Getting Around NH Without a Car: Shuttles, Buses and Taxis

New Hampshire is a driving state, but you can still plan a visit, or a whole season, without a car of your own. The Merrimack Valley is the hub that makes it work. Manchester has the state's busiest airport and a city bus system, and Concord has an intercity bus station with routes to Boston and north into the mountains. This guide explains how the pieces fit together for getting around NH without a car, and where private car service fills the gaps.

The big picture

Think of car-free travel in New Hampshire as three layers:

1. Getting into the state: fly into Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, or take an intercity bus from Boston.

2. Getting between cities and regions: intercity buses run along the I-93 corridor from Boston through Concord and north.

3. Getting around town: city buses in Manchester, plus taxis, ride-hailing and private car service.

Holiday weeks change schedules, so the most useful habit is checking each operator's service notices before you travel. Bus companies post holiday schedule alerts on their websites ahead of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Flying in: Manchester-Boston Regional Airport

Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, known by its code MHT, opened in 1927 and is the busiest airport in New Hampshire. It sits about three miles south of downtown Manchester. The airport also hosts the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire, which is worth a look if you arrive early for a flight.

Service changes over time, so check the airport's website for current airlines and destinations. As one recent example, the airport announced that Southwest began nonstop service to Nashville on October 1.

Leaving the airport without a car

The airport's website has separate pages for taxis, shuttles and limousines; ride-sharing; and car rentals. Its bus page lists public transit options as well:

• MHT Route 3 from Manchester Transit Authority connects the airport with Manchester.
• Route 22, part of the MTA's Zipline service, also serves the airport.
• Greyhound is listed as an intercity option.

Fares and timetables change, so use the airport and operator sites for current details rather than relying on a printed schedule.

Intercity buses: Concord Coach Lines

Concord Coach Lines is the backbone of car-free travel in New Hampshire. The company was founded in 1967 and is based in Concord. Its main corridor follows I-93, running from Berlin and Littleton in the north through Concord to Boston's South Station and Logan International Airport. It also serves towns including North Conway, Lincoln, Plymouth and Meredith, and it operates a route to New York City. Its subsidiaries include Boston Express and Dartmouth Coach.

That network matters for visitors. You can ride from Logan to Concord, then continue north toward the Lakes Region or the White Mountains without ever renting a car.

Concord Transportation Center

In Concord, buses use the Concord Transportation Center at 30 Stickney Avenue. A few practical points from the operator's stop page:

• Parking: the station has 590 free parking spaces, with a limit of 21 days. That makes it a good park-and-ride for travelers from towns without bus service.
• No reservations: tickets for Boston service do not reserve a seat or a specific departure time, so arrive with some buffer on busy travel days.
• Local connections: the stop page lists Main Street Taxi as a local resource for getting to and from the station.

The operator posts service alerts on its website, including holiday schedule notices. Check them before you travel during Thanksgiving week or over the Christmas holidays.

A note on Boston Express

Concord Coach's Boston Express subsidiary serves southern New Hampshire and Boston's Logan Airport, including Nashua and stops along I-93. As of October 2023, it no longer serves Manchester or Manchester-Boston Regional Airport; its northernmost I-93 stop was cut back to the North Londonderry Transportation Center. Check its current schedule before you plan a connection.

By train: the Amtrak Downeaster

New Hampshire's Seacoast also has passenger rail. The Amtrak Downeaster runs between Boston's North Station and Brunswick, Maine, with five daily round trips and ten intermediate stops. Exeter is the busiest Downeaster station in New Hampshire, making it a practical car-free gateway for a Seacoast visit.

In Manchester: city buses

Manchester Transit Authority runs the city's bus system from its base at 110 Elm Street. Its routes are useful for visitors in several ways:

• Route 3 serves Brown Avenue and Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.
• Zipline intercity express routes connect Manchester with nearby cities: Route 21 to Concord, Route 22 to Nashua and Route 23 to Salem.
• Route 31 is a seasonal route to Hampton Beach.
• Route 41, the Green DASH, is a free downtown shuttle.

The MTA promotes the RouteShout 2.0 app for real-time arrival information. Download it before you arrive so you can check when the next bus is coming instead of waiting in the cold.

The Zipline routes are the most useful for car-free visitors, since they turn Manchester into a connection point between Concord, Nashua and Salem.

Private car service

Buses do not reach every inn, trailhead or wedding venue, and they do not run at every hour. That is where private car service comes in. Granite State Limo, based at 835 Hanover Street in Manchester, offers black car service across New Hampshire and parts of Massachusetts. Its website lists airport transfers, corporate travel, concerts and nights out among its services.

Private car service is especially practical for groups, for late-night arrivals after buses stop running, and for destinations far from a bus stop. Book ahead, especially around holidays.

Taxis and ride-hailing

For short trips, taxis and ride-hailing apps fill the gaps. Manchester-Boston Regional Airport has dedicated information pages for both on its website, and the Concord station page points travelers to a local taxi company. Availability can be thinner in smaller towns and late at night, so do not count on finding a ride on demand outside the cities.

Sample car-free trips

Boston to Concord for a weekend: Take Concord Coach Lines from Logan or South Station to the Concord Transportation Center, then use a local taxi to reach your hotel or downtown.

Fly into Manchester and explore the city: Land at MHT, ride MTA Route 3 into the city, and use the free Green DASH shuttle downtown.

Manchester to Nashua or Concord for the day: Ride the Zipline express, Route 22 to Nashua or Route 21 to Concord.

Airport to a country inn: Book private car service in advance, since rural inns are rarely near a bus line.

Tips for car-free travel in New Hampshire

• Check service notices before every trip, especially in holiday weeks.
• Leave a buffer. Intercity tickets to Boston do not hold a seat on a specific bus.
• Use the apps. RouteShout 2.0 shows MTA arrivals in real time.
• Plan the last mile. Know in advance how you will get from the bus stop to your door.
• Dress for the wait. November mornings at a bus stop are cold, so bring layers, gloves and a charged phone.

FAQ

Can you visit New Hampshire without a car?

Yes, especially in the Merrimack Valley. You can fly into Manchester, take Concord Coach Lines between Boston, Concord and points north, and use Manchester's city buses and private car service.

Is there a bus from Boston to Concord, NH?

Yes. Concord Coach Lines runs from Boston's South Station and Logan Airport to Concord and continues north along the I-93 corridor.

How do I get from Manchester airport to downtown Manchester?

Manchester Transit Authority Route 3 serves the airport, and taxis, ride-hailing and car service are available.

Is parking free at the Concord bus station?

The operator says the Concord Transportation Center has 590 free spaces, with a 21-day limit.

Is there a free bus in downtown Manchester?

Yes. MTA Route 41, the Green DASH, is a free downtown shuttle.

Sources

• Concord Coach Lines, Concord NH stop page: https://concordcoachlines.com/stop/concord-nh/
• Concord Coach Lines, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concord_Coach_Lines
• Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester%E2%80%93Boston_Regional_Airport
• Manchester-Boston Regional Airport website and bus page: https://www.flymanchester.com/
• Manchester Transit Authority: https://www.mtabus.org/
• Granite State Limo: https://granitestatelimo.com/
• Boston Express, Wikipedia (service cut back to North Londonderry, October 2023): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Express
• Downeaster (train), Wikipedia (Boston North Station to Brunswick, five round trips, Exeter busiest NH station): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downeaster_(train)