FAQ

Most vehicles take about 30 minutes to make the 7.6 mile ascent and from 30 to 45 minutes to come down depending on traffic, weather conditions and whether or not you need to stop to cool your brakes. The Auto Road is a steep, narrow mountain road without guardrails. The average grade is 12%. As the sign at the base of the Road states – “If you have a fear of heights, you may not appreciate this driving experience.” If you do not want to drive yourself, consider a Guided Tour.

Yes, we take all major credit cards and debit cards. Cash too of course! We do not accept personal checks.

No, you’ll drive up in your normal gear (“D”), and down in your lowest gear (“1”, “L” or “L1”). Driving down in low gear will allow your engine to help with the braking of the vehicle. When using your brakes, don’t “ride” your brakes unnecessarily. A pumping action of the foot pedal allows the brakes to run cooler than does a steady pressure. If your brakes overheat, there will be many turnouts along the road to stop and cool them.

If you drive your own vehicle, you can stop as many times as you like using the many turn-outs provided, and spend as much time as you like on the summit. All traffic must start down the mountain 45 minutes after the official closing time at the base, and continue to the base. You can not camp overnight in the NH State Park.

Yes, as you proceed up the mountain, you’ll be entering the alpine zone, an area of special attraction which needs special protection. If you exit your car, please do not walk on any vegetation or move any rocks. Vegetatation should be viewed from a distance. Enjoy the beauty of the mountains above treeline, and help us preserve it.

It depends! The Hiker Shuttle operates from the summit weather permitting on a limited, unscheduled, first-come-first-served basis. Visit our Hiker Shuttle page for more details. There is no hiking allowed on the Auto Road in winter; it is part of the network at Great Glen Trails and requires snowshoes or Nordic skis.

The Mount Washington Observatory is the authority on weather on the mountain. You can also visit our Road Status and Weather page. Consider joining the non-profit Observatory as a member—lots of benefits and you’ll support a great, historic Mt. Washington institution!

Safety considerations dictate that certain vehicles with full passenger loads or heavily loaded with luggage cannot be permitted on the Auto Road. Click here for vehicle and weight limits.

Yes! We encourage reservations for Guided Tours. Click here for more information.

Before there were cars (and vans), visitors to the Carriage Road, as it used to be called, traveled in horse drawn stages. That’s how we have been referring to them ever since. Please click here for more history.

Please visit our ATV/UTV page for information on ATV/UTV usage on the road.

Yes, but only outside of operating hours. If you walk on our private road, understand that pedestrians do NOT have the right of way. People walking must yield to cars.

Because of vehicle traffic on the narrow Auto Road, riding bicycles is not allowed. The only time bikes are allowed is during our bike race fund raiser for the Tin Mountain Conservation Center—The Mount Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb in August.

Yes, and as with any vehicle operations, it is weather and conditions permitting. High winds, wet conditions and other safety considerations can close the Auto Road to motorcycles.

Yes. Please visit our Lodging Partner page. In 2018 we opened up the Glen House Hotel here at the base of the Auto Road.

The Auto Road is closed to private vehicles during the winter. However, the SnowCoach operates from December through March. Please click here for more information. The Auto Road is part of the groomed trail system of Great Glen Trails in winter; to use the Auto Road in winter, you need a trail pass and free-heeled skis or snowshoes.

Yes, but please make sure your vehicle is parked in one of the many turnouts along the Auto Road and is not blocking traffic. The Auto Road is narrow in spots and cannot accommodate parked cars. Also, be sure to check with the Toll House about the gate-closing schedule, so you don’t get locked in.

No. You can not park your vehicle on the summit overnight as there is no camping nor accommodations at the summit or vicinity.

We lock the gate at the end of our business day. The time varies during the year so make sure you check with the Toll House if you are planning a long day.

If you are driving your own vehicle, you may bring your pets with you. However, they must be on a leash whenever they are out of your vehicle. Pets are not allowed inside the Sherman Adams State Park Building. Pets are not allowed on our guided tours.

The Auto Road closes whenever weather and road conditions warrant or during special events. Please click here for the operating schedule or here for events.

Over more than150 years, there have been three fatalities on the Auto Road. In 1880, a stage overturned (in the hands of a drunk driver), and a passenger was killed. In 1984, a vehicle experienced brake failure about a mile up the road and was unable to make it down safely. And a motorcyclist suffered a fatal crash in 2009.