This Scenic 43-Mile Drive Just May Be The Most Underrated Adventure In New Hampshire
By Ken MacGray|Published May 02, 2023
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Ken MacGray
Author
Hey! I'm a freelance writer and guidebook author. I've authored "New Hampshire's 52 With A View - A Hiker's Guide", serve as editor of Appalachian Mountain Club's "Southern New Hampshire Trail Guide", and and am co-editor of the "White Mountain Guide", also for AMC. I'm currently beginning work on the 6th Edition of AMC's Southern New Hampshire Trail Guide, which will be published in 2025. I live in southern New Hampshire and can usually be found wandering throughout the state's mountains and forests.
When you think of a scenic drive in New Hampshire, images of expansive landscapes and towering mountain ranges might come to mind. But there is much to see in the Granite State that is tucked away on local roads within small towns. One NH scenic drive through five of these towns harkens back to when the main mode of transport was by horse and carriage.
The Robert Frost/Old Stagecoach Scenic Byway stretches 43 miles along Route 121 through the towns of Atkinson, Hampstead, Derry, Chester, and Auburn.
Some of Frost's most important writings were done while teaching at Pinkerton Academy in Derry. The town has been cited as an inspiration for his work.
The Byway travels through a corridor of historic sites, natural scenery, outdoor recreational opportunities, and numerous other attractions in the region.
The overarching theme of the Byway is to preserve the history and culture of rural southern New Hampshire and how it was shaped by early transportation.
Visitors traveling the Byway today will see much of what early stage coach passengers did and a significant number of buildings still survive from that period.
This NH scenic drive may be a departure from the mountains and landscapes of the state, but it’s no less interesting in terms of history. For more information and a map of the route, visit the Robert Frost/Old Stagecoach Scenic Byway website.