New Hampshire Road Trip - 7 Days
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Follow our New Hampshire road trip to see the Granite State’s most iconic landmarks and attractions in 7 days. Surrounded by Vermont, Maine, and Massachusetts, New Hampshire is the beating heart of New England. Blessed with dense forests, crystal clear mountain streams, quaint villages, and 18 miles of rocky seashore there is much to explore in the “live free or die” state.
Our New Hampshire itinerary will take you from the historic wharves of Portsmouth to the soaring peaks of the White Mountain National Forest. Visit Strawbery Banke, ride the Cog Railway, and discover the natural beauty of the Kancamagus Highway. Road tripping across the state’s scenic roads is one of the best things to do in New Hampshire.
NEW HAMPSHIRE WEATHER
New Hampshire is a four-season New England travel destination. Summers are hot and humid. In winter there is frequent snow and freezing temperatures. Spring and fall are transition seasons.
BEST TIME FOR A NEW HAMPSHIRE ROAD TRIP
New Hampshire is beautiful in all four seasons; however, winters can be icy and mud season (in early spring) should be avoided. Summer and fall are the best times for a New Hampshire road trip between the months of May and October.
NEW HAMPSHIRE HOTELS
Throughout New Hampshire you will find a wide range of hotel, motel, camping, cabin, and airbnb accommodations. In this article we have added suggestions for lodgings in each geographical location along the route. These hotels are well-reviewed, and in a good spot for the activities being highlighted.
In addition, click here if you need to rent a car in New Hampshire.
NEW HAMPSHIRE ROAD TRIP MAP
New Hampshire is a small state and you can see a lot without a lot of driving. Our road trip covers about 165 miles over a 7 day period. You will spend about 3.5 hours (total) in the car traveling between locations.
NEW HAMPSHIRE ITINERARY – 7 DAY ROAD TRIP
Day 1 Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Begin your New Hampshire road trip in Portsmouth on the seacoast. Start your day at Strawbery Banke. The 10 acre living history museum covers 300 years of New England history. Its campus includes period homes, taverns, and gardens where costumed demonstrators bring traditional crafts to life.
From Strawbery Banke, walk to Prescott Park on the Piscataqua River. Wander along the river and enjoy the expansive gardens. In the summer, there are often markets and fairs on the grounds.
Leaving the Prescott Park, take a stroll to Market Square in downtown Portsmouth. Peruse the colorful storefronts and cafes where there is “tax-free” shopping (no sales tax). There are many one-of-a-kind galleries and antique stores in this neighborhood. Then, make your way to the Morin Tugboats on the waterfront. The area is full of shops, seafood, and bars.
Tonight, check the city calendar for musical and theatrical performances at Prescott Park or the Portsmouth Music Hall. Or, plan a pub crawl through the ale houses of Portsmouth’s breweries. Try: Loaded Question Brewing Company, Earth Eagle Brewings, and Great Rhythm Brewing Company.
While in Portsmouth consider these area tours:
In the Portsmouth area spend the night at one of these New Hampshire hotels:
Day 2 North Conway, New Hampshire
Today, leave the seacoast and drive to North Conway. When you arrive, ride the Conway Scenic Railroad through the Mount Washington Valley and Crawford Notch. Afterwards, walk through the village and discover Zeb’s General Store, The League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, and Bavarian Chocolate Haus.
Next, take a short hike to the top of Cathedral Ledges, or go tubing on the Saco River at the Saco River Tubing Company. Or, if you prefer indoor activities, shop the outlet stores of Settler’s Green Outlet Village. Finally, don’t forget to visit the town’s two covered bridges; the Swift River Covered Bridge and Saco River Covered Bridge.
Tonight, check out the pub fare and tasting room at the Tuckerman Brewing Company. Or, take a short trip to the nearby town of Jackson for a meal at one of its many fine restaurants.
While in North Conway consider this tour:
In the North Conway area, spend the night at one of these New Hampshire hotels:
Day 3: Kancamagus Highway and Lincoln, NH
The drive on day-3 will take you from North Conway to the town of Lincoln via the spectacular 34.5 mile Kancamagus Highway. Popularly known as the “Kanc,” the road runs through the White Mountain National Forest.
