Last Updated on February 22, 2024
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New England is world famous for being quite spectacular in the fall and there are plenty of great places across the six states to enjoy the season. One of my favorites is North Conway in New Hampshire, a quaint little town, nestled in the middle of the White Mountain Region. While it’s a year round destination, fall is definitely the most beautiful time to visit. Besides the year round activities, there are also several seasonal things to do in North Conway NH, that make the charming town one of the best fall weekend getaways in New England.
North Conway has a beautiful, historic downtown, stunning mountain views and endless opportunities for outdoor activities. It’s also under 3 hour drive from Boston, so whether you’re from the area or fly into Logan Airport, heading up for the weekend is totally doable. And if you are planning a New England Fall road trip, North Conway is one of the stops not to be missed.
Visiting North Conway during peak foliage is ideal, because the entire area just explodes with vibrant colors of red, yellow and orange, but timing can be a little tricky. This is the funny thing about nature, it doesn’t always follow the same schedule. Generally, the best time to visit this part of New Hampshire is from the end of September through mid October, but the exact timing is weather dependent. The New Hampshire Foliage Tracker can be really helpful in predicting the peak foliage season.
Things to do in North Conway NH in the Fall
Obviously, when you visit New Hampshire in the fall, you want to spend as much time outdoors as possible. The weather is perfect, the colors beautiful and opportunities to enjoy nature are endless. Here’s a list of some of my favorite things to do in North Conway NH during the most beautiful time of the year in New England.
Take a ride along the Conway Scenic Railroad
One of the seasonal things to do in North Conway NH is taking a ride on a old fashioned train along the historic Conway Scenic Railroad. It was built in 1872 and was once part of the Boston and Maine Railroad. After being abandoned for a while, it reopened in 1974 as a tourist attraction, offering vintage and scenic train excursions.
The trains leave from the beautiful Victorian style Station, located right in the North Conway Village. The yellow building dates back to 1874 and is now in the National Register of Historic Places. I highly recommend arriving a bit earlier, so you have some extra time to explore it.
Conway Scenic Railroad has three different train rides to choose from. The two shorter ones travel to Conway and Bartlett and are a fun experience of riding on an old fashioned train. They are not too long, so they are perfect if you are traveling with young kids. However, if you want the best combination of riding along the historic railroad and amazing scenery to go along with it, I recommend the Mountaineer Train Excursion.
- Conway Valley Train – this is the shortest of the three rides, which is a 11 miles round trip and lasts 55 minutes. If you are traveling with young kids, this is a fun experience without being too long.
- Bartlett-Sawyer Excursion Train – this 21 miles round trip, which takes about 2 hours, takes you through Saco River Valley to Bartlett and back.
- Mountaineer – at 50-60 miles round trip, this is the longest of the train rides, but one with the best scenery. While the first two are sure a fun experience of riding a vintage train, it’s the Mountaineer, that offers the best views, especially when you enter the Mount Washington Valley. Mountaineer rides run from mid June to some time in November and fall is the most popular time. The weekends, especially right around the predicted peak foliage, sell out quick, so make sure to book your tickets in advance.
Book your Conway Scenic Railroad train ride here.
If you have a whole weekend and come to North Conway for fall foliage, I highly recommend booking the Mountaineer ride. It’s the one that goes far enough into the Mt Washington Valley and that’s where the best views are. If you can time it around peak foliage, the display of colors is spectacular. The entire trip takes more than 5 hours and it can get a little long, especially on the way back near the end. So if you plan on doing it with little kids, the shorter rides might be more suitable.
The Mountaineer makes two stops, where you can get off the train, walk around and stretch out your legs. First stop is at Crawford Depot, a historic railway station at the top of Crawford Notch. Right across the street from the station is Saco Lake, so if you bring lunch, it’s a great place to enjoy it. Second stop at Fabyans, another historic station, is where you can watch the locomotive turn around before making the trip back.
Conway Scenic Railroad is one of the dog friendly things to do in North Conway NH, so if you travel with your pup, bring it along for the ride. Well behaved and leashed dogs are allowed, but in Coach only, so be sure to purchase the right ticket.
Drive the Kancamagus Highway
One of the must things to do in North Conway NH in the fall is to take a drive and see the foliage. And just so happens, that one of the most scenic fall drives in the world is in the White Mountains. The incredibly beautiful Kancamagus Highway is a 34.5 mile stretch of Rt 112, that connects North Conway and Lincoln, cutting right through the White Mountains.
