driving around the lake

[LadyJane]

Close friends of mine are finally taking my suggestion to take a much deserved and needed "time out" at the lake. They've never stayed here before and will be in Meredith. I have given them some thoughts on things to do and see, but just to give them an idea.....iIf one were to drive around the lake from Meredith...Weirs, rte. 11, Aton, 28, Wolfeboro , 109, Moultonboro, Center Harbor and back to Meredith, ...how long of a drive is that? I know, they will stop for various sites, but if you just drove around the lake, about how long does it take?

[GM doc]

I would say 2-3 hours if you do not stop for ANYTHING, But there is SO MUCH to see and do here. Now that it's "calmed" down the traffic should be ok.

[kauriel]

We took our first drive around the lake a few weeks ago and it probably took about 2.5 hours without stopping. We started driving to find some food and wound up going around the whole lake before we got hungry! It was beautiful and well worth the late dinner that evening : )

[VitaBene]

I think it is around 60 miles or so and as the others have noted 2.5 hours. It is a great motorcycle ride this time of year.

[jkjoshuatree]

I was staying in Wolfeboro and it's 30 miles to Meredith and 30 miles to Weirs Beach (I clocked it both ways) so Vitabene is right on the money....a little over 60 miles.

It's a beautiful ride. Suggest to your friends to take the better part of the day and stop in each town along the way.

Walk the boardwalk at the Weirs.
Stop for lunch at Pops in Alton.
Walk around Wolfeboro and get an ice cream at Bailey's.
Hike Abenaki Tower in Tuftonboro (very short hike but well worth the view).
Stop at the Olde Country Store in Moultonborough.
Late lunch/early dinner or just appetizers at Canoe in Center Harbor.

Then WALK around the lake again to burn off all the delicious food they've just eaten.

I'm sure there will be a ton of other suggestions but I just offered the first ones that came to my mind.

Enjoy!

[Argie's Wife]

Pops is closed for the season now, sorry...

But there's still Shibley's open... and The Dockside. And Fiddleheads has a great little deli in it; sandwich, chips, and drink for $4.99 - made with whatever breads, meats, cheeses, and extras, as you wish. Friendly service and very yummy food!

[ironhorsetim]

Originally Posted by VitaBene

It is a great motorcycle ride this time of year.

Couldn't have said it better and timing is on the money

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by VitaBene

I think it is around 60 miles or so and as the others have noted 2.5 hours. It is a great motorcycle ride this time of year.

Wow, you guy's drive slow or make a lot of stops!!

I thought 2 1/2 hours was kind of long so I just tripped it out on Microsoft Streets and Trips and it say's 59.4 miles and 1 1/2 hours with no stops.

Dan

[Shreddy]

I can make it in just over an hour on my bike without problem. I do not usually stop, but I do detour myself down Weirs blvd. and come out by the Broken Spoke Saloon. I leave from Moultonboro and head towards Wolfeboro. A key point to me is to take Rt 28A which ends up along the water in alton bay.

[SIKSUKR]

Originally Posted by Shreddy

I can make it in just over an hour on my bike without problem.

What? You average 60 mph?

[Argie's Wife]

View Larger Map

Alton Bay to Center Harbor and back to Alton Bay - clockwise around the lake, is 1 hour 34 minutes, according to Google Maps.

If Shreddy is doing that in "just over an hour" methinks the state must love Shreddy for the revenue he brings in from speeding tickets.

[Slickcraft]

It is normally a 2 1/2 to 3 hour bike ride for us including a lunch stop, an ice cream stop and then some time with me sitting outside on a bench while my wife is poking around a few Wolfeboro shops.

In addition to all the other stops suggested so far:

The best scenic view (IMHO) is the pull off near Mt. Major on Rt. 11 in Alton.

The bookstore across from the Meredith Town docks has an abundance of material covering the lake and NH in general.

[Shreddy]

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

What?You average 60 mph?

I probably do average right around that speed.

[Shreddy]

Originally Posted by Argie's Wife

View Larger Map

Alton Bay to Center Harbor and back to Alton Bay - clockwise around the lake, is 1 hour 34 minutes, according to Google Maps.

If Shreddy is doing that in "just over an hour" methinks the state must love Shreddy for the revenue he brings in from speeding tickets.

Knock on wood, I've never received a speeding ticket...that does not mean I do not speed. I was simply saying, it can be done. For reference, this is the vehicle I use. It makes it a lot easier to average that speed.

[Irrigation Guy]

Google maps is pretty close I'd say. For me in Moultonboro, its 45-50 minutes to Alton, 15 minutes between Alton and Wolfecity and 25-30 munites back to Moultonboro.

1.5 hrs is right on, gotta add to that for stops.

