Franconia Notch Area Lodging: Where to Stay Near the Notch

Franconia Notch is one of the most dramatic places in New Hampshire, a narrow mountain pass between Cannon Mountain and the high peaks of Franconia Ridge. It is also a place where the spot you sleep shapes the whole trip. You can wake up in a historic inn with mountain views, pitch a tent right in the state park, park an RV in a family campground, or keep it simple at a hotel just off the interstate. This guide walks through Franconia Notch lodging options in Franconia, Sugar Hill and the notch itself, with the background you need to choose.

Why stay near Franconia Notch

Franconia Notch State Park straddles about eight miles of Interstate 93 through the notch. Inside or close to the park you will find:

• Cannon Mountain, with the largest vertical drop of any ski area in New Hampshire, about 2,180 feet. Its aerial tramway opened in 1938 as the first passenger aerial tramway in North America and was replaced in 1980 with 80-passenger cars.
• Mount Lafayette, the high point of Franconia Ridge at 5,249 feet.
• The Flume and the Basin, two of the park's best-known natural attractions.
• Echo Lake and Profile Lake.
• The site of the Old Man of the Mountain, the famous granite profile that collapsed in May 2003.
• The New England Ski Museum.

Staying nearby lets you start hikes early, beat crowds at the popular stops and return to the notch for evening light.

Know the notch before you book

A little geography makes lodging choices easier. The notch is a mountain pass between the Kinsman Range on the west and the Franconia Range on the east. The northern part of the state park, including Cannon Mountain and Echo and Profile lakes, is in the town of Franconia. The southern part, including Lonesome Lake and the Flume, is in Lincoln. If the Flume Gorge and its visitor center top your list, the south end is closer. If skiing, the tram and the lakes come first, a Franconia or Sugar Hill base makes more sense.

Cannon's aerial tram runs year-round, carrying sightseers to the summit in summer and skiers in winter, and the New England Ski Museum sits at its base. Below a waterfall on the Pemigewasset River, the Basin is a granite pothole about 20 feet across, smoothed by about 15 millennia of swirling pebbles and grit.

For hikers, there is one more option: the Appalachian Mountain Club's Lonesome Lake Hut, at the southwest end of Lonesome Lake, offers meals and lodging, and reservations are recommended. Greenleaf Hut, another AMC hut, sits below Mount Lafayette.

Choosing a base: Franconia, Sugar Hill or the notch

Franconia is home to the northern part of the state park. It was chartered in 1764 and had 1,083 residents at the 2020 census. It is small, quiet and close to everything.

Sugar Hill is next door to Franconia. It had 647 residents in 2020 and was incorporated in 1962, making it New Hampshire's newest town. It is known for its views, and for ski history: Peckett's on Sugar Hill started the first resort ski school in the United States.

The notch itself is state park land, so lodging there means camping.

Historic inns

Franconia Inn

The Franconia Inn has welcomed guests since 1863. It sits on 65 acres with views of Mount Lafayette and the Kinsman Range. It is a classic full-service country inn, with activities on site that include horseback riding, a swimming pool and cross-country skiing in winter. If you want a destination in its own right rather than just a bed, this is a strong choice.

Best for: couples, families who want activities on site, and travelers who like a traditional inn.

Sugar Hill Inn

The Sugar Hill Inn is a bed and breakfast with guest rooms and cottages, plus dinner and a tavern. Staying on Sugar Hill puts you a short drive from the notch while giving you a quieter, more romantic setting.

Best for: couples and anyone celebrating a special trip.

Lovett's Inn

Lovett's Inn is a bed and breakfast that serves a country breakfast. Its pub is open for functions and après-ski rather than as an everyday restaurant, so plan dinners elsewhere unless you are part of an event.

Best for: travelers who want a cozy B&B close to the notch.

Hotel

Best Western White Mountain Inn

The Best Western White Mountain Inn is at Exit 38 off I-93, which makes it the easiest choice for travelers who want highway access. The hotel offers an indoor pool, a free hot breakfast and pet-friendly rooms.

Best for: families, travelers with pets, and anyone arriving late.

Camping

Lafayette Place Campground

Lafayette Place Campground is inside Franconia Notch State Park. It is about as close to the trails as you can sleep: the Lonesome Lake Trail starts from the campground, and Franconia Ridge rises across the notch. The campground is part of the state park, so check New Hampshire State Parks for current reservation details.

Best for: hikers and campers who want to be in the park.

Fransted Family Campground & RV Park

Fransted Family Campground & RV Park is at 974 Profile Road in Franconia. As the name says, it is set up for families and RVs, and it makes a comfortable base for a week of day trips.

Best for: RV travelers and families.

How to choose

Ask yourself three questions:

1. What will you do most? Hikers will appreciate Lafayette Place. Skiers can be at Cannon quickly from any of these. Families who want a pool can look at the Franconia Inn or the Best Western.

2. What kind of evenings do you want? Inns with dinner, like the Sugar Hill Inn, make for easy nights. Campers and hotel guests will drive to restaurants.

3. How do you arrive? If you are driving I-93 late, Exit 38 is hard to beat. If you have an RV, Fransted is built for you.

Sample stays

A hiking weekend

Camp at Lafayette Place, hike to Lonesome Lake one day and tackle Franconia Ridge the next if you are prepared for a strenuous above-treeline hike.

A romantic getaway

Book the Sugar Hill Inn, take the Cannon tram for views, and visit the Flume in the morning before the crowds.

A family week

Stay at the Franconia Inn for horseback riding and the pool, or base at the Best Western with an indoor pool for rainy days. Fit in the Basin, Echo Lake and the New England Ski Museum.

Tips

• Book early. Foliage season and summer weekends fill up fast.
• Mountain weather changes fast. Pack layers even in summer, especially for the tram or ridge.
• Check what is included. Breakfast, dinner and activities vary by property.
• Plan dinners. Not every lodging serves meals, and options in small towns can be limited at night.
• Respect the park. Stay on trails, carry out trash and follow campground rules.

FAQ

Can you stay inside Franconia Notch State Park?

Yes, at Lafayette Place Campground, which is inside the park and is the trailhead for the Lonesome Lake Trail.

Which town is closest to Franconia Notch?

The northern part of the park is in Franconia, and neighboring Sugar Hill is a short drive away. The southern part, with the Flume, is in Lincoln.

Is there a hotel near Franconia Notch with a pool?

The Best Western White Mountain Inn at Exit 38 has an indoor pool, and the Franconia Inn has a swimming pool.

What happened to the Old Man of the Mountain?

The famous granite profile collapsed in May 2003. Its site is in the park.

Sources

• Franconia Notch State Park, Wikipedia (I-93, Kinsman and Franconia ranges, Franconia and Lincoln sections, tram, Basin, AMC huts, Flume, Basin, lakes, Old Man collapse, Lafayette Place, Lonesome Lake Trail, ski museum): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franconia_Notch_State_Park
• Cannon Mountain Ski Area, Wikipedia (tram history, vertical drop): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannon_Mountain_Ski_Area
• Mount Lafayette, Wikipedia (elevation): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Lafayette
• Franconia, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (population, charter): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franconia,_New_Hampshire
• Sugar Hill, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (population, incorporation, Peckett's ski school): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar_Hill,_New_Hampshire
• Franconia Inn official site: https://www.franconiainn.com/
• Sugar Hill Inn official site: https://sugarhillinn.com/
• Lovett's Inn official site: https://lovettsinn.com/
• Best Western White Mountain Inn official site: https://bestwesternnh.com/
• Fransted Family Campground official site: https://www.franstedcampground.com/