There are a lot of ways to enjoy the seacoast of New Hampshire. One of the most obvious is hitting the beach. But during the summer that can mean fighting for parking, lugging a cooler and any number of other hassles that come with setting up at one of the most popular tourist destinations in the state. Instead, consider seeing it from the car on this beautiful scenic drive in New Hampshire.
This is the route for our scenic drive.
You can simply tap or click on this map for step-by-step directions.
You'll start your trip in one of the most well-known cities in New Hampshire. Portsmouth was a bustling port city in the 18th and early 19th centuries. And today, the working waterfront and downtown area are a fun place to visit.
We think this is one of the one of the best drives in New Hampshire.
And this starts your trip along Route 1B! From the Portsmouth historic district you'll make your way over the causeway to Newcastle.
The narrow portion of this road takes you around the island and gives you a great view of the famous Wentworth-by-the-Sea.
This is also where you'll pass Fort Stark and Fort Constitution. You might remember from history class that Fort Constitution was the sight of the first aggressive act of the American Revolution.
From here, Route 1B connects to Route 1A and heads south into Rye. Then it's on to North Hampton and Hampton Beach.
This portion of the drive includes a number of oceanfront state parks. That includes the fun Odiorne Point State Park.
From Hampton Beach you'll pick up Route 101 and hop onto Rt. 1 where you'll make your way through Hampton Falls. This is where you'll find Route 84, which is one of the state's first roads.
We love this scenic drive in New Hampshire!
This road heads through Kensington towards Route 150 and then on to Exeter. The state's capitol during the Revolutionary War, Exeter is one of the first four towns in the state.
This drive is one of the best NH scenic routes!
Then hop onto Route 27 back to Hampton to complete a beautiful day and even grab yourself something to eat in town.
If you’re in Hampton and looking for one of the best scenic drives near me, you need to try this route!
Have you taken the Colonial New Hampshire Seacoast drive? Tell us about your favorite part of any must-sees along this scenic drive in New Hampshire! And looking for other road trip ideas? Check out these seven beautiful byways in New Hampshire that are perfect for a scenic drive.
Don’t forget to stock up from our best road trip snacks guide!
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