Driving the scenic stretch of the Highway takes approximately one hour, but plan on making lots of stops along the way. There are several scenic overlooks you definitely don’t want to miss, along with hiking trails, waterfalls and covered bridges. And the views from your car as you are driving don’t disappoint either. If you decide to pull over ( which you absolutely should! ), there is a $5 parking fee, paid on an honor system ( cash only ), which can be done at any stop along the Kanc. This fee also covers other US National Forest attractions like Diana’s Baths.
PRO TIP: Fill up your tank before you hit the road, as there are no gas stations between North Conway and Lincoln.
Driving Kancamagus Highway is one of the most popular things to do in North Conway NH and visitors who come to the area to experience fall in New England have it on their itinerary. So it does get really crowded, especially on the weekends around peak fall foliage. If you can, I recommend driving it on a weekday, but if weekends are your only option, start your drive early! Whether you’re driving from North Conway to Lincoln, or the other way around, the Kancamagus Highway becomes a parking lot later in the day. So have an early breakfast and hit the road!
Can’t spend the whole weekend in North Conway, NH but still want to experience the scenic drive and see the Village? Book this all day Fall Foliage Tour from Boston, where you make several stops along the Kancamagus Highway, have lunch in North Conway Village and pay a visit to the Omni Mount Washington Hotel. Talk about a long, but a great day trip from Boston to experience fall in New England.
Hike to Diana’s Baths
Another one of the great, outdoor activities in North Conway is taking a hike to Diana’s Baths, which is a series of small waterfalls, fed from the nearby Big Attitash Mountain. It’s considered one of the most scenic spots in the area and it’s hard to argue with that.
The 0.6 mile hike from the parking lot until you reach the waterfalls is easy and mostly flat. This makes it perfect for a family adventure and it’s dog friendly as well, so feel free to bring your pup along.
Diana’s Baths are technically located in Barlett, just outside of North Conway and are very easily accessible. It’s one of the most popular spots in the area, so it does get crowded, especially on a nice Fall weekend. The parking lot fills up quick, so if you arrive later in the day, you might have to wait for a spot. To avoid that and crowds at the actual falls, come as early as 8 am. There is a $5 parking fee, which also covers the parking spots along the Kancamagus Highway.
Hike around Echo Lake
Just minutes away from the main street in North Conway is a small lake, which is part of Echo Lake State Park. It’s a beautiful spot, perfect for a picnic and there’s a small beach, which is quite popular in the summer months. One of the Park’s highlights is a 1 mile trail, that circles around Echo Lake. It’s an enjoyable and scenic walk, with great views of two ledges nearby: Cathedral Ledge and White Horse Ledge. And when the leaves start changing colors in the fall, the scenery is even more breathtaking.
There actually are two Echo Lakes in New Hampshire, not far from each other, which can be confusing for anyone not familiar with the area. The other Echo Lake is part of Franconia Notch State Park and is much bigger than the one in North Conway. Both lakes are part of NH State Parks, which only adds to confusion. So be aware of that, when planning your visit. Not that the other Echo Lake is not worth a visit, quite the opposite, but if you are looking for things to do in North Conway NH, Echo Lake State Park is the one you want.
Cost: there is a $5 daily fee to use NH State Parks.
Take in the views from Cathedral Ledge
From Echo Lake you are not far from Cathedral Ledge, which among other things is a popular viewpoint with amazing views of Mt Washington Valley and North Conway Village. Bryce Path trail is about 1.5 miles long and will take you right to the top. The trail is open year round, so you can hike up even in the snow, but fall is definitely the best time to go. If you can time it around the peak foliage, you are guaranteed some spectacular views.
If you don’t want to break a sweat, you can also just drive up to the top via the very convenient auto road (Cathedral Ledge Rd). This is open in season only and closes to cars in the winter, but stays open to pedestrian traffic year round. Some people actually use the auto road to descend, as it’s way less steep than the trail.
Cathedral Legde is also a popular rock climbing destination.
Stroll through North Conway Village
North Conway Village is very pretty and quaint, with many restaurants, coffee shops and various stores. It’s also where the Conway Scenic Railroad station is located, so if you plan on taking the train ride, that’s where you will be leaving from. The beautiful Victorian building dates back to 1874 and is a landmark in North Conway Village.
During some weekends, you are also very likely to run into various fairs in the main square right in front of the train station.
Zeb’s Store
As you’re strolling through the North Conway Village, one of the absolute must stops is Zeb’s Store. The two story general store is filled with lots of New England made products. You can find anything from specialty foods, maple syrup, old fashioned candy to games, Christmas decor and fun gifts. You name it, they have it.
