Driving Advice - Logan to Pinkham Notch

[eddie]

I am requesting advice on the fastest way from Logan Airport to Pinkham Notch. I should be leaving the airport around 10:00 tomorrow (Thurs) morning.

Mapquest says I-95 to Rte. 16. How is I-93 to New Hampton Exit 23, then 104 to 25 to 113 to 16?

Your comments are appreciated.

BTW, our plans are to go over the Wildcats to Carter Notch Hut Thurs PM, over the Carters and out via Imp Face Friday, staying at Joe Dodge Lodge Fri and Sat night. Saturday and Sunday's hikes are up in the air and weather dependent. Look me up if you're in the neighborhood this weekend - maybe we can do something together.

 

[bobandgeri]

Microsoft STreet & TIps agrees with Mapquest:

Rte 95 to Rte 16= 154 mile - 2:56

Rte 93 to Rte 25 to Rte 113 to Rte 116 = 172 miles - 3:15

Not a whole lot of differance, so pick the route that takes you past places you want to stop for lunch, shopping, etc (EMS in Concord - good sushi place next door)

 

[roadtripper]

I don't think it matters a whole lot - it's a longer drive than you really want it to be no matter what. The small towns along both routes (once you get off the interstates) force you to slow down to 30 or 35mpg quite a few times.

If I had to pick, I'd pick I-95 to 16 for no specific reason I can think of whatsoever

P.S. PM me if you want dining recommendations for that area.

 

[audrey]

I'd pick I-95 on a weekday - if you get lucky and aren't stuck behind anyone, it can be much faster.

 

[Peaks]

North Conway

Depending on the time of day, and day of the week, you might consider taking west side road to avoid North Conway.

 

[MichaelJ]

How is I-93 to New Hampton Exit 23, then 104 to 25 to 113 to 16?

No no no no no no!!!!!!!

This route is ... unpleasant. 95->16 is the most direct, but you have to pay a lot of attention to speed limits and there's really nothing on 16 until you get to Conway. I prefer to just go up 93 because of rest stops, coffee stops, etc.

For the most scenic ride, go up 93 to the Kanc (112), go east to Bear Notch Road to 302, then take 302 east to 16 and up the last stretch to Pinkham.

Given you're doing this on a Thursday after morning rush hour, your options are wide open.

 

[eddie]

Thank you all!

95 to 16 it is. See ya there!

 

[sardog1]

A short distance north of the Rochester tolls on Rte. 16 there's a bottleneck that's been pretty bad at busy times this summer. A new shopping complex is being built right alongside the highway. Posted speed limit is 45 mph from the tolls through the construction zone.

A little north of there the pavement has been stripped off for a pending repaving. There is a new double yellow line barring passing from Exit 16 north to the top of the big hill. This is about a two mile stretch which ordinarily allows faster drivers to pass others. It was still in place this afternoon.

Bottom line -- traffic on Rte. 16 through Rochester has been worse than usual. I've seen some very ugly lines northbound on Fridays and southbound on Sunday afternoons from very early to late. The southbound backup has at times extended from Exit 17 in Milton all the way south to Exits 13 and 12, some 6-7 miles. If you're planning on returning via this route on a Sunday anytime after 10:00 a.m. to catch a flight, I'd think about alternatives.

 

[DougPaul]

93->3->115->2->16 works well (ie via Franconia Notch, Twin Mtn, and Gorham). Fast roads most of the way with a minimum of traffic congestion. I have calculated the milages--IIRC , the break-even point for N vs S on 16 routes is Wildcat Ski area (~1 mi N of Pinkham.)

Seems to me we have had other threads on this topic--search and ye shall find.

Doug

 

[rocket21]

A little north of there the pavement has been stripped off for a pending repaving.

This particular stretch is being paved as we speak (I had to sit in traffic a little while ago while they had one whole side of the road closed) and should be done before the weekend. There's some additional work that's going to be done in multiple sections, but most of the scarified pavement should be covered tomorrow morning.

