Labor Day Weekend in New Hampshire: Plan the Last Road Trip of Summer

It’s Tuesday, school buses are back on the roads around Derry, and somehow the summer is nearly over. You have one long weekend left. Labor Day weekend in New Hampshire runs from Saturday, September 5 to Monday, September 7 this year, and it’s the last chance for a beach day, a fair, or a drive north before fall routines take over.

The catch is that everyone else has the same idea. This guide is for people planning on short notice from southern New Hampshire. It covers three trips that work from Derry and Manchester, when to leave so you aren’t stuck on I-93 for two hours, and how to get a rental car four days out if the family car isn’t up to it.

When to leave, and when to come home

Holiday traffic in New Hampshire follows a predictable pattern. Northbound I-93 and the routes to the lakes and the Seacoast load up on Friday afternoon as people leave work early. The return wave hits southbound I-93 and Route 101 on Monday afternoon. You can’t avoid all of it, but you can get out of its way:

• Go early Saturday, not late Friday. An early start on Saturday usually beats crawling north at 4 PM on Friday, and you arrive with the whole day ahead of you.
• Come home Monday morning or late Monday evening. Mid-afternoon on the holiday Monday is when everyone heads south at once. Have breakfast and leave, or stay for dinner and drive back after it.
• Check the roads before you go. New England 511 shows live traffic, crashes and construction across New Hampshire. Have a passenger check it rather than the driver.
• Plan for the toll plazas. I-93 northbound passes the Hooksett tolls, and the Seacoast via I-95 passes through Hampton. Holiday volume makes these slow spots.

Three Labor Day weekend trips from Derry and Manchester

None of these needs a hotel, though each can stretch into one. Pick by the kind of day you want.

1. The fair, plus the first apples: Hopkinton and Contoocook

The Hopkinton State Fair is a Labor Day weekend tradition, and this year it runs Thursday, September 3 through Monday, September 7 in Contoocook. It’s a classic New England agricultural fair, with livestock barns, a midway and plenty of fair food. It’s a short drive up I-93 and I-89 from Manchester, so it works as a day trip rather than a weekend. Check the fair’s site for gate times, tickets and parking, and aim for an early arrival on Saturday or Sunday.

While you’re in Contoocook, Gould Hill Farm says on its website that its pick-your-own apple season typically opens on Labor Day weekend, depending on the weather and the crop. Call ahead before you plan around it.

2. The last beach day: Hampton

Labor Day weekend is the last stretch of full-length guarded hours at Hampton’s state beaches. Under the 2026 NH State Beach Patrol schedule, the main beach and South Beach keep their longer summer hours through Labor Day and switch to shorter hours afterwards. From Derry or Manchester, Route 101 east is the direct run. Arrive early, because lots near the beach fill up fast on a holiday Saturday. Our Hampton Beach day trip guide covers parking and timing in detail.

Can’t make it this weekend? The Hampton Beach Seafood Festival takes over Ocean Boulevard the following weekend, September 11 to 13.

3. One more trip north: the lakes or the mountains

For a full day out or an overnight, the Lakes Region and the White Mountains are the classic end-of-summer drives. Lake Winnipesaukee is a straightforward run up I-93. The Kancamagus Highway and Franconia Notch are a longer day, so start early and pack lunch. See our Lake Winnipesaukee guide and weekend road trips from Derry for routes. Two rental rules matter up north: paved roads only, and keep an eye on mileage (more on both below).

Booking a rental for Labor Day weekend in New Hampshire, four days out

Four days isn’t too late, but it is late. Before a holiday weekend, SUVs are usually the first class to go. If you have a preference, book today. Our guide to the best time to book explains why holiday weekends tighten up early.

• Book now, keep your options open. Cancel 48 hours or more before pickup and you get a full refund. Between 24 and 48 hours, the refund is partial. Inside that, it’s non-refundable. Booking today and deciding by Wednesday night costs you nothing if the plan falls through.
• Pick up Friday evening without rushing. Standard hours are 8 AM to 6 PM every day. After-hours pickup and return can be arranged in advance at no extra charge, so you can leave work, collect the car and go.
• Or skip the pickup. We deliver to homes across Derry, Manchester, Bedford, Salem, Londonderry, Windham, Hampstead, Hooksett, Goffstown, Auburn and Candia, with the delivery rate quoted when you book. Here’s how home delivery works.
• Young drivers are welcome. We rent to drivers 18 and older with no young-driver surcharge. Deposits start at $250 on a credit card and $300 on a debit card.

Matching the car to the weekend

A beach day for two and a camping overnight for five need different cars. The fleet runs from economy cars through midsize and full-size sedans, SUVs and luxury vehicles:

• Economy or midsize sedan: the easiest to park at a crowded beach lot or fairground, and the cheapest on fuel for a day trip.
• SUV: worth it for coolers, chairs, a tent and a full back seat. It’s also more comfortable for a long day up north. For the full trade-off, see our SUV vs. sedan guide.
• Luxury: for when the weekend is an occasion, like an anniversary or a wedding.

Watch the mileage on long drives. Most rentals include a daily mileage allowance, with extra miles at $0.50 to $1.50 or more per mile depending on the vehicle. A beach or fair day stays well inside it. A round trip to the White Mountains can use it up quickly. Tell us the route when you book and we can set up a custom mileage package.

Tolls, fuel and the Monday drive home

• Tolls are billed later. Automated tolls on a rental are tracked and billed at the end of the month, so the Hooksett, Hampton or Bedford plazas won’t hold you up at the return.
• Refuel before you bring it back. Return the car with the same fuel level it had at pickup. Filling up near home on Monday is easier than finding a station at the last minute.
• Paved roads only. Our vehicles aren’t for unpaved forest roads or beach access tracks. If you’re unsure about a road to a trailhead or campsite, call before you plan around it.
• Running late on Monday? Call as soon as you know. If you want an extra day, ask early. Extensions depend on availability, and holiday Mondays are busy.
• Trouble on the road? Call (603) 661-2672, any time, 24/7. We’ll arrange roadside help or a replacement vehicle.

Your Labor Day weekend checklist

1. Pick the trip: the fair, the beach, or a day up north.
2. Book the car today at /book/, and note the 48-hour full-refund window.
3. Choose pickup or delivery, and arrange after-hours if Friday evening suits you best.
4. Mention a long route so the mileage allowance fits the trip.
5. Plan to leave early Saturday and to come home outside Monday afternoon.
6. Check New England 511 before each drive.
7. Save (603) 661-2672 for anything that comes up on the road.

Labor Day weekend in New Hampshire goes fast. Choose the trip, time the drives around the rush, and get the car sorted this week. Then spend the last long weekend of summer at the fair, on the beach or by the lake.