Zeb’s is such a fun store to walk around, even if you don’t plan on buying anything. But I can almost guarantee you, you will not be leaving the store empty handed. And remember, New Hampshire does not have sales tax!
Explore Covered Bridges
Covered bridges are very typical for New Hampshire and there are over 60 of them across the state, all built in the 1800s. Many of them are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Just in and near North Conway, there are six wooden, covered bridges and four of them are still in use.
While these days we may look at them mostly as a picturesque backdrop, there was a practical reason for the way they were constructed. The roof and siding were there to protect the wood from rain and snow and prolong its life. If you ever experienced harsh New England winters, it will make perfect sense.
Besides the engineering and historical significance, covered bridges also make for a fun photo op, especially with the beautiful backdrop of colorful leaves. If you are looking for a unique thing to do in North Conway, you can take yourself on a New Hampshire Covered Bridge tour. Here are the six covered bridges you can find in North Conway and nearby. Click here to find them on the map.
- Albany Covered Bridge – Passaconaway Rd, Albany, NH ( one of the stops along Kancamagus Highway ).
- Saco River Covered Bridge – East Side Rd, Conway, NH
- Bartlett Covered Bridge – 29 Birch Lea, Intervale, NH
- Swift River Covered Bridge – West Side Rd, North Conway, NH
- Honeymoon Covered Bridge – 16 Main St, Jackson, NH
- Whittier River Covered Bridge – 19 Nuud, West Ossipee, NH
Enjoy Craft Beer
What’s better after spending a day in the great outdoors than a cold beer? If you enjoy craft beer, you won’t be disappointed. New England is known as home to a lot of great breweries, and just in North Conway, you have four to choose from.
- Moat Mountain Smokehouse and Brewery – brew pub, restaurant and Inn all in one. It’s really popular on the weekends, so expect a wait. No reservations, seating is on first first serve basis in both the dining room and at the bar.
- SeaDog Brewing Company – has several locations in Maine and a couple in NH, one of them in North Conway. They have both indoor and outdoor seating and are dog friendly. Dogs are allowed on their patio and they even have a small dog menu.
- Tuckerman Brewing – throughout October, they serve beer in their large outdoor space.
- Ledge Brewing Company – the newest addition to the beer scene, located in Intervale, just over the town line. Ledge has about 10 beers on tap, both indoor and outdoor seating and live music. It’s strictly a tap room, they don’t serve food, but on the weekends they have food trucks.
Where to eat in North Conway, NH
North Conway and the area is home to a ton of great restaurants. Fall is the busiest time, especially on the weekends, so expect a bit of a wait around dinner time. A lot of the restaurants do not take reservations, and are on a first come first serve basis.
- Peach’s – everyone’s favorite place for breakfast/lunch and you will pretty much always see a long line outside. They have both indoor and outdoor seating.
- Muddy Moose – a casual, American pub
- Delaney’s Hole in the Wall – my favorite find in North Conway. Great food and atmosphere. Can be a bit of a wait and they take no reservations.
- Moat Mountain Smokehouse & Brewery – great brewery, Smokehouse and Inn all in one.
Where to stay in North Conway, NH
Starlight Lodge North Conway – a beautiful, small hotel ( with just 17 rooms ), in the north side of North Conway Village, close to all the attractions. This area can be pricey, but Starlight Lodge is very reasonably priced. Definitely a great value for money. And it’s dog friendly.
Red Jacket Mountain View Resort – this is a popular resort located just minutes from the North Conway Village. It’s perched up on the hill and many rooms have beautiful mountain views. I definitely recommend asking for one, you won’t regret it. Red Jacket Mountain View Resort offers many amenities, but Kahuna Laguna Indoor Park is the highlight, especially if you are planning a family getaway ( there is an extra fee to use it ).
NOTE: Red Jacket Mountain View Resort is currently closed, after a massive fire in April 2022 destroyed part of it. There are plans to re-open it, although the official date is still unknown.
Red Elephant Bed & Breakfast – if you are looking for a more intimate place to stay in North Conway, you can’t go wrong with this beautiful B&B. It’s located right along the main street, close to all the attractions. And you have Muddy Moose, one of my favorite restaurants, basically across the street. Your room also comes with delicious breakfast.
READ MORE:
- Fall in New England – best experiences of the season
- Free things to do in Boston – visiting Boston on a budget
- 13 Best Day Trips from Boston
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