The capital of New Hampshire since the early 1800s, Concord sits on the Merrimack River in the heart of the state, its skyline crowned by the golden dome of the oldest working State House in the country. Known for its Concord granite and stagecoach heritage, the city pairs a walkable historic downtown of theaters and museums with orchards, riverside trails, and quick access to New Hampshire’s lakes and ski country. From apple picking and rail-bikes to the McAuliffe-Shepard space museum, here are the 25 best things to do in and around Concord.
Fun Facts About Concord, New Hampshire
The town took the name Concord in 1765 — meaning "harmony" — to mark the end of a bitter boundary dispute, and became the seat of state government in 1808.
Completed in 1819 from local granite, the New Hampshire State House is the oldest state capitol in which the legislature still meets in its original chambers.
Concord granite was prized nationwide and was used to build both the State House and the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
The city was the home of the Concord Coach, the elegant, rugged stagecoach that carried mail and passengers across 19th-century America.
Concord teacher Christa McAuliffe, who would have been the first teacher in space, and astronaut Alan Shepard are honored at the city’s McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center.
With about 44,000 residents, Concord is New Hampshire’s third-largest city, wrapped in thousands of acres of city conservation land and miles of trails.
The Capitol Center for the Arts is a non-profit theater with over 1,300 seats in downtown Concord. Its programming spans live music concerts, Broadway revivals, stand-up comedy, and school functions. Set among the downtown streets, the venue sits within a short walk of numerous restaurants and bars, making it easy to build an evening around a performance.
Drinks and snacks are served before shows, and a strong sound system paired with a thoughtful layout means there isn’t a bad seat in the house. The building itself rewards a look, too: its well-preserved historical appearance carries an Egyptian motif throughout the design, giving the theater a distinctive character beyond the stage.
Chuckster’s is a family-oriented seasonal park packed with outdoor fun, from mini-golf and go-karts to a climbing wall. The signature draw is TimberTrek, a ropes course with ziplining, alongside batting cages and kid’s paddle boats. It’s a full afternoon of activities aimed squarely at active families looking to spread out across the grounds.
The ice cream stand is a favorite, serving 36 flavors of ice cream and sundaes, including custom creations named "Upchuck" and "Chuckster Chunk." Hungry visitors can also grab hot snacks like pizza and hot dogs, rounding out a stop that keeps everyone fed and entertained between rounds of golf and rides.
Run by Rob and Ann just outside Concord, Carter Hill Orchard pairs a working orchard with a playground and a bakery that draws steady crowds. Apple pie and cider donuts are the big sellers, though the counter also turns out other pastries and fresh apple cider. Espalier-style trees line the orchard beside the lookout tower, framing the mountains behind.
Walking trails wind across the property to a viewing platform where distant mountains fill the horizon, and a rope swing keeps the kids happily occupied. When the seasons cooperate, you can pick your own blueberries, peaches, and apples straight from the rows, making a visit as much about the outing as the bakery haul you carry home.
Pawtuckaway State Park is a large park with swimming, scenic boulders, climbing, diverse wildlife, and winter sports. A lovely beach sits on the lake, with picnic tables, grills, and lifeguards on duty. A campground store and snack shop round out the amenities, and kayaking and canoeing are available too, making it a solid outing for families.
Hikers should arrive from the west entrance, where roadside parking gives access to trails up South Mountain and Middle Mountain. The walking terrain is excellent throughout, and the mountain biking trails are well maintained, so cyclists and hikers alike find plenty of ground to cover across the park’s varied landscape of lake, forest, and rocky high points.
Established in 2007, Red River Theatres Inc. is a non-profit, three-screen cinema showing independent films and classics in a state-of-the-art theater. The intimate, comfortable venue also houses a café and a gallery. Modern leather seating is spacious, and each chair comes with its own table for holding your concessions and drinks.
The food selection stands out among movie theaters. Concessions include sandwiches from Concord Co-op, entrees from Blake’s Turkey farm, and Granite State Candy, alongside craft beer, wine, and ciders. The popcorn earns particular praise. Together the offerings make a visit here feel closer to a proper evening out than a typical trip to the cinema.
Less than half an hour from Concord, Pat’s Peak Ski Area packs family winter fun into one hillside. Kids take lessons on the bunny hill, beginners ease into gentle runs, and stronger skiers and snowboarders tackle more demanding intermediate-to-pro trails. Tubing rounds out the day, giving everyone a reason to get outside once the snow settles in.
