Overview
North Conway is a city in the White Mountains region of New Hampshire.
5 sights · 38 things to do · 11 places to eat · 9 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about North Conway
Conway Scenic Railroad
Enjoy the natural scenery of NH while enjoying a meal. Absorb the local history and check out North Conway station, in operation for more than 130 years.
Mt. Washington Children's Museum
Offering activities for children and the whole family. Playgroups and birthday parties are among the museum's scheduled activities.
Mt. Washington Observatory
The Observatory offers overnight educational trips, a pleasant view of the surrounding mountains, and guided snow tractor day trips in the Valley and up to the summit of Mt. Washington.
Foliage and Covered Bridges
Old style wooden bridges and New Hampshire's scenic Kancamagus Highway of the White Mountains.
Cathedral Ledge
Panoramic views of the Mount Washington Valley are accessed by car atop the 1000-foot tall (300 m) rock ledge. A very steep, easily driven road (Cathedral Ledge Road) leads tourists up the mountain in a matter of minutes…
Attitash Ski Resort
In the wintertime, Attitash offers 74 trails and Terrain Park for skiers and snowboarders. The Nor'easter Mountain Coaster brings you 1420 ft up the side of the mountain; at the top you descend 2880 ft downward at a spee…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jul–Aug. Summer highs reach about 55°F; winter lows dip to about -3°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Oct and Jul. (climate data from nearby Mount Washington State Park)
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.
- PWM Portland International Jetport, Portland — 50 mi away (major hub). Directions
- LEB Lebanon Municipal Airport, Lebanon — 66 mi away. Directions
Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $89–$199 a night (typical $130), from 8 listed prices.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$130, mid-range ~$200, comfortable ~$360.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Conway Scenic Railroad, Foliage and Covered Bridges, Cranmore Mountain Resort
- Lunch Delaney's Hole In the Wall
- Afternoon Bob & Terry's Ski & Bike, New England Dog Sledding
- Dinner Horsefeathers
Day 2
- Morning Mt. Washington Children's Museum, Cathedral Ledge, Saco Bound, Inc. & Rapid River Rafting
- Lunch Moat Mountain Smoke House & Brewing Co.
- Afternoon Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf, Bretton Woods at the Mount Washington Resort
- Dinner Peaches Restaurant
Day 3
- Morning Mt. Washington Observatory, Attitash Ski Resort, Bike Shop
- Lunch The Stairway Café
- Afternoon Outdoor Escapes New Hampshire, LLC, International Mountain Equipment and Climbing School
- Dinner Muddy Moose Restaurant and Pub
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Chains including Applebees's, Ben and Jerry's ice cream, Burger King, Dairy Queen, Friendly's Ice Cream, McDonald's and Pizza Hut can all be found in town. Other options include:
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
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
North Conway is in the heart of the White Mountains region of New Hampshire. It is a popular vacation destination year-round. The village of North Conway is located about two hours north of Boston, Massachusetts.
North Conway is home to more than 250 alpine ski trails and hundreds of acres of White Mountain National Forest land surrounding Mt. Washington, the biggest mountain in the northeast. There is plenty to do out of doors during any season. Hiking, fishing, swimming, biking, skiing, sledding, canoeing are common activities. North Conway is home to a large strip of shopping areas including factory outlet stores, antique shops, and country stores.
Get in
By car
- From Boston - Interstate 95 North. In New Hampshire, take Exit 4 to the Spaulding Turnpike, Route 16 North, continue on Route 16 North to North Conway.
- From Concord - North on Interstate 93, take Exit 23. Follow Rt. 104 East to Meredith to Rt. 25 East. Follow Rt. 25 East to Ossipee and Rt. 16 North.
- From Montreal - South on Interstate 91 to Exit 19 to Interstate 93 South. Take Exit 40, onto Rt. 302 East in Bethlehem. Follow Rt. 302 East to Bartlett. Continue on Rt. 302 towards Glen/North Conway.
- From New York City - North on Interstate 91 to Exit 17, Wells River, Vermont. Cross over to Woodsville, NH and follow Rt. 302 to Bartlett. Continue on Rt. 302 towards Glen/North Conway.
Get around
If you fly into Laconia Airport (LCI), 50 minutes south of North Conway, rental cars are available at the airport and in nearby Gilford.
Passengers flying into Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) or Portland International Jetport (PWM) will also find rental cars available at those airports.
Many of North Conway's shops and less interactive attractions are on the town's main road, Route 16. Even with their close proximity, a car is more convenient for travel in the wintertime, and for travel to some of the attractions and activities outside of walking distance. In North Conway, taxi companies service all local areas.
Most of the taxi services include large capacity vans, car seats for children, and airport shuttle services.
See
See Conway Scenic Railroad
Enjoy the natural scenery of NH while enjoying a meal. Absorb the local history and check out North Conway station, in operation for more than 130 years.
See Foliage and Covered Bridges
Old style wooden bridges and New Hampshire's scenic Kancamagus Highway of the White Mountains.
See Cathedral Ledge
Panoramic views of the Mount Washington Valley are accessed by car atop the 1000-foot tall (300 m) rock ledge. A very steep, easily driven road (Cathedral Ledge Road) leads tourists up the mountain in a matter of minutes where they are able to park and hike a 100 foot trail to the fenced viewing area. Easy access and limited area make this location slightly crowded at times. This area also attracts many experienced and novice climbers who ascend the rock face throughout the summer and winter months.
Do
North Conway is a popular area for rock climbing and hiking with Cathedral Ledge and Diana's Baths being the most popular.
