A New Hampshire Covered Bridges Road Trip: Three Routes From Southern NH

There is a particular sound a car makes on the plank floor of an old covered bridge, a low drum roll that slows everyone down. New Hampshire still has dozens of these bridges, some of them nearly two centuries old, and many still carry traffic. A New Hampshire covered bridges road trip is one of the gentlest ways to spend an early-fall day: short drives, small towns, rivers, and plenty of reasons to stop.

It is also a different trip from a foliage drive. You aren’t chasing peak colour up the highway; you’re working through a list, one quiet back road at a time. Below are three routes that start from Derry and Manchester, from a half day in the Contoocook valley to a full day on the Connecticut River, plus what to know about one-lane bridges, clearance and the rental car you take.

Three New Hampshire covered bridges road trip routes from Derry

Route 1: The Contoocook valley (half day)

Head up I-93 to Concord and pick up I-89 north, and you are in covered bridge country about an hour after leaving Derry. Start in Contoocook village, where the Contoocook Railroad Bridge spans the river at the junction of Routes 103 and 127. Built in 1889 for the Concord and Claremont line, it is described by the state as the oldest surviving covered railroad bridge in the world. It’s a bridge to walk up to and photograph, not to drive.

From there, follow the river west to the Rowell Bridge in West Hopkinton, built in 1853 and still carrying cars. Then continue to Warner, which has two road bridges over the Warner River, the Dalton (1853) and the Waterloo (1840). Much of this country falls along the Currier & Ives Scenic Byway, a 40-mile route through Henniker, Hopkinton, Warner, Webster and Salisbury. It makes a natural loop home.

Route 2: Swanzey and Winchester (most bridges per mile)

Swanzey, just south of Keene, has four covered bridges in one town, and Visit NH’s Monadnock covered bridge tour builds a day around them. The drive out is part of the appeal: Route 101 west through Milford and Peterborough, then down into the Ashuelot River valley.

• West Swanzey (Thompson) Bridge, built in 1832 and one of the oldest surviving covered bridges in the state.
• Sawyers Crossing (Cresson) Bridge, dating to 1859, over the Ashuelot.
• Carlton Bridge, a small, quiet crossing of the South Branch.
• Slate Bridge, rebuilt in 2001 after fire destroyed the original.
• Ashuelot Bridge in Winchester, which local historians count among the most elaborate covered bridges in New Hampshire. The Coombs Bridge is nearby too.

The bridges sit only a few miles apart, so most of the day is spent out of the car. Finish with dinner on Keene’s wide Main Street before the drive home.

Route 3: Cornish and the Connecticut River (full day)

This is the long one, and the one people mean when they say they’ve seen “the” covered bridge. The Cornish–Windsor Covered Bridge crosses the Connecticut River into Windsor, Vermont, and Visit NH describes it as the longest two-span wooden covered bridge in the world. It still carries cars, and driving it end to end is part of the point.

Take I-89 north toward Lebanon, then follow Route 12A south along the river. Within a few miles of each other you’ll find the Blow-Me-Down and Dingleton Hill bridges in Cornish and the Meriden bridge in Plainfield. Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park is on the same stretch if you want a walk between stops. Railroad history fans can add the Pier Bridge in Newport, which Visit NH lists as the longest surviving covered railroad bridge in the world. It is open on foot only.

Budget a full day, and build the drive home around daylight. Back roads are pleasant at 4 PM and much less so after dark.

How to drive a covered bridge

Most of these bridges are one lane wide and were built for wagons. A few habits keep everyone moving and the bridges intact.

• Read the portal sign. Many bridges post a height clearance and a weight limit at the entrance. Any normal car or SUV fits a bridge that’s open to traffic, but a roof box or bikes on top need a second look.
• Yield, and go one at a time. If a car is already on the bridge or waiting at the far end, let it come through first.
• Lights on, speed down. It’s dark inside, and pedestrians often walk through. Crawl across.
• Never stop inside for photos. Park in a pull-off or a legal spot nearby and walk back. Some pull-offs only fit a car or two, so be ready to try the next one.
• Respect foot-only bridges. Some bridges are closed to vehicles. Railroad bridges, like Contoocook’s and Newport’s, were never meant for cars.

Choosing and setting up the rental

Any car in our fleet handles these routes, so pick for comfort and company. A midsize sedan is easy on a long day with two people. Bring the grandparents, a picnic and a tripod, and a compact SUV earns its place. Browse the current fleet, and request a specific make and model when you book. We match it when availability allows. A few policies matter on a bridge trip in particular:

• Paved roads only. Our vehicles are for paved roads, and off-road use is prohibited. Most of the bridges above sit on paved town roads, but a handful of New Hampshire bridges are reached by gravel. Plan a paved approach, and if you’re not sure about a road, call (603) 661-2672 and we’ll confirm.
• Mileage for the long routes. Most rentals include a daily mileage allowance, with extra miles at $0.50 to $1.50 or more depending on the vehicle. The Contoocook loop sits comfortably inside a normal day. Cornish and back may not, so mention the route when you book and we can set up a custom mileage package.
• Tolls. I-93 north of Manchester and the Everett Turnpike both have toll plazas. Automated tolls are tracked and billed at the end of the month. Our guide to New Hampshire tolls with a rental has the details.
• Pickup and delivery. Collect the car at our Derry or Manchester office between 8 AM and 6 PM, or have it delivered across our local area, from Derry and Windham to Bedford and Goffstown, with the fee quoted at booking.

Timing matters too. Late September and the first days of October are lovely for bridges in southern New Hampshire, before the peak foliage weekends bring the crowds. If you want to time a trip for colour, our fall foliage car rental guide tracks when each region usually peaks. If you’re already heading north for the summer-style sights of Franconia Notch, our White Mountains road trip guide takes you right past the Flume bridge in the photo above.

A New Hampshire covered bridges road trip rewards going slowly. Pick one route, stop at every bridge, walk the ones you can’t drive, and let the back roads set the pace.