What to Know Before You Go

New Hampshire continues to closely monitor the developments regarding COVID-19 moving into the holiday season. While many of our dining establishments, lodging properties and winter tourist attractions are open, you are encouraged to contact any property prior to visiting to find out about specific reservation requirements and guidelines. Please review the following if you are planning to visit the state.

Visiting New Hampshire
Mask Requirements
What's Open

Are you visiting New Hampshire from out of state, or are you a New Hampshire resident returning home after traveling outside of New England?

If you’re visiting New Hampshire from outside of New England, or if you are a New Hampshire resident returning home from traveling beyond the New England border, you’re required to self-quarantine for 10 days following the last date of travel.

If you are asymptomatic and have a negative PCR test on or after 7 days of quarantine, you can shorten or end your quarantine.  The 7-day test out option applies only to travel imposed quarantine and not to quarantine due to any other type of exposure.

The latest travel guidance can be found here.

Mask Requirements?

New Hampshire’s Governor instituted a statewide mask mandate in an effort to help slow community transmission of COVID-19.  The mandate requires anyone over the age of five, to wear a mask or cloth face covering while in public spaces, indoors or outdoors, when they are unable to maintain a 6 foot distance from people outside their households. The Governor’s Executive Order is here.

What’s open in NH?

Attractions
Bowling & Entertainment Centers
Lodging
Movie Theaters
Museums & Art Galleries
Performing Arts
Rest Areas/Welcome Centers
Restaurants
Retail Stores
Ski Areas
Tourist Trains


Attractions
Outdoor activities located in recreational or natural settings are operating under the guidance outlined here. This applies to small groups of 10 people or less and includes biking centers, canoe and kayak rentals, mini-golf, outdoor driving ranges, outdoor shooting ranges, small fishing charters, paint ball, and outdoor guiding services (fishing, hunting, and hiking). This guidance also applies to outdoor and nature based experiential attractions and business, including: agro-tourism, outdoor walking trails, tours and paths, batting cages, zip lines, chairlifts, ropes courses/aerial parks, disk golf, open off-road vehicle tours, natural science centers, garden tours, diving tours and lessons, caves, petting zoos, balloon rides, helicopter and plane rides (groups fewer than 5) and white water rafting. All customers are required to wear a cloth facemask when within the facility or public spaces when social distancing is not possible.

Bowling & Entertainment Centers
Bowling & entertainment centers are open for daily business operations. This includes bowling facilities as well as arcades, laser tag, billard halls, etc. All facilities must ensure they are adapting to the new business processes as well as guidelines to protect their employees and consumers outlined here. Customers need to be prepared with a mask or cloth face covering as they may be asked to wear it if social distancing is difficult to maintain.
 
Lodging
Hotels, motels, B&B’s, Inns, cabin communities and similar accommodations, including short-term rentals are now accepting overnight reservations from NH residents or out of state visitors who have met the 14 day quarantine requirement. All lodging properties must ensure they are following the specific business process adaptations as well as the guidelines to protect employees and consumers outlined here. Guests should be prepared to wear a mask or cloth face covering when moving within the facility if social distancing is not possible. For example, during check-in or check-out, and when going to or from a guest room.
 
Movie Theaters
Movie theaters are open to the public but with limitations to 50% occupancy. Customers are encouraged to buy tickets prior to arrival, and should receive a timeframe to enter the theater and go through ticketing in order to avoid congregating and waiting in the lobby. Additional guidance to help protect the health of employees and consumers is located here.
 
Museums & Art Galleries
Museums and art galleries in NH are open to the public. All businesses are required to follow  guidance to ensure the health and safety of customers, employees and volunteers outlined here. Guests are required to wear face coverings while they are in the facility and not able to maintain safe social distancing.
 
Performing Arts
Performing arts centers are open to the public at 50% capacity. Customers are encouraged to buy tickets prior to arrival at the venue and are required to wear face coverings when entering and exiting the facility, waiting in lines, buying food/drink and moving to and from the theater or restrooms when social distancing is difficult to maintain. Face coverings are not required when sitting and watching the performance as long as appropriate social distancing is maintained. Additional guidance is here.
 
Rest Areas/Welcome Centers
New Hampshire’s Rest Areas and Welcome Centers are open to the traveling public. Hours of operation and locations of the 12 facilities can be found here.
 
Restaurants
The food service/restaurant industry continues to offer curbside pickup and delivery as well as indoor and outdoor seating with social distancing required between tables. No more than 6 adults per table are allowed and no more than 10 people total. Customers are required to wear cloth face coverings to protect other patrons and employees during seating and exiting, or when using the restroom.  In addition, at least one customer from each party will be required to leave contact information specifically for contact tracing (to-go and window service areas are exempt from this requirement). Full guidance is here.
 
Retail Stores
Retail businesses are open. Businesses must ensure they are following guidelines to protect employees and consumers detailed here. Customers are expected to wear cloth face coverings at all times when inside stores.

Ski Areas
Ski areas are open with safety precautions in an effort to protect employees and guests. All guests are encouraged to take the following steps when planning to visit a resort this winter. Additional travel tips for visiting a New Hampshire resort this winter can be found here.

• Buy tickets and passes online before you leave home
• Only bring what you need while on the trails (lodges are limiting visitor capacity and time spent inside buildings, so bootbags and other belongings should be left in your car)
• Cloth face coverings are required while inside any ski area lodge or building, and outside while waiting in lines, on chair lifts, or any other public location where social distancing is difficult
• Practice social distancing on the trails and inside lodge buildings
• Stay home if you are feeling sick
• Plan ahead: be sure to call or check the website of the ski area you plan to visit so you’re aware of their guidelines.

Full guidance is here.
 
Tourist Trains
Tourist trains are reopen for daily operations but must adapt to the new business processes as well as the guidelines to protect their employees and customers as outlined here.  Passengers are required to wear cloth face coverings while in the passenger car except while consuming food or beverage.