It's our favorite place in the US, but so many RVers skip it
We've talked a lot about our love for New Hampshire in the blog. Our rivers run deep, as this was the state where I "came of age" as both a young adult and a musician, where we took many day trips when we first started dating, and where we got married.
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Nicole Anderson
We knew before we started RVing that our plan was to eventually settle down here. We wanted to buy land and build a home in the White Mountains. Financially, we couldn't swing a direct move from MA to NH, and so we decided instead to live a life of travel for a few years while we saved money. Saving money on the road is never a guarantee, but we kept our lifestyle frugal, especially compared to the high price of living in MA. Then last year, our next chapter snuck up on us more quickly than we expected. In September 2024, we found the perfect lot of land and put in an offer. After weeks of negotiation, we closed on the property in early November.
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Nicole Anderson
Initially, we planned to hold off looking at land until fall 2025, after 4 years of full-timing. It's been strange to think about what our past year might have been like had we waited and started looking for land now. We both agree that the timing worked out for the best. To put it bluntly, we would have been even more fatigued during our travels this year, and we wouldn't actually be in a position to buy land right now because our financial situation has temporarily shifted. The "what could have been" looks pretty glum, but the "what is" is having a new home-base for our RV, in our favorite place in the country. We are slowly lining up our ducks to eventually start building, but right now, our land serves as the best boondocking site and a place of security amidst the mayhem of life.
During our travels, we often have conversations with people wondering what our favorite place has been in our travels. It's not a question that has an answer, but we always choose a place that we only experienced because of our travels. We don't answer NH because we see it as more of a home than a travel destination. What's funnier, though, is what people ask when NH does get brought up in conversations. Questions like, "So even though you've seen all these other states, you still choose to live in NH?" Why, yes! Even more people tell us that they've never been to NH or have just passed through as they traveled New England.
When we've talked with our fellow RVers, we've noticed how few of them have taken the time to travel NH, even when they've visited New England. So many drive through the state on their way to Maine or Vermont. Many exclaim that it "looked beautiful" and they would "have to go back someday." The White Mountains, especially, are that region that doesn't seem to attract RVers unless there is some other reason to be there. Most RVers seem to be local or are passing through to get to other parts of the Northeast. When the whole country is offered, the Whites seldom make the cut as a destination. But, of the few RVers who have experienced the Whites, their reaction is exactly what we hope and expect: "Oh, we loved it! It's so beautiful up there!"
We had to wonder why so many RVers choose to skip this part of New England, and we've come up with a few theories.
It's New England
The most obvious theory is what we assume is the most common reason for people to avoid not just the Whites, but New England altogether. This part of the country is out of the way, and once you get here, you have tight roads, low clearances, and a host of other obstacles. To get to the Whites, one must either go as far north as possible and approach from the west, or navigate around New York City, Hartford or Providence, and/or Boston. We understand that this is a huge deterrent. However, for all the travelers who brave the journey up to this corner of the country, the Whites still get overlooked or serve as a waypoint and nothing more. There has to be an explanation.
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It's a fall foliage destination, which has its limitations
New England – especially the mountains of NH and VT – are known worldwide for their unparalleled fall foliage. Our variety of deciduous trees makes for a multicolored landscape every October, displaying reds, oranges, coppers, greens, and yellows. Add in the granite peaks as a contrast, and it's no wonder that this region has won many awards and features claiming it's the "number 1" place for leaf-peeping.
For RVers, though, coming all the way to the Northeast during fall has its challenges. Depending on how far someone is traveling, they would have a short window of time between peak autumn and winter weather. In 2022, we had one campground stay that gave us 50°F temperature fluctuations with a snowstorm thrown in! Lots of RVers don't want to risk getting caught if winter shows its face earlier than anticipated.
The added challenge is that most campgrounds close just after Columbus Day Weekend, and sometimes peak foliage hasn't even hit yet! RVing mid-to-late October takes diligent planning, with the factors of both the turning weather and the dwindling campground options.
New England is, of course, also a big summer destination, a time of year that brings more RVers. We have our fair share of RVers who flock to the mountains and enjoy soaking in the nearby rivers and lakes, but more prefer to hit up the coast. After all, less than half the US population lives in a coastal county, so the ocean is a dream destination for many. This could be why RVers to New England make Maine their most coveted destination. It has the most coastline of all the New England states, and it is stunningly beautiful. Visitors can get the best of both worlds as they make their way north, getting both ocean and mountains. When time is limited and the drives are long, it's hard to compete with a place like this.
People hear the horror stories
New England's highest mountain peak is Mount Washington, located in the Presidential Range of the White Mountains of NH and standing at 6288ft tall. Initially, this height seems like small potatoes, but then out-of-towners hear its claim to fame: The summit is home to the highest wind speed ever recorded, 231mph. Along with that come the horror stories of how quickly the weather can change on the mountain, or really, anywhere in New England.
This naturally raises curiosities about hiking in this part of the country. These mountains are small but mighty. The trails seldom have switchbacks, but what they lack in switchbacks they make up for with boulders and slick granite balds. In other words, the weather is tough and the footing is tougher. Search and rescue missions are common here, as the area shows no mercy to hikers of all skill levels.
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These may be the facts that get the most attention, but recreation abounds here far beyond the deleterious. We wrote a blog post about our favorite hiking trail in the Whites, and it's less of a hike and more of a nature walk. It can also be trekked safely in all seasons, and even after dark, with the right know-how and gear!
Campers need not worry, because many of the campgrounds in the area have accessible, easy recreation nearby or even on-site. Play in the river or grab a tube for a float. Hit up one of the designated biking paths where you don't need to worry about vehicles. Walk a maintained snow mobile trail in the warm months for some nature time without the mountain of elevation gain.
And as for that scary 231mph wind gust? The story is a little more nuanced than that. This is the highest wind velocity recorded by humans in a weather center manned by staff. Higher winds have since been recorded inside storms. This was also in one small location within a vast region. The weather should not be ignored, but we see it as more dynamic than dangerous. Every place has its weather villains, and our full-time travel experiences have taught us that, as long as we're prepared and have our wits about us, we shouldn't let fear of extreme weather keep us from our adventures.
The White Mountains aren't advertised
For better or worse, the White Mountains don't get the attention we feel they deserve. In all our travels, as soon as we got beyond New England, these mountains weren't typically mentioned. Most people didn't know much about them, and of those that had visited, many stuck to the few more well-advertised tourist activities. However, the world beyond the most-talked-about attractions is vast...perhaps so vast that those diving deeper into research can get overwhelmed. For a traveler spending just a short time here, it's easiest to forgo the giant list of options and stick with the most popular attractions.
The top 3 White Mountains Attractions: The Kancamagus Highway (top row), Flume Gorge (middle row), and Cog Railway up Mount Washington (bottom row)
Granted, the popular attractions are fantastic, so we would never deter first-time (or anytime!) visitors from going. We've enjoyed all 3 of the top attractions in the Whites, sometimes more than once. We've also been known to enjoy a moose tour and a bear circus. We just hope that people considering coming here don't see the attractions and think, "Those are cool, but not cool enough to justify a trip all the way there." We've been coming to the White Mountains for 13 years as a couple, and we've covered enough ground to feel we've sufficiently ventured through most of the tourist activities and into the local and hidden gems. Being able to RV here has helped us dive even deeper. We've spent more time here than ever before, have learned the best campgrounds, and know the best routes, pit stops, and resources to navigate the region safely with an RV. Now that we are putting down roots here, we are looking forward to having friends, family, and fellow RVers come visit. Hit us up for recommendations, or even let us play tour guide! We're certain you'll see why this place comes out on top for us.