10 Best New Hampshire Weekend Getaways
New Hampshire is one of my favorite places to visit because it is a year-round destination with mountains, the ocean, and quaint towns. You can spend a weekend skiing, hiking on beautiful trails, swimming in lakes, or lying on a beach by the ocean. It truly has something for everyone!
I have spent a lot of time exploring New Hampshire. I have almost explored every corner of the state, and now I can tell you about the best places you should visit. Most of the places I recommend for weekend getaways in New Hampshire include outdoor activities, but I will also include a few others that offer other fun activities.
If you want to find the perfect New Hampshire weekend getaways, you are in the right place! Whether you are planning a romantic getaway, an outdoorsy adventure, or a relaxing escape, there is a spot in New Hampshire for everyone. I am going to tell you the best places to spend a weekend in New Hampshire, so get your bucket lists ready!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, my blog may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.
Best New Hampshire Weekend Getaways
Although there are many great places in New Hampshire for a weekend getaway, I am just going to name a few of my favorites. My list has a great mix of romantic, relaxing, and outdoorsy getaways, allowing you to find something perfect for what you are looking for!
Lincoln
New Hampshire region: White Mountains
Things to do: hiking, biking, scenic drives, waterfalls, mountains, skiing
Where to stay:
Of course, we have to start with one of my favorite places to visit in New Hampshire! Lincoln is a mountain town on the west side of the White Mountains and has many fun outdoor activities.
If you want to hike, you will love Lincoln because it is a hub for some of the best hiking trails in the area. And one of my favorite areas to hike is Franconia Notch. Franconia Notch State Park has many fun activities, including walking through the Flume, snowshoeing to Lonesome Lake, and taking a scenic drive through the park.
Franconia Notch also has many stunning trails for all levels you will quickly fall in love with. Some of my favorite trails are Mount Pemigewasset, Lonesome Lake, and Cannon Mountain. Mount Pemigewasset is a 3.7-mile hike offering beautiful views overlooking the notch. Lonesome Lake is a 3.1-mile hike to one of the most scenic lakes in New Hampshire, offering views of Franconia Ridge on a clear day. Cannon Mountain is a strenuous hike, but it is worth it for the views! A few trails bring you to its summit, with my favorite being the 3.9-mile hike on Kinsman Ridge Trail. The trail is short and steep, but the views make the effort worth it!
If you visit in the winter, Loon Mountain is in the heart of Lincoln and has over 60 skiable trails over 370 acres. Cannon Mountain is also nearby and offers 97 ski trails over 265 acres. Both are among the best ski areas in New Hampshire.
If you are looking for one of the most unique things to do in Lincoln in the winter, you can visit the Ice Castles! You can walk around the Ice Castles and explore ice slides, fountains, and tunnels. And yes, it is as beautiful and fun as it sounds! I always love stopping here in the winter.
North Conway
New Hampshire region: White Mountains
Things to do: mountains, hiking, biking, skiing, scenic drives, rivers
Where to stay:
North Conway is another one of my favorite places for a weekend getaway because it has endless hiking trails. I spend most of my time hiking here, so trust me when I say, you will quickly fall in love with the area.
A few of my favorite hiking trails in North Conway are South Moat, Black Cap, and Kearsarge North. The 6-mile trail to South Moat and the 6-mile trail to Kearsarge North offer spectacular 360-degree views, and you can see Mount Washington on a clear day. Black Cap is one of the most popular trails near North Conway because the hike is relatively short at 2.3 miles long and offers incredible views looking north.
If you want to enjoy views without hiking, you have a few options! Cathedral Ledge has a driveable overlook with stunning views of North Conway and the surrounding mountains. You can also visit Echo Lake at the bottom of Cathedral Ledge for an easy 1-mile loop hike. Although most people visit Echo Lake in the summer, I love snowshoeing around it in the winter.
You can also enjoy scenic drives! Honestly, anywhere you drive near North Conway is stunning, but my favorite scenic drives are the Kancamagus Highway, Crawford Notch, and Pinkham Notch. And of course, each has fun hiking trails you can enjoy, too.
And if you visit in the winter, North Conway is near many ski resorts. Cranmore Mountain is the closest, but you can easily drive to Attitash Mountain, Bretton Woods, or Wildcat Mountain.
I could list a million fun things to do in North Conway because, truly, there is so much to do! If you are looking for an outdoorsy weekend getaway, trust me, you will love North Conway.
