Weirs Beach
Lakeside Avenue
Laconia, NH
An old-fashioned lakeside boardwalk of arcades and ice cream on Lake Winnipesaukee, where the big excursion boats and the scenic railroad still stop.
Weirs Beach is New Hampshire's classic lakeside boardwalk, a compact strip of arcades, snack stands, ice cream windows, and a swimming beach set right on the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee. It has been a summer resort for well over a century, and it still carries the cheerful, slightly old-fashioned atmosphere of a lake town built for vacations.
It is also a hub for the whole lake. From the pier at Weirs Beach the big excursion boat MS Mount Washington sets out on cruises across Winnipesaukee, the mail boat makes its rounds, and a scenic railroad runs along the water, so the village is as much a gateway to the lake as a destination in itself. For generations of New Hampshire families it is the essence of summer.
What Guests Love
- A nostalgic boardwalk of arcades, games, and ice cream on the lake
- Boarding the big MS Mount Washington for a cruise on Winnipesaukee
- A swimming beach and pier right in the village
- The scenic railroad that runs along the lakeshore
Worth Knowing
- It is busiest in summer, especially during motorcycle week in June
- The boardwalk and arcades are seasonal, coming alive from late spring through early fall
- Lake cruises and the railroad run on set schedules, so check departure times
- Parking fills quickly on warm weekends, so arrive early
Details
Laconia, NH
Learn about Weirs Beach
A summer resort with deep roots
The place takes its name from the fish weirs that Native people used at the outlet of the lake here long before European settlement, catching fish in the narrows where the water flows out toward the Winnipesaukee River. The Abenaki and their ancestors fished this spot for a very long time, and its usefulness as a gathering place is far older than the boardwalk.
In the nineteenth century Weirs Beach grew into a popular resort, reached by railroad and steamboat, where visitors came to camp, attend gatherings, and enjoy the lake. That resort character has carried through to today, and while the attractions have modernized, the village still exists for the same reason it always has: to enjoy the shore of Winnipesaukee in the summer.
The boardwalk and the lake
The boardwalk is the heart of the experience, a lively lakeside promenade lined with arcades, games, candy and ice cream shops, and a public beach and pier. On a warm evening it fills with families, and the mix of neon, water, and lake breeze gives it the timeless feel of an American summer resort.
From the docks, the excursion boats connect Weirs Beach to the rest of Lake Winnipesaukee, the largest lake in the state, dotted with islands and ringed by mountains. The stately MS Mount Washington offers scenic cruises, and smaller boats carry passengers and even the mail to lakeside communities, turning a stroll on the boardwalk into a launching point for the whole lake.
Rails along the shore
A scenic railroad runs along the lakeshore at Weirs Beach, offering leisurely excursions beside the water, a reminder of the era when trains first brought vacationers to the lake. Riding it is a gentle, nostalgic way to take in the shoreline scenery.
The railroad, the excursion boats, and the boardwalk together give Weirs Beach an unusual concentration of old-fashioned lake attractions in one small village. It is the kind of place that changes slowly, which is exactly why families return to it summer after summer.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Profile Motel & Cottages
Honorable Mention391 Styles Bridges Highway, Lincoln, NH
36 miles away|Learn More ›
Things to Do Near Laconia
MS Mount Washington cruises
From the Weirs Beach dock
Scenic cruises across Lake Winnipesaukee aboard the lake's grand excursion ship.
Squam Lakes Natural Science Center
About 15 miles, a 25 minute drive
A woodland trail past live native wildlife and cruises on the quiet lake from On Golden Pond, in Holderness.
White Mountains
About 30 miles, a 45 minute drive
The high peaks, notches, and scenic drives of the White Mountain National Forest lie just to the north.