Your Guide to Driving the Kancamagus Highway
The fall drive worth taking: If you only take one scenic drive in New Hampshire this fall, make it this one. The 34.5-mile stretch between Lincoln and Conway climbs through the White Mountain National Forest, with incredible views and scenic stops along the way. Here’s everything you need to know to have the perfect day out on the “Kanc.”
What is the Kancamagus Highway?
The Kancamagus Highway, or “The Kanc,” as it is often called, is a 34.5-mile scenic part of New Hampshire Route 112, which connects Lincoln and Conway, New Hampshire. The road passes through the heart of the White Mountain National Forest, climbing through the White Mountains to Kancamagus Pass at about 2,855 feet. The drive offers incredible mountain and forest views, scenic waterfalls, rivers, hiking trails, and lots of scenic overlooks along the way.
Before You Begin Your Drive
My top two recommendations to make sure you have the best day out on the Kancamagus are:
Make sure you have a full tank of gas before beginning your drive. There are no gas stations on the Kancamagus and you may encounter traffic on the drive especially if you’re traveling during peak fall foliage. There is also no cell service out on the Kanc so if you run out of gas this could make for a very long and not fun day.
Bring food and make a breakfast or lunch stop before you start your drive. I stopped in North Conway before setting out on the drive and grabbed lunch at Cheese Louise. It was the perfect start to my road trip and I also spent a little time walking through the town.
Know Before You Go
Length: 34.5 miles
Route: Conway → Lincoln (or reverse)
Drive time: Allow several hours to a full day with stops
Gas: No gas stations along the highway
Cell service: Limited/no service along most of the drive
Parking: Pass required at designated areas
Food: Bring food and water; no restaurants along the route
Bathrooms: Available at several stops along the drive
Packing List
Cash: Exact cash to purchase a $5 parking pass that covers all stops along the Kancamagus. While the road is free to drive, you do need a visitor’s pass to park at the stops. Make sure to keep your pass displayed on your dashboard if you leave your car parked at any of the scenic overlooks or stops along the route. Annual passes are also available for the White Mountains.
Water and food: You will be spending several hours to a full day out on the drive with all of the scenic stops. I would recommend bringing a cooler to pack water and snacks in, bring any utensils you may need and napkins too.
Layers: The weather can change quickly, and it’s often windy near the Kancamagus Pass at 2,855 feet of elevation, so pack warmer layers. I recommend bringing a rain jacket, a warm down or fleece layer, an extra pair of socks, a winter hat, and winter gloves. Even if you don’t end up needing everything you bring, it’s better to be prepared.
Comfortable Walking Shoes: Depending on your stops during the day you may be opting for short walks to explore scenic overlooks or taking on a hike or two. I recommend wearing comfortable shoes, ideally with some grip, especially if you’re planning on hiking. I would opt for sneakers or hiking boots.
Hand Sanitizer and/or Sanitizer Wipes: Pit toilets are available at many stops, but they do not have sinks with running water or soap. I recommend bringing hand sanitizer or wipes for those bathroom stops.
Medications: Because you won’t find any stores along the Kanc, I recommend bringing any medications that you may need. I like to pack a little pill box with any medications that I may need along my trips. You don’t want a headache mid drive to ruin your day.
A map: You can pick up a map at the Intervale Scenic Vista Visitors Center (if coming from Conway). It shows all the stops of interest along the drive, and you’ll also find restrooms and a scenic view there. You can also grab a screenshot of the map right below this list.
Your Kancamagus Highway Itinerary
One of the best parts about driving the Kancamagus Highway is that the drive itself is only part of the experience. Along the 34.5-mile route, you'll find waterfalls, covered bridges, scenic overlooks, historic sites, hiking trails, and plenty of places to stop and explore. You can start the drive from either Conway and head toward Lincoln, or start at Lincoln and head toward Conway.
I chose to drive from Conway toward Lincoln and I’ll be sharing some of the highlights you'll want to add to your itinerary in that order starting at Conway.
Albany Covered Bridge
If you're starting your drive from the Conway side, the Albany Covered Bridge is one of the first stops you'll want to make. Located just off the Kancamagus Highway over the Swift River, the bridge is one of the most photographed spots along the route.
The first bridge on this site was built in 1857, but it was destroyed by a windstorm the following year. The current bridge was constructed in 1858 for $1,300 and features a distinctive Paddleford truss design with added arches. It stretches approximately 120 feet across the Swift River.
Today, you can walk through the bridge and admire the Swift River below.
Lower Falls
Lower Falls is one of the most popular stops along the entire Kancamagus Highway—and it's easy to see why. Here, the Swift River flows over smooth granite ledges and drops into a large pool, creating a series of picturesque cascades.
There are picnic tables, grills, restrooms, and plenty of places to sit near the river, making this a great spot to take a break during your drive.
Rocky Gorge Scenic Area
Just a short drive from Lower Falls is Rocky Gorge, and this may be my favorite stop along the Kancamagus.
A short walk takes you across a footbridge to viewpoints overlooking the gorge and waterfalls. You’ll take in views of the river, granite rock formations, and the forest, which looks especially beautiful with all the fall foliage colors.
Sabbaday Falls
This waterfall features a 35-foot drop with three-tiered cascades that can be easily viewed from a wooden platform. The falls were formed by glaciers thousands of years ago, creating the unique rock formations you see today.
To reach Sabbaday Falls, you’ll take a short scenic hike. The hike to the falls is approximately 0.4 miles each way, or about 0.8 miles round trip, and is just slightly uphill toward the falls. You’ll follow a gravel path along Sabbaday Brook to reach the waterfall. There are also benches along the way to rest and take in the scenery.
At the falls, there are several viewpoints that you can reach via stone stairs and walkways.
Hike details:
Distance: About 0.8 miles round trip
Difficulty: Easy
Time: Approximately 30 minutes round trip, plus time at the falls
Terrain: Mostly even, gravel trail with stairs near the falls
Highlights: Cascades, granite gorge, forest scenery
Sugar Hill Overlook
The Kancamagus has several scenic overlooks where you can pull off the road and take in the White Mountains without hiking. Sugar Hill Scenic Vista is one of the spots worth adding to your list. This was easily one of my favorite stops as the mountains looked gorgeous with all the vibrant foliage colors.
Kancamagus Pass
Shortly after the Sugar Hill Overlook, you’ll reach Kancamagus Pass, the highest point on the road at an elevation of approximately 2,855 feet. I definitely felt the chill in the air at this stop and pulled out my winter hat.
Pemigewasset Overlook
If you're looking for one of the best panoramic views along the Kancamagus Highway just steps from your car, Pemigewasset Overlook is a must-stop.
Located along the western portion of the highway just after the Kancamagus Pass, the overlook offers sweeping views of the Osceola Mountains and the surrounding Pemigewasset Wilderness. A short, easy walk from the parking area brings you to a covered viewing pavilion where you can take in the mountain views and learn more about the peaks you're seeing from the signs.
The fall views were amazing here, with beautiful shades of red and orange.
Looking for an overnight stay nearby?
I stayed at the beautiful Rabbit Hill Inn located just over the border in Vermont. The inn is easily one of my favorite spots for an overnight stay and even has an amazing on-site restaurant, 24 Carrot, which even features a wood burning fireplace for extra cozy vibes. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy a delicious meal after a day adventuring.
For all the details on Rabbit Hill Inn and 24 Carrot, check out my blog post “The Cutest Bed and Breakfast in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom.”