There's an additional shortcut in Conway - the hint is taking 113 West for a moment, then taking some back roads - this gets you around the bottleneck from the Kanc to West Side (you'll end up facing West Side Road).

 

[MichaelJ]

Don't forget that there's an east side bypass, too, as an option. It doesn't go as far as West Side Road (which will take you all the way to 302 if you take a left at the end instead of a right), but it's been useful to me many times.

 

[dentonfabrics]

No no no no no no!!!!!!!

This route is ... unpleasant. 95->16 is the most direct, but you have to pay a lot of attention to speed limits and there's really nothing on 16 until you get to Conway. I prefer to just go up 93 because of rest stops, coffee stops, etc.

For the most scenic ride, go up 93 to the Kanc (112), go east to Bear Notch Road to 302, then take 302 east to 16 and up the last stretch to Pinkham.

Given you're doing this on a Thursday after morning rush hour, your options are wide open.

I agree with MJ 100%. And Rt 113 has to be the worst road in NH for driving. The speed limit changes every 5 miles and cops with radar are waiting to pounce on you. And at least on the Kanc, there's room to pass the tourists who are slower drivers.

This is, what, maybe the 10th thread on this very topic?

 

[MichaelJ]

Kanc is still faster; I go through Nashua all the time since I'm on Rte 3 in MA. Plus, 93-Kanc-Bear Notch, or 93-3-115-2, are just plain *easier* to drive on.

 

[rocket21]

I should also add that there is still road construction going on in Ossipee (Route 16) - two overpasses are narrowed and portions of the road are scarified, meaning there will be paving in the near future.

Fortunately, the section of Route 16/302 on the northern portion of North Conway is nearly complete.

 

[NewHampshire]

The way I usually go is 93>104>3>25>16. The speed limit does change a lot, but I have never seen a cop in the dozen or more times on this route (though perhaps it because I am usually on it before 8:00.) I absolutely LOVE this drive. Meredith, Center Harbor on through to Sandwich....its just a lovely drive period. GoogleMap usually suggests using 113 as a short cut, but I just stay on 25 knowing better . But I think everyone else is correct that 95 is probably better/quicker from where you are coming from.

Brian

 

[rocket21]

GoogleMap usually suggests using 113 as a short cut, but I just stay on 25 knowing better

You can shave a minute or two off 113 by taking Page Hill Road, which makes the 16/25 difference minimal.

 

[eddie]

Since I started this thread and then experinced the pain this past weekend of the traffic in Conway and North Conway, my opinion is that the best way is 93>Kanc>Bear>302>16. That's the way I returned from Pinkham Notch VC at 2:00pm on Sunday and made it to Logan by 5:20pm.

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

93->3->115->2->16 works well (ie via Franconia Notch, Twin Mtn, and Gorham). Fast roads most of the way with a minimum of traffic congestion. I have calculated the milages--IIRC , the break-even point for N vs S on 16 routes is Wildcat Ski area (~1 mi N of Pinkham.)
Doug

Might be hard to believe, but I think that Doug is spot on; "going over the top" is not only about the same distance to Pinkham's AMC, and shorter to the Auto Road, but much faster to anything north of Jackson, including Rocky Branch northern trailhead.

Dr. D.

 

[rocket21]

Route 16 Update: Construction is basically all done from Portsmouth to Ossipee (there is still work going on on the side of the route southbound south of Rochester - some sort of pipeline - but the paving and line painting appear to be complete).

Ossipee area construction still in progress - though it looks like they're close to fully reopening those bridges after some paving.

North-South Road in North Conway is almost done, too.

 

[DougPaul]

Might be hard to believe, but I think that Doug is spot on; "going over the top" is not only about the same distance to Pinkham's AMC, and shorter to the Auto Road, but much faster to anything north of Jackson, including Rocky Branch northern trailhead.

A year or two ago, I estimated the distance with my digital maps via various routes from the junction of Rtes 93 and 128 (MA) to various points in the Whites. Going "over the top" to the Pinkham area wins.

Doug