New Hampshire Road Trip Ideas: 11 Best Road Trips + Itinerary

There’s just something so satisfying about getting in the car to explore the Granite State. With so much natural beauty as well as landmarks and attractions, we have a lot to discover in this New England destination, which can easily be described as one of the most beautiful in the USA. If you’re looking for some New Hampshire road trip ideas, we have quite a few for you to choose from. Whether you have a day, a long weekend, or longer, and no matter if you’re traveling solo or with the family, there’s a road trip for you. Here are some of the best New Hampshire road trip ideas:

Cappi Thompson / Getty Images

For road trip planning and packing tips, check out OnlyInYourState's Ultimate Road Trip Packing List. Whether you're leaving for a single day or a week-long road trip, you can't forget the snacks: here are 50 on-the-go snack ideas perfect for traveling.

1-Day Road Trip In New Hampshire

James Walsh/Flickr

• Route: McDermott Bridge > Prentiss Bridge > Pier Bridge > Corbin Covered Bridge > Blacksmith Shop Covered Bridge > Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridg > Blow Me Down Bridge > Meriden Covered Bridge
• Distance: 70 miles
• Trip Time: 2 hours

If you want to take a day trip around New Hampshire, how about a covered bridges road trip? There's something so charming about a covered bridge and you'll get your fill once you hit the road on this adventure!

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3-Day Weekend Road Trip In New Hampshire

SarahPrince09/Flickr

• Route: America's Stonehenge > Blue Job Mountain > Mount Major > Squam Lakes Natural Science Center > Sabbaday Falls > Arethusa Falls > Ripley Falls > Glen Ellis Falls > Pinkham Notch > Artist Bluff
• Distance: miles
• Trip Time: *

Do you have a long weekend and are in need of a New Hampshire road trip itinerary? Well, here's one for you. Take a multi-day hidden wonders of New Hampshire road trip and discover some of the best natural attractions around the state. Within the itinerary are a couple of hotel suggestions as well!

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New Hampshire Hidden Gems Road Trip

Kevin Stewart/Google Local

• Route: Farm by the River > Madison Boulder > Harman's Cheese & Country Store > The Old Courthouse > Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum > Smoke Shack Southern BBQ > Three Chimneys Inn & Frost Sawyer Tavern > Fuller Gardens
• Distance: 264 miles
• Trip Time: 6 hours

Even if you've been exploring the Granite State your entire life, you most likely haven't seen it all. There are so many hidden gems in New Hampshire that are worth finding. On this road trip, you can discover a museum, gardens, a tavern, and even a BBQ restaurant. You'll think it's one of the best New Hampshire road trips you've taken in a long time as you travel from North Conway all the way to North Hampton.

New Hampshire Roadside Attractions Road Trip

Lee Hillsgrove, Sr./Google Local

• Route: U.S.S. Albacore > Granite State Candy Shoppe > Memorial Arch of Tilton > The Redstone Rocket > Polly's Pancake House > The Betty & Barney Hill Abduction Site > Clark's Trading Post & Florence Murray Museum > Madison Boulder Natural Area
• Distance: 214 miles
• Trip Time: 4 hours 16 minutes

If you're the type who loves stopping at all the odd roadside attractions, then this quirky road side attractions road trip is for you! Discover a unique side of the state while stopping and wondering in awe that some of these places even exist. And don't forget to bring your camera!

Best New Hampshire Road Trip For Spring

~jar{}/Flickr

• Route: Kinsman Falls > Beecher and Pearl Cascades > Ammonoosuc Ravine > Arethusa Falls Hart’s Location > Jackson Falls > Glen Ellis Falls > Diana’s Baths > Lower Falls > Sabbaday Falls
• Distance: 110 miles
• Trip Time: 2 hours 28 minutes

One of the best New Hampshire road trips you could take in the spring is one that leads to the state's tallest falls. With the snow melt, the falls should all be at their fullest. Along this particular route, you'll have to park your car and take hiking trails to see the waterfalls, but it's well worth the effort to see their magnificent beauty!

