Franconia, NH

Travel Guide

Franconia
Franconia which includes outdoor eating and cafe scenes
Franconia showing a house
Franconia showing signage
Franconia featuring shopping

See the looming White MountainsOpens in a new window and the site of the Old Man of the Mountain. Understand why the poet Robert Frost drew inspiration from this New Hampshire town.

Visit the tiny village of Franconia as a base to enjoy New Hampshire’s unspoiled beauty. Located in the heart of the White Mountains, this area is a nature lover’s paradise.

The stunning Franconia Notch State Park invites visitors to experience the White Mountains at their finest. Inside the park, explore Cannon Mountain and the surrounding lakes, passes and forests by foot, skis or bike. Marvel at Flume Gorge, a stunning natural gorge slicing through the signature rock of the Granite State. If you want to fish, cast your line at Echo Lake or Profile Lake.

Walk along a portion of the Appalachian Trail, which eventually continues up to Mount Katahdin in Maine. An Appalachian Mountain Club hut on the southern shore of Lonesome Lake provides shelter for hikers.

The 5-mile (8-kilometer) trek to Bridal Veil Falls is a great afternoon hike. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy next to the falling water.

You may recognize the Old Man of the Mountain as New Hampshire’s state emblem. This granite ledge on Cannon Mountain looked like a facial profile when seen from the north but collapsed in 2003. See vestiges of the man jutting out from the mountain.

Enjoy overhead views from Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway. Since 1938, a tram has taken passengers to the 4,180-foot (1,270-meter) summit of Cannon Mountain in a closed cable car. At the base of the tramway, learn about the history of the region’s winter sports at New England Ski Museum. Hit the slopes at Cannon Mountain Ski Area, popular among winter sports enthusiasts.

Poet Robert Frost and his family lived in Franconia from 1915 to 1920. Today, see his simple white home Frost Place, a museum and poetry center that offers summer residence to an emerging poet each year.

Explore the Franconia countryside in honor of Frost’s famous poem, The Road Not Taken. See why the poet drew much of his inspiration from New Hampshire’s wild beauty.

Best Western White Mountain Inn

Best Western White Mountain Inn

2.5 out of 5
87 Wallace Hill Rd, Franconia, NH
$122 nightly
The price is $133 total per night from Jul 30 to Jul 31
$133 total
Jul 30 - Jul 31
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this hotel in Franconia. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular attractions Franconia ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,001 reviews)
"Please ask for Kevin!! Best staff ever, he will surely provide what you need during your stay"

Reviewed on Jul 10, 2025

Best Western White Mountain Inn
Stonybrook Motel & Lodge

Stonybrook Motel & Lodge

2 out of 5
1098 Profile Road, Franconia, NH
$119 nightly
The price is $129 total per night from Jul 17 to Jul 18
$129 total
Jul 17 - Jul 18
Total includes taxes and fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly motel in Franconia. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
7.6/10 Good! (1,010 reviews)
"Nice stony brook at the motel and the pool too."

Reviewed on Jul 8, 2025

Stonybrook Motel & Lodge
Plain Kate's Inc

Plain Kate's Inc

2 out of 5
729 Main Street, Franconia, NH
$89 nightly
The price is $97 total per night from Jul 17 to Jul 18
$97 total
Jul 17 - Jul 18
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this motel in Franconia. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and rainfall showerheads. Popular attractions Franconia Notch State Park and Gale River are located ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (118 reviews)
"Great location for hiking, affordable, and clean!"

Reviewed on Jul 15, 2025

Plain Kate's Inc
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Franconia Victorian Home Retreat with the White Mountain National Forest

Franconia Victorian Home Retreat with the White Mountain National Forest

Franconia
Stay at this vacation home in Franconia. Enjoy a water park, a garden, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Franconia Notch State Park and Gale River ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (61 reviews)
Conveniently located and clean unit.
"Check-in was contactless and easy, parking was plentiful on property, and house was clean/well stocked with games and kitchen equipment. Located close to many beautiful hikes and fun towns. Only negatives included the host’s requirement of a refundable security deposit, as well as supplemental insurance ..."

Reviewed on May 14, 2025

Franconia Victorian Home Retreat with the White Mountain National Forest
Dog-friendly & charming mountain chalet w/ fireplace

Dog-friendly & charming mountain chalet w/ fireplace

Franconia
Stay at this vacation home in Franconia. Enjoy cable/satellite TV service, an in-room coffeemaker, and air conditioning. Popular attractions Franconia Notch ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (26 reviews)
Emmons Chalet
"Overall quite good, but three improvements needed.1. Shower pressure very minimal, a new shower head needed.2. Key lock very difficult to use. A new lock is needed.3. I had to pay a local to clear the snow off the walkway and parking area. After receiving 6 inches of snow, the chalet was not adequately ..."

Reviewed on Dec 30, 2024

Dog-friendly & charming mountain chalet w/ fireplace
Charming, dog-friendly cabin with a full kitchen, free WiFi, & private hot tub

Charming, dog-friendly cabin with a full kitchen, free WiFi, & private hot tub

Easton
Stay at this vacation home in Franconia. Enjoy private hot tubs, laundry facilities, and patios. Popular attractions Franconia Notch State Park and Flume Gorge ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (38 reviews)
Beautiful peaceful stay!
"Amazing property the cleaners they hire should mop more often. Besides that it was a beautiful peaceful stay, close to a little stream creek that runs behind the house ina 1 minute trail walk from the home. The rooms where all comfortable and had an ac in each room and living space. Only down side ..."

Reviewed on Jun 30, 2025

Charming, dog-friendly cabin with a full kitchen, free WiFi, & private hot tub
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Franconia

4.4
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
53
5 - Excellent 49%
4 - Good
45
4 - Good 41%
3 - Okay
10
3 - Okay 9%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
1
1 - Terrible 1%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Plain Kate's Restaurant was great. Loved the Clam Chowder. Polly's Pancake House was the best. Littleton, NH was so much fun. Loved visiting and being there.

5/5 - Excellent

A

We went for the ice castles :)

5/5 - Excellent

maria

Definitely bring your ski gear. We visited Ice Castles and did not think we had time for my boys to ski the next day but at least half day skiing would have made the trip perfect. Hillwinds offer discounted rates to the ski mountains as well.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

I love it up there. Perfect mix of beauty, solitude but A quick drive away you can get to bigger toens if you want more ‘city’ like adventures

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler

I didnt do anything in Franconia.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Love this New England state. Miss it already but happy to get back home

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