The mountain spans 26 diverse trails, three terrain parks, and night skiing for those who want extra runs after dark. Two lodges anchor the base and slopes: dine at the 1,460-foot summit or head up to the bar on the top level. The space also books as a venue for weddings and banquets.
White Park packs in nearly everything a park-goer could want, anchored by the Monkey Around Playground, the largest playground in Concord. Groomed trails wind through the grounds, and the recreation options continue with a baseball field, a basketball court, and a pool spread across a space generous enough to claim a quiet corner of your own.
Cold weather only widens the appeal. An outdoor rink draws ice skaters, while a sledding hill keeps the younger crowd busy through the snow. Compact enough to feel welcoming yet varied enough to fill an afternoon, it remains one of the most popular parks in Concord for locals and visitors looking to get outdoors year-round.
The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center is an interactive science museum honoring New Hampshire astronauts Alan Shepard, the first American in space, and Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher in space. Its exhibitions span engineering and science, including a full-size replica of a Mercury Redstone Rocket and unique NASA artifacts such as a space toilet and a space treadmill.
Beyond the hardware, the hands-on displays let you see yourself in infrared light and get a sense of what life in orbit is like. This high-tech museum rounds out the experience with a planetarium and an observatory, making it a strong stop for anyone curious about space, flight, and the astronauts who put the state on the map.
Livingston Park is a year-round draw known for its sport and outdoor activities. Ball fields and open spaces spread across the grounds, and an extensive playground welcomes children of all ages. The renovated swimming pool now features a water slide, giving families a refreshing spot to cool off through the warmer months.
The park sits beside Dorr’s Pond, where an easy 1-mile loop trail circles the water with several benches along the way. Tree canopies keep the path shady and pleasant even on the hottest days. There is something to do in every season, with fishing in summer and ice skating once the pond freezes over in winter.
Located in Manchester, just 20 minutes from Concord, the Currier Museum of Art focuses on both European and American work. Its exhibits range from Monet and Picasso to O’Keeffe, alongside decorative arts. The collection leans heavily into glass art and modern pieces, and also holds a strong selection of midcentury paintings.
A dedicated space is set aside for visiting and rotating exhibitions, so there is usually something new to see. The guided tours are led by helpful, informative guides who add real context to the galleries. Before you leave, the gift shop stocks unique items, including art-related scarves and prints worth browsing.
McIntyre Ski Area is a city-owned ski area next to Derryfield Park in Manchester. This winter playground has been a New Hampshire favorite since its chairlift began running in 1971. Today it offers beginner ski trails and lessons alongside tubing, and though the slopes are small, there are some neat pathways to explore.
On weekends, visitors might find live entertainment plus a fire pit warmed by heat lamps. The area is also home to the Hill Grill, a favorite among its customers. Set against a gorgeous mountain view, the restaurant is known for its Angus burger with fries, rounding out a full day on the slopes.
Also known as the Susan N. McLane Audubon Center, the New Hampshire Audubon is the oldest environmental center in the state. This nature center pairs wooded hiking trails with a raptor exhibit and indoor animal displays, offering environmental activities for visitors of all ages and a genuine window into the region’s wildlife and its habitats.
The raptor exhibit is the spot to see birds of prey up close, from a bald eagle to a screech owl and a peregrine falcon. Educational programs open to the public round out the experience, so you can join an animal tracking walk or set off on an adventure treasure hunt across the grounds.
Concord Antiques sits in the downtown area and first opened in 1997, making it the largest antique group store in the capital region. Covering 10,000 square feet, the space houses more than 155 different dealers who showcase and sell their antiques under one roof.
From the outside it is hard to picture just how many stalls fill the interior or how diverse the goods are. Browsers can find nearly anything, from jewelry and postcards to furniture and tools. Relaxing ambient music plays throughout, and the staff serves fresh coffee across the day as you explore.
Scenic RailRiders runs pedal-powered bike tours along abandoned railroad tracks that trace the Merrimack River. Though the route follows the rails, the roughly two-hour ride serves up plenty of variety, gliding past scenery that feels untouched. You will pass a working dairy farm with grazing cows and cross weathered old bridges, all at an easy, unhurried pace.
The pedaling stays gentle throughout, making this an approachable outing for families. At a few points along the way, riders hop off so their rail bike can be turned around before continuing. The staff are exceptionally friendly and happy to help with whatever you need, which keeps the whole experience relaxed and welcoming from start to finish.
