I can't emphasize enough not overreaching when planning your trip. Many travelers coming from a distance look at this trip as their only chance to see northern New England, and make the rash decision to drive madly across the region in a valiant effort to see the Green Mountains, the White Mountains, the Maine coast and certainly a moose up in those Maine Woods. All in a week or so.
A formula for disappointment, you end up seeing little except the inside of your windshield. New England has few attractions that lend themselves to pit-stop tourism -- you remember these kinds of trips: you pay your fee, look around for a few minutes, take some photos, grab a snack, and get back on the road to the next "attraction." New England is best seen by not moving, or at least moving rather slowly, by foot or canoe or bike. The happiest visitors to the region tend to be those who stay put the most, getting to know their selected patch more intimately through well-crafted day trips.
With that in mind, here are some suggested itineraries that you can use as a starting point, mixing and matching depending on how much time you have.
3 Days Afoot in New Hampshire's White Mountains
New Hampshire's White Mountains offer extraordinary natural grandeur from the roadside, along with the opportunity to explore mountain crags and crystalline streams.
Day 1 Start at the town of Lincoln, at Exit 32 of I-93, and drive to North Conway via the scenic Kancamagus Highway, stopping for some short hikes or a picnic. Indulge in a few shopping forays in town, and savor the views of the Mount Washington Valley. Head to the village of Jackson to check in for the night. Relax before dinner at Jackson Falls, or with a bike ride up Carter Notch Road or other back roads in the hills above the village.
Day 2 Stay another night in Jackson, and spend the day exploring by foot around Pinkham Notch. Stop at Glen Ellis Falls en route to the base of Mount Washington. Park at Pinkham Notch and then hike to dramatic Tuckerman's Ravine for a picnic lunch. Return to your car and continue north to Wildcat Ski Area. Take the chairlift to the summit for spectacular views of Mount Washington, the Presidentials, and the Carter Range. Return to Jackson for the night.
Day 3 Retrace your path down Route 16 back to Route 302, turn right, and drive through Crawford Notch. If weather and time allow, hike to one of the scenic waterfalls. Go to the Mount Washington Cog Railway on the far side of the Notch. Take the train ride to the summit of Mount Washington (dress warmly). On your return, stop by the grand Mount Washington Hotel for a celebratory snack. Continue west on Route 302 until reaching Route 3. Turn left (south) to I-93. Continue southward through scenic Franconia Notch and visit some of the scenic attractions (such as the Flume Gorge or the tram ride to Cannon Mountain) as time allows.
