10 Best Stops on the Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire

Are you looking for the best stops on the Kancamagus Highway?

After moving to New England, one of the things I was most excited to experience was the amazing fall foliage. When I searched for the best places to see the colorful leaves, the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire kept coming up. I knew I had to see what all the fuss was about!

This post details the 10 best stops along the Kancamagus Highway. While I visited in the fall, you can go any time of the year for a different type of scenery. You won’t want to miss this beloved stretch of road when you take a trip to New Hampshire!

What is the Kancamagus Highway?

The Kancamagus Highway—also called the Kancamagus Scenic Byway or simply “The Kanc”—is a 34.5-mile highway in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, between the towns of Lincoln and Conway.

It makes up a portion of New Hampshire Route 112 (NH 112) and is almost exactly in the middle of the state, with Vermont to the west, Maine to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and Massachusetts to the south.

The highway is best known for its stunning views of New Hampshire’s fall foliage, but it’s worth visiting at any time of the year.

Highway map

The map below shows the Kancamagus Highway from Lincoln to Conway, with the 10 stops highlighted in this article included. Click More options to open the map in Google Maps and customize the itinerary to your liking!

Best stops on the Kancamagus Highway

There are lots of beautiful places along the Kancamagus Highway, but here is a list of the 10 best stops to include on your drive. They are in order of appearance from west to east on the map above.

1. Lincoln Woods Trailhead

If you travel from where the Kancamagus Highway begins in Lincoln, one of the first stops you will reach is the Lincoln Woods Trailhead. There is a spacious parking lot at the trailhead with port-a-potties and a visitor center.

A highlight of this spot is the scenic suspension bridge that spans the Pemigewasset River. Once you cross the bridge, you’ll end up on an easy, out-and-back walking trail along the river.

This is a great walk to do with small children or pets since much of the path is flat.

Best stops on the Kancamagus Highway: Pemigewasset River

2. Hancock Overlook

Shortly after the Lincoln Woods Trailhead you’ll arrive at the Hancock Overlook, one of the most scenic lookout points on the Kancamagus Highway. Visitors rave about the stunning views, especially in the fall with the mesmerizing colors.

The parking lot is small here, but there is a wide shoulder along the road nearby for overflow parking. Restrooms are also on site.

The 9.1-mile Hancock loop trail begins at this point. Hikers say the first 3.5 miles are fairly easy but the last mile to the summit and back down can be very slippery, and spiked shoes are recommended. You could easily just hike part of the trail and turn back around if you aren’t up for the entire thing.

3. Pemigewasset Overlook

For gorgeous views of the Osceola Mountains, stop by the Pemigewasset Overlook. This is a prime spot to view the sunset, and if you stay until after dark on a clear night, you’ll be able to see hundreds of stars from this vantage point.

There is a parking lot and restrooms at this stop.

Scenic views of the White Mountains of New Hampshire

4. CL Graham Wangan Overlook

The CL Graham Wangan Overlook offers some of the prettiest views of the Swift River Watershed and White Mountain peaks in the distance.

There is a decent-sized parking lot and observation gazebo at this point. If you aren’t visiting during the busy fall peak season, you should easily be able to find a parking spot. Note that there are no restrooms here.

5. Sugar Hill Overlook

Sugar Hill is another popular viewpoint along the Kancamagus Highway, where you can see the Swift River Valley and surrounding mountains.

This overlook is especially stunning in the fall, and some visitors have reported seeing the northern lights at night if there’s a clear sky.

There is a parking area here but no restrooms.

Best stops on the Kancamagus Highway: Lincoln Woods Trailhead

6. Sabbaday Falls

A short, easy hike will lead you to this beautiful waterfall, which has guarded pathways and a bridge you can walk across to see the falls up close. There is a picnic area nearby, making for a picturesque place to stop for a bite to eat.

Sabbaday Falls is especially magical in the winter when long icicles form around the falls, but it’s a treat to visit any time of year.

7. Champney Falls Trailhead

The 3.1-mile out-and-back Champney Falls Trail is about halfway between Sabbaday Falls and the Rocky Gorge Scenic Area. It’s a moderate hiking trail that takes about 1.5 hours to complete.

Hikers often comment that this trail can be pretty wet and slippery, and there are several stream crossings (with rocks to hop across). Shoes with spikes are recommended.

8. Rocky Gorge Scenic Area

Another one of the best stops on the Kancamagus Highway is the Rocky Gorge Scenic Area. It’s a very popular place, so parking in the designated lot may be limited.

Once you arrive, you can take a small footbridge across the Rocky Gorge for scenic views of the Swift River.

A little ways past the gorge you will come to Falls Pond, which has a trail that goes all the way around the pond for a peaceful walk away from the crowds.

Scenic pond views near the Kancamagus Highway

9. Lower Falls

Not far from the end of the Kancamagus Highway are the Lower Falls, a prime spot for swimming and picnicking. People enjoy the natural water slides formed in the rocks along the water.

This is another heavily trafficked area of the highway, so it’s best to arrive early or later in the day if you want to find a parking spot. There are a couple of restrooms on site at this stop.

10. Albany Covered Bridge

And finally, before exiting the Kancamagus Highway, you have to stop to see one of New England’s historic covered bridges, the Albany Covered Bridge, built in 1858.

You can choose to either drive or walk through the bridge. There are placards nearby where you can learn more about the bridge’s history.

Best stops on the Kancamagus Highway: Albany Covered Bridge

“Albany Covered Bridge” by Earl Mcgehee is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Planning your visit

Here are some tips to help you plan the best visit to the Kancamagus Highway and White Mountain National Forest.

