After falling in love with a winter wonderland in the White Mountains, it was time to experience the best fall activities in New Hampshire for a change.

So with a wide-eyed ten-month-old in tow, we loaded up our trusty Kia Rondo with flannel and fidget toys and journeyed into the living Bob-Ross painting that’s New Hampshire in autumn.

After this first road trip with a baby, I’m sharing it all here, from “basic” PSL-adjacent fall staples to alternative autumn attractions you might not have considered. So button up that shacket as we uncover these family-friendly fall activities in New Hampshire!

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New Hampshire offers many beautiful areas to bask in the beauty of autumn and watch the leaves turn. From the mighty Great North Woods, to the famous White Mountain region, to the idyllic Lakes Region just south of it, you’ll be spoiled for choice in the fall.

October is one of the absolute best (and busiest!) months to visit New Hampshire. Specifically, early-to-mid-October is considered peak fall season, when you’ll find stunning stretches of trees bursting with vibrant color.

Plus, beyond the many leaf-peeping opportunities New Hampshire has to offer, the state also boasts scenic foliage train rides, plentiful family-friendly autumn activities, and delicious seasonal delicacies.

“Nice” would be an understatement! In fact, millions of visitors flock to New Hampshire each fall to witness the beauty of the changing leaves in person. Will you be next?

It’s no secret that autumn in New Hampshire is a sight to behold, and one of the best ways to appreciate the hypnotizing colors of the season is by driving the Kancamagus Highway.

Here, you can live out your fall fantasies as you whip past nature’s incomparable canvas of color.

This famous stretch of road is a National Scenic Byway affectionately known as “The Kanc” by locals. You may also hear it referred to as the White Mountains Scenic Byway, as the road weaves through beautiful White Mountain National Forest.

This 34.5-mile byway spans from Lincoln to Conway (if you’re heading east to west) or conversely from Conway to Lincoln (west to east). If you have enough time in your itinerary, I suggest driving from one side to the other and then driving back the opposite way for a new (but equally beautiful) perspective.

Ideally, if you’re planning to take pictures, I’d allot a minimum of two to three hours for this – it is one of the best fall activities in New Hampshire, after all!

While the highway itself is stunning in fall, The Kanc is unique in that it offers numerous vistas and stop-off points for visitors to admire the scenery or even enjoy a fall hike. Some popular stopping points include Sugar Hill, The Hancock, Sabbaday Falls, Lower Falls, and Rocky Gorge.

Here are some helpful tips for avoiding the typical fall crowds along the Kanc:

• Start driving in the morning – If you’re able to plan the drive for earlier in the day, I’d highly suggest it. Not only is there less likely to be traffic the earlier you start, but you may also capture some lovely early morning light and enjoy less tourists on the popular trails and overlooks.
• Travel on a weekday if possible – We drove the Kanc on a Tuesday morning and experienced very little traffic aside from a brief stop for routine construction.
• Avoid Columbus Day weekend if possible – October weekends (particularly Columbus Day weekend) tend to be the busiest time to drive The Kanc. That said, I somewhat ignored my own advice on this one, driving the Tuesday post-Columbus-Day. But I’m happy to share that the majority of crowds made their way home already!

The appropriate Kancamagus Highway address will depend on whether you’re hopping on in Lincoln or Conway. You can get directions for both here.

If you’d prefer to enjoy the beautiful fall colors as a passenger instead of a driver, you’ll definitely want to consider a fall foliage train experience.

There are a number of scenic train rides in New Hampshire, and there’s no better time to experience them than in the fall when colors are at their prime.

That said, you’ll want to dedicate some time to checking out the different options because there are several railway providers and types of rides. From short-and-sweet scenic stints to full-day train tours with delicious dining on board, there’s quite a variety!

Here are the five main railway providers to consider:

1. Mount Washington Cog Railway (Mount Washington)
2. Conway Scenic Railroad (North Conway)
3. Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad (Meredith, Weirs Beach & Laconia)
4. Granite State Scenic Railway/Hobo Railroad (Lincoln)
5. Café Lafayette Dinner Train (North Woodstock)

We decided to use the Conway Scenic Railroad, as it was the closest option to our bed and breakfast in North Conway. (By the way, I recommend staying at the Merrill Farm Inn like we did if you’re planning to explore Conway and the surrounding areas!)

In any case, Conway Scenic Railroad offers several train excursions of varying durations. We selected the Conway Valley Train, which features vintage railway cars and runs for 55 minutes.

Since we were on board with our 10-month-old, we chose the shortest journey to cut down on fussiness. It ended up being just the right amount of time.

