Overview
Hanover is a college town in west central New Hampshire across the Connecticut River from Norwich, Vermont. It is home to Dartmouth College, founded in 1769, whose historic campus dominates the center of the town. Hanover is also a stop on the Appalachian Trail, with through-hikers are a common sight during the summer and fall.
5 sights · 4 things to do · 12 places to eat · 4 bars & cafés · 4 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Hanover
Hood Museum of Art
Wheelchair accessible.
Hopkins Center for the Arts
Visual arts, theatre, dance, film, concerts.
Montshire Museum of Science
Just across the river.
Baker-Berry Library
Dartmouth Athletics
Ivy league action.
Dartmouth Outdoor Programs
Provides cabin rentals and outdoor gear rentals.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 83°F; winter lows dip to about 13°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jul and Oct.
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- LEB Lebanon Municipal Airport, Lebanon — 5 mi away. Directions
- RUT Rutland - Southern Vermont Regional Airport, Rutland — 35 mi away. Directions
- PWM Portland International Jetport, Portland — 99 mi away (major hub). Directions
Interstate 93 north to Interstate 89 north at Concord, NH. Exit I-89 at Exit 18 in Lebanon, NH, bear right onto Route 120 north and follow to Hanover.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Hood Museum of Art, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Baker-Berry Library
- Lunch The Works Cafe
- Afternoon Dartmouth Athletics, Dartmouth Cross Country Ski Center
- Dinner Dirt Cowboy Café
- Evening Jesse's Restaurant & Tavern
Day 2
- Morning Montshire Museum of Science, Dartmouth Outdoor Programs
- Lunch Molly's Restaurant & Bar
- Afternoon Pine Park
- Dinner Murphy's On the Green
- Evening Sawtooth Kitchen, Bar and Stage
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Climate
Get in
By car
- From Boston (about 2.5 hours)
Interstate 93 north to Interstate 89 north at Concord, NH. Exit I-89 at Exit 18 in Lebanon, NH, bear right onto Route 120 north and follow to Hanover.
- From Burlington, Vermont (about 1.5 hours)
Take I-89 south to I-91 north in White River Junction, VT. Continue as below.
- From New York (about 5 hours), southern New England and points south
Take Interstate 91 north to exit 13 at Norwich, Vermont. Bear right off the exit, across the Ledyard Bridge spanning the Connecticut River. Continue up the hill on West Wheelock St. in Hanover.
By plane
Cape Air flies to Lebanon Regional Airport (LEB) from Boston.
Other alternatives are Manchester (MHT) and Burlington (BTV), both about 1.5 hours away by car; or Logan International in Boston or Bradley International in Windsor Locks, both about 2.5 hours away.
By train
Amtrak "Vermonter" service from Washington and New York arrives daily in nearby White River Junction, Vermont.
By bus
- Vermont Transit, In-state: +1-800-642-3133, Out-of-state: +1-800-451-3292.
Place Dartmouth Coach
Daily service between the Dartmouth campus and Boston South Station and Logan Airport. There is also service to New York City, which is faster and more convenient than the train, but much more expensive.
- Greyhound serves White River Junction, Vermont
Get around
The downtown/campus area is easily covered on foot.
- Advance Transit, +1 802 295-1824. Bus line has a campus route and also serves most neighboring towns to which one is likely to go. All routes are free. Runs Monday through Saturday.
See
Do
The Appalachian Trail runs right through town, from the bridge to Norwich in the west to Velvet Rocks in the east.
Do Dartmouth Cross Country Ski Center
DOC House at Occom Pond on Clement Rd. Maintains over twenty-five kilometers of groomed cross country ski trails on Oak Hill, the Golf Course and Garipay Field. Provides equipment rentals for skiing, skating, and other winter activities, as well as group and private instruction.
Buy
Shop Dan & Whit's General Store
Open every day. Nexus from which all distances are measured. A true general store with a treasure trove of gadgets and tools spanning the early farming days of the area to the present. If you need something that is rare or out of season, they will have it in the back. Slip behind the deli counter to find gardening and sugaring supplies, sleds, hardware and paint. "If we don't have it, you don't need it."
Eat
Eat The Works Cafe
Soups, sandwiches, and quinoa bowls.
Eat Dirt Cowboy Café
The local college town indie coffee shop, and a quite fantastic one at that.
Eat Jesse's Restaurant & Tavern
Steaks and other American fare in a rustic, log-cabin setting.
Eat Molly's Restaurant & Bar
Known for $3 margaritas and fish tacos.
Eat Boloco
Burritos and burrito bowls.
Eat Lou's Restaurant and Bakery
Longstanding dinner known for classic American breakfasts, pies, and pastries.
Drink
Drink Sawtooth Kitchen, Bar and Stage
Regularly features live music, comedy acts, and other entertainment.
Sleep
Accommodations are extremely difficult to find in the area on special Dartmouth weekends such as Graduation, home football games and Winter Carnival.
Stay Six South St Hotel
Stay Norwich Bed and Breakfast
Elegant country living on a 20-acre working farm overlooking the Connecticut River and the White Mountains. Four elegant rooms, each with private bath. Scrumptious farm-style breakfast with local produce including organic eggs from free-range chickens.
Go next
Hanover is in the middle of many charming small towns. For a scenic drive take Route 10 north along the Connecticut River and then Routes 116 and 112 to the Lincoln in the White Mountain National Forest.
Nearby
Norwich
City / town · 16 listings · 2 mi away
White River Junction
City / town · 15 listings · 4 mi away
Lebanon
City / town · 3 listings · 5 mi away
Quechee
City / town · 4 listings · 8 mi away
Woodstock
City / town · 16 listings · 13 mi away
Fairlee
City / town · 13 listings · 16 mi away
Windsor
City / town · 16 listings · 16 mi away
Orange
City / town · 1 listings · 16 mi away
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