Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee Lodging Guide: Inns, Resorts and B&Bs

The Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee region covers a lot of ground. In the south it has lakes, a ski mountain and old hill towns. In the north it has the Connecticut River and the college town of Hanover. Much of the lodging is small and historic: inns that have been taking in travelers since the late 1700s, farmhouse bed and breakfasts, and a few larger hotels near the college. If you are looking for Lake Sunapee NH lodging, or a base for exploring the Upper Valley, this guide walks through six places to stay and how to pick between them.

Getting to know the region

Lake Sunapee sits in Sullivan and Merrimack counties in western New Hampshire. It is the fifth-largest lake entirely within the state, about 8.1 miles long and between half a mile and two and a half miles wide. Its peninsulas, coves and eleven islands give it a shoreline of some 70 miles. There are boat ramps at Sunapee Harbor, Georges Mills and Newbury, among other places, and several sandy beaches.

On the lake's southern end, Mount Sunapee State Park covers nearly 3,000 acres, including most of the mountain and a beach on the lake. The park offers swimming, hiking, camping, fishing, picnicking and non-motorized boating, and its ski area operates as Mount Sunapee Resort. The beach has a bathhouse, a store, canoe and kayak rentals and a playground.

North of the lake, the towns get smaller and quieter before you reach the Upper Valley, the stretch of the Connecticut River around Hanover and Lebanon. Claremont, to the west, is the only city in Sullivan County. That spread matters when choosing a room: staying on the lake puts you near the water and the mountain, while staying in Hanover or Enfield puts you closer to the river and the college.

Lakeside inns near New London

The Inn at Pleasant Lake is a lakefront country inn in New London that dates to 1790. It sits on acres of land overlooking Pleasant Lake, with a view of Mount Kearsarge from most of the rooms and common areas. The inn is about two miles from New London's Main Street, so it feels secluded without being far from town. Guests can paddle the lake, read on the beach or sit on the patio. A continental breakfast is included, and the inn's restaurant, The Oak Room, serves dinner. The inn suggests spring and fall for hiking nearby trails.

The New London Inn is the in-town option. It opened as a local inn on Main Street in 1792, and its pitched roof and symmetrical facade still show its eighteenth-century roots. Staying here means you can walk to shops and restaurants in the village. The inn's restaurant, The Elms, focuses on locally sourced ingredients. The inn describes itself as about two hours from Boston or Burlington, which makes it practical for a long weekend. New London is also home to Colby-Sawyer College, and the town center sits on a hilltop along Route 114, north of Route 11 and Interstate 89.

A bed and breakfast on Kezar Lake

Follansbee Inn is a bed and breakfast on Kezar Lake in North Sutton, a short drive from Mount Sunapee. Its motto is "The Best of the Past," and its rooms range from kings and queens to twins and family suites. A homemade breakfast is included every day. The inn's own guide to the area covers hiking, lakefront activities and water sports, fall foliage and winter skiing, which reflects how the region works across the year. Kezar Lake is much smaller than Sunapee, so it suits travelers who want quiet water close by and the bigger lake within easy reach.

Shaker country in Enfield

Shaker Hill Bed and Breakfast is a 1790s colonial home in Enfield, originally the home of a Revolutionary War colonel and his family of seven children. It sits on 24 acres, and a wraparound porch was added over the years. The guest rooms have been renovated, and each has a private bath, wide-board floors and antique furnishings. Breakfast is included: lighter fare on weekdays, such as fresh-baked scones and muffins, and a cooked breakfast on weekends.

Enfield makes a good base for anyone interested in history. The Enfield Shaker Museum preserves the site where a Shaker community lived from 1793 to 1923. It has eight Shaker buildings, restored gardens and the Great Stone Dwelling, the largest Shaker building and once the largest residential building north of Boston. The museum sits in a valley between Mount Assurance and Mascoma Lake.

