Take This Epic Road Trip To Experience New Hampshire’s Great Outdoors
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Ken MacGray
Author
Once you are away from New Hampshire’s major cities, the roads open up and the state’s natural beauty presents itself. One of the best ways to pack in the scenery is to take a day for a road trip. This 100-mile drive will bring you through some of the most beautiful parts of the Granite State.
This drive makes a clockwise loop through two of the state's most spectacular notches (mountain passes) and returns via via one of the most beautiful roads in the U.S. The drive time without stops (you'll want to make stops!) is approximately 2 hours, 11 minutes.
Franconia Notch, Lincoln, NH 03580, USA
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Franconia Notch, Lincoln, NH 03580, USA
The drive begins at the White Mountains Visitor Center in Lincoln at Exit 32 off I-93. From here, follow Rt. 112 west for a short distance, then head north on U.S. Route 3 toward Franconia Notch, where you will be greeted with spectacular scenery right away.
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Crawford Notch, Hart's Location, NH 03575, USA
Above Franconia Notch, continue north along U.S. Route 3 through the village of Twin Mountain, then turn east on U.S. Route 302. You'll pass the Omni Mount Washington Resort set against the dramatic backdrop of the Presidential Range, then arrive at the top of Crawford Notch.
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U.S. Route 302 drops down through the dramatic, U-shaped Crawford Notch with high mountain ridges on both sides that were created when a glacier gouged out the valley. Look all around for beautiful scenery as the highway descends to the small town of Bartlett.
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U.S. Route 302 continues through Bartlett and on toward North Conway and Conway, becoming a little busier now. Conway offers much to do and see all year long and this is a good place for a break and to check out the local shops.
South of Conway, U.S. Route 3 diverges and makes its way toward Maine. Turn south on Rt. 16 to continue the journey. After Conway Village, turn west onto Route 112, also know as the famous Kancamagus Highway. This scenic byway makes a long journey through some of the most gorgeous terrain in the state, and is especially beautiful during foliage season. This is the last stretch of the drive and will bring you back to the visitor center in Lincoln.
This road trip is truly one of the best in terms of visiting New Hampshire’s great natural features. Explore more parts of the state by taking a cruise along the seacoast, enjoy a tour of 9 covered bridges, or fill up your bucket list with these 7 scenic drives.
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