Sunapee Town Guide: Where to Eat, Stay and Explore

Sunapee is a small lake town in western New Hampshire, and most of what a visitor wants is packed into a few walkable blocks around the harbor. The lake is the main event, but the town also has a hilltop country inn, a tasting room over a river, an arts and community building in an old livery, and a short list of places to eat that covers everything from smoothies to steak. This guide covers the things to do in Sunapee NH that hold up across the seasons, with local businesses from our directory to plan around.

Sunapee at a glance

Sunapee is a town in Sullivan County with a population of 3,342 at the 2020 census. The town takes in part of Lake Sunapee and includes the village of Georges Mills on the lake's northern end. It was incorporated in 1781, after going by several earlier names, including Saville, Corey's Town and Wendell. The legislature replaced the name Wendell with Sunapee in 1850.

The town, the lake and Mount Sunapee all share the name, which comes from Algonquian words meaning "goose" and "water". The town's own history notes that the lake was called the Lake of the Wild Goose because of its shape, with the beak at Sunapee Harbor.

Before tourism took over, Sunapee was an industrial town. One local factory turned out 110 clothespins a minute. When the factories faded, the lake and its grand hotels became the draw, and large ferries carried guests from hotel to hotel until cars arrived in force around 1915.

Sunapee Harbor

Sunapee Harbor is the heart of town and the place to start. It sits at the lake's outlet, where the water leaves Lake Sunapee and becomes the Sugar River. The river flows west through Newport and Claremont to the Connecticut River. That means the harbor is a place where you can sit on one side of a building and look at a lake, then walk around the corner and look at a river.

The harbor is also one of the six places with boat ramps on the lake, so on a summer day it is busy with boats coming and going. In the off season it is quieter, and the harbor works well as a walking stop with a coffee in hand.

The hero image at the top of this page is an early 20th-century bird's-eye postcard of the harbor. A lot has changed since then, but the basic shape of the place, buildings gathered tight around the water, has not.

Lake Sunapee: the numbers

Lake Sunapee is the fifth-largest lake located entirely within New Hampshire. It is about 8.1 miles long and covers roughly 6.5 square miles, with a maximum depth of 105 feet. Peninsulas, fingers and islands give it a total shoreline of about 70 miles. The lake sits about 1,093 feet above sea level.

The lake has seven sandy beach areas, though some have restricted town access, and six boat ramps. The drive around the lake is about 25 miles, with long stretches of water views, and it is one of the simplest ways to see the region on a fall afternoon.

The lighthouses

Lake Sunapee is the only lake in New Hampshire with three working lighthouses. They were originally built in the 1890s by the Woodsum brothers and are maintained today by the Lake Sunapee Protective Association. All three are on the National Register of Historic Places. They are best seen from the water, so if you have access to a boat or a lake tour, put them on the list.

Mount Sunapee State Park

Mount Sunapee State Park is just over the town line in Newbury, and it is the main public recreation area near Sunapee. The park covers nearly 3,000 acres, including most of Mount Sunapee and a beach on the lake. Activities include swimming, hiking, camping, skiing, fishing, picnicking and non-motorized boating.

The ski area is operated as Mount Sunapee Resort by Vail Resorts. The park's beach, also known as Newbury Beach, has a bathhouse, store, canoe and kayak rentals, a playground and a restricted boat launch.

For hikers, the Summit Trail climbs about 2 miles from the ski area parking up the western slope to the summit. There it meets the Solitude Trail, which continues about a mile to Lake Solitude and the White Ledges. Two long-distance trails also connect here: the 50-mile Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway, which runs south to Pillsbury State Park, and the 75-mile Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway loop. Check trail conditions with the state park before you go, especially in the shoulder seasons.

Where to drink and gather in the harbor

Hoptimystic Brewing

Hoptimystic Brewing has a tasting room at 31 River Road in Sunapee Harbor, with a deck where customers can sit above the Sugar River. The brewery also has locations in Enfield and Bow. A riverside deck in the middle of the harbor is hard to beat on a warm afternoon, and it makes a natural break between a lake walk and dinner. Hours change by season, so check the brewery's website before you go.