Best time to drive the Kancamagus Highway

The Kancamagus Highway is beautiful to drive any time of year, and you’ll get a completely different side of the region depending on the season.

Note that the highway gets more traffic than usual in September and October during the popular fall foliage period.

If you plan to visit in the winter, take extra care as the roads may be icy. Some trails and parking areas may also be closed off during the winter months.

Best time to see fall foliage

This can vary from year to year depending on the weather, but typically, the best time to see fall foliage in the White Mountains of New Hampshire is from the end of September to mid-October.

Photo by Matt LaVasseur, Unsplash

Where to stay

Here are a few recommendations on places to stay near the Kancamagus Highway.

North Conway (east side of Kancamagus Highway):

📍New England Inn & Lodge: Enjoy comfortable and cozy rooms in a wood cabin-style hotel.
📍White Mountain Hotel & Resort: This hotel includes a heated pool and hot tub overlooking the mountains.

Places to stay in Lincoln (west side of Kancamagus Highway):

📍Riverbank Motel and Cabins: A highly rated motel with simple, clean rooms—perfect if you’re on a budget!
📍InnSeason Resorts Pollard Brook: This hotel comes with plenty of amenities, including a movie theater, game room, indoor and outdoor pools, and more. It is also close to the Loon Mountain ski resort.

Best places to eat

For hearty, home-style American fare, check out one of the following restaurants in North Conway:

And here are some popular restaurants in Lincoln:

Kancamagus Highway road trip tips

If you plan to spend more than a couple hours on the highway, be sure to pack food for a picnic. There are no restaurants along the highway.
Gas up in Lincoln or Conway as there are no gas stations on the highway either.
Be sure to adhere to the posted speed limits as there are frequent curves in the roads and possible animal crossings.

Other things to do near the Kancamagus Highway

While you’re in the White Mountains, it’s worth checking out other places that aren’t along the Kancamagus Highway. Here are a few more recommendations if you want to extend your trip:

Franconia Notch State Park: This stunning park is full of more hiking trails and scenic vistas. The Cannon Mountain Tram is New Hampshire’s only aerial tramway that takes you to the top of the 4,080-foot Cannon Mountain.
Diana’s Baths: Not far from North Conway, a short, flat hike will take you to Diana’s Baths, a series of pools, rock ledges, and small waterfalls. It’s a beautiful, scenic area that can quickly get crowded, especially in the summer, but it’s worth seeing!
Mount Washington State Park: Mount Washington is New Hampshire’s tallest mountain with a height of 6,288 feet. You can reach the summit by car or via the Mount Washington Cog Railway. (Or if you’re feeling adventurous, you can hike to the top as well!)
Conway Scenic Railroad: Take a ride on a restored train with picturesque views of Crawford Notch and the surrounding areas. There are several different routes to choose from, ranging from under an hour to over five hours in length.
Flume Gorge: This 800-foot gorge is at the base of Mount Liberty. The Flume Trail is a 2-mile loop trail that ends at the Flume Building. Note that this trail is closed for maintenance until 2023.
Ice Castles (winter only): You’ll feel like you entered the movie Frozen when you visit the Ice Castles in Woodstock, just a few minutes from Lincoln and the start of the Kancamagus Highway. Walk through ice castles, slide down ice slides, crawl through icy tunnels, and more!

FAQs

Here are answers to some other questions you might have about the Kancamagus Highway:

How long does it take to drive the Kancamagus Highway?

If you drive from one end to the other without stopping, it takes about 45 minutes. But of course, it’s impossible to drive the Kancamagus Highway without stopping at least once or twice, so I would plan to spend at least a couple hours there.

If you want to do some hiking, you could easily spend a day or two (or more!) in the White Mountains.

Where should you start and end your journey?

Depending on which direction you’re coming from, you can either get to the beginning of the Kancamagus Highway from Lincoln, NH and drive east toward Conway, NH, or you can start in Conway and drive west toward Lincoln.

We drove up from Boston, so we decided to start in Lincoln, drive the Kancamagus Highway to Conway, and then drive back down to Boston in one large loop.

Are there fees to visit White Mountain National Forest?

There is no cost to drive the Kancamagus Highway, but many of the parking lots require a $5 recreation pass. See the U.S. Forest Service website for a list of areas requiring a pass, as well as instructions on how to obtain a pass.

Note that people have reported having a hard time purchasing a pass online, so it’s better to bring cash to place inside the drop boxes on site. (It’s an honors system!)

Is the Kancamagus Highway worth visiting?

Absolutely! The Kancamagus Highway is one of the most scenic areas of New Hampshire and is a beautiful way to explore the heart of the White Mountains.

Is driving the highway safe?

Generally, yes, the Kancamagus Highway is safe for driving. The road is paved and well-maintained the entire way. There are just a few things to keep in mind:

The highway is two-way the entire way with no divider in between, and there is a single lane in either direction for most of the highway. Be aware of oncoming traffic.
Since this is a mountainous road, take extra caution around tight curves and switchbacks, especially if you plan to drive in the winter when roads could be slippery.
Stay alert for deer and other wildlife crossings.

Is the Kancamagus Highway a loop?

No, the highway itself is not a loop, but rather a 34.5-mile road stretching west to east from Lincoln, NH to Conway, NH. However, you could extend your journey after completing the Kancamagus Highway to explore more of the White Mountains and make a full loop.

For example, after driving the highway from Lincoln to Conway, drive toward Hart’s Location, then up to Bretton Woods before heading south back to Lincoln.

10 Best Stops on the Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire

Are you looking for the best stops on the Kancamagus Highway?