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Best Summer Road Trip In New Hampshire

Michigan Girl Adventures/Google Local

• Route: Odiorne Point State Park > Odiorne Point State Park > Brookford Farm > Weirs Beach Boardwalk > Weirs Beach Boardwalk > The Basin, Franconia Notch State Park > Franconia Inn > Arethusa Falls > Echo Lake State Park > Wolfeboro
• Distance: 251 miles
• Trip Time: 5 hours 18 minutes

Summer is the perfect time to take a road trip. After all, New Hampshire has countless summertime destinations that the whole family can enjoy. From chasing waterfalls to visiting a farm, stopping for cannoli, exploring a state park, and overnighting at a historic inn, this road trip through New Hampshire will make your summer a great one!

Best New Hampshire Road Trip For Fall

Jim Brickett/Flickr

• Route: Littleton > Gorham > Milan > Erol > Dixville Notch > Colebrook > Lancaster
• Distance: 165 miles
• Trip Time: 3 hours 37 minutes

This drive through the mountains is best done in the fall when the reds, golds, and oranges will drop your jaw. Check the foliage report for the best time to complete this road this, although late September and early October are generally quite colorful. There's truly no better scene than rural New Hampshire in autumn. This fall road trip will leave you in awe. It’s such a classic New England road trip.

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Best Winter Road Trip In New Hampshire

J. Greg Hinson, MD, www.ackdoc.com/Moment via Getty Images

• Route: Conway > Bath
• Distance: 58 miles
• Trip Time: 1 hour 23 minutes

The state can look like quite a wonderland covered in a blanket of snow come winter. So, why not take a winter road trip in New Hampshire? This route takes you along Route 112, also known as the Kancamagus Highway, a gorgeous scenic byway. You'll travel between Bath and Conway through the gorgeous White Mountains which are a must-see. But take your time and be prepared -- the roads may be a bit slippery in the winter.

Family-Friendly New Hampshire Road Trip

James Walsh/Flickr

• Route: Nashua > Hudson > Merrimack > Enfield > Hanover > Jefferson > North Conway > Loudon
• Distance: 301 miles
• Trip Time: 5 hours 42 minutes

Need a family-friendly winter getaway? Well, this holiday lights road trip through New Hampshire is hard to beat! When the Christmas season rolls around, you must take this road trip to see the most magical sights in the state. From personal light displays to big attractions like Santa's Village, this road trip is completely full of holiday cheer. Truly, it's the most wonderful time of the year.

Road Trip to New Hampshire Landmarks & Natural Wonders

Dan Connolly/Flickr

• Route: Cathedral Ledge > Diana's Baths > Jackson Falls > Stop 4Mount Washington Auto Road > Gorham > Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge > The Flume Gorge > Kancamagus Highway > Lower Falls in Albany
• Distance: miles
• Trip Time: *

This short trip will take you through most of the White Mountains. In addition to taking to you to some of the most beloved sites in New Hampshire like Cathedral Ledge and the Mount Washington Auto Road, this natural wonders road trip will take you along some truly unforgettable roads. The scenic drive will be the highlight! Make sure the bravest one in the car is the one driving up Mt. Washington.

Road Trip to Best Small Towns in New Hampshire

Fletcher/Wikipedia

• Route: Exeter > Wolfeboro > Jackson > Littleton > Sugar Hill > Plymouth > Hancock > Peterborough
• Distance: 299 miles
• Trip Time: 6 hours 13 minutes

How about a road trip through New Hampshire to see the state's most charming small towns? Covering nearly 300 miles, this road trip is best done over the course of two or three days so you can explore each town.

Road trips are the best way to explore a state and having a themed road trip makes it all the more fun! We hope these New Hampshire road trip ideas inspire you to hit the road on an adventure. What road trip do you want to go on first? We’d love to know!