New Hampshire has no commercial drive-thru safari parks. Its signature roadside wildlife experience is moose watching in the far north. You can drive “Moose Alley” yourself for free, and the town of Gorham runs guided moose bus tours in summer, though their 2026 season has already ended.
- Route 3 “Moose Alley” (Pittsburg)
- Route 16 – Thirteen Mile Woods (Errol to Milan)
- Gorham Moose Tours (Gorham): closed for 2026, returns in spring
ROUTE 3 “MOOSE ALLEY”
Type: Free self-drive moose-viewing corridor through Connecticut Lakes State Forest
Location: US Route 3, north of First Connecticut Lake to the Canadian border, Pittsburg, NH (the Great North Woods, about 3.5 hours north of Boston)
Phone: NH Fish and Game Department, (603) 271-3421
Website: NH Fish and Game · Deer Mountain Campground (NH State Parks)
Social Media: No dedicated accounts
Length: About 12 miles, the last northern stretch of Route 3 between First Connecticut Lake and the border. The road passes roadside marshes, ponds, and the Connecticut River.
Animals: Moose, plus white-tailed deer, black bears, loons, bald eagles, and spruce grouse
Admission: FREE
Best Time:
- Just before dawn and at dusk. Sunrise is when moose are most active.
- Late spring through summer has the most roadside sightings, when moose come out for road salt and to escape insects.
- Fall is quieter, but the foliage is spectacular.
Rules & Tips:
- Drive slowly, especially after dark. Moose are nearly black and very hard to see, and collisions are common and dangerous.
- Pull completely off the road to watch, and stay in or near your car. Moose can weigh up to 1,600 lbs and can be aggressive, especially cows with calves and bulls during the fall rut.
- Watch for cars stopped on the shoulder, which is a classic sign of a moose.
- Look for roadside “moose wallows” (muddy, track-filled patches).
- Sightings aren’t guaranteed, and some recent visitors report fewer moose than in the past.
- Lodging is limited, so stay in Pittsburg cabins to be on the road at dawn.
- Gas up beforehand. Cell service is spotty.
- Give logging trucks the right of way on side roads.
ROUTE 16 – THIRTEEN MILE WOODS
Type: Free scenic drive along the Androscoggin River with frequent moose sightings
Location: NH Route 16 between Errol and Milan, NH (about 1 hour south of Pittsburg)
Phone: NH Fish and Game Department, (603) 271-3421
Website: NH Fish and Game
Length: About 13 miles along the river. It continues east as Route 16 into Maine toward Rangeley’s “Moose Alley.”
Animals: Moose, deer, river otters, eagles, ospreys, and loons on nearby Umbagog Lake
Admission: FREE
Best Time: Dawn and dusk
Tips:
- Combine this drive with Umbagog Lake State Park and Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge near Errol.
- Use the river pull-offs to watch safely.
GORHAM MOOSE TOURS
⚠️ The 2026 season ran May 15 – September 5 and is now over. It returns in spring 2027.
Type: Guided moose and wildlife bus tours run by the Town of Gorham Parks & Recreation since 2006
Location: Gorham Town Common Info Booth, 69 Main St, Gorham, NH 03581
Phone: (603) 466-3103 (in season) · (603) 466-2101 (off-season, October – May)
Email: gorhamnhmoosetours@gmail.com
Website: gorhammoosetours.org · Tickets
Social Media: Tripadvisor
Price: $35 per person, all ages (about $37.89 online with fees). Tickets are non-transferable.
Tour Length: 3–4 hours by bus, departing in the evening. It can run close to midnight.
Success Rate: Historically 93–97% of tours see a moose.
Tips:
- Book early, since capacity is limited.
- Guides have state permission to use spotlights, which is otherwise illegal for the public.
- Passengers can sometimes get off the bus for a closer look.
- Long for young kids.
- No pets.
Explore Drive-Thru Wildlife Parks in Neighboring States:
Maine · Vermont · Massachusetts