Portsmouth
New Hampshire region: Seacoast
Things to do: shops, beaches, biking
Where to stay:
If you are looking for a quaint coastal town in New Hampshire with fun things to do for the entire family, Portsmouth is for you! Whether you want to enjoy a delicious lobster roll or walk around the harbor, Portsmouth has something for everyone.
Of course, one of my favorite things to do in Portsmouth is walk around downtown. Portsmouth has many shops and restaurants along the water, and you really cannot go wrong with a delicious seafood dish here!
Prescott Park is right downtown, offering a beautiful area to walk along the water and through gardens. I love coming here for an afternoon stroll in the summer.
Odiorne Point State Park is another beautiful place to enjoy ocean views. My favorite way to enjoy the park year-round is hiking its 2.8-mile loop.
Rye
New Hampshire region: Seacoast
Things to do: beach, swimming
Where to stay:
One of my favorite areas for a beach getaway is Rye! The entire coast in New Hampshire is beautiful, but Rye tends to be quieter in the summer than other nearby beach towns.
My favorite beaches are Jenness State Beach and Wallis Sands State Beach. Jenness State Beach also has a few shops, restaurants, and cafes within walking distance from the beach.
If you want to enjoy a scenic drive, you can explore Ocean Boulevard! You can take this all the way to Portsmouth, and the views of the ocean are stunning along it. If you are up for an early morning adventure, I recommend driving this just after sunrise.
Of course, one of the best things to do in Rye is enjoy a delicious meal! My favorite restaurants along the beach are Carriage House Restaurant and Petey's Summertime Seafood. Both have tasty seafood dishes, so you really cannot go wrong.
Lake Winnipesaukee
New Hampshire region: Lakes Region
Things to do: lakes, swimming, boating, hiking, skiing
Where to stay:
The Lakes Region in New Hampshire is home to the most beautiful lakes in the state, making it the perfect weekend getaway if you want to explore lakes. You can enjoy boating, swimming, hiking, and eating delicious food.
The three main areas around Lake Winnipesaukee are Meredith, Laconia, and Wolfeboro. Each is in a different area around the lake, but all three make great places to stay. Where you decide to stay will depend on what you want to do while you are there.
Of course, one of the best things to do is explore the lake by boat! You can easily spend the day boating around the 72 square miles of Lake Winnipesaukee. Or if you want to swim without boating, you can visit Weirs Beach.
M/S Mount Washington Scenic Tour Cruise is another fun way to explore Lake Winnipesaukee. They offer cruises in the summer, and the views along the way are beautiful.
If hiking is your jam, I have recommendations for you! Lake Winnipesaukee has some of my favorite trails in the Lakes Region. The 4-mile loop to Mount Major is the most popular because of its incredible lake views. If you are looking for an easier trail, I recommend the 1.8-mile loop to Lockes Hill.
Gunstock Mountain is another place you can visit year-round if you want to hike or ski. In the summer, you can hike 2 miles to its summit, and in the winter, you can ski on its 49 trails.
Keene
New Hampshire region: Monadnock
Things to do: hiking, biking, scenic drives, shops
Where to stay:
Keene has the perfect combination of shops, restaurants, and outdoor activities, making it one of my favorite quaint towns in southern New Hampshire.
Of course, my favorite thing to do near Keene is explore the beautiful nearby landscapes! My favorite hikes are Chesterfield Gorge, Gap Mountain, and Mount Monadnock. Chesterfield Gorge is a 0.7-mile trail wandering along a stream with small waterfalls. The 2.6-mile trail to Gap Mountain is one of my favorite hikes because it has beautiful views of Mount Monadnock and blueberries in the summer. And of course, you can hike the iconic Mount Monadnock. The 3.8-mile loop is steep, but the breathtaking 360-degree views are worth the effort.
If you want to enjoy beautiful views without hiking, you are in luck! I recommend biking the Cheshire Rail Trail or driving the 80-mile scenic Monadnock Region Loop.
Of course, you can also explore downtown in Keene. You can stroll through Central Square and visit its shops and restaurants. Although Keene is a small city, it has plenty to do for a fun New Hampshire weekend getaway!
Sunapee
New Hampshire region: Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee
Things to do: hiking, swimming, biking, skiing
Where to stay:
In my opinion, Sunapee is an underrated town for a weekend getaway in New Hampshire! Although it is less visited than other places on this list, it has many fun year-round activities for the entire family to enjoy!
