Top 12 Scenic Routes in New Hampshire: Road Trip Bucket List 

In the heart of New England lies New Hampshire, affectionately dubbed the Granite State for its remarkable granite quarries and formations. However, what we love most about our home is its spectacular natural beauty that almost brings tears to our eyes. Almost. 

From the majestic peaks of the White Mountains to the peace and calm of the Lakes Region, the state plays host to thousands of hikers, outdoor enthusiasts, and nature lovers each year. If you aren’t the  crazy-about-hiking type or simply want a day’s break from exploring on foot, we wrote this blog post especially for you! 

In it, we’ll share the best scenic routes in New Hampshire so you can cruise along merrily with the windows down, enjoying the fresh mountain air and most jaw-droppingly beautiful landscapes. We’ll also give some suggestions for a pitstop or two along the way! 

1. Lakes Region Scenic Byway

This route circles Lake Winnipesaukee, which is the largest and most popular lake in New Hampshire with one of the longest shorelines. Your journey will begin in Alton, following Route 11 up to Gilford. On this part of the journey, you’ll enjoy views of the Ossipee Mountain Range and can stop for several activities such as hiking Mt. Major and visiting Ellacoya State Park. 

When you continue along the byway, you’ll find Weirs Beach on the shores of Winnipesaukee with its white sand and boardwalk entertainment. There’s also Funspot, the largest arcade in the world. After the beach, you’ll make your way into Meredith, a town with great culinary options. 

Continue your journey and you’ll pass through Center Harbor and the eastern side of the lake via Route 109. You can opt to stop at Wolfeboro or continue your journey to Route 25 and get to the Ossipee Lake area for more outdoor activities. 

Distance: 97 miles

Region: Lakes Region

2. Kancamagus Highway

This highway is also known as the Kancamagus Scenic Byway. Stretching across the White Mountain National Forest as a portion of NH Route 112 spanning from Lincoln to Conway, the journey begins at the eastern part of Lincoln town center, steadily ascending towards Conway. 

In this part of the route, you’ll pass Loon Mountain, Hobo Railroad, and Alpine Adventures. Then the highway enters White Mountain National Forest through the Pemigewasset River. You’ll enjoy views of The Hancock, Sugar Hill, and Pemi Overlooks, and look out for wildlife such as hawks, moose, falcons, eagles, deer, and bears. Drive slowly! 

The best season to enjoy the Kancamagus Highway is fall when you can enjoy NH’s famed fall foliage. 

Distance: 34.5 miles

Region: White Mountains Region

3. Colonial New Hampshire Seacoast Drive

This trip starts at Portsmouth, a historic port city developed in the early 19th century with a picturesque waterfront. Then, continue to Route 1B over the causeway to New Castle and past Wentworth-by-the-Sea. 

In this part of the route, you can find two military forts - Fort Stark and Fort Constitution. Make a transition to Route 1A and turn south to Hampton. Through Rye and North Hampton, you can find oceanfront beaches in a series of State Parks. Take Route 101 to Route 1 through Hampton Falls, Route 84 to Kensington, and Route 150 to Exeter. Finally, follow Route 27 to go back to Hampton. 

Distance: 40 miles

Region: Seacoast Region

4. Connecticut River Ride

The Connecticut River Byway goes through three states: Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. We might be biased, but the part of this byway that is the most awesome is the one in New Hampshire! 

Your drive starts at the junction of Route 9 in West Chesterfield to Littleton in the White Mountains. Then head to Route 63 and north to Route 12. You’ll go through the picturesque town of Walpole, then turn onto Route 12A in Charlestown and head to Claremont. 

Following along, you’ll find Cornish-Windsor Bridge and the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site. Take Route 10 in Lebanon to Hanover, continuing to Haverhill and Woodsville to Route 135. The drive ends in Groveton, or you can continue along the 120-mile Great North Woods Ride. 

Distance: 140 miles

Region: White Mountains Region

5. The American Independence Byway

The American Independence Byway runs through New Hampshire’s four original towns: Exeter, Hampton Falls, Hampton, and Kensington. This ride follows Route 101E, then on to Route 27 north. Move on to Route 108 in Exeter, then to Route 150 before entering Route 84 in Kensington. 

Take Route 1 north and back again to Route 101E to complete the loop. The highlights of this route are colonial architecture, ocean views, fresh seafood, apple orchards, and the American Independence Museum. The relatively short loop takes only one or two hours to complete, but you’ll be able to enjoy classic New England charm at its best!  

Distance: 21 miles

Region: Seacoast Region

6. Lake Sunapee Scenic Byway

This route takes you on a journey that encircles Lake Sunapee through the towns of Sunapee, Newbury, and New London. You can start your journey in any of the towns and hop on to Route 11, 103, 103A, or 103B and start the loop around the lake. 