Some stops to look out for along the route include: Albany Covered Bridge (Mile 70), Lower Scenic Falls (Mile 71), Rocky Gorge (Mile 73), Sabbaday Falls (Mile 80), and the Sugar Hill Overlook (Mile 82), Graham Wangan Grounds Overlook (Mile 86), Mt. Hancock picnic grounds (Mile 88), Otter Rocks (Mile 91), and the Lincoln Woods trailhead (Mile 95).
For short scenic hikes to break up your ride, be sure to stop at Rocky Gorge, Sabbaday Falls, and the Lincoln Woods Trail.
Tonight, spend the night in lively town of Lincoln. Visitors can find ski shops, moose tours, restaurants, and specialty stores along the main drag as well as the Hobo Railroad, mini-golf, and Alpine Adventures.
In the Lincoln area, spend the night at one of these New Hampshire hotels:
Day 4: Franconia Notch State Park & Woodstock
Today, begin your exploration of Franconia Notch State Park at the Flume Gorge. The Flume is an 800-foot stone chasm at the base of Mt. Liberty. Boardwalks lining the walls of the granite gorge allow visitors to see the natural attraction from the inside out.
Leaving the Flume, drive to the Basin. The Basin is a 20-foot granite pothole with a waterfall. The natural phenomenon is surrounded by footpaths running along a clear mountain stream.
Next, continue through Franconia Notch to Profile Lake with its viewing area for the former Old Man in the Mountain (Mile 10.5).
A bit further along the highway, turn-off at Exit 34B (Mile 11) and park at the Cannon Mountain Ski Area. Visit the Old Man in the Mountain Museum and New England Ski Museum. Then, walk the Franconia Notch Recreation Path to Echo Lake Beach (1.5 miles). Here you can rent paddle boats or walk on the sandy beach. Across the street from Echo Beach, hike the short steep Artist’s Bluff trail for excellent views of the Notch.
Note: If you are a biker, the Franconia Notch Recreation Path (aka Bike Path) is a 9-mile paved path that begins at the Flume Gorge and ends just past Echo Lake. See our Franconia Notch Bike Path article for more information.
Tonight, take a short ride to Woodstock, New Hampshire. The town has a pretty walkable main street with several locally owned craft shops and cafes. We suggest the Woodstock Inn Brewery for dinner.
Day 5: Bretton Woods, New Hampshire
Before exiting the Franconia Notch area, take a high speed gondola ride to the top of Cannon Mountain (Franconia) or Loon Mountain (Lincoln). Both offer great summit views and hiking trails. Visitors can ride back down on the gondola or walk by foot down the mountain.
Then, drive from Franconia Notch through the Twin Mountain area to Bretton Woods. Check into your hotel, and take the rest of the afternoon to relax. Or, if you have daredevils in your party, head to Cranmore Mountain to ride its alpine slide.
In the Bretton Woods area, spend the night at one of these New Hampshire hotels:
Day 6: Bretton Woods, New Hampshire
Spend your last full day atop the 6,266’ Mount Washington in the White Mountain National Forest. Mt. Washington is famous for its extreme weather conditions and steep slopes. Visitors can get to the summit by hiking, auto road, or cog railway. At the summit, visitors can explore the Sherman Adams Building with a cafeteria, museum, rest rooms, gift shop, and a large observation deck.
The summit can be reached by car by driving the Mt. Washington Auto Road which winds 7.6 miles up the mountain. It can also be ascended with a ride on the Mt. Washington Cog Railway. Guests can choose between a biodiesel or steam locomotive for the trip.
Day 7: Brunch at Mt. Washington Onmi Hotel & Head Home
If you opt not to stay at the gorgeous (but expensive) Omni Mount Washington Hotel, be sure to make a stop to the historic property before leaving the area.
Nestled in a valley beneath Mt. Washington, the red topped hotel has beautiful grounds to explore including stables, a golf course, and hiking trails. We recommend you stop in for a meal. There are several nice restaurants, but our favorite place to eat is sitting on the back porch and ordering drinks and apps.
We hope you enjoyed getting to know the Granite State, Laura and Randy
For more information on New Hampshire travel, read our travel blog articles on:
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