Follow New Hampshire’s Ice Cream Trail for a Unique Fall Vacation

Fall is a beautiful time for family travelers to visit New Hampshire. The leaves are turning, the temperatures are cooling and the Ice Cream Trail is beckoning. Anyone who loves ice cream knows it isn’t just a summer treat, and New Hampshire has made dreams come true for ice cream afficionados with a curated listing of 42 of the best ice cream shops in the state.

The trail covers the entire state with ice cream shops featured in every region, so pairing the Ice Cream Trail with a road trip through the state ensures the family can explore every corner of New Hampshire, from the Great North Woods near the Canadian border to the Seacoast region in the southeast.

Along the trail, you will not only get a glimpse of some of New Hampshire’s most beautiful scenery (think sprawling woods, picturesque villages, covered bridges, majestic mountains), but you will also get to sample some of New Hampshire’s best dairy products. Several shops featured on the trail use 100 percent New Hampshire milk and cream, such as Super Secret Ice Cream in Bethlehem, located in the White Mountains region. Not only is its ice cream crafted from pure-New Hampshire dairy products, but it is also handmade on-site in small batches.

As you drive through the Lakes region, be sure to stop by one of the new additions to the list, Papa Beans Ice Cream in North Sandwich. Its 100 percent New Hampshire-made delicacies feature fun flavors like cinnamon, pumpkin pie and strawberry hibiscus. If your journey takes you through the Monadnock region, then Frisky Cow Gelato should be on your itinerary, where you can try some handmade, fresh gelato that is from 100 percent New Hampshire milk and cream and comes in flavors like sweet maple cream crafted from a locally sourced maple cream. The Mint Owl Crunch features a dark chocolate gelato using a homemade cocoa cream made with Belgian cocoa powder.

The Merrimack Valley region, located in the Southern portion of the state, has the highest concentration of stops along the trail and features shops like Richardson’s Farms, owned by a local dairy that also serves up handmade pies, pastries and crisps along with uts homemade, 100 percent New Hampshire ice cream.

You can check out a complete listing of all 42 stops here, along with a map showing you which shops are dairy-owned, which shops offer handmade ice cream and which ones feature treats made strictly with New Hampshire dairy products.