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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Gorham, New Hampshire
One night is enough: use Gorham as a base for Mount Washington and the northern White Mountains, not a destination itself.
Gorham sits at the junction of Routes 2 and 16 on the northern edge of the White Mountains. It's a practical stop for hikers on the Appalachian Trail, drivers heading to Mount Washington Auto Road, and anyone exploring the quieter north side of the national forest. The town itself has a handful of motels, a diner and an Italian restaurant; the appeal is what's outside town.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Jun–Oct
- Avoid
- Nov–Apr (many attractions closed, snow possible)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $80–120 excl. bed · Mid $120–200 excl. bed · High $200+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | $2–4 |
| Diner breakfast | $8–14 |
| Pizza or pasta dinner | $12–22 |
| Motel room (double) | $80–200 |
| Gas (per gallon) | $3–4 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BGR · Bangor International Airport
- About 1 h 45 min drive; limited flights.
- PWM · Portland International Jetport
- About 2 h 15 min drive; more flight options.
- MHT · Manchester-Boston Regional Airport
- About 2 h 30 min drive.
Typical fares
- Mount Washington Auto Road (car + driver)
- about $45 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Car is essential. No public transit within town; the Appalachian Trail passes through on foot.
See and do
Known for
- Mount Washington Auto Road
- Appalachian Trail
- Northern White Mountains access
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Washington Auto Road | Drive 15 min south on Route 16 | About 30 min |
| North Conway | Drive 45 min south on Route 16 | About 1 h |
| Jackson, New Hampshire | Drive 20 min south on Route 16 | About 30 min |
| Franconia Notch State Park | Drive 1 h west via Route 2 and I-93 | About 1 h 15 min |
Sleep
- Main Street (Route 2)
- Most motels are along this strip; walkable to a few restaurants.
Language
English everywhere, with strong regional accents; Spanish is the second language in the Southwest, Texas, Florida, California and New York. Some words differ from British English: restroom (toilet), check (bill), gas (petrol), trunk (boot), first floor (ground floor).
- Measurements are imperial: miles, Fahrenheit, gallons, pounds. 100 km ≈ 62 miles; 30 °C ≈ 86 °F.
- Small talk with strangers is normal and friendly; it is not a sales tactic.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Mount Washington Auto Road closes in winter (check official site).
- Gas stations are sparse north of town; fill up in Gorham.
- Cell service can be patchy on the mountain and in the national forest.
Gorham is a quiet, safe town. Risks are limited to winter driving on Route 2 and Route 16, and hypothermia if hiking unprepared on Mount Washington.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Gorham, New Hampshire yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Mount Washington Auto Road
- Appalachian Trail
- Northern White Mountains access
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Gorham (New Hampshire), revision 5193746 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5193746
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Gorham, New Hampshire
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
The nearest consulates are in Boston; embassies in Washington, DC.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/gorham-new-hampshire). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.