Do Attitash Ski Resort
In the wintertime, Attitash offers 74 trails and Terrain Park for skiers and snowboarders. The Nor'easter Mountain Coaster brings you 1420 ft up the side of the mountain; at the top you descend 2880 ft downward at a speed up to 25 mi per hour. A single ride on this coaster is $12 without a ski ticket, or $10 with a ski ticket. First time ride is free. Requirements to ride the coaster include: children over 3 years of age, and riders must be 9 years or older to ride alone. During the summer, Attitash offers its Alpine Slide, Water Park and Scenic View ride.
Do Cranmore Mountain Resort
Cranmore Mountain is a great beginner mountain, for those with small children learning how to ski or snowboard. It is a very family oriented resort, with a warm, cozy lodge. This mountain is also equipped for night skiing, with well lit trails for skiing or snowboarding during the night. You can rent skiing/snowboarding equipment from the resort, and take group lessons or individual lessons for beginners. There is also a tubing park located on the resort open until 9PM every day except Sunday, where it is open until 4PM. For a 2-hour tubing ticket, it is $23 for every age.
Do Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf
Events
February
Do Mt. Washington Valley Winter Carnival
Various events held around Mt. Washington Valley. Week long event typically held mid-February through early March.
March
Do Mt. Washington Valley Winter Carnival
Various events held around Mt. Washington Valley. Week long event typically held mid-February through early March.
May
Do Annual Taste of New Hampshire
Chefs of the American Culinary Federation provide culinary and beverage demonstrations throughout the weekend.
Do Annual Memorial Day Sidewalk Sales
Do Memorial Day Weekend Craft Fair
June
July
August
Do Labor Day Weekend Lobster Bake and BBQ
September
Do Fall Festival and Scarecrow Contest
Held in late September through early October, free events for the whole family.
October
Do Fall Festival and Scarecrow Contest
Held in late September through early October, free events for the whole family.
December
Do New Years Festival and Party
Golf
Do North Conway Country Club
18-hole par 71 course rated as one of the top ten golf courses in New Hampshire.
Do White Mountain Resort
Buy
The numerous stores and shopping centers are located on "the strip," a stretch of road on Route 16 in North Conway. Chains including Wal-Mart and Staples. Stores tend to close early in this area of New Hampshire, so if you're shopping after dinner, shops like Zeb's General Store or the North Conway Five and Dime may be closed.
Shop Christmas Loft
Shop Richard M. Plusch Fine Antiques
Shop Shaw's Grocery Store
Shop Zeb's General Store
Zeb's General Store is like the candy store everyone imagines when they were a kid. It has many different types of candy, honey sticks, and homemade fudge. Not only does Zeb's sell candy, but there are a variety of gift baskets, New England specialty foods, crackers, maple syrup, desserts, dips, and many, many more, all priced reasonably. It is a great place to go to make the children happy, and perhaps pick up a self-made gift basket for someone or try a different type of recipe. Zeb's is one of those stores that has a little bit of everything!
Outlets
Shop Settler's Green Outlet Village Plus
Stores include: Banana Republic, Eddie Bauer, J Crew, Nike, Old Navy, Pacific Sunwear, Children's Place, Gap, Van Heusen, Wilson's Leather, Coach, Aeropostale, Adidas, Bass, Brookstone, Carter's, Champion, Harry and David, Journeys, Reebok, Talbots. This shopping outlet has parking to access any store. During the winter season, it is busier with more people because of the tourist attractions and skiing/snowboarding resorts surrounding this area.
Eat
Chains including Applebees's, Ben and Jerry's ice cream, Burger King, Dairy Queen, Friendly's Ice Cream, McDonald's and Pizza Hut can all be found in town. Other options include:
Budget
Mid-range
Eat Delaney's Hole In the Wall
Delaney's is a family oriented tavern with a variety of options on the menu serving lunch and dinner. Located in the heart of the White Mountain region in New Hampshire, there is always a crowd made up of skiers and snowboarders from all over in the winter. On occasion, there is entertainment at the restaurant, such as singers/bands. There are always TVs with sporting events on to watch as well. Their motto is "Big Time Portions – Big Time Drinks – Big Time Fun for the Whole Family."
Eat Horsefeathers
Horsefeathers is a great place for a sit-down meal. They are known for having excellent seafood. They do have a small menu, but every item is great.
Eat Moat Mountain Smoke House & Brewing Co.
Moat Mountain and Brewery is an excellent place for both children and adults. They have a vast menu that varies in price from $10-15. They are known for having some of the best ribs and burgers in the area. They offer five different types of their flagship beers and have over ten different types of seasonal beer.
Eat Peaches Restaurant
Excellent for breakfast.
Eat The Stairway Café
Excellent for breakfast.
Eat Peking Sunrise Restaurant
Lunch Specials daily 11:30-3PM.
Eat Black Cap Grille
Kitchen open until 10PM on weekends. Bar serves later.
Splurge
Eat The 1785 Inn
At the Scenic Vista. Gourmet, innovative but casual.
Sleep
Stay Red Elephant Inn (formerly Victorian Harvest Inn)
A year-round bed and breakfast located on a quiet wooded lane just off the main route. Eight rooms with private baths and air conditioning, garden and pool. $80 to $200 per night. Great views of the Moat Mountain range. The breakfasts are outstanding!
Nearby
Glen
City / town · 5 listings · 5 mi away
Conway
City / town · 2 listings · 5 mi away
Jackson
City / town · 24 listings · 7 mi away
Fryeburg
City / town · 4 listings · 8 mi away
Chocorua
City / town · 13 mi away
White Mountain National Forest
Park · 26 listings · 14 mi away
Mount Washington State Park
Park · 10 listings · 17 mi away
Waterville Valley
City / town · 35 listings · 20 mi away
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