Short answer
Good places to paint plein air in New Hampshire include Portsmouth Harbor & Prescott Park, Franconia Notch State Park - The Basin, Mount Washington Summit, Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park, New Castle - Fort Constitution & Portsmouth Harbor Light, Cannon Mountain & Profile Lake, Crawford Notch - Mount Willard View and Strawbery Banke Museum. PleinScout lists 50 spots in New Hampshire, each with parking, shade, restrooms and when the light is best. Always check current hours, fees and rules before you go.
These are places painters set up in New Hampshire, grouped by subject. Each one notes the things that decide whether a session works: where to park, whether there's shade, a restroom nearby, and when the light is best. The full map, with directions and spots added by local painters, is in the free PleinScout app.
Coast, beaches and harbors
Hampton Beach State Park
New Hampshire's best-known sandy beach with a broad strand, dunes, and big Atlantic skies. Best at dawn before the summer crowds arrive.
Hampton · Best light: morning · Parking: paid · Shade: none · Restrooms: yes · Metered and paid lots; arrive early on summer mornings for both space and quiet. · Easy
New Castle - Fort Constitution & Portsmouth Harbor Light
A classic white harbor lighthouse beside the ruins of a Revolutionary-era fort at the mouth of the Piscataqua. Quiet coastal-and-historic subjects.
New Castle · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: none · Restrooms: no · Free · Easy
Wentworth-by-the-Sea & Little Harbor
A landmark white seaside hotel above a tidal harbor and marina at New Castle. Elegant coastal-resort and boat subjects.
New Castle · Best light: golden hour · Parking: street · Shade: some · Free · Easy
Portsmouth Harbor & Prescott Park
A waterfront park on the swift Piscataqua River with gardens, tugboats, and historic Portsmouth at its back. Rich harbor and town subjects together.
Portsmouth · Best light: morning · Parking: paid · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · Paid street and garage parking downtown; park itself free. · Easy
Rye - Odiorne Point State Park
The largest stretch of undeveloped shore on the NH coast, with rocky beaches, tide pools, and salt marsh. Wild, open seacoast subjects.
Rye · Best light: golden hour · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · State park day-use fee in season; large lots and easy shore paths. · Easy
Rye Harbor State Park
A compact working harbor full of fishing and lobster boats with the open Atlantic beyond. Classic New England harbor compositions.
Rye · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: none · Restrooms: yes · State park day-use fee in season; small lot can fill on summer weekends. · Easy
Lakes, rivers and waterfalls
Albany Covered Bridge
A historic covered bridge over the Swift River just off the Kancamagus Highway. River, rocks, and forest in one tidy composition.
Albany · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: no · Small lot near the bridge off the Kancamagus; forest pass advised. · Easy
Kancamagus Highway - Lower Falls (Swift River)
Sweeping granite ledges and cascades on the Swift River along the Kancamagus. Easy access and endless rock-and-water compositions.
Albany · Best light: afternoon · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · White Mountain National Forest pass required; large riverside parking area. · Easy
Diana's Baths
A tiered set of small falls and smooth pools on Lucy Brook reached by an easy walk near North Conway. Gentle, intimate water-and-rock studies.
Bartlett · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: lots · Restrooms: yes · White Mountain National Forest pass at the trailhead; easy half-mile walk. · Easy
Newfound Lake - Wellington State Park
One of the clearest lakes in the state, with a pine-lined beach and quiet hills at Wellington State Park. Tranquil, clear-water lake subjects.
Bristol · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · State park day-use fee in season; large lakeside lot. · Easy
Conway - Saco River & Covered Bridges
The clear, gravel-bedded Saco River around Conway, crossed by historic covered bridges with mountains beyond. Easy riverside subjects.
Conway · Best light: afternoon · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: no · Free · Easy
Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge
The longest wooden covered bridge in the United States, crossing the Connecticut River into Vermont. A landmark span amid river and farm scenery.
Cornish · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: no · Free · Easy
Errol - Thirteen Mile Woods & Androscoggin River
A wide, wild stretch of the Androscoggin through remote northern forest and moose country. Quiet big-river and wilderness subjects.
Errol · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: no · Free · Easy
Cannon Mountain & Profile Lake
A glassy mountain lake beneath the sheer cliffs of Cannon Mountain, where the Old Man of the Mountain once stood. Superb still-water reflections at dawn.
Franconia · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · Free · Easy
Arethusa Falls
A towering waterfall deep in Crawford Notch, reached by a moderate-to-strenuous forest hike. Quiet and dramatic for those willing to walk in.
Hart's Location · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: lots · Restrooms: no · Free · Challenging
Squam Lake (On Golden Pond)
A serene, largely undeveloped lake of wooded islands and loons made famous by On Golden Pond. Peaceful, painterly water and forest.
