Cruise across the rugged and wild state of New Hampshire safely by getting to know the state’s road rules, speed limits, and parking laws in advance. With its forests, lakes and impressive mountains, the state begs to be explored by nature lovers. Opportunities for outdoor activities such as kayaking, climbing, and hiking are abundant. In this article we will give you some tips on the state’s best scenic byways, to make the most of your car rental during your vacation.
General Rules and Regulations
- Everyone under 18 years of age must be wearing a seatbelt and it is the driver’s responsibility to make sure children under 6 years of age are seated in an appropriately sized safety seat.
- Drivers must yield right of way whenever not doing so is likely to cause an accident. Pedestrians at crosswalks and intersections, funeral processions, and vehicles already at an intersection all have right of way.
- You can turn right at a red traffic signal providing the ‘Don’t Walk’ signal is on for pedestrians, and it is not signposted otherwise.
- You must signal to turn 100 feet beforehand, increasing to 500 feet when turning onto a highway.
Speed Limits in New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, if you are going slower than the normal flow of traffic and impeding the movement of traffic you must either increase your speed or drive close to the right of the roadside. Here are the general speed limits across the state.
| Business and residential areas | 30 mph |
| Rural residential areas | 35 mph |
| Highways | 55-65 mph |
| Interstate highways | 70 mph |
Turning and Parking
It is legal to make U-turns in New Hampshire unless otherwise signposted. Please make sure you have a good level of visibility in either direction and always signal when turning.
You are not allowed to park on crosswalks, intersections and highway tunnels or on streets where you will impede the flow of traffic by doing so. It is also illegal to double-park alongside a vehicle that is already parked. The following distances also apply when parking.
- Do not park within 20 feet of a crosswalk.
- Do not park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
- Do not park within 50 feet of a railway crossing.
- Do not park within 20 feet of a fire station driveway on the same side of the road while on the opposite side your vehicle must be 75 feet away.
Car Rental with SIXT in New Hampshire
New Hampshire is good for outdoor activities all year round. There are beaches, rivers, and trails for swimming, kayaking, and hiking in the summer months, and alpine peaks and forests for skiing and other winter sports. With a car rental, you can pack up all your equipment and head out to stunning trails like those at White Mountain Forest or Appalachian Trailhead. If you are heading to the latter be sure to take the Kancamagus Highway, a scenic byway that gives you incredible vistas over the forest as well as passing by waterfalls and rivers along the way. If you want to reach the summit of Mount Washington without the thigh burn or adverse weather conditions, the Mount Washington Auto Road takes you to the top in around 30 minutes and you can enjoy views over the whole of New Hampshire. Just be sure to check whether you need chains and/or winter tires to access some of these locations in colder months.