[Lakesrider]

Suissevale to Wolfeboro is 20-25 minutes. Wolfeboro to Lowes in Gilford is 25-30 minutes. Lowes to Suissevale is 40 minutes in the fall, 1.0+ hrs sometimes in the Summer. I drive this route two or three times a week. Just depends what is happening in Meredith for craft shows and summer/weekend traffic. RT 109 is still pretty nice. The pavement is holding it's own for now.
RT11 from the hairpin turn past Ames Farm up to Elecoya State park has been paved and is much nicer as well. So the times go down with nice pavement.
remember a lot of the Alton to Gilford side of the lake is higher speed 40 to 50-55mph. So naturally you will go even faster....

[Shreddy]

As I have made the trip around on a frequent basis, I'll give my breakdown of time

Suissevale to Weston Autobody in Wolfeboro = 25 minutes (driven daily)
Weston Autobody to Alton Bay = about 6-8 minutes taking 28A
Alton Bay to Meadowbrook = 15 minutes? Can't remember exactly
Meadowbrook to Meredith = 10-15 minutes on a good night (no traffic)
Meredith to Suissevale = 17-20 minutes depending on who I'm stuck behind.

In total, I'd say it takes me or has taken me 73-83 minutes to get around the lake on a GOOD day (not too busy). As mentioned, many of the roads are comfortable enough to go faster than the speed limit. This is simply my take on the ride around the lake.

[RI Swamp Yankee]

For this average tourist (me) it seems 2 to 2.5 hours is about right for 60 miles around the lake. Having to stop for stop signs, trafic lights, pedestrians cuts the average speed a lot. Then there are those cars going the speed limit (30 mph in places) and I just don't want to cross the yellow line to pass them.

2 to 2 1/2 hours seems like a good planning time for a Flatlander.

[ghfromaltonbay]

Several times there have been articles in Yankee Magazine describing the editor's annual trip around the lake. If your friends can search for these articles online they provide a great list of places to stop along the way to enjoy either the views or the great places for lunch and dinner. The articles also mention places like the Olde Country Store in Moultonborough and other points of interest. Just check Google or one of the other search engines.

[SPT13]

I just did it last month & it took a little over 2 hours, including a short stop for ice cream in Wolfboro

[RailroadJoe]

At 60 MPH what did you see besides pavement and green trees? Seems like a waste of time for anyone.

[LadyJane]

Thanks for all the great responses ! I have shared them already with my friend and she and her husband are SO looking forward to their vacation next week. I am sure they will be taking their time, stopping along the way and exploring, but I wanted to give them some idea of the time. I had already suggested Abenaki Tower....a must...with personal significance for me that she appreciates, and the Country Store in Moultonborough. I also mentioned that a loop around the Sandwich area would be great. Really, you can't go wrong. Just get on the road and enjoy. Thanks all for the wonderful ideas. Is Village Kitchen in Moultonborough?

[Newbiesaukee]

The Village Kitchen is in Moultonborough.

[trfour]

Not that I ever needed a ride, mind you!

I feel very fortunate to have lived near and a'boat Lake Winnipesaukee for many many years, year around.

Now that I reside here in Dallas/Fort Worth Texas, and only get to fly up there on occasion to 'Doo some snowmobiling during winter, I am very thankful of www.winnipesaukee.com , So's I can visit most every day!

Y'All got it made up there! Please don't forget that!

Terry

[kjbathe]

Originally Posted by RailroadJoe

At 60 MPH what did you see besides pavement and green trees? Seems like a waste of time for anyone.

That's what I was thinking. Racing through it seems to miss the very point of the endeavor.

[Heaven]

Originally Posted by kjbathe

That's what I was thinking. Racing through it seems to miss the very point of the endeavor.

. . . . except the curve southbound where 109 meets 109a, that is especially good going at the faster rather than slower speed . . .

[Argie's Wife]

Originally Posted by Heaven

. . . . except the curve southbound where 109 meets 109a, that is especially good going at the faster rather than slower speed . . .

Oh man... My first time driving around the lake I hit that curve a little too fast and zinged right onto Route 109a... Never forgot and never did it a second time!

[RI Swamp Yankee]

This got me thinking, is there anyplace where you can go 60mph around the lake?

Through Wolfeboro? over the bridge in Alton? Weirs confusion corner? (or is that dysfunction junction?) through "downtown" Meredith? Center harbor? Route 109 would be fun, jump from one bump to the next at 60 mph

Just thinking .....

[riverat]

I will be part of a ride today around the lake, me and approx 200 bikes. Alton Legion to Buckey's, to Laconia Legion, to Tilton and back to Alton. Slow and easy.

[Shreddy]

Originally Posted by RailroadJoe

At 60 MPH what did you see besides pavement and green trees? Seems like a waste of time for anyone.

FWIW, to me, it's a waste of time to stop. I've lived at the lake long enough to have seen what I want to see. Everyone enjoys different things in life. I prefer an adrenaline rush of going fast and enjoying a motorcycle ride. Maybe it's not for you, but I don't sit here and tell you that you're wasting your time driving slow around the lake in your car and wasting your time stopping. Just my $.02