Even though we had a gloomy, rainy day for our train ride, it was nice to have an “inside” activity to enjoy outside of our hotel room.

Be sure to check out my companion post on the most scenic New Hampshire train rides before your visit!

Leaf-peeping is the primary reason why millions flock to the Granite State every autumn, so of course it’s one of those can’t-miss fall activities in New Hampshire!

While many enjoy watching the leaves change from the comfort of their own car or from a train window, others prefer a more active approach.

If that’s you, you’ll be happy to know that New Hampshire is chock-full of leaf-peeping opportunities for hikers and park enthusiasts, too!

Here are some alternative options (besides The Kanc and the train) for beautiful foliage:

• Franconia Notch State Park
• Crawford Notch State Park
• Jackson Scenic Loop
• Lakes Region (Lake Winnipesaukee & Lake Squam)
• Waterville Valley
• Moose Alley

In addition, you can check out these and other awesome fall foliage hiking routes here.

If you’re planning to base yourself in or around Conway while in New Hampshire (which I highly recommend), you can’t miss a visit to Sherman Farm, especially with little ones in tow.

This family-owned farm has proudly served the local community for 60 years and their annual fall festivities are definitely a highlight.

I’ll go into more detail on the various activities the farm offers in the sections below, but if you enjoy petting adorable farm animals, eating tasty fall treats, and pumpkin picking, you’re bound to enjoy it.

Sherman Farm is also home to a market where you can purchase delicious goodies from fresh vegetables and farm-raised meats, to sensational seasonings, to seasonal baked goods.

Sherman Farm is located at 2679 East Conway Road in Center Conway, NH.

There’s also a separate parking lot behind the market for visitors to the farm and corn maze.

If you love movies like Labyrinth or In the Tall Grass, then you’ll love the challenge of navigating through an authentic corn maze.

I’m happy to report that there’s no shortage of corn mazes in New Hampshire – in fact, it may be hard to select just one!

Here are some of the top New Hampshire corn mazes to consider:

• Sherman Farm (East Conway)
• Beans & Greens Farm (Gilford)
• Beech Hill Farm (Hopkinton)
• Coppal House Farm (Lee)
• Collins Farm (Bath)
• Moulton Farm (Meredith)
• Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard (Greenville)

Hubby and I took our 10-month-old daughter to the corn maze at Sherman Farm – located in a true cornfield – and had a blast. (And I say this as someone who has almost zero sense of direction and definitely got us lost. Thankfully, my husband has built-in GPS and swiftly guided us back out like it was nothing!)

Sherman Farm offers several corn mazes of varying difficulties, including an adult-level maze with two phases (easier and more advanced) as well as a simpler mini maze for children.

Personally, as a severely directionally-challenged individual, I really appreciate how Sherman Farm also offers an app where you can scan helpful directions on your phone while in the maze in the event that you get lost.

We stuck with the Phase 1 adult maze, as I didn’t want to push our luck by keeping our baby “trapped” for too long (especially given all of the other more baby-friendly activities there).

Now that’s she’s on the brink of walking, it was fun to have her take a few (supported) steps in the maze. That said, at this age, she was mostly interested in the sheer height of the corn stalks – and in touching them, of course!

The Maize at Sherman Farm will run all weekends from September 20 through October 26, 2025 from 11AM until 5PM. Please note that this festive fall event runs on weekends only.

When you purchase tickets, you’ll receive access to all other kid-friendly attractions at the farm, including the mini maze, petting area, playground area, pumpkin bouncy pad, corn boxes, pumpkin patch, and the Moo Express (mini cow train).

In my opinion, it’s definitely worth the price of admission, especially if you’re going to make a day of it. Plus, children two and under enter for free, so you’ll have a bit of savings there.

The other thing I love about the set-up at Sherman Farm is that you can leave the farm (and even the grounds!) and return later that same day. This is especially handy if you have a baby whom you need to feed, put down for a nap, etc..

You’ll be given a wristband when you first enter through the mini red barn, so be sure to keep that on, as you’ll need to show it to be granted re-entry later.

What better way to usher in fall than by pumpkin picking?

While there are plenty of pumpkin patches in New Hampshire, we decided to do our pumpkin picking at Sherman Farm – the one-stop-farm for all things fall!

Here, you’ll enjoy a scenic tractor ride to the pumpkin patch where you can select everything from baby pumpkins to giant pumpkin varieties.

Once you’ve selected your pumpkin(s), simply hop back on the tractor and wait for your lift back to the start and the pumpkin weighing station. Pumpkin pricing is determined by weight, so the larger the pumpkin, the higher the fee.