Twenty minutes from Concord, Canterbury Shaker Village is a museum and historic site founded in 1969 and designated a National Historic Landmark for its architectural and historical importance. The grounds hold 25 original Shaker buildings spread across 694 acres of gardens, ponds, fields, and forests, preserving a religious community that has now nearly vanished.
Here you can learn about the Shaker history and culture that once thrived in the region, then watch live demonstrations of traditional crafts such as broom making, wool spinning, woodworking, and rug braiding. After exploring the green space, you can pause at the on-site cafe or wander the nature trail that winds through the grounds.
Winant Park is a city-owned expanse of lush woods laced with a variety of trails and interpretive signs that share natural and cultural information. Old-growth specimen trees fill the grounds, and the terrain opens onto a peek-a-boo vista of the State House’s gold dome along with wider mountain views.
Most trails run short and steep, though their lengths vary; a color-coded map at the main kiosk details each of the five named routes. Mountain bikers will find a few good downhill spots and a couple of more technical trails, making the park a compact but rewarding outing for hikers and riders alike.
Franklin Pierce, the 14th President of the United States, was a native of New Hampshire, and his Concord home is now open to the public. The Pierce Manse is a 19th-century Greek revival house offering guided tours through rooms filled with the original furnishings and objects that once belonged to Pierce himself.
Touring the house shows how Pierce carried on his day-to-day life and what things were like in the middle of the 19th century. To go deeper, visit his childhood home, the Franklin Pierce Homestead in Hillsborough, or pay your respects at his grave in Concord’s Old North Cemetery.
Dimond Hill Farm stands as an icon of the resurgence of small farms and locally grown meat, dairy, and vegetable products across New Hampshire. Spanning 150 acres, the farm grows and sells a variety of fresh produce from its farm stand, offering the kind of seasonal selection you would expect from a busy farmers market.
Beyond the produce, the stand carries an assortment of locally grown and created goods, including cheese, honey, jams, and ice cream. The setting is a draw in its own right, with a lovely 19th-century Victorian farmhouse and barn sitting on a ridge that overlooks the city of Concord below.
Founded in 1823 as a non-profit, the New Hampshire Historical Society serves as both a museum and a library dedicated to the state’s history. Its exhibitions and research resources draw on thousands of objects, books, documents, maps, and photographs, forming the largest collection of artifacts that tells New Hampshire’s story from every era.
The holdings range from Native American artifacts to 19th-century paintings, spanning centuries of the state’s cultural and material life. The building itself rewards attention: a Greek-temple-like structure completed in 1911, it is regarded as the greatest example of architecture in New Hampshire, giving the collections inside a fittingly grand home.
Just 30 minutes from Concord, Charmingfare Farm is a real working farm where the fields get plowed and planted, the rooster crows at dawn, and the barn cats chase mice. Visitors can take pony, hay, and tractor rides, but the highlight is the petting zoo, where kids meet the animals up close.
A full calendar of special events runs throughout the year, from summer camp and field trips to the Teddy Bear Picnic, Reptile Day, and Halloween rides. Concerts and magic shows round out the lineup, giving families plenty of reasons to return in every season for a fresh mix of farm fun and entertainment.
Spanning over 10,000 acres, Bear Brook State Park is the largest developed state park in New Hampshire. This massive, forested expanse packs in hiking, horseback riding, Nordic skiing, and archery, giving visitors a wide range of ways to spend a day outdoors among the trees and connecting trail networks.
The park also preserves several historic museums, including the New Hampshire Antique Snowmobile Museum, the Old Allenstown Meeting House, and the Richard Diehl Civilian Conservation Corps Museum. Trails are decently well marked and link into loops, so hikers can easily scale up their distance, while inclined sections offer an extra way to raise the difficulty.
Architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed the Zimmerman House in 1950, proposing a new way of living shaped by nature, individual freedom, and simplicity. Now open to the public, Tours of Zimmerman House brings visitors inside that vision, letting you experience firsthand how Wright translated his ideas about harmonious, unpretentious living into a real home built for everyday use.
On the guided tour you can explore the period furniture and take in the house as a whole. Guides walk you through its full story, from the early design stage through to how the house came into the museum’s possession. They also explain the ongoing work required to keep the property in great condition for the guests who continue to walk through it.
Funspot is a sprawling arcade complex and amusement center with something for everyone. Classic arcade games, pinball, and ticket-redemption machines fill the floors, while the upper level draws crowds as the main attraction, packed with vintage titles. Beyond the games, the complex rounds out its offerings with bingo, mini-golf, and bowling.