Holderness · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Free · Easy
Glen Ellis Falls
A powerful single-drop waterfall in Pinkham Notch reached by a short steep path. A dramatic vertical subject in deep shade.
Jackson · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: lots · Restrooms: no · White Mountain National Forest pass; short steep stairway down to the falls. · Moderate
Jackson - Honeymoon Covered Bridge
A picturesque red covered bridge over the Ellis River at the entrance to Jackson village. A classic White Mountain foliage composition.
Jackson · Best light: afternoon · Parking: street · Shade: some · Restrooms: no · Free · Easy
Lake Winnipesaukee - Weirs Beach
A classic lakeside resort boardwalk on Lake Winnipesaukee with docks, cruise boats, and mountain backdrops. Busy summer harbor-and-lake scenes.
Laconia · Best light: morning · Parking: paid · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · Metered/paid lots near the boardwalk in summer. · Easy
Franconia Notch State Park - The Basin
A famous granite basin carved by the Pemigewasset River, ringed by forest and smooth water-worn rock. An easy, sheltered subject within the dramatic walls of Franconia Notch.
Lincoln · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: lots · Restrooms: yes · Free · Easy
Lake Winnipesaukee - Meredith Bay
A picturesque bay on Lake Winnipesaukee with marinas, sailboats, and a walkable waterfront in Meredith. Easy, gentle lake compositions.
Meredith · Best light: golden hour · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · Free · Easy
Mount Sunapee State Park Beach
A sandy lake beach at the foot of Mount Sunapee, with the ski peak rising across the water. Easy lake-and-mountain subjects.
Newbury · Best light: afternoon · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · State park beach day-use fee in season. · Easy
Echo Lake State Park
A serene lake beneath the dramatic granite walls of Cathedral and White Horse Ledges near North Conway. Classic cliff-and-water reflections.
North Conway · Best light: afternoon · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · State park day-use fee in season; easy lakeside paths. · Easy
Pawtuckaway State Park
A peaceful southeastern lake with rocky islands, marsh, and a famous glacial boulder field. Varied wetland, lake, and forest subjects.
Nottingham · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: lots · Restrooms: yes · State park day-use fee in season; quiet southeastern NH location. · Easy
Lake Sunapee - Sunapee Harbor
A charming lake harbor with docks and boathouses and Mount Sunapee beyond. Easy, pretty waterfront and boat subjects.
Sunapee · Best light: golden hour · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · Free · Easy
Tamworth - Chocorua Lake & Mount Chocorua
The much-painted profile of rocky Mount Chocorua reflected in a calm lake off Route 16. A signature New Hampshire mountain-and-water view.
Tamworth · Best light: morning · Parking: street · Shade: some · Restrooms: no · Free · Easy
Kancamagus Highway - Sabbaday Falls
A scenic tiered waterfall and flume on a short trail off the Kancamagus Highway. Shaded, intimate, and perfect for studying moving water and rock.
Waterville Valley · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: lots · Restrooms: yes · White Mountain National Forest recreation pass required at the lot; short easy trail to the falls. · Easy
Lake Winnipesaukee - Wolfeboro Waterfront
The waterfront of "the oldest summer resort in America," with town docks, boats, and big lake views. Easy lake-town subjects.
Wolfeboro · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · Free · Easy
Mountains, canyons and overlooks
Mount Washington from Bretton Woods / Mount Washington Hotel
The iconic red-roofed Mount Washington Hotel poised before the Presidential Range. A grand, classic New England composition best from Route 302 pull-offs.
Carroll · Best light: afternoon · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · Free · Easy
Dixville Notch State Park
The state's northernmost and most rugged notch, with jagged rock spires and small flumes. Remote, dramatic, and rarely crowded.
Dixville · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: no · Free · Moderate
Mount Monadnock from Dublin Lake
The classic, often-painted profile of Mount Monadnock rising beyond Dublin Lake. A quintessential southern New Hampshire mountain-and-water view.
Dublin · Best light: morning · Parking: street · Shade: some · Restrooms: no · Free · Easy
Crawford Notch - Mount Willard View
A textbook glacial notch with steep forested walls along Route 302. Roadside views are easy; the Mount Willard trail rewards with a classic notch panorama.
Hart's Location · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · Free · Moderate
Monadnock State Park
The base and lower trails of famous Mount Monadnock, with meadows, stone walls, and forest beneath the rocky peak. Easy painting from the park grounds.
Jaffrey · Best light: afternoon · Parking: lot · Shade: lots · Restrooms: yes · State park day-use fee at the main entrance; one of the most-climbed mountains in the world. · Moderate
Flume Gorge
A deep, narrow granite gorge with mossy walls and a tumbling brook reached by boardwalks. Cool, shaded rock-and-water studies.
