How to Get to New Hampshire from Boston

Feel free to include a trip to New Hampshire on your list of things to see and do in Boston. From Boston, you can find several routes and ways to travel the more than 85 kilometres to Manchester, the New Hampshire city closest to Boston.

Although the highlights are its mountains and breathtaking views, especially during autumn, New Hampshire has a small coastline that is well worth visiting. This destination is ideal, especially in summer. No matter what time of year you choose to travel, you will always find a means of transport and an ideal destination.

A day trip is the ideal way to explore New Hampshire in just 12 hours round trip. This state is full of picture-perfect houses and wide-open natural landscapes that are well worth seeing.

The trip is by coach from Boston, with all the amenities you could need and several stops along the way so you can discover new attractions at each location.

Massachusetts and New Hampshire are located in a region known as New England, which is full of natural landscapes. The most common excursion is a trip to the White Mountain National Forest during the autumn. This is the preferred time of year as the colours along the way are truly vibrant.

New England Excursions is one of the companies that organises this type of trip and provides water, snacks and a tourist map along the way. At the end of the trip, the bus will drop you off at your hotel in Boston.

The trip also includes several stops along the Kancamagus Highway so you can take great photos.

One of the stops is usually in the town of North Conway, where you can enjoy lunch. Keep in mind that some excursions include lunch and others do not. Check this detail with the company you choose.

The tour continues with several stops for restrooms and photos. The last stop is at the Mount Washington Hotel, an imposing building that is part of the landscape and will look great in your photos.

Throughout the trip, the guides will tell you about the history of the mountains and interesting facts about each site you visit.

Practical information

• Price: approximately £110.
• Duration of the trip: around 12 hours.
• Advantages: you don't have to go to any meeting point as the tour bus will pick you up at your hotel. At the end of the tour, you will be returned to this point.
• Disadvantages: lunch is not included, only snacks and bottles of water. In addition, there are not many conventional toilets along the way. It will sometimes be necessary to use mountain toilets, which may be uncomfortable for some people.

Flying from Boston to New Hampshire is the fastest way to get there if you want to visit the more northern locations. To reach this mountainous area, I recommend taking a flight to Lebanon Municipal Airport. From there, you will need to take a taxi or bus to your preferred destination.

With CapeAir, plane tickets can cost around £60 to £90, and the flight time is approximately 1 hour.

From here to the White Mountain National Forest, it's about a 2-hour drive. To get there from the airport, you can request an Uber, which costs around £100. Therefore, it's not the most economical option.

The other option I can recommend is to take a bus with Advance Transit. However, this route requires a transfer at the Heater DHMC NB station.

The last stop would be at Newbury P&R Lot, a station located in the state of Vermont, and from there you will need to take a taxi, which can cost €10 or more. Bus tickets usually cost less than £10.

If you have enough budget, it would be best to rent a car with a company such as AVIS when you arrive at the airport. This is the most convenient option as it will allow you to explore the mountains at your own pace and avoid wasting time visiting places that do not interest you. The cost of a four-seater car is approximately £150 per day.

Practical information

• Price: approximately £80 for the flight only.
• Journey time: around 1 hour.
• Advantages: you can quickly reach the mountainous areas of New Hampshire.
• Disadvantages: you need a good budget to cover your transport costs within the state or enough time to take the cheapest transport options.

The road trip from Boston to New Hampshire is the most common way to travel. It is the most recommended method, especially if you want to visit Manchester or the state's coast to spend the day at Hampton Beach or other nearby beaches. The trip to these areas can take about an hour and a half.

You can rent a car with companies such as Hertz and Budget, starting at £60 per day. This is perhaps the best option of all, as you can better manage your time and money.

After going to the beach, you can continue with a stroll through the shops and visit the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom. There you can enjoy concerts and performances by famous comedians.

If you are interested in marine life, you can visit the Ocean World Oceanarium to see animals and even interact with them in the touch tank. Another destination that may interest you if you like science is the Boston Museum of Science.

South of Hampton, you will find a state park where you can swim, fish, or camp. It is an ideal place if you are travelling to Boston with children. If you want a change of scenery, you can travel to Mount Monadnock on a trip that takes about an hour.

If you prefer to visit the mountains, the journey from Boston to Mount Washington takes approximately 3½ hours.

To reach the mountain, you will need to take the Cog Railway, better known as the rack railway. This coal-fired steam train operates from May to October. I recommend taking this trip during the autumn, so you can count it as one of the 10 Things to Do in Boston in September.

If you want to visit other tourist areas, you could travel to Loon Mountain Resort (open in winter), White Mountain National Park, and Franconia Notch State Park to see the famous Flume Gorge. The distance from Mount Washington to any of these sites is 1 to 2 hours.

