The Kancamagus scenic byway is beautiful any time of year, but the views truly take your breath away during peak fall foliage in New Hampshire. A 34-mile scenic road between Lincoln and Conway, the Kancamagus highway attractions cannot be missed during a visit to the White Mountains region of New Hampshire.
Kancamagus Highway FAQs
Where should I begin my drive on the Kancamagus Highway?
A drive along the Kancamagus highway easily fits into any trip itinerary as you can start your journey in either Lincoln or Conway. We started in Lincoln and ended in Conway. I recommend following this route as many of the Kancamagus highway attractions were on the right side of the road as we traveled to Conway. Traveling in early October, we also noticed more traffic and long lines of cars driving from Conway to Lincoln.
How long does it take to drive the Kancamagus Highway?
There are many places to stop and see the Kancamagus highway attractions. Plan to spend about 3-hours to slowly drive and enjoy the viewpoints along the way. There are a few trailheads along the highway giving you the option to add a hike to your itinerary.
Be sure to start early if planning to visit the Kancamagus highway attractions during peak foliage. We drove this route on a Saturday during peak foliage. After starting around 9:00am in Lincoln, we found parking at all viewpoints without too much difficulty and ended around 11:00am in Conway. If you start your visit later in the day, be prepared for this trip to take a lot longer as you will spend time in traffic.
Is the Kancamagus Highway free?
There are no tolls for driving on the Kancamagus highway, but there is a day use fee for parking at many of the Kancamagus highway attractions. You can pay the $5 day fee at some of the parking lots along the highway, be sure to have cash. Interagency passes are accepted here and we were able to use our ‘America the Beautiful’ pass to park while visiting the Kancamagus highway attractions.
Services such as gas and restaurants are not available on the Kancamagus highway. There are a few restrooms available along the way. If you are someone who is always looking out for the next restroom while traveling, I’ve got you covered! I note which stops have restrooms available on the Kancamagus highway attractions list below.
We started our morning by picking up coffee and breakfast sandwiches from Half Baked and Fully Brewed in Lincoln. Even during a busy peak fall foliage Saturday, the staff at Half Baked and Fully Brewed were prepared for the busy day. In 15-minutes we were walking out with hot coffee and breakfast sandwiches, ready to eat at the first stop on our list of the Kancamagus highway attractions.
Kancamagus Highway Attractions
There is no cell phone service available on the Kancamagus, I recommend saving this list of attractions to follow while on your journey. The below Kancamagus Highway attractions are in order if traveling from Lincoln to Conway (reverse the order if traveling in the opposite direction).
Otter Rocks
A small and serene picnic area (with two tables) located right along the water. There were several people out on the rocks taking photos of the foliage. We enjoyed our breakfast and fueled up for the next few hours and many Kancamagus highway attractions ahead. Bathrooms are available at this stop.
Hancock Overlook
You can’t miss the hairpin turn right before the Hancock Overlook parking area. This is a small parking area and fills up early as it’s also the trailhead for the Hancock Loop which reaches two of the NH48 4,000 footers (Hancock and South Hancock).
Pemigewasset Overlook
Many people stop to fly a drone here as it meets the drone restrictions for this area. This overlook is the closest to the Kancamagus Pass (2,855ft), the highest point of elevation on the scenic byway. Be sure to pack your jacket as it can be colder here than in Lincoln and Conway. Bonus – this overlook has a bathroom available.
CL Graham Wangan Overlook
I enjoyed the view here more than the Pemigewasset Overlook, but still recommend stopping at all of Kancamagus highway attractions. As you leave this overlook, you start to descend and lose elevation. Look out for a small gravel parking pull off and a sign for Lily Pond on the left hand side of the road. We drove right past this spot, but recommend stopping as the pond looked absolutely stunning with the fall foliage and mountains surrounding it.
Sugar Hill Overlook
If I had to pick a favorite Kancamaugs overlook, I would select Sugar Hill Overlook. It has a large parking lot and a gazebo in the middle. Be sure to enjoy the view from both sides of the gazebo.
Sabbaday Falls
It’s time to stretch your legs for a short .5 mile round trip walk to see Sabbaday Falls. Since you spend more time here and the parking lot is small, we ended up having to park along the road. The walk to see the falls took about 15-minutes and was 100% worth it. The path is gravel and there are a few steps to climb to see the falls. This attraction also has a bathroom.
Russell-Colbath House
Built in 1831, this historic house is the only surviving homestead in the Swift River valley. If you want to learn and experience history, eat a picnic lunch, or if you need to use a clean restroom then plan a stop here. We opted not to stop, but may add it to our list for the next time!
Champney Falls
Another attraction that we skipped along the Kancamagus Highway was Champney Falls. This is a 3.1 mile round trip and steep hike. We are waiting to pair it with a hike to the summit of Mt. Chocoura (part of the NH 52 with a view and a great fall foliage hike).
Rocky Gorge
There are nice flat trails here to stretch your legs. A bridge crosses the river and many people take photos on the rocks.
Lower Falls Scenic Area
Parking was a little tricky at this attraction as the parking lot is one way. Many cars wait for the closest spot available, holding everyone up when there are many spots available at the opposite end of the lot.
Albany Covered Bridge
We missed the turn for the Albany Covered Bridge parking lot, but we pulled over on the highway and walked from there. It was nearing 10:30am and we could tell traffic was starting to build. When you reach the bridge, take photos from the water edge and be sure to walk across the bridge.
Swift River
There isn’t a designated parking lot to stop and see the Swift River. There are several pull off areas on the side of the road. We stopped at the last one with the White Mountains and Kancamagus Highway sign.
Around 11:00am our drive concluded in Conway. I was surprised at how the drive did not feel overcrowded, even during a peak foliage Saturday morning. I highly recommend starting early, especially on a weekend. Once in Conway we stopped at an awesome used bookstore called ‘The Local Bookie’ and we refueled with a beer and a cider donut at Tuckerman Brewing. Enjoy your drive and let us know which Kancamagus Highway attraction is your favorite!
