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Major city · United States

Waterville Valley

Go for 2 nights if you ski, hike or want a car-free resort village; skip it as a base for the whole White Mountains.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Jan–Mar for skiing; Jun–Sep for hiking, golf and boating
avoid Apr–May and Nov (mud season and between-season closures)
Airports
MHT · BOS
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Waterville Valley is a small resort town inside the White Mountains, built around one pedestrian village and one ski mountain. Almost everything sits within a 10-minute walk of Town Square, so you park once and move on foot, by bike or on the free trolley. Two nights covers the resort; add nights only if you use it as a hiking base.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Waterville Valley, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$3–6
  • Sit-down mealSit-down dinner, mainAdd 18–22% tip and 8.5% meals tax.$20–35
  • Street or quick mealDeli sandwich$10–16
  • BeerDraught beer$7–10
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$15–30
  • Budget bedHostel or shared bunk, a night, per personUS$55
  • Mid-range bedInn or lodge double room, a night, per roomUS$220
  • High-end bedInn or lodge double room, a night, per roomUS$400

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$170 · High US$320

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Waterville Valley Resort skiingCross-country ski trailsTown Square villageMad River and summer hiking
Airports
MHT Manchester-Boston Regional (About 1 h 45 min by car via I-93 north to Exit 28, then Route 49 east.) · BOS Boston Logan International (More flights than MHT; about 2 h 30 min by car, 210 km.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Waterville Valley: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

−2°C

−12°C

11 rd

Feb

0°C

−11°C

9 rd

Mar

5°C

−6°C

11 rd

Apr

12°C

0°C

11 rd

May

19°C

6°C

12 rd

Jun

23°C

11°C

12 rd

Jul

26°C

14°C

11 rd

Aug

25°C

13°C

10 rd

Sep

20°C

8°C

9 rd

Oct

13°C

2°C

10 rd

Nov

6°C

−3°C

11 rd

Dec

0°C

−9°C

12 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The village is walkable and bike-friendly, and a resort trolley loops the valley in season. A car is needed for the I-93 corridor, trailheads outside the valley and any grocery run beyond Town Square.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Lincolngo

Door to door: About 30 min

Drive Route 49 west to I-93, then Exit 32

Closest town for groceries, gas and the Flume and Lost River gorges.

North Conwaygo

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Drive Route 49 to I-93, then Route 302 east

Outlet shopping and the Mount Washington Valley; a full day.

Franconia Notch

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Drive Route 49 to I-93 north

Basin, Cannon Mountain and the Flume; go early in summer.

Bretton Woods

caution

Door to door: About 1 h

Drive Route 49 to I-93 north, then Route 302

Worth it for the Cog Railway or a second ski day, not a quick stop.

Jackson

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 20 min

Drive Route 49 to I-93, then Route 16 north

Waterfalls and covered bridges; combine with North Conway.

Littleton

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Drive Route 49 to I-93 north, then Route 302 west

Main-street shops and food on a wet day.

Glen

skip

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Drive Route 49 to I-93, then Route 302 and Route 16

No reason to drive past North Conway to reach it.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Town Square and Village Road

Condos, inns and lodges around the square; walk to lifts, shops and restaurants.

Packard's Road and Ski Area Road

Larger lodges near the athletic club and the base area; still a short walk from the square.

Route 49 approach

Fewer beds, more parking and lower rates; you will drive to the village each day.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$90–150 excl. bed
Mid
$150–260 excl. bed
High
$260+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Inn or lodge double room1 × 2 nights × US$220US$440
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$170US$680
Full-day lift ticket, one person2 × US$110US$220
Car hire, one day1 × US$70US$70
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20US$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$145
Trip total≈ US$399 per person per day, bed includedUS$1,595

2026 estimate in US dollars; lift tickets, flights and car hire excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–6
Deli sandwich$10–16
Pizza, one person$15–25
Sit-down dinner, mainAdd 18–22% tip and 8.5% meals tax.$20–35
Draught beer$7–10
Full-day lift ticket$90–130
eSIM or data SIM, about a week$15–30

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A small resort town with low street crime; the practical risks are winter road ice, fast-changing mountain weather and unmarked trail junctions. Tell someone your route before hiking.
  • Winter driving on Route 49 and I-93 can be icy; carry winter tyres or chains and check road conditions before setting out.
  • Cell coverage is patchy on trails and in parts of the valley.
  • Many restaurants and shops run reduced hours in shoulder season; call ahead before you rely on them.
  • Black bears are active in the White Mountains; store food in your car, not your tent.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
New Hampshire State Police
*77
Poison Control (24 h)
1-800-222-1222

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Waterville ValleyWaterville Valley

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • New Hampshire State Police*77
  • Poison Control1-800-222-1222

Embassy

No embassies in the valley; consulates-general are in Boston. US visitors: your own embassy is in Washington, DC.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Manchester airport → Waterville Valley, car: about 1 h 45 min, 145 km
  • Boston Logan → Waterville Valley, car: about 2 h 30 min, 210 km
  • Resort trolley around the valley: free in season

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Where is the trailhead? — Where is the trailhead?
  • Is this seat taken? — Is this seat taken?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where is the nearest gas station? — Where is the nearest petrol station?
  • I need help — I need help

Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, $2–5 a night for housekeeping.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Waterville Valley. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jan–Mar for skiing; Jun–Sep for hiking, golf and boating · avoid Apr–May and Nov (mud season and between-season closures) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 7 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for MHT and BOS: last sensible arrival, winter tyre advice, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Town Square, Village Road, Packard's Road, Ski Area Road.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (ski area, athletic club, ice arena, golf club, tennis centre) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Winter and mud-season fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources