sweeter the flavor.
  • Wild blueberries, also known as “low bush”, are smaller in size and have a more intense flavor than the larger blueberry varieties. They are not planted farms and instead, are found in over 40,000 acres of mountaintops and glacial outwash plains.
  • Northern New England is famous for fresh, natural maple syrup with Vermont generating over half of the maple production in the United States.
  • Cranberries, apples, cider and pumpkins are a few of the most anticipated fall harvest celebrations in New England. There are festivals and seasonal recipes with these ingredients everywhere.
  • Connecticut is serious about its New Haven-style pizza with roots back to the 1920s. It has a very thin and crispy crust from a high heat, coal-fired oven.

Famous People, Film and Authors

  • Eight U.S. presidents have been born in New England and many, many more have attended universities or vacationed here. The artist Norman Rockwell has a dedicated museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
  • New England is popular with Hollywood filmmakers and actors alike and has served as the backdrop to many Hollywood movies throughout the years, including The Cider House Rules, Little Women, Mystic River, Jaws, Good Will Hunting, Mystic Pizza, On Golden Pond, The Crucible, The Perfect Storm, The Good Son, Funny Farm, The Departed and Beetlejuice. Television claims to fame include Cheers, Ally McBeal, The Gilmore Girls, and The Gilded Age.
  • Visitors can come and experience the homesteads or the inspiration of literary giants including Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry David Thoreau, John Irving, Louisa May Alcott, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Thornton Wilder, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Mark Twain and Stephen King. Series such as Dr. Suess, Curious George and Pollyanna came from New England and are celebrated with museums and historical markers.