The Lake Sunapee Scenic Byway is one of the designated routes in the New Hampshire Scenic and Cultural Byways. Throughout the drive, you’ll enjoy lakes, mountains, and forests. This byway connects visitors to recreation spots on Lake Sunapee and the surrounding hills and mountains.   

Distance: 39 miles

Region: Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee Region

7. Currier & Ives Scenic Byway

Another designated scenic byway, the Currier and Ives Byway goes through Henniker, Hopkinton, Warner, Webster, and Salisbury. You can start your journey at Downtown Henniker then merge onto Route 9 to head to Hopkinton. 

Stay on Route 103 to go to the Warner and Rollins State Park or diverge to Route 127 to continue on the route and finish off at Webster and Salisbury. You’ll pass through historic, cultural, and recreational spots with views of Mt. Kearsarge, Pats Peak, and surrounding mountains. There are also festivals, fairs, museums, and eighteenth-century buildings. 

In the mood for a pitstop? Daniel Webster’s birthplace in Salisbury and the Franklin Pierce Homestead in Henniker are two important historical sites. 

Distance: 40 miles

Region: Merrimack Valley Region

8. Multi Notch Scenic Drive

Located in the gorgeous White Mountains region, this loop starts in Conway. Turn west to Route 112 and the Kancamagus Highway and head to Lincoln. You can continue on Route 112 to head to Bath, Lisbon, Littleton, Bethlehem, Twin Mountain, and Bretton Woods and enjoy some small town charm. 

Another option is to go north to I-93 through Franconia Notch State Park then onto Route 3 to Twin Mountain. The junctions meet at Route 302, where you can continue east to Crawford Notch and head to Bear Notch Road before ending in Conway again. 

You can also join Route 16 after Route 302 to go through Pinkham Notch and past Mt. Washington Auto Road, Gorham, and the Great North Woods Ride. Whether you feel like driving, visiting small towns, or stopping for a quick hike, it’s your call! 

Distance: 142 miles

Region: White Mountains Region

9. Monadnock Region Loop

This circular loop starts at Keene, where you’ll head to Route 101 to Marlborough then to Route 124. This will take you to Jaffrey and Route 123 to Peterborough, then onto Route 136 to Greenfield. Continue on the Route and get to Marlow to hop on Route 12A south to take you back to Keene and close the loop. 

Between Marlborough and Jaffrey, there’s Monadnock State Park with its hills and dips into beautiful lowlands. There are also some tourist spots in Jaffrey, such as Civic Center Exhibits, the Amos Fortune Home, and the old Red Schoolhouse. Near the end of the journey, you can stop over at Chesterfield Gorge State Park for a short hike to stretch your legs. 

Distance: 80 miles

Region: Monadnock Region

10. Enfield Shaker Village Scenic Byway

Located on Route 4A of Lebanon and Enfield, you can enjoy Mascoma Lake, Shaker Bridge, La Salette Shrine, and Shaker Community buildings. The drive starts at Route 4 in Lebanon, ending at the Enfield Shaker Museum in Enfield. 

You’ll find conservation areas around the lake, mountains, and forests where you can enjoy recreational activities. The highlight would be the Enfield Shaker Museum, an outdoor historic site between Shaker Mountain and Mascoma Lake, where you can learn more about the traditional community who lived in the area from 1793 to 1923. 

Distance: 3.2 miles

Region: Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee Region

11. Upper Lamprey Scenic Byway

This drive is a loop that goes through Candia, Deerfield, and Northwood from NH 101. The route follows the Lamprey River for the most part, giving it its name. Some of the highlights of this journey are the Deerfield Fair, Northwood’s Antique Alley, and Candia Village’s water-powered complex of mills. 

A must-try during the tour is the sweet fried dough at the Deerfield Fair. Aside from the attractions, you can also enjoy calming rivers, vivid sunsets, and historical structures along the way. 

Distance: 50.4 miles

Region: Merrimack Valley Region

12. Robert Frost-Old Stagecoach Byway

A combination of two different scenic routes, this drive consists of the Old Stagecoach Byway (22 miles) and Robert Frost Byway (21 miles). Start your journey with the Old Stagecoach Byway in Atkinson, then travel along NH Route 121 to reach the Massabesic Lake. 

Join the Robert Frost Byway in NH Route 28 and go through Derry Village to reconnect with NH 121 and the Old Stagecoach Highway in Hampstead. Some of the highlights of this journey include the early transportation network of the region like the stagecoach service that connected Boston and Concord. There’s also the historical Robert Frost State Park, a Poet Laureate and former Derry resident. 

Distance: 43 miles

Region: Merrimack Valley Region 

Scenic Routes in New Hampshire - Final Thoughts 

There you have it! Plenty of gorgeous routes to explore if you aren’t up for a hike or exploring on foot. Drive safe and slowly, as the wildlife in New Hampshire is prolific and you don’t wanna hit an animal. 

If you need more information on drives, hikes, or accommodation options, Gidana Getaways is here for you. We know the area well and are happy to share it with all our visitors! 

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