Foliage Drives in New Hampshire

New Hampshire’s scenic drives range from the small towns and farms of the Merrimack and Monadnock regions to the south, through the views of the Connecticut River and its covered bridges on the west, to the lovely blue sprawl of Lake Winnipesaukee on the east, to the dramatic White Mountains in the north. Some of the many highlights are the magnificent Kancamagus Highway in the White Mountains and Moose Alley near the Canadian border. Especially toward the mid-to-late fall, be sure to call ahead for operating hours if you are interested in visiting attractions. And slow down in moose-heavy neighborhoods; you want to gaze at these magnificent beasts, but you don’t want to bump into them.

Foliage Maps and Reports

Use the New England Foliage Map to determine where and when you are likely to see the best foliage. Once foliage season begins the Foliage Reports will be regularly updated.

New Hampshire Foliage Map

New Hampshire Foliage Report

New Hampshire State Map

Scenic Drives New Hampshire

Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee Region

Connecticut River Route near Lebanon Loop

-- This drive offers views of the Connecticut River. A high point is the town of Hanover, where visitors can stroll the grounds of Dartmouth College and stop in for good pizza or burgers at any number of collegiate watering holes.

■ Start in West Lebanon and take Route 10 north into Hanover, the home of Dartmouth College and its beautiful and historic campus
■ Continue north on Route 10 to the town of Oxford. Turn right onto Route 25A. You’ll now be heading east toward the White Mountains
■ In Wentworth turn right onto Routes 25/118. After three miles take the right turn to continue on Route 118 southbound. You will travel though the small towns of Cheever and Dorchester to Canaan
■ Turn onto Route 4 West and return to Lebanon and West Lebanon

Nearby Points of Interest:

♦ Hanover -- Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth College, Wheelock Street, 603-646-2808
♦ Lebanon – Packard Hill Covered Bridge, Riverside Drive over the Mascoma River, 603-271-3483
♦ Lebanon / Enfield / Canaan / Grafton -- Northern Recreational Rail Trail, 603-271-3254

Great North Woods Region

Moose Alley

-- People in the know say the stretch of Route 3 from Pittsburg to the Canadian border is a place where you can almost be guaranteed to see some of the state’s estimated 6,000 moose. The best time to see moose are early morning and dusk. Drive slowly and watchfully in this area; collisions with moose can be deadly. When you stop for a photo, pull off the road completely.

■ Leave Bethlehem on Route 302 East to Twin Mountain
■ Turn left at the junction of Route 3 North.
■ Follow Route 3 North to Pittsburg. Moose Alley is Route 3 North beginning in Pittsburg and extending to the Canadian border

Nearby Points of Interest:

♦ Pittsburg -- Happy Corner, Pittsburg-Clarksville, and River Road covered bridges
♦ Colebrook -- Northern Outlet of New England, 61 Main Street, 603-237-8544
♦ Colebrook – The Poore Family Homestead Historic Farm Museum, 438 Fish Pond Road, 603-237-5500

Lakes Region

Lake Winnipesaukee Loop

-- New Hampshire’s largest lake presents beautiful views across the water as you meander through delightful towns and villages. The area is a premiere summer vacation resort, so there are lots of attractions and fun shopping experiences for visitors. Not all attractions are open past mid-fall, so it is wise to phone ahead for operation hours.

■ From Laconia, take Route 106 north to Hilliard Road and cross over to Route 3, headed toward Weirs Beach; enjoy the arcade atmosphere
■ Continue north on Route 3 to the beautiful lakeside village of Meredith
■ Leave this village on Route 25 heading for Center Harbor and then Moultonborough at the northern most point of the lake ■ Turn right on to Route 109.
■ Take this road along the lakeshore to Wolfeboro, a town with great views, shopping and food.
■ Pick up Route 28 South to Alton, the south tip of Lake Winnipesaukee.
■ Pick up Route 11 and travel back north close to the lakeside and look for signs via Route 107 and Route 106 to Laconia

Nearby Points of Interest:

♦ Laconia -- Historic Belknap Mill, 25 E. Beacon Street, The Mill Plaza, 603-524-8813
♦ Weirs Beach – Funspot, 579 Endicott Street North / Route 3, 603-366-4377
♦ Meredith – Burlwood Antique Center, 194 Daniel Webster Highway, 603-279-6387
♦ Moultonborough -- The Old Country Store of Moultonborough, 1011 Whittier Hwy, 603-476-5750
♦ Wolfeboro – Wright Museum of WWII History, 77 Center Street, 603-569-1212
♦ Wolfeboro – The Art Place, 9 North Main Street, 603-569-6159

Merrimack Valley Region

Concord to Loudon to Pittsfield Loop

-- Plenty of farm views and fun shopping for local arts and crafts are available at this drive, beginning at the capital city of Concord.

