Things to do in North Conway, NH
with kids.
When we head up to the mountains with our two girls, North Conway is usually where we end up for the night. It is the town we took them to for Story Land when both were under 6, and the one where dinner is almost always Tuckerman or Moat Mountain. These are the things to do in North Conway, NH that we actually do as a family, plus a short, honest list of the popular ones we haven't gotten to yet.
North Conway things to do,
at a glance.
North Conway is an overnight town for us, not a day trip. Here is how a stay usually breaks down.
| What | Where | Our take | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Story Land | Glen, just up Route 16 | We took both girls under 6 | Little kids, in season |
| The village and outlets | Main Street and Route 16 | Quaint, and fun to shop | A slow afternoon, any season |
| Tuckerman and Moat Mountain | Conway and North Conway | Our two dinner spots | Every night of the trip |
| Day trips west | Ice Castles, the Cog Railway | Done with the girls | Making the base work harder |
| Where to stay | Just outside the village, or in town | The White Mountain Hotel, which we loved | One or two nights |
North Conway is about 2.5 to 3 hours from Boston in normal traffic, since that's where most readers start. Hours, admission and seasons change every year, so check each place's own site before you go.
What are the top North Conway attractions for little kids?
Story Land is the answer for families with small children. It is a theme park built for younger kids, in Glen, just up the road from the village. We took both of our girls when they were under 6, which is right in the age range it is made for. If your kids are older and want big coasters, this is not that park.
Story Land is seasonal. It runs from late spring into early fall, and the shoulder weeks are often weekends only, so look at the park's calendar before you book a room around it. When it is open, it is the easiest full day in the area with a preschooler.
What to do in North Conway, NH between the big things.
The village itself is half the reason we go. It is quaint and fun to walk, with shops along Main Street and the mountains right behind them. With the girls, a slow loop through town is a real part of the day, not filler.
The outlet stores are along Route 16 at the south end of town, and Settlers Green is the biggest cluster of them. New Hampshire has no sales tax, which you will notice at the register. We shop there on the way in or the way out, and it doubles as a fallback if the weather turns.
Two kid-friendly breweries we keep going back to.
Moat Mountain Brewing Company is right on Route 16 in North Conway village, so it is easy to fold into an evening in the village. Tuckerman Brewing is a few miles south in Conway. Both are kid-friendly, which is exactly why they are our two picks. We can relax over dinner and nobody minds two chatty girls at the table.
If it rains, either one is a good place to sit out a shower. On the west side of the mountains, our standing pick is Woodstock Inn Brewery, which is in our White Mountains with kids guide.
Stuff to do in Conway, and how it differs from North Conway.
North Conway is a village inside the town of Conway. It is where the shops, the outlets and most of the restaurants are, so most searches for things to do in Conway, NH are really about North Conway. Conway village, a few miles south, is quieter.
Conway is also where the Kancamagus Highway starts, the road that crosses the mountains west to Lincoln. That is how we get to Ice Castles and Woodstock from a North Conway base, and Tuckerman Brewing is on the Conway end of things too.
North Conway NH attractions a drive away.
We don't switch hotels to see the rest of the White Mountains. We stay in North Conway and drive. Ice Castles in North Woodstock is about an hour west over the Kancamagus, and it is the winter trip we would build a weekend around. We have taken the girls, and it lives up to the photos.
The Mount Washington Cog Railway is on the far side of Mount Washington, so plan it as its own day. We have ridden it with the kids, and the steep climb is a thrill before the views even start. The hikes, the skiing and the rest are in our White Mountains with kids guide, and the seacoast and Lakes Region are in things to do in New Hampshire with kids.
Not on our list yet: the Conway Scenic Railroad, Echo Lake and Cathedral Ledge are all close to the village and popular with families. Cranmore Mountain Resort is right at the edge of town for skiing. We haven't done any of them with the girls, so we can't vouch for them firsthand. We ski at Gunstock in the Lakes Region instead.
Where should a family stay in North Conway?
Our most recent stay was the White Mountain Hotel and Resort, just outside the village, and we loved it. We have also stayed at one of the motels right in town, which is the simpler choice if you want to walk to dinner.
Without the kids, we stayed at the Bernerhof Inn in Glen while Kailah was pregnant with Selima. It is super cozy, and we would send any couple there for a night away. It is a parents-only pick in our book, not a family one.
Some links below are affiliate links. If you book through them, NOE may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend what we would book for our own family. Our disclosure.
Stays in North Conway for a family of four
We loved the White Mountain Hotel. For a rental, we haven’t stayed in either of the two below. They pass our filters: two or more real bedrooms, a full kitchen, and a guest rating of 8.5 or better.
Our last stay in North Conway, and one we would book again. It is a hotel, not a rental, so ask for a room that fits four.
This chalet has one of the deepest review records in the area, and the listing says Echo Lake is a walk away.
The one to pick if you want room to spread out and a washer for muddy hiking clothes.
Ratings and amenities were checked on Vrbo and Expedia in September 2026. Links open for 2 adults and 2 kids with no dates set.
When is the best time to visit North Conway with kids?
It depends on why you are going. Summer is the season if Story Land is the reason for the trip. Fall brings the foliage, and the crowds and traffic that come with it. Winter is snow, cozy nights in town and the day trip to Ice Castles.
Spring mud season is the one stretch we plan around, since many trails are soft and some close to protect them. For foliage timing by region, see our fall in New England with kids guide.
What families ask us.
What is there to do in North Conway, NH with kids?
Our list with the girls: Story Land when the kids are young, a walk through the village, the outlet stores, and dinner at Tuckerman Brewing or Moat Mountain Brewing Company, both kid-friendly. North Conway is also the base we use for day trips into the rest of the White Mountains.
What are the top North Conway attractions for young kids?
Story Land, a theme park built for younger children, just up the road in Glen. We took both girls when they were under 6. It is seasonal, so check its calendar before you plan a trip around it.
Is Conway the same as North Conway?
Not quite. North Conway is a village inside the town of Conway, and it is where the shops, outlets and most restaurants are. Conway village sits a few miles south, where the Kancamagus Highway starts. Most searches for things to do in Conway are really about North Conway.
How far is North Conway from Boston?
About 2.5 to 3 hours in normal traffic. Fall foliage weekends and Friday afternoons add time, so leave early.
When is the best time to visit North Conway with kids?
Summer if Story Land is the reason for the trip, since the park is seasonal. Fall for foliage, if you can handle the crowds. Winter for snow and day trips to Ice Castles. Spring mud season is the stretch we plan around.
Where should a family stay in North Conway?
Our most recent stay was the White Mountain Hotel and Resort, just outside the village, and we loved it. We have also stayed at one of the motels right in town, which puts the village and dinner in walking distance. For a rental, look for two real bedrooms and a full kitchen.
Keep exploring.
Ice Castles, the Cog Railway, kid-sized hikes, Woodstock Inn Brewery and where we stay.
North Conway, Vermont, Portsmouth, the Maine coast and more, ranked by drive time.
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Planning something further afield?
The Boston-to-Europe family flight guide: which routes run year-round, the order we book things in, and how far ahead to buy for a school vacation week.
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