One of my favorite things to do is enjoy a scenic drive around the area. The Lake Sunapee Scenic Byway is a stunning 39-mile drive around Lake Sunapee, offering breathtaking views of lakes, mountains, and small towns. Although it is beautiful year-round, I love driving it in the fall.
If you visit in the summer, I highly recommend relaxing near Lake Sunapee in Mt Sunapee State Park. The state park is beautiful, with a lovely beach where you can relax or swim.
Sunapee also has many hiking trails nearby, with my favorite being the 6.3-mile trail to the top of Mt Sunapee. The views at the top are breathtaking!
And of course, if you visit in the winter, you can ski at Mount Sunapee Resort. Although it is not as large as other ski resorts in New Hampshire, it offers 66 trails and 233 skiable acres.
No matter when you visit Sunapee, you will quickly fall in love with the area!
Gorham
New Hampshire region: White Mountains
Things to do: hiking, ATVing, snowmobiling, skiing, mountains
Where to stay:
Gorham is a beautiful mountain north of the White Mountains and the perfect year-round weekend getaway. In the warmer months, you can hike or ATV, and in the winter, you can snowmobile or ski. Even if you only want to enjoy a quiet getaway with beautiful mountain views, Gorham is the perfect place.
One of my favorite places to visit near Gorham is Moose Brook State Park, which has 755 acres of beautiful land for camping, hiking, fishing, or swimming.
Gorham is also not too far from the Mount Washington Auto Road! If you want to enjoy stunning views from the tallest mountain in New England without hiking, I recommend driving to the top on a clear day. The 360-degree views from the summit are spectacular!
Although you can visit Gorham in every season, winter is when it truly shines. There are hundreds of miles of snowmobile trails near Gorham, with the most popular in Jericho Mountain State Park. The snowmobile trails are so fun and have stunning views.
If skiing is your jam, you can hit the slopes at Wildcat Mountain! It has 225 skiiable acres and a vertical drop of 2,112 feet, the second-largest in New Hampshire and ninth-largest in the New England area.
Colebrook
New Hampshire region: Great North Woods
Things to do: hiking, ATVing, scenic drives
Where to stay:
Colebrook is a small town in northern New Hampshire and the perfect place for a quiet weekend getaway. Although the town is small, it has many fun outdoor activities.
My favorite place to visit nearby is Dixville Notch State Park. You can drive through the notch, hike to viewpoints, or explore waterfalls. A few of my favorite trails are Table Rock, Sanguinary Ridge, Dixville Flume, and Huntington Falls.
If you want to explore even more waterfalls, I recommend making the quick drive from Colebrook to Beaver Brook Falls. The 80-foot waterfall is a stunning roadside attraction, especially surrounded by vibrant fall foliage. You can view the waterfall from the parking lot and walk along a short trail to the base of the falls.
Since you are in the Great North Woods, you can also ATV in the summer and snowmobile in the winter. Colebrook is near many trails, making it a great hub no matter what time of year you visit.
Pittsburg
New Hampshire region: Great North Woods
Things to do: ATVing, snowmobiling, fishing, boating, hiking Where to stay:
Pittsburg is one of the northernmost towns in New Hampshire, making it a great place for a quiet New Hampshire weekend getaway. And if you love ATVing, snowmobiling, or fishing, you will love Pittsburg.
Some of the best snowmobiling trails in New Hampshire are near Pittsburg. The hundreds of miles of trails have great conditions and beautiful views.
And if you visit in the summer, you can enjoy hundreds of miles of ATV trails. My friends love visiting Pittsburg for their ATV trails, so I know you will enjoy it!
Pittsburg is also home to beautiful lakes, with the most popular being Lake Francis and Connecticut Lakes. Both are fun for boating, fishing, and swimming.
Of course, one of my favorite things to do near Pittsburg is hike! I recently hiked Magalloway Mountain, and it was such a fun and beautiful trail! The 2-mile trail is short and steep but offers views from an old fire tower and viewpoints. If you are working on the 52 With a View List, you can check Magalloway Mountain off during your weekend getaway!
Hopefully, I have added a few places to your bucket lists for weekend getaways in New Hampshire! No matter what season you are looking to plan a getaway in, New Hampshire has many places you can visit.
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
Pin it for later!
