Open Travel Guide
Family travel in New Hampshire

New Hampshire Family Travel Guide 2026

What New Hampshire offers families — sorted by age group, energy level, and patience required.

New Hampshire has 8+ family-friendly activities covered in this guide, led by Clark's Trading Post, Flume Gorge (Franconia Notch) and Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves. Each entry below includes the practical details — what it costs, when to go, and how to plan around it.

New Hampshire offers a remarkable concentration of natural beauty and historical depth in a compact New England state. From the towering White Mountains and the iconic summit of Mount Washington to the serene shores of Lake Winnipesaukee and the pristine Atlantic coastline at Hampton Beach, visitors encounter dramatic landscapes at every turn. Portsmouth anchors the seacoast with its beautifully preserved colonial architecture and a thriving culinary scene, while the Lakes Region provides summer watersports and leisurely cruises. Fall foliage transforms the state into a mosaic of crimson and gold each October, drawing leaf-peepers from across the Northeast. The state's 'Live Free or Die' ethos permeates everything from its lack of sales and income taxes to its independent political culture.

Family activities

Engaging experiences for travellers of every age.

Items

Clark's Trading Post

Trained bear shows, a narrow-gauge steam train, water bumper boats, climbing walls, and live entertainment in a classic New England family park running since 1928.

Price: $37 adult, $35 child ages 6–17, $32 child ages 3–5 (USD)

Items

Flume Gorge (Franconia Notch)

A 2-mile walk through a glacially carved gorge on elevated boardwalks and bridges. Young children love the enclosed atmosphere, waterfalls, and wooden bridges. Accessible route available.

Price: $16 adult, $13 child ages 6–12, under 6 free (USD)

Items

Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves

A glacially sculpted gorge with cave passages numbered by difficulty. Kids can crawl through 'The Lemon Squeezer' and other named passages. Guides on site to assist.

Price: $21 adult, $15 child ages 4–12 (USD)

Items

SEE Science Center, Manchester

Hands-on science exhibits including a large LEGO Millyard diorama, robotics area, and electricity demonstration. Ideal rainy-day activity in Manchester.

Price: $10 adult, $8 child ages 3–17 (USD)

Items

Hampton Beach

Classic New England beach resort with lifeguarded beach, arcade, ice cream shops, carnival rides, and free summer entertainment on the bandstand. Atlantic Ocean swimming in season.

Price: Beach free; parking $5–$25/day (USD)

Items

McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center

Named for Concord teacher Christa McAuliffe (Challenger shuttle), the center has interactive space exhibits, flight simulators, and a planetarium. Well-paced for under-2-hour visits.

Price: $11 adult, $9 child ages 3–12 (USD); planetarium $5 add-on

Items

Polar Caves Park

9 caves and caverns of glacially displaced granite boulders, connected by trails and ladders. Caves stay 40–50°F year-round — bring a light jacket even in summer.

Price: $21 adult, $15 child ages 4–11 (USD)

Items

Canobie Lake Park

New England's most popular regional amusement park: over 50 rides, water park, roller coasters, and family rides. Located 25 miles south of Manchester near the Massachusetts border.

Price: $42 adult, $36 child (USD); parking $12

Family-friendly hotels

Accommodation designed with families in mind.

Family

Omni Mount Washington Resort

$350–$900/night (USD)

Exceptional family resort with supervised children's programs, outdoor heated pool, and access to ski hill. Two-bedroom suites available.

Family

Woodstock Inn & Brewery

$110–$250/night (USD)

Relaxed mountain inn with family-friendly room sizes, on-site brewery for parents, and walking distance to family attractions in the Lincoln/North Woodstock area.

Family

Hampton Inn Manchester Airport

$100–$200/night (USD)

Reliable family-friendly hotel with free hot breakfast, indoor pool, and proximity to Manchester attractions and highways.

Dining with kids

Eating out as a family.

Tip

M

Tip

o

Tip

s

Tip

t

Tip

Tip

N

Tip

H

Tip

Tip

r

Tip

e

Tip

s

Tip

t

Tip

a

Tip

u

Tip

r

Tip

a

Tip

n

Tip

t

Tip

s

Tip

Tip

w

Tip

e

Tip

l

Tip

c

Tip

o

Tip

m

Tip

e

Tip

Tip

f

Tip

a

Tip

m

Tip

i

Tip

l

Tip

i

Tip

e

Tip

s

Tip

.

