When we think of fall, we often think of the beautiful towns of Vermont or the states of Colorado. But New Hampshire has some of the most vibrant foliage. From late September to October, driving in New Hampshire is like stepping into an enchanting, colorful world.
From the stunning white mountains, a scenic drive along the Kancamagus, or visiting the charming towns of Sandwich or Conway, you’ll find plenty to see and do.
Warm sweaters, everything with pumpkin spice, and of course gorgeous fall foliage!
New England Generally known for its beautiful fall foliage. In fact, until I did my fall road trip through New England, I really thought those vibrant fall colors were all fake! But let me tell you – they are all real! No need for color enhancement or photoshop.
But New Hampshire in particular has its own set of fall perks. While leaf peeping is definitely the highlight of fall in New Hampshire, it’s certainly not the only thing to do there! You can also make time to participate in fall festivals, carve pumpkins, go apple picking, etc.
If you want to experience everything fall-related New Hampshire has to offer, I’ve got you covered. Without further ado, here’s my guide to the best fall spots in New Hampshire.
When is the best time to see leaves in New Hampshire?
Each year, the season of changing leaves is slightly different. Usually, it takes place at some point between September and mid-October. That said, to make sure you see the fiery leaves in any given year, I strongly recommend using the fall foliage prediction map.
Best time to visit New Hampshire in the fall?
If the leaves come out between mid-September and mid-October, you should do the same! After all, it’s one of the best times of fall in New Hampshire. This timeframe also coincides with many of the state’s best fall festivals.
What is the best airport to fly to in New Hampshire?
Since all of the states in New England are small, you really don’t need to fly non-stop to New Hampshire. In fact, if you’re coming from another part of the country, you can easily fly to a larger airport, like Boston Logan International Airport or Albany International Airport.
If you want to fly non-stop to New Hampshire, you can head to Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.
Read more: How to Plan the Perfect Fall Road Trip in New England
What should I pack for fall in New Hampshire?
Class is your best friend when it comes to fall weather. During that time of year, the weather usually changes quite a bit over the course of a day. So when it gets too cold, add another layer. If it gets too hot, take one off.
Some other essentials include a warm coat, gloves, and even sunscreen! Also, if you plan on doing some of the hiking that I recommend later in this article, you’ll want a pair of hiking boots. It’s a my favorite hiking shoes, and this is My complete guide to what to pack for hiking.
The best places for fall in New Hampshire
White Mountain National Forest
The White Mountain National Forest covers a large part of New Hampshire (and even a small part of Maine!). This forest is so vast that it actually includes a few other locations on this list – but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve a character of its own!
This 800,000-acre forest is absolutely massive. It’s filled with thriving oaks, maples, and pines – all full of the fiery colors of fall. The scenery is so stunning that it really brought me to tears!
One of the most popular ways to experience fall in the White Mountains National Forest is by driving on the Kancamagus . Expressway. This 34.5-mile trail is filled with absolutely breathtaking fall foliage. Please drop by and take a closer look!
If you want to completely immerse yourself in the reds, oranges, and yellows of fall, I recommend taking one of the hikes in the White Mountain National Forest. Mount Tecumseh, Mount Moosilauke, and Mount West Rattlesnake are all great options.
Conway
When it comes to viewing the best fall spots in New Hampshire, you won’t want to miss Conway. This small town is home to Conway Scenic Railway, it’s an old fashioned railroad experience that takes you through some of fall’s brightest colors and cutest little towns.
Conway Scenic Railway offers three different rail excursion options. We opted in to the Bartlett-Sawyer Excursion, which allowed us to pop into cute shops, dine at great local restaurants, and of course do a little leaf-peeping.
As you can imagine, this is quite a popular attraction in New Hampshire. To secure your spot, you should book your tickets in advance.
Sandwich
Not far from Conway is the lovely little town of Sandwich. In addition to a fun name, Sandwich boasts a great location. Set in the beautiful White Mountains and on stunning Lake Squam, it is absolutely picture perfect. And when this natural landscape is adorned with the vibrant rusty reds, golden yellows and oranges of autumn, it becomes even more astonishing.
If you choose the right time, you can participate in Bread Fair. This annual festival hosts quite a few contests and demonstrations. While there are some fall-inspired activities, like pumpkin carving, there are also more unique activities. Watch pan-throwing, ox-pulling and truck-towing competitions.
Covered Bridge Albany
Albany Covered Bridge isn’t just beautiful. It also has quite a bit of historical significance.
