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+ kilometres to Manchester, the closest New Hampshire city to Boston.

Although the highlight is the mountains and stunning views, especially in autumn, New Hampshire has a small coastline that is well worth a visit. This is an ideal destination especially in the summer. No matter what time of year you choose to travel, you will always find an ideal mode of transport 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 so you can 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 autumn. This is a favourite time of year as the colours along the way are truly vibrant.

New England Excursions is one of the companies that organise 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.

There are also several stops along the Kancamagus Highway for great photo opportunities.

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

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

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 favourite, 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 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. Also, there are not many conventional toilets along the way. Sometimes it will be necessary to visit mountain toilets, which can be uncomfortable for some people.

Taking a plane from Boston to New Hampshire is the quickest way to get there if you want to visit the more northerly sites. To get to this mountainous area I recommend taking a flight to Lebanon Municipal Airport. From there you'll need to take a taxi or bus to your destination of choice.

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

From here to White Mountain National Forest is about 2 hours by road. To get there from the airport you can take an Uber, which costs around €100. So it's 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 taxi which can cost €10 or more. Bus fares are usually less than €10.

If you're on a budget, it's best to hire a car from a company such as AVIS when you arrive at the airport. This is the most convenient option as it will allow you to tour the mountains at your leisure and avoid wasting time touring other places that don't interest you. The cost of a four-seater car is approximately 150 € per day of use.

Practical information

• Price: approximately €100 for the flight alone.

• Travel time: about 1 hour.

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

• Disadvantages: You need a good budget to pay for your transport in the state or enough time to take the cheapest transport 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. The journey time to these areas can be around 1.5 hours.

You can hire a car from companies such as Hertz and Budget, starting from €70 per 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 shops 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 might interest you if you're into science is the Boston Museum of Science.

South of Hampton you'll find the state park where you can go swimming, fishing or camping. It's a great place to visit if you 've travelled to Boston with children. If you want a change of scenery you can travel to Mount Monadnock which takes about an hour.

If 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 making this trip during the autumn, so you can count it as one of the most popular 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 1-2 hours.

Before travelling 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 store your car while you explore the sites you visit.

Practical information

• Price: approximately €70 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 being at a bus stop at a specific time.

• Disadvantages: You'll need to add parking costs to your travel expenses.

Traveller Tip

Take plenty of snacks and water bottles to replenish your energy during the journey and save yourself from having to shop at roadside shops, which can be very expensive.

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

However, it is best to take a bus to Conway. The journey takes around 2 hours and a ticket can be had for around €30. From there you can take a taxi to 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 take in 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, the options are limited. So 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 30€.

• Journey time: around 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 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 6am to 1pm.

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

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

When you arrive 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 of its cities.

Practical Information

• Price: from €60 to €200.

• Travel time: Approximately 4 hours.

• Pros: You'll get the chance to travel the trail in a different way.

• Disadvantages: Travelling by train takes too long compared to other methods. Also, the ticket price is very expensive.

Taking a taxi is the last way you might consider travelling from Boston to New Hampshire. The journey takes about 1 hour or an hour and a half depending on the route and the day's traffic. The cost of this service is approximately €80.

This journey would only take you as far as Manchester, so once you arrive you will need 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 around €220 or so.

This price would only be one way, so the return to Boston could be even more expensive due to time and traffic. I would definitely recommend choosing 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. That's why you should know exactly where you want to go so you can make the most of your stay in the state. Some plans will require more luggage and two or more days of accommodation.

If your luggage is more than a backpack and you are travelling by plane, I recommend that you check your airline's restrictions. Avoid paying extra for carrying extra weight or buy 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 to the things you need to bring. In winter it is essential that you pack warm coats and underwear. It is also important to have comfortable shoes for long walks, especially if you are going on an organised tour.

Do you love the snow? Some destinations, such as Gunstock Mountain Resort, offer plenty of room for snowboarding. 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 a winter festival that 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 some great summer attractions. If you're travelling in the summer then bring your sunscreen and swimming costume to visit Weirs Beach or Hampton Beach on the New Hampshire coast.

Whatever mode of transport you choose to travel by, make sure you stay hydrated, bring your breakfast or lunch and plenty of snacks for the road. If you are travelling on your own, keep your smart phone with enough battery and internet connection so you can use Google Maps and always be located.