The Livery

The Livery in Sunapee Harbor is at 58 Main Street, right on the Sugar River. Its stated vision is to make the landmark Livery building the hub of the harbor and the greater Sunapee region through the arts, education and other cultural opportunities. It runs a schedule of events, including a listening room concert series, and rents space for events, parties and pop-up retail. If you are planning a gathering in the harbor, it is worth a look. For current shows, check its events page.

Where to eat in Sunapee

Fenton's Landing

Fenton's Landing is at 72 Main Street in Sunapee Harbor. It describes itself as good food, deli and provisions, and it covers breakfast, lunch, tacos and brunch, with a dinner menu on some nights. It also runs a Sunday brunch buffet inside Hoptimystic's space. For a harbor breakfast before a day on the lake, this is the obvious starting point.

Stacy's Smoothies and Coffee Bar

Stacy's Smoothies and Coffee Bar is also in Sunapee Harbor at 72 Main Street. It serves smoothies made with real frozen fruit, acai and other bowls, soft serve and espresso drinks, with gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan options. It was started by two sisters looking for healthy summer snacks in the harbor and has since passed to a longtime employee who started as a 12-year-old regular. It is a good stop after a swim or a paddle.

Suna

Suna is at 6 Brook Road and describes itself as elevated American dining by the lake. The menu runs from a Kobe burger to prime steaks and chef specials, and the bar offers craft cocktails, local drafts and a large bourbon selection. It takes reservations and also handles catering and private parties. For a sit-down dinner in town, this is the pick.

Where to stay

Dexter's Inn

Dexter's Inn, Trails and Events is a country bed and breakfast and event venue at 258 Stagecoach Road. It sits on a 20-acre hilltop estate with views of Mount Kearsarge, Mount Sunapee and the surrounding countryside. The inn combines bed and breakfast hospitality with on-site activities and trails, and it is minutes from Mount Sunapee, three golf courses and the lake. It is also dog friendly.

The inn hosts weddings, family reunions, business meetings and retreats, so it is worth booking early for summer and foliage weekends. The inn has posted changes to its winter services, so check its website for the current season's details before you book.

Planning a visit

When to go

Summer is the classic season, when the beaches, boats and harbor are all in full swing. Early fall is a strong second choice: the drive around the lake gets better as the leaves turn, and the harbor is calmer. Winter brings skiing at Mount Sunapee and a quieter town, and some harbor businesses keep shorter hours or close for the season, so check ahead.

A simple day in Sunapee

Start with breakfast at Fenton's Landing, then walk the harbor and watch the river leave the lake. Drive or hike at Mount Sunapee State Park in the late morning. Come back to the harbor for a smoothie at Stacy's or a pint on the Hoptimystic deck. Finish with dinner at Suna, and if you are staying over, head up the hill to Dexter's Inn.

A weekend

With two days, add the full 25-mile drive around the lake, a hike to Lake Solitude, and a look at what is on at The Livery. If you have a boat or can join a lake tour, use it to see the three lighthouses from the water.

Frequently asked questions

Is Sunapee worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you like lakes. The harbor, the lighthouses, Mount Sunapee and a compact set of places to eat make it an easy day trip or a relaxed weekend.

What is Sunapee Harbor?

It is the village center at the outlet of Lake Sunapee, where the lake becomes the Sugar River. Most of the town's shops, restaurants and gathering spots are there.

Is Mount Sunapee in the town of Sunapee?

Mount Sunapee State Park is in neighboring Newbury, a short drive from Sunapee Harbor.

How many lighthouses are on Lake Sunapee?

Three. Lake Sunapee is the only lake in New Hampshire with three working lighthouses, and all three are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Sources

• Sunapee, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (2020 population, incorporation, name history, clothespin factory, lighthouses, Sugar River): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunapee,_New_Hampshire
• Lake Sunapee, Wikipedia (size, depth, shoreline, beaches, boat ramps, elevation, outlet): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Sunapee
• Mount Sunapee State Park, Wikipedia (acreage, activities, beach, trails, greenways): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Sunapee_State_Park
• Hoptimystic Brewing, Sunapee tasting room: https://www.hoptimysticbrewing.com/sunapee-nh
• The Livery: https://www.thelivery.org
• Fenton's Landing: https://fentonslanding.com/
• Stacy's Smoothies: https://www.stacyssmoothies.com/
• Suna: https://sunarestaurantnh.com/
• Dexter's Inn: https://www.dextersnh.com/