Visit 8 Covered Bridges in New Hampshire in One Day Trip

The first stop on our day trip itinerary is the McDermott, or Cold River, Covered Bridge in Langdon. It was built in 1869, and at 81 feet, it spans, not surprisingly, the Cold River. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the bridge is closed to vehicular traffic, but you're still permitted to cross it on foot—which means you can really get a good look at the construction and attention to detail that went into building it.

Next, we'll head to the nearby Prentiss Covered Bridge, also known as the Drewsville Bridge. Opened to traffic in 1874, the Prentiss Bridge was bypassed by a modern steel bridge in the 1950s, and it's no longer open to vehicles. This historic bridge, measuring just under 35 feet, is the shortest covered bridge of the 19th-century era in New Hampshire.

The drive to our third stop is the longest between bridges, but it's a wonderful opportunity to relax and enjoy the gorgeous scenery this part of the Granite State has to offer. As you approach Newport, just past Chandler Station and slightly west of Route 103, you'll encounter the Pier Covered Bridge, which spans the Sugar River. It opened in the early 20th century, making it one of the newest bridges on our itinerary.

Remaining in the Newport area, Corbin Covered Bridge over the Croydon Branch of the Sugar River is our next destination. You'll find the bridge just west of Route 10 on North Newport Road, about 2 miles outside of Newport Village. The historic bridge was built in 1845, but it fell victim to arson in 1993. Fortunately, the bridge was rebuilt and restored in 1994.

The next leg of our journey brings us to Cornish and the 1882 Dingleton Hill Covered Bridge. It's a single-span bridge using an uncommon multiple Kingpost Truss design along its 78-foot span across Mill Brook, permitting vehicles traveling along Root Hill Road to cross the stream.

Also in Cornish, your next destination is not only the longest covered bridge in New Hampshire, but it is also the longest two-span covered bridge in the world. The aptly named span over the Connecticut River was built in 1866 and connects Cornish, New Hampshire, to Windsor, Vermont. History buffs will love all this historic bridge has to offer.

Blow Me Down Covered Bridge in Plainfield is our next stop. As with many of the state's historic bridges, this one is still in use for vehicular traffic, allowing Mill Road to cross Blow Me Down Brook. The bridge opened to traffic in 1877, which makes it one of the oldest bridges that we'll visit on this day trip.

Our final stop on the itinerary is the Meriden Covered Bridge, which is also located in Plainfield. James Tasker of Cornish built the bridge in 1880, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1963. If you take this trip in the summer, a swimming hole below the bridge is a wonderful way to cool off at the end of your journey.

I think that these covered bridges offer some of the most beautiful scenery in New Hampshire. Do you agree? How many of these bridges have you visited, and are there any you would add to the itinerary? We'd love to hear all about your favorites at our Nomination Page. If you're interested in learning even more about these wonderful artifacts, the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources maintains an online directory of covered bridges in the state.

Feeling inspired? Try planning your own trip using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.