North Conway Town Guide: Outlets, Dining and Mountain Views

North Conway is the busy heart of the Mount Washington Valley. It is a village where you can spend the morning shopping outlets, the afternoon looking down from a granite cliff, and the evening over a pint brewed a few miles away. This guide covers the things to do in North Conway NH that hold up in any season, along with a short list of places to eat and stay from our directory.

North Conway at a glance

North Conway is not a town of its own. It is a village and census-designated place within the town of Conway, in Carroll County. The 2020 census counted 2,116 residents in the village, a small number for a place that draws so many visitors.

Geography explains the crowds. North Conway sits in the White Mountains, with Mount Washington to the northwest, and the surrounding towns offer hiking in the White Mountain National Forest. The village's main road is Route 16, also called White Mountain Highway, which carries most of the shops, restaurants and lodging described below.

Shopping the outlets

North Conway is known for its large number of outlet shops, and for many visitors that is reason enough to come. Most of them line Route 16, so the practical advice is simple: pick one cluster, park once and walk, rather than hopping from lot to lot in traffic.

New Hampshire has no general sales tax, which is a large part of the outlets' draw for visitors from neighboring states. Outlet hours and store lineups change, so check the stores you care about before you make the drive, and leave room in the car for what you bring home.

Cathedral Ledge and Echo Lake

The most memorable views in North Conway come from its cliffs. The area is one of the major rock climbing destinations in the northeastern United States, particularly Cathedral Ledge in Echo Lake State Park. The 500-foot cliff overlooks Echo Lake and the village from the west.

You do not need to climb to enjoy it. Unlike nearby White Horse Ledge, another climbing site, Cathedral Ledge has an automobile road to the summit, which provides views of the Saco River Valley below. Seasonal access to state park roads and facilities can change, so check with New Hampshire State Parks before you drive up.

Echo Lake itself sits at the base of the ledges. It is a good spot for a walk on a calm day, and watching climbers on the rock faces above is an attraction in its own right.

Ride the Conway Scenic Railroad

The Conway Scenic Railroad runs train rides that depart from the village's Victorian station, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The station sits right in the village, so it is easy to combine a ride with lunch and a walk. Schedules and routes vary through the year, so check the railroad's website for current departures before you plan around it.

The railroad itself has a history. It began in 1974, when a former Boston and Maine employee and two local businessmen bought part of the Conway Branch that the B&M planned to abandon, and the North Conway station complex was listed on the National Register in 1979. Besides the short line to Conway, the railroad runs the Mountaineer through Crawford Notch to Fabyan Station from May through November.

Skiing and winter evenings

As the season turns, North Conway becomes a base for skiers. The village is home to Cranmore Mountain Resort, and it is the nighttime destination for skiers visiting area resorts including Attitash, Black Mountain and Wildcat Mountain. That means restaurants and taverns stay lively once the lifts close, and lodging close to Cranmore is in demand.

Where to stay

Eastern Slope Inn Resort

Eastern Slope Inn Resort sits in the middle of the village, and the inn building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. According to the resort, guests can choose suites with full kitchens, and the property has an indoor pool and hot tub as well as its own ice skating rink. It is also minutes from Cranmore, which makes it a natural base for a ski weekend or a walkable shopping trip.

The full kitchens are worth noting for families or longer stays, since they let you cut down on restaurant meals during a busy weekend.

Fox Ridge Resort

Fox Ridge Resort offers several room types aimed at different travelers. The resort lists alcove rooms for families, with two queen beds and two twin beds; garden view loft rooms overlooking its gardens and pool area; and mountain view rooms with two queen beds that look out over the Moat Mountain range.

Fox Ridge also offers a stay-and-play package that pairs an overnight stay with admission tickets to Kahuna Laguna, an indoor water park the resort says is about a mile from the hotel. For families visiting on a rainy or cold day, that pairing solves the question of what to do with energetic kids.

Where to eat

Moat Mountain Smokehouse and Brewing

Moat Mountain Smokehouse and Brewing is a brewpub at 3378 White Mountain Highway, on Route 16 in North Conway. The company brews its own beer, sells it in cans and distributes it, and has added a Brew Barn and Cannery to its operation. The restaurant and brewpub is a natural stop after a day on the trails or the outlets, with a full food menu alongside the taplist.

Delaney's Hole in the Wall

Delaney's Hole in the Wall has been serving North Conway since 1994, at 2966 White Mountain Highway. It serves lunch and dinner, includes a sports tavern, and offers takeout and online ordering. The restaurant notes that it was voted Best Of MWV, and it posts daily specials on its Facebook page.

Delaney's is closed some days of the week, so check its website before you go. Takeout ends earlier than the dining room, and the restaurant warns it may stop takeout early on busy days, so call ahead if you are counting on it.

A one-day North Conway plan

If you have a single day in the village, here is a simple way to structure it:

1. Morning: Drive up Cathedral Ledge for the view over the Saco River Valley, then walk along Echo Lake.

2. Late morning: Ride the Conway Scenic Railroad from the village station, if it is running that day.

3. Lunch: Delaney's Hole in the Wall on White Mountain Highway.

4. Afternoon: Pick one outlet cluster on Route 16 and walk it.

5. Dinner: Moat Mountain Smokehouse and Brewing.

6. Overnight: Eastern Slope Inn Resort in the village, or Fox Ridge Resort for families.

Getting there

North Conway is on Route 16, which links the village to the Seacoast and the Lakes Region to the south. If you are coming without a car, Concord Coach Lines includes North Conway in its New Hampshire service area, on the route that runs north through Concord from Boston and Logan Airport. Check the company's schedule for current departure times.

FAQ

Is North Conway a town?

No. North Conway is a village and census-designated place within the town of Conway, in Carroll County, New Hampshire.

What is North Conway known for?

Outlet shopping, rock climbing on Cathedral Ledge, Echo Lake State Park, Cranmore Mountain Resort and the Conway Scenic Railroad.

Can you drive to the top of Cathedral Ledge?

Yes. Cathedral Ledge has an automobile road to its summit. Check New Hampshire State Parks for seasonal access before you go.

How tall is Cathedral Ledge?

The cliff is about 500 feet and overlooks Echo Lake and North Conway from the west.

Where can I ski near North Conway?

Cranmore Mountain Resort is in North Conway itself, and Attitash, Black Mountain and Wildcat Mountain are nearby.

Sources

• North Conway, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (2020 census; outlets; Cathedral Ledge; Echo Lake State Park; Conway Scenic Railroad; Eastern Slope Inn on the National Register): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Conway,_New_Hampshire
• Concord Coach Lines, Wikipedia (North Conway stop): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concord_Coach_Lines
• New Hampshire, Wikipedia (no general sales tax): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Hampshire
• Eastern Slope Inn Resort: https://www.easternslopeinn.com/
• Fox Ridge Resort: https://www.foxridgeresort.com/
• Moat Mountain Smokehouse and Brewing: https://www.moatmountain.com/
• Delaney's Hole in the Wall: https://www.delaneys.com/
• Conway Scenic Railroad, Wikipedia (1974 founding, NRHP 1979, Mountaineer May-November): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conway_Scenic_Railroad