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 85+ miles to Manchester, the closest New Hampshire city to Boston.

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

A tour is the ideal way to explore New Hampshire in just 12 hours round trip. This state is full of movie-like homes and expansive natural scenery worth seeing.

The trip is made by bus from Boston, with every possible comfort and making several stops for you to discover new attractions at each site.

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

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

Also, the trip has different stops along the Kancamagus Highway for you to take great pictures.

One of the stops is usually in the town of North Conway, where you can enjoy lunch. Please note that some tours include lunch and others do not. Check with the company of your choice for details.

The tour continues with several restroom and photo stops. The last stop is at the Mount Washington Hotel, an imposing building that is part of the landscape and that you will love to have in your pictures.

All along the way the guides will tell you about the history of the mountains and curious facts about each site they visit. If this detail of the excursions is your favorite, you will surely enjoy the history tours in Boston, a fun and dynamic way to get to know new regions.

Practical Information

• Price: approximately 130 €.

• Travel time: about 12 hours.

• Advantages: you don't have to go to any meeting point since 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. Also, there are not too many conventional restrooms along the way. Sometimes it will be necessary to visit mountain restrooms, which can be uncomfortable for some people.

Taking a plane from Boston to New Hampshire is the fastest way to get there if you want to visit the northernmost sites. To get to this mountainous area I recommend taking a flight to Lebanon Municipal Airport. From there you will need to take a cab or bus to the destination of your choice.

With CapeAir, airline tickets can cost from 60 to 90 euros or so and the flight time is approximately 1 hour.

From here to the White Mountain National Forest is about 2 hours by road. To get from the airport you can ask for an Uber, whose cost is around 100 €. So it is not the cheapest.

The other option I can recommend is to take an Advance Transit bus. However, this route will require 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 here you will need to take a cab which can cost 10€ or more. The cost of bus tickets is usually less than 10 €.

If you have enough budget, it would be best to rent a car with a company like AVIS when you arrive at the airport. This is the most comfortable option as it will allow you to tour the mountains with more tranquility and avoid wasting time touring other sites that do not interest you. The cost of a four-seater car is approximately 150 € per day of use.

Practical information

• Price: approximately 100 € for the flight only.

• Travel time: about 1 hour.

• Advantages: You can quickly reach the mountainous areas of New Hampshire.

• Disadvantages: you need a good budget to afford your transportation in the state or enough time to take the most economical transportation options.

Road travel 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 coast of the state to spend the day at Hampton Beach or other nearby beaches. To these areas the trip can take an hour and a half or so.

You can rent a car with companies like Hertz and Budget, starting from 70 € each day. This is perhaps the best option of all as you will be able to manage your time and money better.

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

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

South of Hampton you will find the state park where you can go swimming, fishing or camping. It is an ideal place if you have traveled with children to Boston. If you want a change of scenery you can travel to Mount Monadnock in a trip that takes about an hour.

In case you prefer to visit the mountains, the drive from Boston to Mount Washington is about 3.5 hours.

To access the mountain you will need to travel by train on the Cog Railway, better known as the cog railway. This coal-fired steam train operates from May through October. I recommend that you make this trip during the fall, so you can count it as one of the most beautiful trips in the world. 10 Things to Do in Boston in September.

If you want to go to 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 traveling to any of the sites I've mentioned, check the price of parking and location. You may need to add some extra money to your budget to shelter your car while you explore the sites you visit.

Practical Information

• Price: approximately 70 € per day.

• Travel time: 1 to 4 hours, depending on the final destination.

• Advantages: this option gives you much more freedom to explore without the pressure of being at a bus stop at a specific time.

• Disadvantages: you must include the cost of parking in your travel expenses.

Traveller Tip

Bring plenty of snacks and water bottles to replenish your energy during the trip and save having to shop at roadside stores that can be very expensive.

When traveling by bus from Boston to New Hampshire you should be clear about which areas you want to visit. This will allow you to organize your time to make the most of each site. The closest stop to Boston is Londonderry in Manchester. The trip here takes about an hour and costs around £20.

However, it is best to take a bus to Conway. The trip takes about 2 hours and the ticket can be obtained from 30 €. From there you can take a cab 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 town of Moultonborough. From there you can go horseback riding, hiking and take in the views.

You can always check with bus companies like 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, the options are limited. Therefore, my advice is to be clear about where to go and plan a budget that allows you to take cabs at certain points.

Practical Information

• Price: approximately $30.

• Travel time: about 2 hours.

• Advantages: it is a cheaper option that allows you to enjoy the scenery along the way.

• Disadvantages: the final stops will not take you very close to the most attractive tourist destinations.

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

My recommendation is that you look for accommodation in a hotel or in a house or apartment. This will be the best decision for you to enjoy a relaxing day. New Hampshire offers natural scenery that deserves to be appreciated at leisure, not with angst due to the schedule.

Amtrak is the U.S. government run train company that provides these trips. The approximate price of this train trip ranges from $60 to $200. This will depend on the time of year you decide to travel.

When you arrive in the city of Manchester you will need to rent a car or take a cab to the tourist areas you wish to visit, as the state of New Hampshire does not have trains connecting all of its cities.

Practical Information

• Price: from 60 to 200 €.

• Travel time: approximately 4 hours.

• Advantages: you will have the opportunity to travel the road in a different way.

• Disadvantages: traveling by train takes too much time compared to other methods. In addition, the ticket price is very expensive.

Taking a cab is the last way you might consider traveling from Boston to New Hampshire. The journey takes about 1 hour or 1.5 hours depending on the route and the traffic of the day. In addition, the cost of this service is approximately $80.

This trip would only take you as far as Manchester, so once you arrive you will have to find a way to visit the sites you wish to see. If for example you want to travel directly from Boston to White Mountain National Park, the trip would cost about 220 €.

This price would only be one way, so the return to Boston could be even more expensive due to the time and traffic. I would definitely recommend you to choose one of the above options, as this one is impractical and very expensive.

New Hampshire offers a wide variety of options to enjoy all of its resorts. This is 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 lodging.

If your luggage is more than a backpack and you are traveling by plane, I recommend that you check your airline's restrictions. Avoid paying extra for carrying extra weight or purchase a ticket that allows you to carry as much luggage as you need.

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

Do you love the snow? Some destinations, such as Gunstock Mountain Resort, offer ample space where you can snowboard. If that's your plan, don't forget to bring everything you need for the experience.

Also, in the town of Wolfeboro you can take part in the winter festival that includes fireworks and sleigh rides. You will 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 the summer. If you're traveling during that time then bring your sunscreen and bathing suit to visit Weirs Beach or Hampton Beach on the New Hampshire coast.

No matter what mode of transportation you choose to travel, be sure to stay hydrated, bring your breakfast or lunch and plenty of snacks for the road. If you are traveling on your own keep your smart phone with enough battery and internet connection so you can use Google Maps and always be located.