Easiest Driving Route from Boston to Pinkham Notch, NH, and Hotel/Food Recs?

[yogiskier]

Heading up for an Introductory Backcountry Tour in a few weeks from Boston! I've forgotten the least tiring way to drive up to Pinkham Notch in the Whites, but I recall I-95 to Rte 16 being tiring, so I'll be starting from I-93 (will be staying close to 93 anyway), but the question is, if and when I should cut over to 16 at some point, or should I go all the way up 93 to Rte-3 and then back down 16 (through Gorham)?

Relatedly, depending on which route, are there recommendations for a hotel for 2 nights for sleeping the night before/after and is convenient to breakfast (or included), casual dinner takeout, and a place to pick up a packable lunch? I'm thinking if I go the Northern route I'd have to be based around Gorham and if I cut over earlier then around Intervale? There's a hostel near Pinkham Notch which would be uber practical and affordable, but I'll be more comfortable with my own room and bathroom.

 

[BlizzardBabe]

I only do this area in the summer, but Intervale is practically in North Conway, where lodging is very abundant and varied. It would be about a 20 mile drive up 16, but, generally, that section of 16 is easier than coming from the north (e.g., Berlin, Gorham). Then again -- I'm a summer traveler in that area, so take my observations w/a grain of salt. Personally, I love the little town of Jackson, but I don't know about available accommodations there in the winter.

 

[liquidfeet]

I did this route, north shore of Boston to North Conway, every weekend for a few years.

Since I started on the north shore of Boston, that impacted my route.
I took I-95N to Rochester, then took NH 16 all the way to North Conway and on to Wildcat/Pinkham Notch.

Stay in North Conway if you want an Inn and are not able to get reservations at the AMC lodging options in Pinkham Notch. There are tons of restaurants and lodging options in N. Conway.

About NH-16 route being tiring ... going up I-93 is what I find tiring. Long stretches of same same same divided highway can put me to sleep. NH-16 is narrower, and yes you might get behind someone slow, but it changes character as it meanders northward through small towns. It does not put me to sleep.

If you choose to go up I-93, you'll need to go east across the state to get to 16.
Avoid going across the state on 112 starting in Lincoln. You won't have cell service on that highway, and if it snows, you'll be alone in the mountains on an unplowed road. Do you have snow tires???

Instead, go farther north through Franconia Notch, enjoy looking at Cannon's slopes on your left, then take US-3 to US-302 E to get across the state. 302 will get you to 16N. 302 gets plowed quicker and more frequently during a storm than 112.

112 will feel like you're alone in the wilderness. Not so 302.

 

[liquidfeet]

Oh, Rte 2 goes through Gorham. That's out of your way, and you'll miss all the local color going through Gorham.

302 has sights to see. You'll pass The Mt. Washington Hotel, one of the grand hotels of the past, and Bretton Woods, the AMC Crawford Notch lodge, and Attitash. 302 is a not-to-be-missed ride.

 

[wernerslab]

@liquidfeet you make me want to take a road trip! Sounds so interesting!

 

[elemmac]

@yogiskier - I started to type some advice, but I think @liquidfeet covers everything I would have said. The only thing I would add is consideration is if you stay in Gorham...I would lean towards taking I-93/Rt. 3/Rt. 115/Rt. 2. If you stay in the North Conway/Intervale/Bartlett area...I would lean towards taking I-95 to Rt. 16. This is purely from a distance & time standpoint.

North Conway area has a plethora of hotel and great food options, but it'll most likely come with the price tag. Whereas Gorham...you have the Town and Country (that's just about it). The T&C will probably have a much lower price tag for a hotel. Gorham has a good brewery, a pizza place, and a few other restaurants (I've heard Nonna's is phenomenal Italian food, but I haven't personally been yet). The White Mountain Cafe is a cute little cafe/bookstore that might offer packable sandwiches for a lunch on the mountain (it's been a while since I've been there...but their Maple Latte's are amazing).

 

[BlizzardBabe]

Oh, Rte 2 goes through Gorham. That's out of your way, and you'll miss all the local color going through Gorham.

302 has sights to see. You'll pass The Mt. Washington Hotel, one of the grand hotels of the past, and Bretton Woods, the AMC Crawford Notch lodge, and Attitash. 302 is a not-to-be-missed ride.

So, so true. That is a gorgeous route!

 

[yogiskier]

Thank you all so much - this is so helpful! @liquidfeet Yes, I do have snow tires! Will avoid 112. @BlizzardBabe good to know that the upper section of 16 might be harder. @elemmac Thanks for the lodging/food options for Gorham. When we used to go up to the Whites back when I lived in Boston (and when/where I learned to ski!) we were more North Conway based or sometimes a B&B around Bartlett, and didn't get to Gorham. I saw the brewery and pizza place on Google Maps, but better to have firsthand info, especially if I'm traveling solo

 

[yogiskier]

Just a quick follow-up! I decided to make the drive as a loop so I could visit Gorham which I've never been to, but check out Jackson/North Conway for old time's sake - meaning I went up 93 to Gorham for the first night, then down 16 for my return to Boston. I was lackadaisical about leaving Boston early enough and hit some freshly fallen snow around 4-5pm driving through Franconia Notch - not ideal, but my snow tires did their job. I stayed at the the Top Notch Inn - an inexpensive motor lodge that looks to be recently renovated - less expensive than the Town & Country, but no breakfast. No matter, I walked 2 minutes to the White Mountain Cafe for breakfast and enjoyed the view of the mountains in the early morning light.

After the tour (ski trip report here: https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/i...y-tour-at-mt-washington-nh-trip-report.29833/), I drove to North Conway, relaxed over a coffee at the Metropolitan Cafe, browsed the sale rack at Sun & Ski, then went to Flatbread's for dinner. They're in a new location a few blocks from the Eastern Slope Inn, so it didn't quite feel like a trip down memory lane, but their menu is the same at least The next morning at my old-school Jackson B&B, I met the Innkeeper, young guy who backcountry skis, so of course is plugged into that community and knew the lead guide from day before, so that was cool.

The drive back to Boston was smooth despite the rain. Oh, and Rte 16? Yeah, it was great, like y'all said! My memory was wrong and I must have been thinking of another road when I expressed my earlier concern here - perhaps 112 or 302?? I just remembered winding roads and endless frost heaves -- but that was not 16 at all! :D