7 Fun Things to Do in New Hampshire in October

Planning on visiting The Granite State in October? You’re in for a treat! 

New Hampshire is a wonderful vacation destination at any time of year, but October is perhaps the best time to schedule a trip. In fact, this month offers a few opportunities you can’t enjoy many other times of the year.  

Check out a few of the very best things to do in New Hampshire in October below!

1. Enjoy Some Leaf-Peeping

Each year, thousands of nature lovers descend on New Hampshire to enjoy some of the best fall color the world has to offer. Sugar maples often get all the attention (and rightly so), but you can also see golden paper birches, candy-apple red gum trees and deep maroon white oaks at this time of year. 

The exact timing of the color change varies a bit each year, but it almost always peaks in October. Check out the state’s Fall Foliage Color Tracker to see more detailed information about the current year and how the color change is progressing in different parts of the state. 

Best of all, you don’t even have to go far to enjoy these colors – simply walk outside! But if you prefer, you can also enjoy these leaves from the comfort of your car. This allows you to take in a variety of vistas and see all that the surrounding forest has to offer. 

Just about every rural road in New Hampshire will provide incredible views of fall foliage, but there are two particularly enjoyable routes you should consider:

• The Kancamagus Scenic Byway provides a nice 35-mile-long ride through incredible fall color, and because this road is completely free of gas stations, hotels, and restaurants, you’ll have a nearly unobstructed view of the gorgeous scenery. 
• If you’d like a little longer road trip, consider the White Mountain Trail Byway. This byway forms a large loop, which includes the Kanc (as locals call it). The Kanc gives you the chance to enjoy the southern side of the White Mountain National Forest, while the rest of the byway allows you to enjoy the other three sides.

2. Go Apple Picking

Apples from a farmer’s market can certainly be tasty, but they can’t compare to apples you’ve plucked directly from the tree. And picking apples doesn’t just provide for a tastier treat – it also gives you the chance to make memories that’ll last a lifetime. 

There are plenty of places in northern New Hampshire to pick apples. A few of the most popular orchards include:

• McKenzie’s Farm (71 Northeast Pond Road, Milton): McKenzie’s Farm provides visitors with the chance to pick from 10 different apple varieties, and you can also pick pumpkins straight off the ground! But it’s the apple cider donuts (which are baked fresh every day) that often end up being the star of the show. 
• Cardigan Mountain Orchard (1540 Mt Cardigan Road, Alexandria): Want to check out one of the biggest apple orchards in New Hampshire? Don’t miss Cardigan Mountain Orchard – a 1,000-tree farm offering more than 15 different apple varieties. And before you leave, be sure to pick up some BBQ from the on-site restaurant. 
• Windy Ridge Orchard (1775 Benton Road, North Haverhill): Want to explore some nature trails after you’ve picked your apples? Windy Ridge Orchard has you covered! In addition to the quaint, family-managed apple orchard, Windy Ridge is home to multiple nature trails that provide access to things like a beaver pond, an old logging dam road, views of Black Mountain, and a walkover swamp. 

3. Visit Santa’s Village for the Holly Jolly Halloween

If youngsters are accompanying you on your New Hampshire vacation, you simply must make some time to check out Santa’s Village – a Christmas-themed park, located in Jefferson. The park is home to several rides, including roller coasters, a Ferris wheel, and bumper cars for the kiddos, and there are also entertaining shows, shops and dining opportunities for adults. 

October is an especially fun time to visit, as the park incorporates a bunch of fun Halloween-themed attractions, activities and decorations. Children under 13 years of age are even encouraged to wear Halloween costumes and trick-or-treat at several places inside the park.

Santa’s Village is open most Saturdays and select Sundays in October, but tickets must be purchased online in advance. The easiest way to reach the park is by taking NH-116 east from I-93, near Littleton. Turn left onto Presidential Highway (US Route 2); the park will be about 150 feet ahead on the left. 

4. Give Yourself the Creeps!

No one should visit New Hampshire during October without taking the time to check out some of the state’s spookiest spots. Whether it’s the result of some cosmic confluence or a simple coincidence, New Hampshire is home to plenty of creepy locations – assuming, of course, you’re brave enough to check them out. 

