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 New Hampshire, which can easily be described as one of the most beautiful places in the United States. If you're looking for ideas for road trips through New Hampshire, 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 road trips in New Hampshire.

Before hitting the road, check each destination to ensure it is still open and to confirm hours and days. Some attractions may be seasonal.

For road trip planning and packing tips, check out Only In Your State's Ultimate Road Trip Packing List. Whether you're leaving for a single day or a weeklong 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

• 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. Don't forget to pack your camera because you'll have plenty of photo-worthy moments.

3-Day Weekend Road Trip in New Hampshire

• 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: 260 miles
• Trip Time: 6 hours 15 minutes

Do you have a long weekend and need a New Hampshire road trip itinerary? Well, weekend road trips in New Hampshire offer a great mini-vacation. Take a multi-day hidden wonders of New Hampshire road trip and discover some of the best natural attractions around the state. The itinerary, which will take you to America's Stonehenge and Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, also features several suggestions for hotels.

New Hampshire Hidden Gems Road Trip

• 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, discover a museum, gardens, a tavern, and even a BBQ restaurant, where you'll dig into some of the best barbecue in New Hampshire. You'll likely think it's one of the best New Hampshire road trips you've taken in a long time as you travel from North Conway to North Hampton.

Editor's Note: Farm by the River is permanently closed.

New Hampshire Roadside Attractions Road Trip

• 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 love stopping at all the odd roadside attractions when you're road-tripping, then this quirky roadside attractions road trip is for you. Discover a unique side of the state while stopping and gazing in awe that some of these places even exist. And don't forget to bring your camera.

Best New Hampshire Road Trip for Spring

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

Best Summer Road Trip in New Hampshire

• Route: Odiorne Point State Park > Odiorne Point State Park > Brookford Farm > 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

One of my favorite things to do in the summer in New Hampshire is to roll down the windows, pack the car with snacks, and hit the road to explore. It's the perfect time for a road trip. New Hampshire has countless summertime destinations the whole family will 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 likely be the highlight of your summer.

Best New Hampshire Road Trip for Fall

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

One of the most scenic drives through New Hampshire, this route through the mountains is best followed 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 trip, although late September and early October are generally quite colorful. One of my most memorable drives took me from Vermont, and along the back roads of New Hampshire, on my way to Connecticut at the height of the fall foliage. I had to pull over several times to snap photos of white chapels framed by trees and to admire the colorful landscapes. There's truly no better scene than rural New Hampshire in autumn.

Best Winter Road Trip in New Hampshire

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

New Hampshire 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 must-see White Mountains. But take your time and be prepared: The roads may be a bit slippery in the winter.

Family-Friendly New Hampshire Road Trip

• 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 full of holiday cheer. Truly, it's the most wonderful time of the year.

Road Trip to New Hampshire Landmarks & Natural Wonders

• Route: Cathedral Ledge > Diana's Baths > Jackson Falls > Mount Washington Auto Road > Gorham > Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge > The Flume Gorge > Kancamagus Highway > Lower Falls in Albany
• Distance: 130 miles
• Trip Time: 3 hours 6 minutes

This short itinerary for one of the most scenic trips in New Hampshire will take you through most of the White Mountains. In addition to leading you to some of the most beloved sites in New Hampshire like Cathedral Ledge and 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 in the car is the one driving up Mt. Washington.

Road Trip to Best Small Towns in New Hampshire

• Route: Portsmouth > Acorn Acres > Rye > Hampton >Seabrook
• Distance: 22.4 miles
• Trip Time: 48 minutes

Drive along the coast from Portsmouth to Seabrook where you can stop for a wonderful meal at Brown's Lobster Pound. Along the way, you'll pass by several of our favorite New England beaches, including Wallis Sands, Rye, Hampton, and Seabrook Beaches. The charming seaside towns of Portsmouth, Acorn Acres, Rye, Hampton, and Seabrook all have interesting places to stop as well. Quick road trips in New Hampshire give us plenty of time to explore and enjoy the area without having to put in a ton of miles.

Road trips are the best way to explore New Hampshire and having a themed road trip makes it all the more fun. We hope a few of the best road trips in New Hampshire we featured here inspire you to hit the road on an adventure. Do you have a favorite road trip in New Hampshire? Nominate it, and we might feature it in an upcoming article.

If you want to make any of these trips longer, break it up with a stay at one of our favorite rentals in NH.