There’s a particular kind of day in the White Mountains that feels made for a road trip. Whether it’s the fresh energy of spring, crisp fall colors, the warmth of a summer morning, or the calm of a winter afternoon, the roads invite you to take your time and enjoy the drive. Pairing a scenic drive with a brewery, winery, or cidery stop makes for a genuinely satisfying outing.
Scenic routes here naturally guide you through small towns and river valleys, where tasting rooms tend to sit just off the main road. The shift from driving to settling in with a drink gives the day an easy rhythm that never feels overplanned.
Each season brings its own appeal. Summer and fall offer long days and lively atmospheres, while winter and early spring come with quieter roads and a more relaxed pace. Tasting rooms operate year-round, with some adjusting hours or offerings that keep the experience flexible. Instead of moving quickly between stops, you can take your time and enjoy both the drive and each visit along the way.
Route Ideas for a Relaxed Tasting Day
A natural starting point for a tasting drive is the Kancamagus Highway. The highway itself runs through the National Forest without commercial stops, which is part of its appeal, but Lincoln at the western end and Conway at the eastern end both have options worth building around.
A drive across the Kanc in the morning, stopping at a waterfall pull-off or two along the way, sets up the afternoon nicely for a tasting stop at either end. From there, the region offers a compact set of options that are easy to connect into a single route or split across a couple of days.
Schilling Beer Co. (Littleton)
Set along the Ammonoosuc River, Schilling focuses on European-style lagers and wood-fired food. The riverside setting and central downtown location make it a natural pause for lunch or a late-day stop after exploring Franconia Notch or the Kanc.
Rek’-Lis Brewing Co. (Bethlehem)
Located in Bethlehem, Rek’-Lis leans into its connection with outdoor culture. It’s often positioned as a place to end the day after time on the trails, with a full kitchen, a steady rotation of house-brewed beers, and an attached tasting room, the Pint House.
Woodstock Inn Brewery (North Woodstock)
Just off I-93 in the center of the White Mountains, Woodstock Inn Brewery is both a lodging property and a long-running brewing operation. The variety of beers on tap and on-site restaurant make it one of the more flexible stops for groups or longer stays.
Twin Barns Brewing Co. (North Woodstock and Meredith)
Twin Barns operates its original brewpub in Meredith near Lake Winnipesaukee and a second location in North Woodstock. Both focus on house-brewed beer served in a relaxed setting, offering many of the brewery’s signature beers alongside seasonal releases.
Seven Birches Winery (Lincoln)
Inside RiverWalk Resort at Loon Mountain, Seven Birches produces wines and Rhythm ciders using New England fruit. Tastings are available daily, and guided winery experiences can be arranged in advance.
Rhythm Tap & Grille (Lincoln)
Adjacent to Seven Birches, this restaurant is built around the winery’s cider program and serves a full menu. It's one of the few places in the region where the tasting experience is tied directly to a sit-down meal.
Cathedral Ledge Distillery (North Conway)
This small-scale distillery produces certified organic spirits, including whiskey, vodka, gin, and maple liqueur. Tastings, cocktails, and tours are offered in a timber-framed tasting room that welcomes drop-in visitors.
Crucial 10 Craft Cidery (Thornton)
Focused on apples sourced from the region, Crucial 10 operates a compact tasting room with rotating draft ciders. Its location along the I‑93 corridor in Thornton makes it an easy addition between brewery stops, particularly when heading to or returning from destinations in the White Mountains.
Beyond the Main Routes
The Kancamagus Highway is the obvious centerpiece for a scenic drive, but it works best as the scenic connector between stops rather than the destination itself. The waterfalls along the route, particularly Sabbaday Falls and Lower Falls, are worth a short stop year-round, with stronger flows in spring, easy access and steady conditions in summer, and dramatic scenery in fall and winter.
Route 302 through Crawford Notch is another strong option. The road passes through striking mountain scenery, including views of the Willey House site and Silver Cascade, before opening up into the valley towns of Bartlett and Glen. It’s a quieter drive than the Kanc and tends to feel especially atmospheric during early mornings or changing seasons, when mist or snow adds to the landscape.
For more route ideas across the region, the scenic drives page is a useful starting point.
Planning Tips for Safe & Responsible Visits
A day built around scenic drives and tasting stops works best with a little practical thought upfront. Choose a designated driver before you go. Most tasting rooms are happy to accommodate non-drinking visitors with water, non-alcoholic options, or simply a comfortable place to sit. Having a clear plan about who’s driving takes the guesswork out of the day and keeps everyone relaxed.
Schedules can shift depending on when you're visiting, and smaller venues can differ from what's listed online during peak season. Some tasting rooms also operate on reduced days earlier in the year. A quick call or check of the venue’s website before you head out saves the frustration of an unnecessary detour.
Consider adding non-drinking stops to your itinerary. Waterfall pull-offs along the Kancamagus, a short walk at a scenic overlook, or a coffee in a small town all add variety to the day and pace out the tasting stops naturally. The drive is part of the experience, not just the transportation between venues. The appeal of this kind of day is the absence of a rigid schedule - two or three stops done well beat five stops done in a rush.
This kind of easygoing road trip is part of what makes the White Mountains worth exploring. Ready to experience it for yourself? Start planning your getaway and map out your perfect scenic drive.