New Hampshire
Visitors come for hiking, lake time, skiing and fall foliage, and the season decides which one fits the trip.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
New Hampshire is a northeastern state in New England, bordered by Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, the Gulf of Maine and the Canadian province of Quebec. People come for the outdoors: hiking and skiing in the White Mountains, where Mount Washington, the tallest peak in the northeastern US, rises to 6,288 feet, and lake time on Lake Winnipesaukee, the state's largest lake at 71 square miles. The state is nicknamed the Granite State for its granite formations and quarries.
The coastline is only about 18 miles long, but Portsmouth is the state's only significant ocean port and Hampton Beach is a popular summer destination. Plan by season: fall foliage usually peaks in mid-October, summer suits lakes and the seacoast, and winter brings skiing and snowmobiling. Mount Washington's summit has extreme weather, with hurricane-force winds on average every third day, so check its forecast before you go up.
New Hampshire in five
- Budget for the 8.5% meals and rooms taxNew Hampshire adds an 8.5% meals and rooms tax to hotel stays, restaurant meals and car rentals. Compare the total price when you weigh a mountain stay against Boston.NH Department of Revenue
- Drive a notch road, then walkThe White Mountains are crossed by narrow notch roads with trailheads at the pull-offs. Start walks early, carry layers because summit weather turns fast, and download offline maps first.
- Choose lakes in summer, hills in fallLake Winnipesaukee and the Lakes Region suit July and August, while the mountains reward late September and early October. Winter turns the same towns into ski bases.New England guide
- Use Boston or Manchester as the airportBoston Logan has far more flights, and the drive north takes roughly 1.5 to 3 hours depending on the destination. Manchester is closer to the Lakes Region but has a smaller route map.Boston in 3 days
Neighborhoods
White Mountains
- Best for: Hiking, fall foliage, skiing
- Price band: $$$
- Mount Washington Auto Road reaches the 6,288 ft summit
- Kancamagus Scenic Byway runs from North Woodstock to Conway
- The White Mountain Trail scenic byway passes through Franconia Notch State Park
Skip if you want late-night restaurants or a train station.
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is a compact river town in New Hampshire, with Colonial streets, harbor walks and a short drive to the Maine coast.
North Conway
Trails, scenic drives and fall foliage draw people to North Conway, a town in New Hampshire's Mount Washington Valley. Skiing adds a winter season.
Things to do in New Hampshire
See all attractions in New Hampshire
Need to know
- Airport
- Manchester-Boston (MHT); Boston Logan (BOS) has more flights
- Getting there
- Drive from Boston; there is no passenger rail into the mountains
- Getting around
- A car is essential outside Portsmouth and Manchester
- Best base
- North Conway or Lincoln for mountains; Meredith for lakes
- Time needed
- 3 to 5 days; a weekend works from Boston
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy9 rainy days5 snowy daysHigh-1°Low-9°Ski seasonJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- -1°
- Low
- -9°
- Precipitation
- 95 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 5
- Days with storms
- 0
Ski season
- FebruaryPartly cloudy10 rainy days6 snowy daysHigh1°Low-9°Ski seasonFebruaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 1°
- Low
- -9°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 6
- Days with storms
- 0
Ski season
- MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh6°Low-5°Mud seasonMarchPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 6°
- Low
- -5°
- Precipitation
- 98 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 4
- Days with storms
- 0
Mud season
- AprilRain12 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh12°Low1°Cool, quietAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 116 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh19°Low7°Spring greensMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 106 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring greens
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh24°Low13°Lakes, hikingJuneRain
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 139 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Lakes, hiking
- JulyPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh28°Low16°Lakes, busyJulyPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 131 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Lakes, busy
- AugustPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh26°Low15°Warm, humidAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 109 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, humid
- SeptemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh23°Low12°Early colorSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 103 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Early color
- OctoberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh15°Low6°Foliage peakOctoberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 138 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Foliage peak
- NovemberPartly cloudy10 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh7°Low-1°Bare, quietNovemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 104 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Bare, quiet
- DecemberPartly cloudy10 rainy days6 snowy daysHigh2°Low-6°Snow, early skiingDecemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 2°
- Low
- -6°
- Precipitation
- 148 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 6
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow, early skiing
Average daily high and low in Concord, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in New Hampshire
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
17
- Feels like
- 15°
- Humidity
- 48%
- Wind
- 10 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 2%
New Hampshire
07:57 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today20°3°2%Monday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Tue18°8°15%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Wed22°9°4%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Thu20°10°42%Thursday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 42%.
- Fri20°11°60%Friday: Fog. High 20°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 60%.
- Sat18°5°60%Saturday: Fog. High 18°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 60%.
- Sun13°3°36%Sunday: Clear. High 13°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 36%.
Updated 03:53 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Bostonabout 1.5 to 3 hours south by carThe usual start or end of the trip, with the Freedom Trail and the T.Read the guide
- Midcoast Maineabout 2 to 3 hours north-east by carHarbor towns and lobster shacks past Portland.Read the guide
- Burlington, Vermontabout 3 to 4 hours west by carA lake city on Lake Champlain, reached across Vermont's Green Mountains.Read the guide
Before you go to New Hampshire
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for New Hampshire, checked
- New Hampshire's meals and rooms tax rate is 8.5% on hotel rooms, restaurant meals and motor vehicle rentals.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around New Hampshire
Foliage, coast and a Boston gateway
Read the guideBoston in 3 daysThe usual arrival city, before heading north
Read the guideBurlington, VermontA lake city across the Green Mountains
Read the guideMidcoast MaineHarbors and lighthouses up the coast
Read the guideAcadia National ParkGranite coast and carriage roads in Maine
Read the guideBest time to visit BostonSeasons and crowds for the gateway city
Read the guideAll of the USAStates, parks and cities in one planning hub
Read the guideNew Hampshire FAQ
What is New Hampshire best known for?
The White Mountains, with Mount Washington and the notch roads, Lake Winnipesaukee, ski resorts and the small Seacoast around Portsmouth. It has no major city attractions, so most trips are about driving and walking.
Is New Hampshire worth visiting in fall?
Yes, the mountain roads and lake views are among the strongest fall drives in New England. Book rooms months ahead, expect slow traffic on weekends and plan hikes for weekdays.
How many days do you need in the White Mountains?
Two nights is enough for a notch road, a waterfall walk and one summit hike. Four nights lets you add the Lakes Region or Seacoast without long drives each day.
Can you visit New Hampshire from Boston in a weekend?
Yes. The Lakes Region and North Conway are within a long half-day's drive, so a Friday to Sunday plan works. Leave Sunday afternoon early to avoid return traffic on peak weekends.
When do the ski resorts open in New Hampshire?
Most resorts open once natural or made snow allows, often in late November or December, and run through March or later. Check each resort's site for opening dates, since they vary every year.