In addition to selecting a carve-worthy pumpkin, another of the favorite fall activities in New Hampshire is apple picking!

To my surprise, there’s a good run to apple season in New Hampshire, which tends to start as early as mid-August and typically runs until mid-October.

Be sure to check out the best apple orchards in southern and northern New Hampshire to get some inspiration for your fall getaway.

In addition to picturesque scenery, fall also brings with it many wonderful flavors and aromas. New Hampshire is a perfect place to tantalize the tastebuds with festive fall treats.

My personal favorite fall treat is a cider doughnut – especially with a hot cup of cider to go with it!

This season, I picked up my delicious duo at White Mountain Cider Company.

Ideally located in the White Mountain region in the cute town of Bartlett, this beloved gourmet market offers everything from breakfast sandwiches to treats like cider donuts, apple fritters, and whoopie pies to appease that seasonal sweet tooth.

It also encompasses a rustic restaurant (with a cozy fireplace!) that serves seasonal dishes consisting of fresh local ingredients.

Just keep in mind that both the market and restaurant are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so plan your visit accordingly.

White Mountain Cider Company is located at 207 US-302 in Glen, NH.

While we’re on the topic of tantalizing the tastebuds, why not ring in the fall season with a refreshing glass of wine?

Sure, this may not seem super family-friendly compared to some of these other fall activities in New Hampshire, but who says you can’t wear your baby in a carrier or sit them in a stroller as you sample wines? Certainly not me!

New Hampshire actually offers over 30 wineries throughout the state, so you’ll be spoiled for choice. A popular choice – at a beautiful new location in the heart of the White Mountains – is Seven Birches Winery in Lincoln.

From its humble beginnings on an intimate family farm, Seven Birches Winery has evolved into one of the state’s most beloved wineries. It’s newly-located inside gorgeous RiverWalk Resort at Loon Mountain.

Merging European grapes and locally-sourced fruits, this popular winery offers tours and tastings where guests can converse with winemakers and enjoy a flight. If you have the opportunity to go, be sure to let me know how it is!

My only regret of our fall road trip to New Hampshire was missing out on the Artist’s Bluff hike.

I tentatively put it on our itinerary fully knowing that it might not be the best idea with a 10-month-old.

Funnily enough, our sweet girl did exceptionally well in the car (and at the various sites in general), but the weather was not in our favor on our preferred hiking day. Given the rainy forecast, I didn’t want to risk sliding on slippery rocks during the hike, so we decided to forego it until another time.

That said, if you know anything about Artist’s Bluff, you probably know that it offers one of the most stunning vistas for foliage – and that hiking up is easily one of the most popular fall activities in New Hampshire. It’s part of Franconia Notch State Park and overlooks Echo Lake, which is simply stunning during peak foliage time.

The hike is just a 1.5-mile loop and I’ve heard it described as easy to moderate. You can check out the trail details here.

Artist’s Bluff is located at 1-93 Exit 34-C off of Route 18 in Franconia Notch, NH.

There’s a large parking area with signs for the Bald Mountain Trail and Artist Bluff Trail at the bottom.

Beyond Artist’s Bluff, Franconia Notch State Park has plenty of alternative trails and viewpoints to enjoy.

While we didn’t have time for a hike on this particular trip, we enjoyed the park several years back during the winter.

Nestled within the White Mountain National Forest, Franconia Notch State Park is quite a popular park during the fall when the air is crisp and the leaves are putting on a show.

The park itself actually consists of a mountain pass traversed by a parkway.

It stretches from Flume Gorge (to the south) to Echo Lake (to the north, where Artist’s Bluff is). The Flume Gorge is open to hikers from May until November, so you’ll have the chance to check it out if you visit New Hampshire during the fall.

Franconia Notch State Park is located at Flume Gorge, Daniel Webster Highway in Lincoln, NH.

To view stunning fall foliage at new heights, you may enjoy a fun gondola ride up Loon Mountain. One of the most scenic fall activities in New Hampshire, this gondola skyride takes you up an impressive 1,738 vertical feet to Loon Peak for an unrivaled perspective.

A ticket for the Gondola Skyride is for a round-trip excursion.

However, keep in mind that this experience runs until mid-October and is now closed for the fall season. It will re-open in mid-November for the winter season.

Loon Mountain is located at 60 Loon Mountain Road in Lincoln, NH.

I hope this round-up of fall activities in New Hampshire has helped inspire your autumn escape to the gorgeous Granite State.

Which of these attractions will you be adding to your itinerary? Let me know in the comments below!