Are These the 5 Best Scenic Drives in All of New Hampshire?

Going for a drive in New England can be an incredible experience, whether you're admiring the changing color of leaves in the fall, crunching over snow-covered roads in the winter, seeing the fresh bloom of spring, or catching the summer rays as they reflect off sparkling blue waters.

If you're taking a scenic drive through Maine, you might spot iconic lighthouses like Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth or the granite cliffs, pine forests, and rocky shoreline along Park Loop Road in Acadia. Or, if you're cruising through Massachusetts, the panoramic views in the Berkshires Mountains or the coastal scenery along Route 6 on Cape Cod might top your list.

But what about New Hampshire? What are the top-tier routes that showcase unforgettable Granite State views?

Best Scenic Drives in New Hampshire

Do you have a favorite drive you take when traveling through New Hampshire?

Maybe it's the White Mountain Trail Scenic Byway. That's a big ol' 100-mile loop that, according to the National Scenic Byway Foundation, "winds through sections of the 800,000-acre White Mountain National Forest and past many of the region's most popular attractions."

Or maybe it's taking Franconia Park Notchway and heading through Franconia Notch State Park or passing by amazing landmarks like the former site of the legendary Old Man of the Mountain.

Well, the website Stacker ranked the top five best drives in the Granite State using data from Tripadvisor (as of March 2024).

Let's take a look at what they deemed the best of the best.

Do you agree with the list? Think they got it right?

Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire

At the very least, I think they nailed the number one spot with the Kancamagus Highway. It's got incredible views, winding turns, scenic overlooks and is a pure cut through nature.

It's all New Hampshire beauty out the window when you hit the road there.

What's your favorite drive in New Hampshire or maybe New England?