11 Amazing New Hampshire Day Trips That Are Worth The Drive
New Hampshire, the beloved Granite State, is one of the smaller states in the US, covering about 9,400 square miles, with only four smaller states: Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island, and Hawaii. Small in size but big in stature, with nearly 1,000 lakes and 19,000 miles of rivers and streams flowing throughout the state. Throw in 18.5 miles of coastline dotted with beautiful beaches, and New Hampshire is a bonafide outdoor lover’s paradise. What is more, a benefit of being one of the smaller states is the ability to take plenty of exciting 2 to 3-hour day trips from the state’s primary hub—Portsmouth International Airport (PSM).
Currier Museum of Art - Manchester
Located in Manchester, less than an hour from PSM, the Currier Museum of Art houses European and American art, including works of Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Andrew Wyeth. The museum is the only museum in the world with two 1950s-era Frank Lloyd Wright homes as part of its permanent collection. Wright was revolutionary for using open spaces in his organic architectural design, using elements like stone, water, and trees. The museum opened in 1929, a few days before the great stock market crash that signaled the start of the Great Depression, and is a must-see for any art connoisseur.
Mount Monadnock
Purported to be the second most climbed mountain in the world after Mount Fuji in Japan, Mount Monadnock is revered by hikers from all over, and it’s only 90 minutes from the airport. The hike itself isn’t as easy, but the 360-degree view from the 3,165-foot peak is well worth the hours spent scrambling up rocks, especially during the last half of the hike. The hike is rated difficult, but the easiest way straight up the mountain is via the 3.8-mile White Dot Loop, identifiable by the white dot markers on trees and rocks. It is a very popular hike, so arrive early and expect to spend at least 4 hours on the trail. Autumn is by far the very best time of year to go. At the top, hikers will be rewarded with views of three neighboring states: Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.
Strawbery Banke Museum - Portsmouth
Travelers won’t have to go far from the airport to visit the outdoor museum known as Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth. The region has a deep history, and visitors can travel back 400 years to learn about the presence of the original Indigenous inhabitants and the arrival of English settlers in 1623. Tour historic mansions, working-class homes, a corner store, and a tavern, and enjoy reliving the past with the help of costumed interpreters. Wander through a Victorian-era formal garden, heritage apple orchards, and a colonial-period garden. Plan a visit to coincide with one of the museum’s special events like “Ghosts on the Banke” or a “Candlelight Stroll.”
Hampton Beach
A popular summer destination since the 1800s, Hampton Beach is a pretty seaside town on the rocky coastline of New Hampshire, twenty-five minutes from the airport. There’s a 1.35-mile stretch of pristine sandy beach, a classic wooden boardwalk, and live music at the Seashell Stage or in the 1899 Casino Ballroom. Visit the old-timey boardwalk attractions like Funarama, Playland Arcade, and Buc’s Lagoon Mini-Golf and Ice Cream.
Conway Scenic Railroad - North Conway
What can be better than watching the leaves change color from the window of the Mountaineer—the flagship train of the Conway Scenic Railroad? The iconic train ride takes 4 - 5 hours as it travels through the Mount Washington Valley, over the rocky Crawford Notch, and along the Saco River, recreating post-World War II transcontinental travel in a 1950s-era passenger car. Other shorter trips take passengers through the scenic Sawyer River Valley on vintage railroad passenger cars. Getting to historic downtown North Conway to catch the train from the station takes less than two hours from the airport, but then passengers can sit back and let someone else drive.
Seacoast Science Center - Rye
In Rye, twenty minutes from the airport, the Seacoast Science Center is a marine science organization in Odiorne Point State Park. The center’s primary focus is on ocean health, and its location on the Gulf of Maine is ideal for educating visitors on ocean literacy through various engaging hands-on programs and exhibits. Kids of all ages can roll up their sleeves and hold sea stars and urchins, learn about humpback whales and other cetaceans, search onside reefs to identify fish, coral, and the elusive honeycomb moray eel, and discover the largest seabird colony in the Gulf of Maine. Regular events include Seal Walks, Community Nature Programs, Wildlife Kayak Tours, and the annual BioBlitz, a dawn-to-dusk biological survey of Odiorne Point State Park.