A mill inn in Claremont

The Common Man Inn Claremont sits on the banks of the Sugar River in a former textile mill. Its 30 rooms and suites mix modern design with pieces of the building's past, including salvaged front doors, rustic light fixtures and inverted trusses built to carry the weaving machines that once filled the mill. The Common Man Restaurant is next door, so dinner is a short walk away. It is the most practical choice in this guide for travelers who want a larger property with on-site dining at the western edge of the region.

Staying in Hanover

Hanover Inn Dartmouth overlooks the Dartmouth College Green and is the only boutique hotel on the Dartmouth campus. It is a AAA Four-Diamond hotel with 108 rooms, and it describes its history of hospitality as stretching back more than 225 years. It sits next to the Hopkins Center for the Arts and the Hood Museum, and the Connecticut River is a short walk away. In late spring, when the days get longer, that makes it easy to combine a museum visit with a walk through campus and down to the river.

How to choose

• For lake time: The Inn at Pleasant Lake or Follansbee Inn. Both are on the water.
• For walking to dinner: The New London Inn on Main Street or the Hanover Inn on the Green.
• For quiet and history: Shaker Hill Bed and Breakfast, close to the Enfield Shaker Museum.
• For a larger property with a restaurant on site: The Common Man Inn in Claremont.
• For a mix: Split a long weekend between a lake inn and Hanover. It is a good way to see both halves of the region.

Planning a May stay

May is a quieter month in this region. Ski season has ended, and the lake has not yet reached its summer peak. That can make it a good time to find a room at a small inn and enjoy the trails before summer visitors arrive. The water is still cold for swimming, so plan on hiking, paddling with care, and visiting museums rather than beach days. Pack layers, because mornings and evenings in the hills can be cool even when the afternoons are mild.

Small inns and bed and breakfasts often have only a handful of rooms. Check each property's own website for its current room types, dining and policies before you book, since those details can change from season to season. If you plan to dine at an inn's restaurant, ask whether it serves dinner on the nights you are staying.

A sample weekend

1. Friday: Check in at a lake inn near New London and have dinner on site or in the village.

2. Saturday: Spend the morning at Mount Sunapee State Park, walking or paddling near the beach, then explore Sunapee Harbor or Georges Mills.

3. Sunday: Drive north to Enfield for the Shaker Museum, then on to Hanover for a walk around the Green and a look inside the Hood Museum before heading home.

Frequently asked questions

How big is Lake Sunapee?

It is about 8.1 miles long and up to 2.5 miles wide, covering 6.5 square miles, with roughly 70 miles of shoreline. It is the fifth-largest lake entirely within New Hampshire.

Are there lakefront inns near Lake Sunapee?

Yes. The Inn at Pleasant Lake in New London and Follansbee Inn on Kezar Lake in North Sutton are both on the water and close to Lake Sunapee.

Where should I stay to visit Dartmouth?

The Hanover Inn Dartmouth is on the campus, overlooking the Green, and next to the Hopkins Center and Hood Museum.

Is there historic lodging in the region?

Several. The Inn at Pleasant Lake dates to 1790, the New London Inn to 1792, and Shaker Hill Bed and Breakfast occupies a 1790s colonial home.

Sources

• Lake Sunapee, Wikipedia (size, islands, shoreline, boat ramps): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Sunapee
• Mount Sunapee State Park, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Sunapee_State_Park
• Enfield Shaker Museum, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enfield_Shaker_Museum
• New London, New Hampshire, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_London,_New_Hampshire
• Claremont, New Hampshire, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claremont,_New_Hampshire
• The Inn at Pleasant Lake: https://www.innatpleasantlake.com/
• New London Inn: https://www.thenewlondoninn.com
• Follansbee Inn: https://www.follansbeeinn.com/
• Shaker Hill Bed and Breakfast: https://www.shakerhill.com/
• The Common Man Inn Claremont: https://thecmaninnclaremont.com/
• Hanover Inn Dartmouth: https://www.hanoverinn.com/