The whole of New England, not just New Hampshire, is filled with covered bridges. These bridges were a way for many isolated farmers to get into town on their wagons. Once there, these farmers will both buy the goods they need and sell the produce they have. Without these covered bridges, the lives of these important farmers would have been so much harder!
Of course, with the advancement of transportation technology, covered bridges are no longer a necessity. That said, they are still lovely to look at, especially when they are surrounded by the beautiful colors of fall! And the Albany Covered Bridge is especially stunning. You won’t want to miss it!
Walpole
Walpole is another location that is definitely one of the best for fall in New Hampshire. With gorgeous leaves, cute cafes and lovely farms, what more could you ask for?
First, let’s talk about the colorful autumn leaves. Like most of New Hampshire, you can simply stroll around Walpole and watch the numerous beautiful fall leaves.
In fact, you can walk to one of the town’s cute cafes for a fall drink! After all, would autumn really be complete without the gift of autumn? Try the hot chocolate from LA Burdick handmade chocolates, a hot beverage from the maple tree Moon Dog Café, or coffee maple from Rockingham Roasters. (Just a note, the last two technically on the other side of the border Vermont, but they’re less than a 10-minute drive from Walpole, New Hampshire.)
Last but certainly not least, those are great farms. Walpole is known throughout New Hampshire for its many wonderful ranches, including Walpole Valley Ranch, Boggy Meadow Ranch, and Walpole Mountain View Winery. But one of the most popular places to visit in the fall is Alyson’s Orchard to pick apples.
If you need more than just a short trip to Walpole, you can stay the night! One of the best places to stay is The Inn at Valley Farms. After all, once you see how incredible the farms in Walpole are, you won’t want to leave!
Read more: The best places for fall in Vermont
Jackson
Once you pass lovely Honeymoon Covered Bridge, you’ll know you’re in Jackson. It’s actually a more popular vacation destination in the summer and winter, but it’s also amazing in the fall.
Given Jackson’s location in the stunning White Mountains, hiking is definitely the best way to see all the fall colors. Some of the best walks in town include the Jackson Scenic Loop, Double Head Trail, and Winniweta Falls Trail.
But hiking isn’t the only fall delight in Jackson! In fact, this small town has its own fall traditions: Return of the Pumpkin People. Dozens of pumpkin-headed figures are scattered throughout the town. One of the best ways to remember this unique tradition is to take pictures with quirky characters.
Franconia Notch State Park
So far in my list of the best places to fall in New Hampshire, I’ve listed a ton of small towns. And while those small towns are the dream fall vacation for some, others prefer more nature-focused trips. If the latter sounds like you, I highly recommend visiting Franconia Notch State Park.
Franconia Notch State Park is known for being one of the most beautiful parts of New Hampshire – and it only gets more beautiful in the fall. With its towering peaks, sparkling lakes, and fiery leaves, it looks like it was plucked straight out of a fairy tale!
This beautiful state park offers a number of different ways to see the amazing natural landscape. The easiest way is to just drive on Interstate 93, is the winding pass through the park. If you want to be a little more active, there are plenty of hiking activities worth the effort, including Artist’s Bluff Trail, Flume . Gorge Trail, and the Lonesome Lake Trail.
But if you want to see another view of falling leaves, you can go to the sky! Jump on the train Cannon Mountain Aerial Tram and see the beautiful colors of autumn from above.
Laconia
There’s a major reason the small town of Laconia made this list: New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival. This wonderful festival – formerly known as the Laconia Pumpkin Festival and the Keene Pumpkin Festival – boasts a plethora of pumpkin-focused activities. But it is best known for THOUSANDS of pumpkins.
The New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival previously won the world record for most lanterns lit in one place! Although it has lost the title a few times to worthy opponents, this committed festival always seems to reclaim it. As of 2021, no one can beat the New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival’s 2013 record of a whopping 30,581 lit lanterns.
If you’re from a nearby area, you can contribute to this world record-breaking number by bringing a pumpkin of your own. Otherwise, you can join many other activities of the festival.
In this wonderful festival, you can carve a pumpkin, devour a delicious breakfast of pumpkin pancakes, and stroll through pumpkin beer gardens. For activities that don’t involve pumpkins, you can go for a 5k ride, ride a zipline, and play a few fun games. And you definitely can’t forget to take pictures with the massive 34-foot-high wall of lanterns!
So you have it! The best places for fall in New Hampshire. I hope this information helps you plan the best fall travel!
