🍂 The October Weekend Bucket List ~ Southern New Hampshire 🍂

October in New Hampshire is one of those months you wish you could slow down. 

The crisp air, changing leaves, apple orchards, pumpkins, cider donuts and just a little bit of spooky season make it one of my absolute favorite times of year. And because fall always seems to disappear way too quickly, I put together a few favorite things to do- and actual places to try, to help you make the most of your October weekends.

Grab your favorite sweater, gather your favorite people, and see how many you can check off before the leaves are gone!

🍎 Go Apple Picking at Applecrest Farm Orchards

133 Exeter Road, Hampton Falls, NH

Start with one of the most classic fall traditions: apple picking! Applecrest is a beautiful spot for a fall day, with pick-your-own fruit, a farm market, bakery and plenty of quintessential New England atmosphere. During fall Harvest Festival weekends, you can also find seasonal activities and tractor rides to the orchards. And yes, there are cider donuts!

Make a day of it: Head into Exeter afterward for lunch, coffee, and a walk around its charming downtown.

🎃 Pick the Perfect Pumpkin at DeMeritt Hill Farm

20 Orchard Way, Lee, NH

Pumpkins on the front steps are practically mandatory in October!

DeMeritt Hill Farm offers apple and pumpkin picking along with trails, a farm store and bakery. It’s a great place to spend a crisp fall afternoon and stock up on pumpkins, apples and a few treats to bring home.

🍩 Try a Warm Cider Donut at Meadow Ledge Farm

612 Route 129, Loudon, NH

No New Hampshire fall bucket list would be complete without a cider donut. Meadow Ledge Farm is especially known for its hot, made-to-order apple cider donuts. Pair one, or a few, with apple picking and a visit to the farm stand.

Consider this important October research.

🌽 Get Lost in the Corn Maze at Coppal House Farm

118 North River Road, Lee, NH

Grab the family or a group of friends and see who actually has the best sense of direction. Coppal House Farm's 2026 corn maze has a chipmunk theme and winds through towering corn stalks with trivia along the way.

The maze runs through October 31, and there are even select night mazes if you want to make your adventure a little more challenging.

🚜 Take a Fall Hayride at Lavoie’s Farm

Hollis, NH

There’s something wonderfully nostalgic about a hayride on a crisp October afternoon. Lavoie’s Farm in Hollis offers fall hayrides along with apple picking, a corn maze and cider, making it an easy spot for a classic fall afternoon.

Grab some apples, take the hayride and enjoy the beautiful Hollis countryside while you're there.

🍁 Drive the Kancamagus Highway

Route 112 — Lincoln to Conway, NH

If you do only one foliage drive this fall, make it the Kancamagus Highway - better known as “the Kanc.”

The roughly 34-mile stretch of Route 112 travels through the White Mountain National Forest between Lincoln and Conway, with mountain views, rivers, overlooks and some of the most spectacular fall foliage in New England. Give yourself plenty of time because you’ll want to stop along the way. Scenic overlooks and spots such as Sabbaday Falls make the drive even better. During peak foliage season, traffic can turn this into a several-hour adventure, so this is definitely one to start early. There are also no gas stations along the main stretch and cell service can be limited, so fill up and download your directions before you go.

Pack some snacks, grab a coffee and make a whole day of this one. The drive north is worth it!

👻 Get Spooked at Haunted Overload

DeMeritt Hill Farm — 20 Orchard Way, Lee, NH

If you love spooky season, this one belongs on your October list. Haunted Overload transforms part of DeMeritt Hill Farm into an elaborate outdoor Halloween attraction filled with enormous sets, creatures and plenty of scares.

Not quite brave enough for the full nighttime experience? Look for their less-scary daytime options and events, too.

🍦 Tackle a Corn Maze & Grab a Treat at Beech Hill Farm

107 Beech Hill Road, Hopkinton, NH

If one corn maze isn't enough, make another fall weekend trip to Beech Hill Farm. The farm has two themed corn mazes for 2026, along with its popular ice cream barn. It makes for a fun and easy afternoon outing- especially if your reward for finding your way out of the maze is ice cream.

🍂 Take a Fall Walk at Robert Frost Farm

122 Rockingham Road, Derry, NH

Not every October adventure needs to be an all-day event. Take a quiet fall walk through the grounds and trails surrounding the historic home of poet Robert Frost. The wooded nature and poetry trails are especially beautiful surrounded by fall color.

It's an easy way to spend an hour outside, enjoy the crisp air and appreciate a little New Hampshire history at the same time.

🍎 Take a Country Drive to Gould Hill Farm

656 Gould Hill Road, Contoocook, NH

For gorgeous views and classic New England orchard scenery, head toward Contoocook and Gould Hill Farm. The family-run orchard sits high on Gould Hill and offers apple picking, a farm store and beautiful surroundings. Take the back roads, enjoy the foliage and make the drive itself part of the adventure.

🔥 Finish With a Cozy Fall Night at Home

After a full day of apple picking, leaf peeping, or wandering through a corn maze, sometimes the best fall plan is coming home. Light a fire, make a big pot of chili or soup, pull out the blankets and watch something spooky!

And obviously, eat the cider donuts you said you were saving for tomorrow.

🤍 Most Importantly…Enjoy It

Fall in New Hampshire always feels like it arrives slowly and disappears overnight.

Between work, school, sports, errands and everything else life throws at us, it’s easy to spend October being busy instead of actually enjoying October.

So pick a few things from this list, grab the people you love and make an afternoon of it. Take the scenic road. Buy the cider donut. Stop when you see a beautiful view.

Cozy season is short—so soak it all in while it’s here. 🍂🤍

Fall activities, operating dates and hours can change throughout the season, so be sure to check directly with each destination before heading out.