This Scenic 43-Mile Drive Just May Be The Most Underrated Adventure In New Hampshire

When you think of a scenic drive in New Hampshire, images of expansive landscapes and towering mountain ranges might come to mind. But there is much to see in the Granite State that is tucked away on local roads within small towns. One NH scenic drive through five of these towns harkens back to when the main mode of transport was by horse and carriage.

The Robert Frost/Old Stagecoach Scenic Byway stretches 43 miles along Route 121 through the towns of Atkinson, Hampstead, Derry, Chester, and Auburn.

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The Byway follows the historic route of the Boston‐Haverhill‐Concord Stage Coach, the precursor to the current highway.

American Poet Laureate Robert Frost lived in this region in the early 1900s and wrote fondly of the state and its citizens.

Some of Frost's most important writings were done while teaching at Pinkerton Academy in Derry. The town has been cited as an inspiration for his work.

The Byway travels through a corridor of historic sites, natural scenery, outdoor recreational opportunities, and numerous other attractions in the region.

The overarching theme of the Byway is to preserve the history and culture of rural southern New Hampshire and how it was shaped by early transportation.

Visitors traveling the Byway today will see much of what early stage coach passengers did and a significant number of buildings still survive from that period.

This NH scenic drive may be a departure from the mountains and landscapes of the state, but it's no less interesting in terms of history. For more information and a map of the route, visit the Robert Frost/Old Stagecoach Scenic Byway website.

Any time of the year is a good time to take a road trip in New Hampshire. Here are six to put on your bucket list right now as well as a drive along one of the state's loneliest roads.