From misty mountain peaks to salt-kissed harbors, this two-week road trip captures the full spirit of New Hampshire.
🗺️ Overview of Your Route
Day 1: Nashua – Urban Start Meets Small-Town Soul
Day 2: Peterborough – Arts, Books, and Monadnock Magic
Day 3: Keene & Walpole – Covered Bridges & Country Roads
Day 4: Hanover & Dartmouth – Ivy League Elegance
Day 5: Lake Sunapee – Crystal Waters & Quiet Shores
Day 6: Mount Kearsarge & Warner – Trails & Tradition
Day 7: Canterbury & Concord – Shakers and State History
Day 8: Lake Winnipesaukee – Boats, Ice Cream, and Breathtaking Views
Day 9: Sandwich & Tamworth – Literary Legends & Rustic Beauty
Day 10–11: White Mountains – Peaks, Trains, and Wild Wonders
Day 12: Jackson & North Conway – Quaint Shops & Scenic Drives
Day 13: Portsmouth – Seaport Chic & Coastal Eats
Day 14: Rye & Hampton – Coastal Calm to Classic Beach Fun
🏙️ Day 1: Nashua – Where the Journey Begins
Start in Nashua, a gateway city with a touch of old mill-town charm.
Grab breakfast at Riverwalk Café Stroll the Mine Falls Park trails beside the Nashua River Browse shops at Pheasant Lane Mall or downtown boutiques Dine at Surf Restaurant for fresh seafood with a cosmopolitan flair Stay at the historic Clarion Inn or boutique Residences at Daniel Webster
📚 Day 2: Peterborough – Poetry in the Monadnock Region
Breakfast at The Bagel Mill Browse Toadstool Bookshop, a beloved local haven for readers Visit MacDowell Colony (America’s oldest artist residency) Hike Pack Monadnock or Mount Monadnock if ambitious Dinner at Waterhouse Restaurant beside a rushing stream
This town feels like a live poem.
🌉 Day 3: Keene & Walpole – Bridges, Backroads & Chocolate
Drive to Keene, home to a perfect town square Grab a creemee and coffee at Prime Roast Head north to Walpole for chocolates at L.A. Burdick Explore nearby Ashuelot Covered Bridge Stay in a cozy inn like The Inn at Valley Farms
🎓 Day 4: Hanover & Dartmouth – College Town Magic
Wander Dartmouth College’s green campus See the Hood Museum of Art or catch a play at Hopkins Center Lunch at Lou’s Restaurant & Bakery (get the cruller!) Canoe or picnic along the Connecticut River Evening at Pine Restaurant in The Hanover Inn
🛶 Day 5: Lake Sunapee – Still Waters, Sparkling Skies
Cruise Lake Sunapee aboard the MV Mt. Sunapee II Explore Sunapee Harbor shops and galleries Hike Mt. Sunapee trails or relax at the beach Visit the nearby Fells Historic Estate & Gardens Stay lakeside at Dexter’s Inn
⛰️ Day 6: Kearsarge & Warner – Trails & Traditions
Drive to Mount Kearsarge for a moderate summit with stunning views Visit Rollins State Park and Winslow State Park on either side of the mountain Explore the charming town of Warner and the New Hampshire Telephone Museum Learn at Canterbury Shaker Village nearby Dinner at Appleseed Restaurant
🕰️ Day 7: Canterbury & Concord – State’s Soul
Tour Canterbury Shaker Village if missed the day before Head to Concord, New Hampshire’s quiet capital Explore the New Hampshire State House, Capitol Center for the Arts, and local eateries Try Revival Kitchen & Bar or The Barley House Overnight at Hotel Concord
🚤 Day 8: Lake Winnipesaukee – Lakes Region Magic
Base in Meredith or Wolfeboro for full lake charm Rent a kayak, take a paddleboat cruise, or just picnic by the water Visit Wright Museum or Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough Grab ice cream at Kellerhaus Stay at Mill Falls at the Lake for a romantic evening
📖 Day 9: Sandwich & Tamworth – Hidden Gems
Visit Tamworth Distilling for small-batch spirits and a rustic-chic tasting room Stop at The Barnstormers Theatre, one of the oldest summer stock theaters in the U.S. Explore the literary legacy of Willa Cather in Sandwich Drive the Scenic Sandwich Notch Road for breathtaking serenity
🌄 Days 10–11: White Mountains – The Crown of New Hampshire
Base in Lincoln or Franconia Notch. These two days offer everything.
Highlights:
Flume Gorge and Basin walks Drive the Kancamagus Highway — especially during foliage season Take the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway Ride the Mount Washington Cog Railway Hike Artists Bluff, Arethusa Falls, or Lonesome Lake
Evenings: Dinner at Woodstock Inn Brewery or The Common Man.
Stay at Adair Inn, RiverWalk Resort, or a mountain cabin.
🛍️ Day 12: North Conway & Jackson – Cozy & Classic
Shop tax-free outlets in North Conway Village Visit Conway Scenic Railroad Explore Diana’s Baths or take a short hike to Echo Lake Stop in Jackson, a romantic village with a red-covered bridge Dine at Thompson House Eatery or The Wentworth
🌊 Day 13: Portsmouth – Historic Seacoast
Drive east to the ocean!
Explore Strawbery Banke Museum and Prescott Park Gardens Wander Market Square shops and galleries Grab lunch at The Friendly Toast or seafood at Row 34 Walk along Great Island Common Sunset at Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse
Stay in a waterfront inn like Ale House Inn or Hotel Portsmouth.
🏖️ Day 14: Rye & Hampton Beach – Coastal Coda
Your final day is all salty air and sandy toes.
Visit Odiorne Point State Park for rocky tide pools and ocean trails Stop at the Seacoast Science Center Head to Hampton Beach for boardwalk fun, fried clams, and arcades End with a seafood feast at Ray’s Seafood or Brown’s Lobster Pound
Then, wherever the road takes you next — you leave with a heart full of green mountains, still lakes, salty wind, and maple memories.
🧳 Pack For:
Hiking boots & swimsuits A journal for quiet mornings with coffee Appetite for cider donuts, maple cream, and fresh trout Binoculars for moose or hawk sightings in the Whites A spirit ready for scenic detours
Hagan Happenstance 