Lincoln · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: lots · Restrooms: yes · Timed-entry ticket required; a 2-mile loop with stairs and boardwalks. · Moderate
Kancamagus Pass / Sugar Hill Scenic Overlook
Sweeping mountain panoramas from pull-offs along the high stretch of the Kancamagus Highway. Layered blue ridges ideal for atmospheric landscape work.
Lincoln · Best light: golden hour · Parking: lot · Shade: none · Restrooms: no · Free · Easy
Castle in the Clouds
A historic mountainside estate above Lake Winnipesaukee with grand lake vistas, waterfalls, and stone bridges. Wide-ranging subjects on one property.
Moultonborough · Best light: afternoon · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · Admission to the estate grounds; trails, falls, and the lake overlook included. · Easy
Cathedral Ledge Overlook
A high granite clifftop with a commanding view over the Mount Washington Valley. Drive nearly to the top for a sweeping vista.
North Conway · Best light: golden hour · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: no · Free · Easy
Lost River Gorge
A dramatic boulder-filled ravine where a river vanishes among rocks, threaded by boardwalks and falls. Deep-forest gorge subjects.
North Woodstock · Best light: morning · Parking: lot · Shade: lots · Restrooms: yes · Admission to the gorge attraction; boardwalk loop with stairs. · Moderate
Mount Washington Summit
The Northeast's highest summit, famous for some of the world's worst weather and immense alpine vistas. A challenging, exposed location reached by Auto Road or Cog Railway.
Sargent's Purchase · Best light: afternoon · Parking: paid · Shade: none · Restrooms: yes · Auto Road toll or Cog Railway fare required to reach the summit; bring layers for wind and cold. · Challenging
Mount Kearsarge / Rollins State Park
A near-summit auto road leads to open ledges with wide views over central New Hampshire. Big, accessible mountain panoramas.
Warner · Best light: afternoon · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · Seasonal auto road toll up the mountain; short walk from the upper lot to the summit ledges. · Moderate
Towns, historic sites and gardens
Canterbury Shaker Village
A preserved Shaker community of austere white buildings, stone walls, and gardens on a hilltop. Clean, restful architectural and pastoral subjects.
Canterbury · Best light: afternoon · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · Admission to the village grounds; seasonal hours. · Easy
Concord - New Hampshire State House
The gold-domed New Hampshire State House and its statues anchor downtown Concord's Main Street. A handsome urban civic subject.
Concord · Best light: afternoon · Parking: paid · Shade: some · Metered street and garage parking downtown; public plaza free to sketch. · Moderate
Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park
The estate and gardens of sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, with manicured hedges, bronzes, and a view to Mount Ascutney. Refined garden and statuary subjects.
Cornish · Best light: afternoon · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · National Park entrance fee (free days apply); grounds and gardens open seasonally. · Easy
Hanover - Dartmouth Green
The historic Dartmouth College green framed by stately brick and white buildings and shade trees. Refined campus and town architecture.
Hanover · Best light: afternoon · Parking: paid · Shade: lots · Metered and garage parking in town; green is open public space. · Easy
Jaffrey - Old Burying Ground & Meeting House
A pristine 1775 meeting house and old burying ground in Jaffrey Center with Monadnock beyond. Quiet, historic New England subjects.
Jaffrey · Best light: afternoon · Parking: lot · Shade: some · Restrooms: no · Free · Easy
Keene - Central Square & Main Street
A classic New England square with a white steeple closing the view down one of America's widest Main Streets. Lively small-city urban subjects.
Keene · Best light: afternoon · Parking: paid · Shade: some · Metered street and garage parking; public square free. · Moderate
Portsmouth Downtown - Market Square
The historic brick heart of Portsmouth, anchored by the white North Church steeple. A lively urban scene of storefronts and street life.
Portsmouth · Best light: morning · Parking: paid · Shade: some · Paid garages and metered street parking; public square free to sit and sketch. · Moderate
Strawbery Banke Museum
An outdoor living-history museum of period houses and gardens in Portsmouth's old waterfront quarter. Endless historic architecture and garden vignettes.
Portsmouth · Best light: afternoon · Parking: paid · Shade: some · Restrooms: yes · Admission to enter the museum grounds; surrounding streets paintable for free. · Easy
Sandwich - Center Sandwich Village
A beautifully preserved white-clapboard village with a country store and church beneath the Sandwich Range. Idyllic small-town New England subjects.
Sandwich · Best light: afternoon · Parking: street · Shade: some · Free · Easy
Sugar Hill - Sunset Hill & Lupine Fields
Hillside meadows famous for their June lupines, set against the Franconia Range. A celebrated wildflower-and-mountain scene.
Sugar Hill · Best light: golden hour · Parking: street · Shade: none · Restrooms: no · Free · Easy
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Find more spots in New Hampshire
Painters add new spots to PleinScout every week, with photos, parking and the light. Get the free app to see them on the map, or find a paint-out near you.
Hours, fees and rules change. Always check with the park or venue before you go.