8 Scenic Drives In New Hampshire That Are Downright Magical In The Fall
It’s that time of year again, friends! When the apple cider flows like wine (don’t worry, it’s still juice) and the leaves change like…well, fall leaves. It’s also just about the best time to take a road trip here in New Hampshire. With some of the best fall foliage views of any place in New England, it’s easy to see why the roads here are packed with traffic this time of year. But, despite a little bit of traffic, we highly recommend hopping in the car and getting out to see the sights. There are only a few more weeks left of colorful trees, so do it soon. Heck, how about today?
We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
If you're looking for a new story to tell after recounting your trip along the Kanc one too many times, you'll want to take this road. The Sawyer Highway is really Route 118 and it runs from Warren toward Woodstock. Take the time to pull over and enjoy the sights, or simply glide on through.
The Northern Woods offer some of the most peaceful and thought-clearing moments you can have this time of year in New Hampshire. You'll start your trip in Colebrook and make your way toward Errol for nearly 22-miles of stunning fall foliage.
Yes, yes. We know. This is perhaps the most popular drive during the fall in New Hampshire, but we assure you it's for good reason. Also known as Route 112, this road winds through the White Mountain National Forest for an unbelievable views of the state's foliage.
From Farmington to Conway, Route 153 will take you through small towns and towering trees. The nearly 50-mile trip should take about an hour and 20 minutes as you pass ponds and lakes along the eastern border of the state.
Head to the western border of New Hampshire to enjoy this beautiful drive. Not only is this part of the state stunning in terms of foliage, it also features impressive mountain views that go all the way to eastern Vermont. And, of course, the Connecticut River is a beauty any time of year.
Why take I-89, which runs parallel, when you can take this beautiful route instead? The 30-mile route between Lebanon and Andover is somehow shorter in mileage than the interstate but takes about a few minutes longer. But the 45-minute drive is totally worth those views.
New Hampshire is full of various regions and areas, all unique but equally as beautiful. The Monadnock Valley, where you'll find this drive, is just one example. The drive through the mountains from Jaffrey to Marlborough is just about 13-miles, but this 20 minute drive will stun you. You can even make it a loop by jumping onto route 101 heading east.
And, of course, who can forget the incredible drive up Mount Washington. This one will cost money, but the famous Auto Road has views that you just can't get anywhere else. Make your way through the trees for incredible views down the mountain and then enjoy things from the summit. You can learn more about this drive in a recent article by clicking here.
Michelle has lived in many places, but counts Maine as one of the best. In addition to the smell of ocean water in the air on rainy days in Portland, she loves puppies, photography, funny people, the Maine Red Claws, traveling, fresh tomatoes, Cambodia and filling out forms. For questions, comments and inquiries please email: [email protected]
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