
Highest-rated free things to do in New Hampshire by visitors
Highest-rated free things to do in New Hampshire by visitors
Being an American can be incredibly expensive. While workers in the United States have seen a 1,015% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living, according to a 2025 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1973 and 2023, the national consumer price index increased by 586%.
Although Americans have about 63% more purchasing power than 50 years ago, that quickly dissipates when factoring in the increased costs of housing and education. Housing costs have jumped about 1,045%, private college tuition has risen by 158%, and public college tuition has increased by 177%.
That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. In 2023, a record-high 42.9 million households were cost-burdened, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.
It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence over vacations. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in New Hampshire.
From touring landmarks and historical sites to getting out into nature, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.
To help you find your next free activity, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in New Hampshire using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of Aug. 18, 2025. Only locations that received at least 20 reviews were included.
Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!

#30. Black Cap Hiking Trail
- Rating: 4.7/5 (76 reviews)
- City: North Conway Conway New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#29. Seabrook Beach
- Rating: 4.3/5 (74 reviews)
- City: Seabrook New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#28. Mount Lafayette
- Rating: 4.9/5 (62 reviews)
- City: Franconia New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#27. Hermit Woods Winery & Eatery
- Rating: 4.6/5 (151 reviews)
- City: Meredith New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#26. Lake Massabesic
- Rating: 4.5/5 (170 reviews)
- City: Manchester New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#25. Portsmouth Harbor Trail
- Rating: 4.4/5 (48 reviews)
- City: Portsmouth New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#24. Riverwalk Covered Bridge
- Rating: 4.5/5 (280 reviews)
- City: Littleton New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#23. Weirs Beach
- Rating: 3.9/5 (323 reviews)
- City: Weirs Beach Laconia New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#22. Mount Major
- Rating: 4.6/5 (108 reviews)
- City: Alton Bay New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#21. Moulton Farm
- Rating: 4.7/5 (256 reviews)
- City: Meredith New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#20. Crawford Notch State Park
- Rating: 4.6/5 (166 reviews)
- City: Hart s Location New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#19. West Rattlesnake Mountain
- Rating: 4.9/5 (218 reviews)
- City: Holderness New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#18. Franconia Notch
- Rating: 4.8/5 (116 reviews)
- City: Franconia New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#17. Dartmouth College
- Rating: 4.7/5 (193 reviews)
- City: Hanover New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#16. Livingston Park
- Rating: 4.6/5 (207 reviews)
- City: Manchester New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#15. Artist Bluff Trail
- Rating: 4.6/5 (89 reviews)
- City: Franconia New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#14. Mine Falls Park
- Rating: 4.6/5 (302 reviews)
- City: Nashua New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#13. Merrimack Premium Outlets
- Rating: 4.3/5 (537 reviews)
- City: Merrimack New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#12. White Mountain National Forest
- Rating: 4.8/5 (253 reviews)
- City: New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#11. Settlers Green
- Rating: 4.2/5 (455 reviews)
- City: North Conway Conway New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#10. Glen Ellis Falls
- Rating: 4.8/5 (364 reviews)
- City: Jackson New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#9. Jackson Falls
- Rating: 4.7/5 (393 reviews)
- City: Jackson New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#8. Prescott Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (727 reviews)
- City: Portsmouth New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#7. Sabbaday Falls
- Rating: 4.6/5 (297 reviews)
- City: Conway New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#6. The Basin at Franconia Notch State Park
- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,010 reviews)
- City: Franconia New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#5. Hampton Beach State Park
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,398 reviews)
- City: Hampton New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#4. Market Square
- Rating: 4.6/5 (760 reviews)
- City: Portsmouth New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#3. Cathedral Ledge
- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,044 reviews)
- City: North Conway Conway New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#2. Diana's Baths
- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,614 reviews)
- City: North Conway Conway New
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#1. Kancamagus Highway
- Rating: 4.7/5 (3,606 reviews)
- City: North Conway Conway New
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.