New Hampshirites are certainly not strangers to beautiful drives. In many parts of the state simply getting in the car for a trip to the grocery store and lead to moose sightings, foliage views, and other beauties we probably don’t even notice anymore. That’s what happens when you live in a place full of forests, mountains and even some coastline. We love any time we can take a beautiful drive, but doing so more intentionally can lead to a great day out. This scenic drive is a wonderful way to do that. Click here for exact directions through Google Maps.
Google Maps
Your journey begins in beautiful Gorham, where you’ll head off to Route 16.
dougtone / Flickr
Heading north you’ll begin passing some gorgeous scenery, even when you’re still closer to larger towns. The route eventually leads to the northern part of the White Mountains so rest assured that you’ll have some rural roads ahead of you. You’ll be heading off on NH-110 from here.
dougtone / Flickr
You’ll soon make your way to Berlin. If you make your drive in the fall you’ll be presented with some of the most lovely fall foliage. But things along this route are lovely any time of year.
icemomo / Flickr
As you make your way along NH-110 from Berlin you’ll head towards West Milan. This portion of the journey is lovely, but for an added dose of fun, stop at Jericho Mountain State Park. There’s a ton to do here, including swimming, hiking, and ATVing. Here you’ll find yourself on US-3.
Chad Nale / Google
Things begin to get a much more rural feeling as you get to the northern portion of your drive. This is also where you’ll find the Kauffmann Forest, a protected area around Christine Lake in Coos County.
Neraknight / Flickr
Next up is the lovely town of Stark, which also happens to look like a Hallmark movie around Christmas. Regardless of the time of year, you’ll love seeing the covered bridge here and enjoying the sights and sounds of quintessential rural New Hampshire.
jcbwalsh / Flickr
By now you’ll probably be getting hungry, so plan on stopping in the town of Groveton to enjoy the North Country Family Restaurant. This is where you’ll make your way onto US-2.
Cedarmv / TripAdvisor
Famous for their hearty portions of great food, you’ll want to make sure you’re hungry for this one so be sure to keep your snacks at a minimum before this! Or, enjoy it all! This is your road trip, after all.
Shtrbug1 / TripAdvisor
As you continue to make your way along US-2 you’ll soon come to Lancaster. Along the way you’ll pass the Cape Horn State Forest, a beautiful sight. There are a few trails here worth exploring so if you have the time plan on getting outside to check it out.
Will Cron / Google
As you make your way back down inching towards your starting point of Gorham you’ll continue on US-2 towards Jefferson. This is where you’ll find another opportunity to explore the great outdoors with a visit to Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge. Make some time for this one if you can, as there are not only some great trails but also interesting ways to see the variety in the state’s ecology.
marknenadov / Flickr
You’ll next make your way through Randolph with its rural feel that you can experience right from the car. There’s a lot of beauty to take in on this stretch of US-2 so keep those eyes open.
Paul St. Cyr / Flickr And soon you’ll end up back in Gorham. The route should take about 1.5-hours without any stops. But, as you can see there are plenty of spots you’ll want to visit so go ahead and make this a full day trip!
The Woodland Heritage Trail can be done in whole or in part without sacrificing any of the beauty. You can learn more about it on this official website. What other drives do you love here in the Granite State? Let us know so we can check them out and maybe even feature one.
Google Maps
dougtone / Flickr
icemomo / Flickr
Chad Nale / Google
Neraknight / Flickr
jcbwalsh / Flickr
Cedarmv / TripAdvisor
Shtrbug1 / TripAdvisor
Will Cron / Google
marknenadov / Flickr
Paul St. Cyr / Flickr
And soon you’ll end up back in Gorham. The route should take about 1.5-hours without any stops. But, as you can see there are plenty of spots you’ll want to visit so go ahead and make this a full day trip!
Even the unexpected spots can lead to intense beauty. Here are 8 of the best backroads in New Hampshire for a long scenic drive.
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Address: Gorham, NH 03581, USAAddress: Berlin, NH, USAAddress: West Milan, Milan, NH 03588, USAAddress: Stark, NH 03582, USAAddress: Groveton, Northumberland, NH 03582, USAAddress: Lancaster, NH, USAAddress: Jefferson, NH, USAAddress: Randolph, NH, USA
