The last time I went to New England to see the fall foliage New Hampshire blew my expectations out of the park. You’re probably wondering ‘what the heck would New Hampshire have to offer?!’ and to that I say trust me 😉. If you’re ever limited on time and can’t explore all or most of New England during the fall I highly recommend you at least visit New Hampshire. In my opinion, New Hampshire is the best place to witness the fall colors in full bloom. So without further ado below I have created the perfect New Hampshire Fall road trip guide with a road map!
Table of Contents
Where is New Hampshire?
New Hampshire is right in between Vermont, Maine and right above Massachusetts. Since these states are so close in proximity, and easily accessible with a car, New England is the perfect place for a fall road trip! (If you have the luxury of time make sure to check out my 5 day travel guide!)
When To Go?
If you’re looking for the best New Hampshire fall colors, make sure to look into foliage trackers, which give you a general idea of when to visit, like this one. I will say this, use these as a general guide. Alex and I went to New England after “peak foliage” and there was still plenty of beauty to see. There were PLENTY of beautiful trees with gorgeous fall colors in New Hampshire at the time we went. Good rule of thumb.
How To Get There?
You can access New Hampshire from any of the following airports:
- Boston Logan International Airport – Massachusetts
- Burlington International Airport – Vermont
- Portland International Jetport – Maine
- Manchester Boston Regional Airport – New Hampshire
Depending on where you’d like to start your journey, you have many options to choose from. As I was researching flights, though, I noticed flights were slightly cheaper when you flew in and out of Boston. This makes sense as it’s a bigger airport, something to keep in mind. I will say the best way to get around New Hampshire will be by car, so renting one will be a must. Now don’t worry if you don’t like driving in a busy metropolitan city like Boston. The plan is to briefly be in the city and head north to New Hampshire so we can get our fall road trip started!
Concord, New Hampshire
Is it a fall road trip without getting some apple cider donuts?! Prior to this trip I had never had apple cider donuts and boy was I missing out! As you are making your way north from Boston make sure to stop by Carter Hill Orchard for some apple picking and, the main star of the attraction, apple cider donuts. Walk around the farm, pick some apples all while snacking on a donut or two. This is a great way to start the adventures!
Lincoln, New Hampshire
Now for the first full day of adventures on this fall road trip at Lincoln, New Hampshire! Now, I will admit Lincoln, New Hampshire blew my own expectations. I didn’t realize there would be so much beauty in New Hampshire in general! Now this day is packed with loads of activity so saddle up!
Flume Gorge
Flume Gorge is located within White Mountain National Forest. It’s a natural gorge hiking area where you can see Conway granite walls stand tall at 70 to 90 feet. The trail itself is about a 2-mile loop, which can take about an hour and and-a-half to complete, depending on your pace. The trail consists of some uphill walking, stairs, waterfalls and slippery boardwalks. There is so much to see, from moss growing along the walls, waterfalls, ferns and much more.
On the day we visited it was raining , which was great because we had the whole place to ourselves. It was quite serene. We were told rain would definitely provide us with some waterfalls and they were right. There is a fee to visit the gorge of about $18/ person if you make your reservations online, make sure to do so to see availability. Definitely a place to check out.
Artist Bluff
Make sure to check out this hike next time you visit Franconia, New Hampshire; only 20 minutes up the road from Lincoln, New Hampshire. This 1.5 mile loop trail has some great panoramic views! Depending on your pace the trail can take about an hour to complete. There is no fee to do this trail and parking is also free. This is a highly popular trail so I suggest going at the break of dawn to avoid the crowds. Luckily for us, it had rained on the day we intended to check this hike out so crowds were minimal, but we paid the price with slipping over a rock or two (rocks were slippery due to the rain).
Crawford Notch State Park
If I had had more time to visit take advantage of the scenery I would have added more state parks to the list, like Crawford Notch. At only about 30 minutes from Artist Bluff trail you’ll come across this gorgeous state park. I mean talk about immersing yourself with the New Hampshire fall colors. Learn from me, and if you have the luxury of time, add Crawford Notch State park to the list.
White Mountain National Forest
Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to explore the White Mountain National Forest either, with the exception of visiting the Flume Gorge and stopping along the Kancamagus Highway, as much as I would have liked. So if you’re a nature enthusiasts/ hiking fan make time to visit the forest. Check out this link for a list of hiking trails to check out.
Visit Vermont with the help of travel guide!
Conway, New Hampshire
Next up on our New Hampshire road map is Conway! Conway is near White Mountain National Forest so it’s not that long of a drive. Honestly, Conway is a great place to spend the night if you intend to hike around White Mountain National Forest for a full day. Other than hiking there are plenty of other things to check out in this small town.
Conway Scenic Railroad
Take a step back in time and check out the fall foliage in an old-fashioned railroad experience. All trains depart from the 1841 train station located in North Conway Village. Vintage much? Depending on your availability, a train excursion is a great way to explore the town and see more of the scenic road.
Due to our schedule, and to the last minute adjustments, we only had time to ride the Conway Valley train. This 55 minute ride was perfect for us, because it helped us stay dry during the light rain storm we woke up to, plus, it made the perfect place to take a quick cat nap. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as scenic as I thought it would have been (check out the Mountaineer!), but we were still able to experience an old-fashioned train ride! Prices vary by excursion so make sure to check out there site for more information on ticket sales.
North Conway Downtown Shops
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again I love exploring small towns in the middle of nowhere and Conway is no exception. Visit the heart of Conway by checking out some local shops:
- Zeb’s General Store – a Conway staple, here you will find an assortment of items from food, souvenirs, and so much more!
- White Birch Books – love books? Then check out this independent, women’s owned book shop!
- North Conway 5 & 10 cents store – go back in time when you visit North Conway 5 & 10 cents store for some vintage candy and legit New Hampshire souvenirs.
- The Met Coffee House – need a quick pick me up? Then check out the Met for some coffee, tea or light pastries as you gear up for the day!
- Sea Dog Brewing – Not necessarily shop, but a damn good place to go eat at!
Besides getting to experience new places, I love, love, love supporting small, local businesses wherever I travel to. After all when you’re supporting a small business you’re supporting a dream. So make sure to stop by these shops on your New Hampshire fall road trip!
Covered bridge
I never realized how popular covered bridges were in New England until I saw them all over the area this past year. This one in particular is called Swift River Covered Bridge, which can be found on your way towards Conway before you get on the Kancamagus Highway. Picturesque isn’t it?
Kancamagus Highway
If your main goal is to witness the fall foliage add this destination to the top of your fall road trip itinerary right now! If there is one thing you do make sure it’s to check out this area. Get ready to check out some surreal foliage. This almost 35 mile scenic drive is known for the best fall foliage in the country for a reason. Located along route 112, between Lincoln and Conway, New Hampshire, as listed on the road map, you can drive up and down the highway to see the foliage from your car or stop by the road and check out a short trail to immerse yourself in it all.
New Hampshire Road Map
In Conclusion…
I can safely say New Hampshire has been the state with the best fall colors I have seen yet. You drive along the roads thinking it can’t possibly get any more beautiful, but it truly does. Use my this New Hampshire road map as a started guide for your next adventure. I can’t wait for you to visit and get to experience the beauty that lays ahead on your New Hampshire fall road trip.
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