A basic fast-food restaurant and a separate bar handle the practical side of a long visit, keeping the focus on play. The real curiosity sits on the third floor, where a museum gathers old and unusual games spanning arcade history. It makes a fitting stop for anyone who wants to trace how these machines evolved over the decades.
Gunstock Mountain Resort is a family-friendly ski and snowboard area that also offers Nordic terrain, a mountain coaster, and tubing. Beginner classes are excellent, yet experienced skiers will find plenty to enjoy on the Terrain Park and the challenging trails. Between runs, take time to admire the views of snowy mountains and conifers stretching across the landscape.
The resort stays popular through summer, with numerous trails for biking and hiking and two trailheads on the Belknap Mountains range. It is also a favorite camping destination, giving visitors a base for exploring the surrounding terrain. As a bonus for families, a ground pool keeps the kids happily occupied after a day outdoors.
The Common Man Restaurant in Concord serves relaxed American fare in quaint, comfortable quarters staffed by a welcoming team. Beyond the dining room, guests can settle into the expanded lounge, Doc’s Primary Pub, or the outdoor deck areas, each offering an easygoing, at-home atmosphere that suits both a casual meal and a lingering evening.
Menu highlights lean into hearty comfort classics, from the crab cake and the cheese and crackers appetizer to a satisfying pot roast and a warming bowl of onion soup. The cozy dining area, anchored by a fireplace, draws a loyal winter crowd of skiers looking to thaw out after a day on the slopes.
Getting to Concord
Concord sits at the crossroads of two interstates, which makes it one of the easier New England capitals to reach by car. Interstate 93 runs north-south through the city, linking it down to the Boston area and up toward the White Mountains, while Interstate 89 branches off just to the south and heads northwest into Vermont. A pair of US routes also thread through downtown, so arriving from the lakes, the seacoast, or the western part of the state is straightforward.
The closest commercial airport is the regional field near the state’s largest city just to the south, roughly a thirty-minute drive down the interstate, and it is the simplest option for most itineraries. Many travellers fly instead into the major international hub in the Boston metro area, about an hour and a half away, and drive up; the corridor is served directly by intercity coach lines with a stop in Concord, which is useful if you would rather not rent a car. There is no passenger rail directly into the city, so plan on the highway or the bus for the final leg.
Getting Around Concord
Downtown Concord is compact and genuinely walkable: the Main Street spine, the State House lawn, and the surrounding civic and commercial blocks sit close enough together that you can cover the core on foot and browse shops, theatres, and cafes without moving your car. Once you step beyond that central grid, though, the city spreads out along its river valley and up into leafy residential neighbourhoods, and a car becomes the practical way to reach the outlying orchards, parks, and museum destinations.
A local bus network covers the main corridors for getting between neighbourhoods, and rideshare is available for shorter hops, but the quiet side streets and river paths also make cycling pleasant in the warmer months. Parking is rarely a headache by big-city standards: downtown has metered street spaces plus municipal lots and a garage close to Main Street, and attractions on the edges of town almost always have their own free lots.
Where to Stay in Concord
If you want to be within walking distance of the State House, the theatres, and the restaurant row, base yourself in or immediately around the downtown Main Street district; it is the most central and pedestrian-friendly part of the city and puts the civic attractions at your doorstep. For a quieter, more residential feel, the tree-lined neighbourhoods spreading north and east across the river offer a calmer overnight while still being a short drive from the centre.
Travellers arriving by car or breaking up a longer road trip often prefer the districts nearer the interstate interchanges on the southern and western edges of town, where highway access is quickest and lots are easy. If your visit centres on the college and hospital area, the neighbourhoods near campus give you a middle-ground base that is close to both the schools and the downtown core.
Where to Eat in Concord
The densest concentration of places to eat is the downtown Main Street district, where you will find everything from casual cafes and bakeries to sit-down dinners packed into a few walkable blocks, with more options scattered along the commercial stretches leading out of the centre. Because Concord is a state capital and a college town, the mix leans broad and includes a solid showing of pub fare, brewpubs, and international kitchens alongside the New England standards.
For the regional flavour, look for classic Northern New England fare: creamy clam chowder and lobster rolls carried inland from the coast, hearty maple-glazed dishes and maple-sweetened desserts that lean on the local sugaring tradition, and apple-forward treats like cider doughnuts and pies drawn from the surrounding orchard country. Cold-weather comfort plates such as baked beans, chowders, and pot pies round out the menus, and the area’s farm-to-table and craft-beer scene is easy to find on the downtown blocks.