Tip

Tip

H

Tip

a

Tip

r

Tip

t

Tip

'

Tip

s

Tip

Tip

T

Tip

u

Tip

r

Tip

k

Tip

e

Tip

y

Tip

Tip

F

Tip

a

Tip

r

Tip

m

Tip

Tip

(

Tip

2

Tip

2

Tip

3

Tip

Tip

U

Tip

S

Tip

-

Tip

3

Tip

,

Tip

Tip

M

Tip

e

Tip

r

Tip

e

Tip

d

Tip

i

Tip

t

Tip

h

Tip

)

Tip

Tip

i

Tip

s

Tip

Tip

a

Tip

Tip

N

Tip

e

Tip

w

Tip

Tip

H

Tip

a

Tip

m

Tip

p

Tip

s

Tip

h

Tip

i

Tip

r

Tip

e

Tip

Tip

i

Tip

n

Tip

s

Tip

t

Tip

i

Tip

t

Tip

u

Tip

t

Tip

i

Tip

o

Tip

n

Tip

Tip

b

Tip

e

Tip

l

Tip

o

Tip

v

Tip

e

Tip

d

Tip

Tip

b

Tip

y

Tip

Tip

f

Tip

a

Tip

m

Tip

i

Tip

l

Tip

i

Tip

e

Tip

s

Tip

Tip

w

Tip

i

Tip

t

Tip

h

Tip

Tip

i

Tip

t

Tip

s

Tip

Tip

f

Tip

u

Tip

l

Tip

l

Tip

Tip

t

Tip

u

Tip

r

Tip

k

Tip

e

Tip

y

Tip

Tip

d

Tip

i

Tip

n

Tip

n

Tip

e

Tip

r

Tip

s

Tip

Tip

a

Tip

t

Tip

Tip

m

Tip

o

Tip

d

Tip

e

Tip

r

Tip

a

Tip

t

Tip

e

Tip

Tip

p

Tip

r

Tip

i

Tip

c

Tip

e

Tip

s

Tip

.

Tip

Tip

R

Tip

e

Tip

d

Tip

Tip

A

Tip

r

Tip

r

Tip

o

Tip

w

Tip

Tip

D

Tip

i

Tip

n

Tip

e

Tip

r

Tip

Tip

i

Tip

n

Tip

Tip

M

Tip

a

Tip

n

Tip

c

Tip

h

Tip

e

Tip

s

Tip

t

Tip

e

Tip

r

Tip

Tip

(

Tip

6

Tip

1

Tip

Tip

L

Tip

o

Tip

w

Tip

e

Tip

l

Tip

l

Tip

Tip

S

Tip

t

Tip

)

Tip

Tip

i

Tip

s

Tip

Tip

2

Tip

4

Tip

Tip

h

Tip

o

Tip

u

Tip

r

Tip

s

Tip

Tip

a

Tip

n

Tip

d

Tip

Tip

k

Tip

i

Tip

d

Tip

-

Tip

f

Tip

r

Tip

i

Tip

e

Tip

n

Tip

d

Tip

l

Tip

y

Tip

.

Tip

Tip

T

Tip

h

Tip

e

Tip

Tip

C

Tip

o

Tip

m

Tip

m

Tip

o

Tip

n

Tip

Tip

M

Tip

a

Tip

n

Tip

Tip

c

Tip

h

Tip

a

Tip

i

Tip

n

Tip

Tip

(

Tip

m

Tip

u

Tip

l

Tip

t

Tip

i

Tip

p

Tip

l

Tip

e

Tip

Tip

l

Tip

o

Tip

c

Tip

a

Tip

t

Tip

i

Tip

o

Tip

n

Tip

s

Tip

)

Tip

Tip

o

Tip

f

Tip

f

Tip

e

Tip

r

Tip

s

Tip

Tip

f

Tip

a

Tip

m

Tip

i

Tip

l

Tip

y

Tip

Tip

m

Tip

e

Tip

n

Tip

u

Tip

s

Tip

.

Tip

Tip

M

Tip

a

Tip

n

Tip

y

Tip

Tip

l

Tip

a

Tip

k

Tip

e

Tip

s

Tip

i

Tip

d

Tip

e

Tip

Tip

r

Tip

e

Tip

s

Tip

t

Tip

a

Tip

u

Tip

r

Tip

a

Tip

n

Tip

t

Tip

s

Tip

Tip

h

Tip

a

Tip

v

Tip

e

Tip

Tip

o

Tip

u

Tip

t

Tip

d

Tip

o

Tip

o

Tip

r

Tip

Tip

s

Tip

e

Tip

a

Tip

t

Tip

i

Tip

n

Tip

g

Tip

Tip

a

Tip

n

Tip

d

Tip

Tip

i

Tip

n

Tip

f

Tip

o

Tip

r

Tip

m

Tip

a

Tip

l

Tip

Tip

a

Tip

t

Tip

m

Tip

o

Tip

s

Tip

p

Tip

h

Tip

e

Tip

r

Tip

e

Tip

s

Tip

Tip

i

Tip

d

Tip

e

Tip

a

Tip

l

Tip

Tip

f

Tip

o

Tip

r

Tip

Tip

c

Tip

h

Tip

i

Tip

l

Tip

d

Tip

r

Tip

e

Tip

n

Tip

.

Family travel tips

Practical advice for stress-free family trips.

Tip

Build downtime into every day — over-scheduled kids melt down faster than tired adults.

Tip

Carry snacks, water, and a small first-aid kit at all times.

Tip

Many attractions offer discounted family tickets — ask at the ticket window.