Best Time to Visit New Hampshire 2025: Fall Foliage, Summer Fun, and More
New Hampshire packs a lot of beauty into its small land area. From mountains and rolling hills to pristine lakes, rivers, and plenty of coastline, there is something for everyone. But when is the best time to visit New Hampshire?
This state is lovely to visit at any time of the year, but if I had to choose, I would say the best time to visit New Hampshire is in the fall. If you are seeking colorful leaves, the fall foliage in this part of New England can’t be beat.
Best time to visit New Hampshire
To me, the best time to visit New Hampshire is in the fall. Some will say it’s better to visit in the spring when temperatures are similar and it’s not as crowded.
Because New Hampshire is one of the prime destinations for fall leaf peeping, people will travel for hundreds of miles to experience it, and the state can get crowded.
In my experience, however, having visited New Hampshire in October, I did not find it to be overly crowded. We found ourselves in the most traffic near Boston (per usual) but once we arrived in New Hampshire, it was a smooth drive.
There is something so magical about New Hampshire in the fall. In the spring, you get to see all the trees and plants come back to life after a long winter. The summer months are hot and great for swimming, and winter is a paradise for people who love snow sports.
But the fall season is quintessential New England. To experience the sights, tastes and scents of a proper New England autumn, you have to visit New Hampshire between the months of September and November.
Worst time to visit New Hampshire
“Worst” is a relative term, as it really depends on what you would like to do. New Hampshire is beautiful to see any time of year, but if you are not interested in cold temperatures or snow, you might want to avoid visiting from December to March.
Summers in New Hampshire can be very hot and humid (prime atmosphere for mosquitos), so unless you enjoy water activities, you might not feel as comfortable in July and August as you would during the spring and fall months.
New Hampshire in the fall
Without a doubt, the best thing to do New Hampshire in the fall is see the colorful foliage. Take a drive through White Mountain National Forest and stop at one or more of the scenic points for a refreshing hike or a picnic.
The Kancamagus Highway is a 34.5-mile highway in the White Mountains stretching from Lincoln to Conway. It is known for its breathtaking views of fall’s colorful kaleidoscope.
- The Lincoln Woods trailhead is one of the most visited places along the highway because of its wooden suspension bridge and peaceful path through the forest.
- For a stunning panorama of the mountains, the CL Graham Wangan Overlook is another must-see stop.
- Visit the Albany Covered Bridge to walk across a traditional New England covered bridge.
Other fun fall activities to do in New Hampshire include visiting one of the many pumpkin patches, corn mazes, or cider mills.
- Applecrest Farm lets you pick both pumpkins and apples for all your fall baking and carving needs.
- Coppal House Farm creates a large themed corn maze each year. In 2022, it was a praying mantis!
Note: The maze at Coppal House Farm is now closed for the 2022 season but will reopen in fall 2023. They will start offering winter sleigh rides in December 2022.
Best time to see fall foliage in New Hampshire
Usually the best time to see fall foliage in New Hampshire is from the end of September to the beginning of October. In 2022, we visited the White Mountains in mid-October and already missed the peak period for fall colors. A little earlier would have been perfect!
Best time to visit the White Mountains
The White Mountains are most popular to visit in the fall because of the colorful foliage, so the end of September to mid-October would be the best time to visit if leaf peeping is your goal. But spring and summer are also great times to hike, camp, or do other outdoor activities in the White Mountains.
New Hampshire in the winter
Visit small towns that are all decked out for the holidays. You’ll find lots of cute boutiques and cafes with one-of-a-kind gifts and treats.
The weather is chilly in New Hampshire in the winter, but if you bundle up well, it’s fun to stroll down the streets this time of year—especially in December with all the twinkling lights and festive atmosphere.
One of my favorite New Hampshire towns to visit in the winter is Portsmouth, which has an amazing food scene:
- Flatbread Company has delicious pizza made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. There is a large stone hearth in the middle of the restaurant where you can watch the cooks bake the pizzas to perfection. It’s a cozy place to spend a cold winter evening in New Hampshire.