Isles of Shoals, Portsmouth Harbor
Only six miles off the coast of New Hampshire, the nine legendary islands that make up the Isles of Shoals were named by Captain John Smith. Maritime enthusiasts can take a 2.5-hour charter from Portsmouth Harbor to the Isles of Shoals to learn all about the folklore and mystery of the islands themselves, originally a fishing village, then a playground for the wealthy in the 19th century at the historic Oceanic Hotel on Star Island. Today, the islands offer opportunities for hiking, birding, and exploring the natural beauty of the rugged New England coastline.
Franconia Notch State Park
Franconia Notch State Park is located in the spectacular White Mountains, about two hours and fifteen minutes from the international airport. The “notch” is a mountain pass that traverses along a winding 8-mile parkway between the peaks of Kinsman and Franconia mountain ranges from Flume Gorge to Echo Lake. The Flume Gorge Trail is a two-mile loop that takes hikers through a natural gorge carved by glaciers, where they can see towering granite walls, waterfalls, historic covered bridges, and lush forests. The hike is gorgeous in the fall, with the vibrant colors enhancing the already-stunning scenery.
Castle in the Clouds - Moultonborough
A historic mansion and estate in Moultonborough, about 1.5 hours from PSM, Castle is the Clouds offers tours, scenic views of Lake Winnipesaukee, and beautiful walking trails. Originally called Lucknow, the mountaintop mansion was built in 1913 by a millionaire shoemaker as a luxurious retreat. Today, the castle is a popular attraction where visitors can tour the mansion, discover the secrets of the basement where the domestic staff worked during the 1920s, or explore 28 miles of hiking trails and discover landmarks like the 40-foot plunge waterfall known as the Falls of Song, Bridle Veil Falls, or The Pebble.
Wright Museum of World War II - Wolfeboro
The one-hour drive from the airport to the Wright Museum of World War II in Wolfeboro is a must-see for history buffs, military historians, veterans, and their families. Unlike other traditional World War II museums, the museum features over 14,000 items representing the home front and the battlefield. In its permanent exhibit called “Home Front Gallery,” the collection includes a 1940s replica of a kitchen, a soda fountain, toys, and other everyday objects showcasing the lives of ordinary Americans during the war. The “Military Gallery” houses tanks, jeeps, motorcycles, uniforms, and weaponry. The museum’s exhibits are suited for children unless otherwise noted.
Mount Washington Cog Railway
At 6,288 feet, Mount Washington is the highest mountain in northeastern North America. It’s a popular destination for hiking, driving the scenic Mount Washington Auto Road, whose iconic sticker, This Car Climbed Mt. Washington, has graced the bumpers of tens of thousands of cars, or riding the historic Cog Railway to the summit. The world’s first mountain-climbing cog railway continues attracting one-quarter of a million visitors yearly. There are numerous excursions on the “Cog” to the summit, where the trains lay over for approximately one hour. There is plenty of time to explore the Visitor Center and its rooftop observation deck and see an interactive weather exhibit, a cafeteria, and two gift shops. Train enthusiasts can even send a postcard with a unique Mount Washington postmark from the summit Post Office. The drive from the airport takes about two and a half hours.
Discover New Hampshire's Best Day Trips
Hitting the road on a 2-3 hour day trip from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, can be as rewarding as embarking on grand adventures far away. Visiting museums like the Currier Museum of Art, the Strawbery Banke Museum or the Wright Museum of World War II illustrates how some of the great discoveries are right around the corner. Other destinations may be further afield. Still, sometimes it’s about enjoying the journey as much as the destination, like driving through the Franconia Notch State Park, hiking up Mount Monadnock, or simply watching the seasons change on a train trip through the White Mountains.