Before travelling to any of the places I have mentioned, check the price of parking and its location. You may need to add extra money to your budget to secure parking while you explore the sites you visit.

Practical information

• Price: approximately £60 per day.
• Journey time: 1 to 4 hours, depending on the final destination.
• Advantages: this option gives you much more freedom to explore without the pressure of having to be at a bus stop at a specific time.
• Disadvantages: you must include the cost of parking in your travel expenses.

Traveller Tip

Bring enough snacks and bottles of water to keep your energy up during the journey and save yourself from having to buy them at roadside establishments, which can be very expensive.

When travelling by bus from Boston to New Hampshire, you should have a clear idea of which areas you want to visit. This will allow you to organise your time to make the most of each place. The closest stop to Boston is Londonderry, in Manchester. The journey takes approximately one hour and costs around £20.

However, it is best to take a bus to Conway. The journey takes around two hours and tickets start at £20. From there, you can take a taxi to the most famous national parks, such as White Mountain National Park, Franconia Notch State Park or Mount Washington.

Some buses can take you to the city of Plymouth, from where you can travel to Castle in the Clouds in less than an hour. This is a historic property in the village of Moultonborough. From there, you can go horse riding, hiking and enjoy the views.

You can always check with bus companies such as Concord Coach Lines to find out which stop is closest to your preferred destination.

You can also take buses from one point to another within New Hampshire. However, options are limited. Therefore, my advice is to be clear about where you want to go and plan a budget that allows you to take taxis at certain points.

Practical information

• Price: approximately £25.
• Journey time: around 2 hours.
• Advantages: it is a more economical option that allows you to enjoy the scenery along the way.
• Disadvantages: the final stops are not very close to the most popular tourist destinations.

Unlike the other options on this list, to travel by train from Boston to New Hampshire, you will have to travel for at least two days. This is because the train line runs from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.

My recommendation is to find accommodation in a hotel, house or apartment. This will be the best decision so you can enjoy a peaceful day. New Hampshire offers natural landscapes that deserve to be appreciated at leisure, not with the stress of a tight schedule.

Amtrak is the US government-run train company that provides these services. The approximate price of this train journey ranges from £60 to £200. This will depend on the time of year you decide to travel.

Upon arrival in Manchester, you will need to hire a car or take a taxi to the tourist areas you wish to visit, as the state of New Hampshire does not have trains connecting all its cities.

Practical information

• Price: from £60 to £200.
• Journey time: approximately 4 hours.
• Advantages: you will have the opportunity to travel in a different way.
• Disadvantages: travelling by train takes too long compared to other methods. In addition, the ticket price is very expensive.

Taking a taxi is the last option you should consider for travelling from Boston to New Hampshire. The journey takes between 1 hour and 1 hour and a half, depending on the route and traffic on the day. In addition, the cost of this service is approximately £70.

This journey will only take you to Manchester, so once you arrive you will have to find a way to visit the places you want to see. If, for example, you want to travel directly from Boston to White Mountain National Park, the trip would cost around £200.

This price is for a one-way trip, so the return trip to Boston could be even more expensive depending on the time of day and traffic. I definitely recommend choosing one of the previous options, as this one is impractical and very expensive.

New Hampshire offers a wide variety of options to enjoy all its tourist attractions. That's why you should know exactly where you want to go so you can make the most of your stay in this state. Some plans will require more luggage and two or more days of accommodation.

If you have more than a backpack and are travelling by plane, I recommend checking your airline's restrictions. Avoid paying extra for excess baggage or purchase a plane ticket that allows you to bring the amount of luggage you need.

In addition, the time of year you decide to travel will make a big difference in what you need to bring. In winter, it is essential to bring coats and warm underwear. It is also important to have comfortable shoes for long walks, especially if you are going on an organised tour.

Do you like snow? Some destinations, such as Gunstock Mountain Resort, offer ample space for snowboarding. If that's your plan, don't forget to bring everything you need for this experience.

In addition, in the town of Wolfeboro, you can participate in the winter festival, which includes fireworks and sleigh rides. You'll definitely want to include this among the things to see and do in Boston in December.

This town also has attractions that are ideal for summer. If you're travelling at that time of year, bring your sunscreen and swimsuit to visit Weirs Beach or Hampton Beach on the New Hampshire coast.

No matter how you choose to travel, be sure to stay hydrated, bring your breakfast or lunch, and plenty of snacks for the road. If you're travelling on your own, keep your smartphone charged and connected to the internet so you can use Google Maps and always know where you are.