Highest-rated free things to do in New Hampshire by visitors

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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

#29. Seabrook Beach

– Rating: 4.3/5 (74 reviews)- City: Seabrook

#28. Mount Lafayette

– Rating: 4.9/5 (62 reviews)- City: Franconia

#27. Hermit Woods Winery & Eatery

– Rating: 4.6/5 (151 reviews)- City: Meredith

#26. Lake Massabesic

– Rating: 4.5/5 (170 reviews)- City: Manchester

#25. Portsmouth Harbor Trail

– Rating: 4.4/5 (48 reviews)- City: Portsmouth

#24. Riverwalk Covered Bridge

– Rating: 4.5/5 (280 reviews)- City: Littleton

#23. Weirs Beach

– Rating: 3.9/5 (323 reviews)- City: Weirs Beach Laconia

#22. Mount Major

– Rating: 4.6/5 (108 reviews)- City: Alton Bay

#21. Moulton Farm

– Rating: 4.7/5 (256 reviews)- City: Meredith

#20. Crawford Notch State Park

– Rating: 4.6/5 (166 reviews)- City: Harts Location

#19. West Rattlesnake Mountain

– Rating: 4.9/5 (218 reviews)- City: Holderness

#18. Franconia Notch

– Rating: 4.8/5 (116 reviews)- City: Franconia

#17. Dartmouth College

– Rating: 4.7/5 (193 reviews)- City: Hanover

#16. Livingston Park

– Rating: 4.6/5 (207 reviews)- City: Manchester

#15. Artist Bluff Trail

– Rating: 4.6/5 (89 reviews)- City: Franconia

#14. Mine Falls Park

– Rating: 4.6/5 (302 reviews)- City: Nashua

#13. Merrimack Premium Outlets

– Rating: 4.3/5 (537 reviews)- City: Merrimack

#12. White Mountain National Forest

– Rating: 4.8/5 (253 reviews

#11. Settlers Green

– Rating: 4.2/5 (455 reviews)- City: North Conway

#10. Glen Ellis Falls

– Rating: 4.8/5 (364 reviews)- City: Jackson

#9. Jackson Falls

– Rating: 4.7/5 (393 reviews)- City: Jackson

#8. Prescott Park

– Rating: 4.5/5 (727 reviews)- City: Portsmouth

#7. Sabbaday Falls

– Rating: 4.6/5 (297 reviews)- City: Conway

#6. The Basin at Franconia Notch State Park

– Rating: 4.7/5 (1,010 reviews)- City: Franconia

#5. Hampton Beach State Park

– Rating: 4.4/5 (1,398 reviews)- City: Hampton

#4. Market Square

– Rating: 4.6/5 (760 reviews)- City: Portsmouth

#3. Cathedral Ledge

– Rating: 4.7/5 (1,044 reviews)- City: North Conway

#2. Diana’s Baths

– Rating: 4.6/5 (1,614 reviews)- City: North Conway

#1. Kancamagus Highway

– Rating: 4.7/5 (3,606 reviews)- City: North Conway

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.