- The Friendly Toast is a good option for brunch, with its numerous, eclectic dishes, both sweet and savory. Their Eggs Benedict and French toast are mouthwateringly good.
New Castle is a charming town not far from Portsmouth where you can see boats coming in and going out from the harbor.
I highly recommend staying at the Wentworth by the Sea hotel for a winter visit, as they decorate it beautifully for the holidays and the rooms are stunning, especially if you book one with a water view.
For Christmas lovers, Santa’s Village is a popular themed amusement park. Take a ride on Santa’s Express Train, enjoy treats from the Jolly Lolly Candy Store, tour Santa’s Home, and more!
Holidays aside, the White Mountains offer lots of hiking trails that are still accessible in the winter. Cross-country skiing is a favorite sport among locals. You can rent a pair of skis and coast your way through the dense birch forests blanketed in snow.
What’s the coldest month in New Hampshire?
January is typically the coldest month in New Hampshire, with temperatures well below freezing all month long.
New Hampshire in the spring
Spring is when the flowers begin to bloom in New Hampshire, including fields of lupines. Sugar Hill is apparently one of the best places to see varying colors of lupines in full bloom (especially in June!).
Photo by Mercedes Mehling in Unsplash
Hiking is another excellent activity to do in the spring because the temperatures are comfortable during the day, but the nights are still cool and refreshing.
Easy to intermediate hike ideas:
- Sugarloaf Trail: a 3.3-mile out-and-back trail near Twin Mountain. It’s a popular hike so you will likely encounter more people on this trail than on others.
- Mount Willard Trail: a 3.1 mile out-and-back trail near Bretton Woods with a rewarding view of Crawford Notch.
Difficult hike ideas:
- Mount Lafayette and Franconia Ridge Trail Loop: an 8.1-mile loop trail that usually takes around six hours to complete. It’s one of New Hampshire’s most popular hikes with stunning summit views.
- Welch-Dickey Loop Trail: a 4.4-mile loop trail that takes around three hours to complete. This hike also has rave reviews for its breathtaking views.
Since the snow has freshly melted during this time of year, it’s also the perfect time to see some of New Hampshire’s more than 100 waterfalls.
To visit several waterfalls in one day, try hiking in Crawford Notch, which includes Arethusa Falls, Silver Cascade, and Ripley Falls.
New Hampshire in the summer
Hit the beach! New Hampshire’s coastline is not very long, but the state still boasts some of New England’s most beautiful beaches.
Jenness State Beach: popular among surfers but also great for regular beachgoers. It’s a large beach with public restrooms and showers and a pizza shop and cafe nearby.
Tip: Arrive early in the morning to secure a parking spot in the lot by the beach.
Seabrook Dunes and Beach: a beautiful, private beach that is mostly used by residents. Visitors are recommended to park in the nearby town of Hampton and walk 10-15 minutes from there to the beach. This is a great option if you are looking for a quieter, less crowded beach.
Hampton Beach: This is one of New Hampshire’s most popular beaches. There is a boardwalk along the beach with numerous restaurants and souvenir shops, making for a convenient and fun beach day.
Wallis Sands Beach: This beach offers views of the Isles of Shoals in the distance. There are several rock formations where you can often spot crabs soaking up the sun. You will need to reserve parking ahead of time to guarantee yourself a spot.
There are also many lakes and rivers within inland New Hampshire that are perfect for swimming, kayaking, and other water activities. With more than 90 different state parks and 23 state park campgrounds, the state is a favorite for outdoor enthusiasts in the summertime.
Lake Winnipesaukee is New Hampshire’s largest lake and offers opportunities for kayaking, boating, stand-up paddleboarding, and more.
Or for something different, try a rail bike ride on the Hobo & Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad.
What’s the warmest month in New Hampshire?
On average, July is the warmest month in New Hampshire, but July, August, and September are all great months for swimming.
Conclusion
Fall is my favorite time to visit New Hampshire simply because I am a sucker for fall foliage. But regardless of what season you choose to visit, there will be plenty of amazing things to see and do. Enjoy your time in the Granite State!
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