Mt. Washington Auto Road

Mount Washington Auto Road

The Mount Washington Auto Road is a great place to get away from everything! The nearly 8 mile long Mt. Washington Auto Road offers a day of adventure with it’s breathtaking views, the summit, observation deck, museum, and the history of the Mt. Washington Auto Road.

Mt. Washington Auto Rd. can be a bit scary for some squeamish people. The thought of driving your car up to the highest point in New England on the Mt. Washington Auto Road may not be for everyone, especially those that have a fear of heights. Mt. Washington is 6,288 feet high. I myself don’t like heights but I was able to get through it just fine the first time I went and now I look forward to our yearly drive up the Mt. Washington Auto Road. The Mt. Washington Auto Road can be dangerous though. There are cliffs and the road has no guardrails and at some points is a narrow dirt road.

The drive up the Auto Road on Mt. Washington can make one feel a bit anxious as you peer over the edge of the road and see a thousand foot drop. As the driver, you probably shouldn’t be looking over the edge and trying to drive at the same time. If there are no cars around you, stop and look, otherwise, there are several pull offs where you can stop and take in the scenery. At the peak of Mount Washington there is a place to eat, an observation deck, a museum, a US Post Office (with it’s own zip code) and 2 gift shops.

Preparing to drive up Mt. Washington Auto Road?

If you are planning on driving the Mt. Washington Auto Road, you should prepare yourself for the weather and the drive. The weather on Mount Washington changes constantly and is very different from the base of the mountain. The temperature difference is amazing and you will want to prepare for that. On the drive up the Auto Road you will usually find some snow on the mountain until the end of June. The air at the peak of Mount Washington is thinner. You will notice that when walking around you might get a bit winded up there. Bring a sealed bag of chips with you for a little fun. The bag will be about ready to burst when you get to the summit of Mt. Washington.

The 2nd highest wind speed on earth was recorded on top of Mount Washington at 231 Mph on April 12, 1934. There are many times that the weather isn’t very friendly on Mt. Washington so be sure to bring warm, dry clothes.

Check out the current conditions on the Mt. Washington auto road with the Live Mt. Washington Webcam

What can you Expect on the Mt. Washington Auto Road?

Check out these crazy Mount Washington Auto Road Facts!

Mt. Washington Auto Road Schedule

Early May – May 26:  9:00 AM–4:00 PM

May 27 – June 16:  8:30 AM–5:00 PM

June 17 – August 27:  7:30 AM–6:00 PM

September 2 – 14:  8:00 AM–5:30 PM

August 28 – October 1:  8:30 AM–5:00 PM

October 2 – Late October (closing):  8:30 AM–4:00 PM

Note: This is a general schedule, please check for specific days when you intend on visiting Mount Washington as some days and times are blocked for events on the Mountain. Click Here for official info!

Mt. Washington Auto Road Location:

The Mount Washington Auto Road is on Rt. 16 in Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire. GPS coordinates are: -71.22580 Longitude and 44.28850 Latitude.

Check out the photos and videos of the Mt. Washington Auto Road below.