While the Kancamagus Highway is a beautiful, scenic byway, use safety precautions when traveling. You will be sharing the road with cyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists, RVers, sports car enthusiasts, moose, deer, and other wildlife creatures, etc. In many areas, there is barely a shoulder, and the turns to the scenic lookouts come up very quickly. So, designate a driver who is going to fully concentrate on the nuances of the road. Whenever possible, take turns driving so that the other person may look at the scenery. As the day turns to dusk, the cast shadows from the trees will camouflage the dark silhouettes of elite cycling athletes, moose and deer. Inevitably, there will be aggressive motorists traveling behind you, pushing you to dangerously exceed the speed limit so that may travel who-knows-where. Some of the stops require the payment of a $5.00 Recreational Pass. Have exact change and a pen to complete the envelope. During the period of Covid-19, some of the lavatory facilities are closed. Cellular service is limited. This is a beautiful part of the United States. If you choose to experience it, take the time to enjoy it.

We traveled along the trail in June during a heatwave. As the driver, I could not see all of the views and maintain safety on the road. Our journey started in Lincoln, NH, and there are many areas to stop and take pictures or enjoy the beauty of creation. Bring a map if you want to hike, there are several trails where you can stop to hike. If you plan to stay at any of the official stops, purchase a pass for $5. The ranger's office is on the Conway, NH [east] side of the trail, but bring a $5 bill, and you can self pay at any of the sites. If you time your trip correctly, an autumn drive along the trail would be amazingly colorful. After the tour, we drove to downtown North Conway and walked around the small retail/ dining area. There are also outlets in North Conway if you would like to shop as well.

A beautiful and amazing drive, with some of the most gorgeous views you will ever see. My wife and I, along with our two teenage boys recently spent the day driving the Kancamagus Highway in both directions, stopping off at various points to take in the scenic views, gorges, waterfalls, historic buildings and bridges. We originally had planned to drive along it and then head to one of the gorges over near Lincoln, but once on the Kancamagus Highway that plan went out of the window, as we were totally seduced by the surroundings. There are also plenty of hiking trails, which I would love to go back to in the future to explore. If you are into getting into the water there are ample opportunities to go into the rivers (sign posted) so ensure you take towels and swimwear. Do note you need to pay a daily fee to use the National Park's car parks, this is a one off fee, currently five dollars, which can be paid via a trust envelope or via a website. Phone reception is not great along the highway, so I would recommend taking a five dollar bill to pay in the first car park you stop at..