A few of the most noteworthy destinations include:

• The Tilton Inn and Onions Pub & Restaurant (255 Main Street, Tilton): With a history of peculiar happenings stretching back for hundreds of years, this combination restaurant-bar-and-inn has been investigated by a litany of paranormal experts, including the TV series Ghost Hunters. Nervous Nellies may not want to visit for more than dinner or a drink, but really brave souls may want to book a stay in the Inn’s infamous Sanborn Room. 
• Amos J. Blake House Museum (66 New Hampshire 119 W, Fitzwilliam): A destination suitable for only the most courageous, this house-turned-museum is famous for the spooky things that have occurred on the site. But the most spine-tingling phenomenon associated with the location has to be the little ghost boy, who guests say just appears from out of nowhere. Contact the Fitzwilliam Historical Society (the group who manages the museum) to learn about hours or book a private tour. 
• The Windham Restaurant (59 Range Road, Windham): Think you can you keep your appetite while dining in the company of ghosts? Though it is a top-notch restaurant today, the building was originally a homestead farm, with roots going all the way back to 1729. According to leading paranormal investigators, three different spirits dwell in the building. You can visit the restaurant all year long, but those visiting in October have the chance to enjoy a night spent “Dining with the Dead.”

5. Get Lost in a Corn Maze

Given the prevalence of GPS technology, it’s hard to get lost in the modern world. But corn mazes still provide the chance for you to lose your way in a fun and safe manner. Perfect for families or couples, corn mazes offer a bit of nostalgia as well as a way to enjoy New Hampshire’s incredible autumn weather. 

A few of the best corn mazes to visit include:

• Collins Farm Corn Maze (US-302, Bath): This 13-acre corn maze has been voted the #1 corn maze in New Hampshire and recently became famous on TikTok. With hidden checkpoints and trivia questions you’ll need to answer, this is easily one of the best corn mazes in the world. Even better, visitors in October can grab a flashlight and try to complete the maze after dark.  
• Sherman Farm (2679 East Conway Rd., Center Conway): This student-designed, community-oriented corn maze spans 10 acres and includes a scavenger hunt and plenty of humor. While there, be sure to check out some of the other attractions, such as the pumpkin-shaped bounce pad and petting area. Snacks and food are also available.  
• Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard (66 Mason Road, Greenville): Want a stroller- and wheelchair-friendly corn maze? The staff at Washburn’s do their best to keep this hand-pulled, 1-mile-long corn maze accessible to both. Be sure to stop by the gift shop and check out the toys, decorations, and more after finding your way out of the maze. 

6. Wander Into a Winery 

Looking for an adult-only activity during your New Hampshire visit? Check out one (or more – we won’t judge) of the state’s wineries. With more than 30 to choose from, you’ll have no shortage of places to try some of the best wines in the world. As a bonus, several of the local wineries offer outdoor seating with incredible views of the surrounding vineyards. 

A few of the best wineries to consider include:

• Alpine Garden Winery (1255 US route 302, Bartlett): Specializing in wines made from local fruit and utilizing native yeast fermentation, Alpine Garden Winery offers apple wines, sparkling ciders, and first-rate reds, which can be enjoyed indoors or outdoors. Though “light provisions” are made available, the winery encourages visitors to bring along a picnic basket. 
• Seven Birches Winery (22 South Mountain Drive, Lincoln): With three different wine-tasting programs to choose from, Seven Birches Winery provides an unforgettable experience. Enjoy wine, small bites, and a tour with the winemakers to see how their products are crafted. Indoor and outdoor seating is available. 
• Sap House Meadery (6 Folsom Road, Ossipee): Want an alternative to traditional wine? You’ll definitely want to check out Sap House Meadery. For the unfamiliar, mead is essentially wine made from honey. And much like different wines are made from different types of grapes, different kinds of mead are made from different kinds of honey. While there, you can enjoy indoor or outdoor seating and grab a bite from their full food menu.  

7. Hop Aboard a Hayride

There are few better ways to enjoy New Hampshire’s clean, mountain air than by riding around in the back of a hay-filled vehicle. And though this is typically thought of as a family activity, hayrides can actually be quite romantic for those who enjoy rustic forms of recreation. 

Two of the places we’ve already discussed – Collins Farm and Windy Ridge Orchard – provide hayrides, but there is at least one other place to enjoy a hayride that’s not too far from the White Mountain area: Beans and Greens Farm. 

You will have to jump in the car for about a 90-minute ride to get there, but it’s well worth the trip. In addition to hayrides, Beans and Greens Farm offers a variety of other attractions in the fall, including a mini zip-line, a petting zoo and a biergarten. 

Wrapping up

As you can see, there are tons of fun things to do in New Hampshire in October. In fact, the problem isn’t finding things to do, it’s finding the time to do them all during your stay. So, you may want to consider combining a few of these activities. 

For example, some of the farms mentioned above host multiple activities. This means you could head to, say, Collins Farm to enjoy a hayride before finding your way through the corn maze. Then, you could head back via a portion of the White Mountain Trail Byway to sneak in some leaf-peeping. The next day, you could sip a little liquid courage at a local winery before visiting one of the state’s haunted attractions. 

But no matter which activities you decide to enjoy during your vacation, it’s time to get started. New Hampshire is waiting! 

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