■ Leave Concord on Loudon Road / Route 9 and turn onto Route 106 north toward Loudon
■ In Loudon, pick up Route 129 north through Loudon Center and into Lower Gilmanton. You then pick up Route 107 though Pittsfield
■ South of Pittsfield, turn onto Route 9 West and return to Concord

Nearby Points of Interest:

♦ Concord -- Dimond Hill Farm, 314 Hopkinton Road, 603-224-0602
♦ Concord -- Lindt Chocolate Shop, Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, 603-228-3900
♦ Concord – Concord League Gallery, 36 N. Main Street, 603-228-8171

Monadnock Region

Mount Monadnock Loop

-- The 3,165-foot Mount Monadnock is the hub of this trip. Monadnock State Park has excellent public services and many hiking trails that are accessible and enjoyable even to averagely fit climbers.

■ Leave Keene on Route 101 East.
■ Pass through Dublin, home of Yankee Magazine, and then proceed to Peterborough
■ In Peterborough switch to Route 202 South and travel through Jaffrey to the small town of West Rindge
■ Turn right on to Route 119 and travel through the pretty town of Fitzwilliam to Winchester
■ Turn onto Route 10 North back to Keene

Nearby Points of Interest:

♦ Keene – Stonewall Farm, 2442 Chesterfield Road, 603-357-7278
♦ Keene -- Unbridled Chocolates, 36 Central Square, 603-357-2600
♦ Keene – The Colony Mill Market Place, 222 West Street, 603-357-11240
♦ Peterborough -- Joseph's Coat PeaceCrafts, 15 Depot Square, 603-924-6683
♦ Peterborough -- Shieling Forest, 395 Old Street Road, 603-431-6774
♦ Monadnock State Park, 603-271-3556

White Mountains Region

The Kancamagus Highway / Route 112

-- One of New England’s more spectacularly beautiful drives, the 34-mile Kancamagus Highway – known by locals as “the Kank” -- cuts an east-west channel through the 800,000-acre White Mountain National Forest. Views are breathtaking, so take all the time you can and don’t miss a single pulloff.

■ Conway to Lincoln

Nearby Points of Interest:

♦ White Mountain National Forest
♦ Kancamagus Scenic Byway
♦ North Woodstock – Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves, 1712 Lost River Road, 603-745-8031
♦ Conway -- Rocky Gorge Scenic Area

Pinkham Notch Loop

-- This loop drive affords some spectacular views of the Presidential Mountains and surrounding countryside, including Mount Washington. A good side trip at Pinkham Notch is a climb up the Mount Washington Auto Road, presenting one of New England’s most spectacular mountain vistas.

■ From Bethlehem, take Route 302 east to Twin Mountain
■ Turn left onto Route 3 North and then right onto Route 115 to Route 115A to Jefferson
■ At the junction with US Route 2, go right toward Gorham
■ Follow Route 2 to Gorham and, at Bartlett, turn right onto NH 16. Traveling along NH 16 will take you past the Mount Washington Auto Road and Pinkham Notch Visitors Center.
■ Continue along NH 16 to the junction of Route 302 and turn right (west). Follow Route 302 back to Bethlehem, passing through Crawford Notch.

Nearby Points of Interest:

♦ Jefferson -- Waumbek Country Club (side trip for views of the Presidential Mountains), Route 2, 603-586-7777
♦ Pinkham Notch in the White Mountains National Forest -- Mount Washington Auto Road, Route 16, 603-466-3988
♦ Pinkham Notch in the White Mountains National Forest – Pinkham Notch Visitors Center, 361 Route 16, 603-466-2721
♦ In the White Mountains National Forest -- Crawford Notch State Park, 2059 US Route 302, Harts Location, 603-374-2272