There are tons of ways to enjoy the outdoors in New Hampshire. You can head to the beach in the summer or switch things up by enjoy a day at the lake. You can hit the trails, or simply go for a walk in your own backyard. There’s something special about the fresh air here in the Granite State. But, if you’re not the type that likes to lace up their boots for a hike you can still enjoy the great outdoors. In fact, this drive to the highest peak in the state might be the best way to see it!
If you’ve spent any time in New England there’s a good chance you’ve seen this sticker on the road. It’s a badge of honor and you can get it, too!
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In addition to being a beautiful drive, the Mt. Washington Auto Road actually has some interesting history. Things kicked off when the White Mountains opened for tourism in the mid-nineteenth century.
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To help increase tourism, a hotel was planned for the summit of Mount Washington. This lead to the construction of the first road here.
Mt. Washington Auto Road / Facebook
Road construction began before modern machinery, so creating this route wasn’t easy! The supplies were all brought in by animals or humans. That along with blasting took the crews about 9 years to finish the road. It officially opened in 1961.
Mt. Washington Auto Road / Facebook
Today nearly 50,000 motorized vehicles make their way up the road to take in the sights.
Mt. Washington Auto Road / Facebook
The route is 7.6 miles and it takes about 30 minutes to get to the summit. But expect to take longer if you stop at each of the lookouts.
Mt. Washington Auto Road / Facebook
Just about any car can make the trip. Just be sure that the brakes are in good condition for the ride down!
Mt. Washington Auto Road / Facebook
This is a great route for motorcycles as well. If you drive one, make sure to keep an eye out for the special weekends each summer that are dedicated to celebrating motorcycles.
Mt. Washington Auto Road / Facebook
One you get to the top you’ll be pretty impressed at how far you’ve come!
Mt. Washington Auto Road / Facebook
In addition to the drive-yourself option there are also guided tours that will take you to the top. This is great if you’d like to sit back, relax, and enjoy the view.
Mt. Washington Auto Road / Facebook
And if you’re an early riser be sure to keep track of the special sunrise drives that take place throughout the summer. Just be ready to be there early - the road opens at 3:30 a.m.
Mt. Washington Auto Road / Facebook No matter what time you take your drive, you’ll love the guided tour on CD provided at the bottom to help you understand everything about the mountain and the road.
This is so much more than just a drive. It’s an important part of New Hampshire’s history.
The Mt. Washington Auto Road is accessible to drivers from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. until August 25th. From August 26 through October 6th, it closes an hour earlier at 5 p.m. The last day to make the drive is October 20th when the closing time is 4 p.m. The cost for one car and a driver is $31. Each adult passenger is another $9 and children are $7. A motorcycle and operator are $17. You can learn more about the history of the road and how you can drive it by clicking here. Address: 1 Mount Washington Auto Road, Gorham, NH 03581.
mtwashingtonautoroad.com
Mt. Washington Auto Road / Facebook
No matter what time you take your drive, you’ll love the guided tour on CD provided at the bottom to help you understand everything about the mountain and the road.
This is so much more than just a drive. It’s an important part of New Hampshire’s history.
After the road closes to regular traffic for the season there’s still a way to access the views. Consider taking the winter method with this cool snow vehicle!
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