One Day in Concord
Concord is compact enough to see in a day if you start on its rural western edge and work steadily back toward the capitol dome and the shops along Main Street. The plan below runs from the orchards and woods on the outskirts into the downtown core, then finishes on the city’s northern side—so you never double back across town.
Morning: Begin on the hills west of the river at Carter Hill Orchard, where the rows of apple trees and the long view back toward the capital city make for an unhurried first hour. Drop a few minutes south to Dimond Hill Farm, a working farmstand just down the road, then turn back toward the center and pull in at New Hampshire Audubon, whose trails and nature center sit at the western approach to downtown.
Afternoon: Ease into the historic core, starting at the New Hampshire Historical Society for the story of the state told in one handsome building. From there it is a short walk to The Pierce Manse, the restored home of a New Hampshire president, before you loop over to the green lawns and pond at White Park. When hunger sets in, settle in for a late lunch at The Common Man Restaurant, then browse the aisles at Concord Antiques a couple of blocks away.
Evening: Move to the north end of downtown and let the kids—or your inner one—loose among the hands-on exhibits and planetarium at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center. Circle back to the heart of Main Street to close the day with a show at the Capitol Center for the Arts, or catch an independent film a door down at Red River Theatres Inc.. If you have a second morning, save it for the drive north to Canterbury Shaker Village, whose preserved meetinghouse and workshops reward a slower, half-day visit of their own.
Free Things to Do in Concord
Concord rewards a light budget. Touring the New Hampshire State House — the nation’s oldest working capitol — is free and needs no appointment, and strolling the granite-lined downtown past its historic storefronts costs nothing. The city’s parks are open to all: White Park, Winant Park, and the trails around Livingston Park’s Dorr’s Pond give you playgrounds, woods, and water without an entry fee, and Concord’s conservation land adds miles more of free hiking.
History buffs can pay their respects at the Franklin Pierce tomb in Old North Cemetery at no charge, and the exteriors and grounds of landmarks like the Pierce Manse and the State House make for a free self-guided walking tour. Add a browse through downtown’s antique shops and galleries, and you can fill a full day in the capital spending little more than what you choose to.
FAQ: Visiting Concord
What is Concord, New Hampshire known for?
Concord is best known as New Hampshire’s state capital and home to the nation’s oldest working State House, built from local granite. It is also known for its granite-quarrying and Concord Coach stagecoach heritage, its downtown arts scene, and as the home of teacher-astronaut Christa McAuliffe, honored at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center.
How many days do you need in Concord?
A day or two covers the highlights of the city itself — the State House, the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, downtown’s theaters and shops, and a park or orchard. With day trips to Canterbury Shaker Village, Pawtuckaway State Park, or the nearby ski areas and lakes, a long weekend is ideal.
When is the best time to visit Concord?
Fall is the classic time to visit, when Concord’s orchards fill with apple pickers and New Hampshire’s foliage peaks. Summer is great for the parks, rail-bikes, and lakes, while winter brings skiing and tubing at nearby Pats Peak and Gunstock. Spring is quieter but pleasant for downtown and museum visits.
Is Concord good for families?
Yes. Family favorites include Chuckster’s mini-golf and ropes course, the hands-on McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, apple picking at Carter Hill Orchard, the animals at Charmingfare Farm, and the arcades at Funspot. Many of the city’s parks have playgrounds, pools, and easy trails for kids.
What are the best outdoor activities near Concord?
Beyond the city parks, popular outdoor trips include hiking and the fire tower at Pawtuckaway State Park, the trails and museums of Bear Brook State Park, pedal-powered rail-bikes with Scenic RailRiders along the Merrimack, and skiing or mountain biking at Pats Peak and Gunstock Mountain Resort.
How far is Concord from Manchester and the White Mountains?
Concord sits about 20 miles north of Manchester, roughly a 25-minute drive, making city stops like the Currier Museum an easy add-on. The White Mountains begin about an hour and a half to the north, so Concord works well as a base for exploring central and northern New Hampshire.
Is Concord worth visiting?
Concord is well worth a visit for travelers who enjoy history, small-city charm, and easy access to the outdoors. Its walkable downtown, historic State House, distinctive museums, and surrounding orchards, lakes, and mountains make it a rewarding stop on any New Hampshire itinerary.
