9 New Hampshire Movie Filming Locations You Can Actually Visit

I have always loved the idea of visiting places where movies were filmed. There is something magical about standing in a spot that you have seen on screen, knowing that the actors and crew were right there, telling a story.

New Hampshire has been the backdrop for a surprising number of films, and I have found a collection of movie filming locations across the state that you can actually visit. Some are famous, featured in major Hollywood productions.

Others are smaller, independent films that captured the beauty of New Hampshire in a different way. I visited one location that was used in a classic 1980s comedy.

The building looks almost exactly the same as it did in the film. Another location is a quiet lake that appeared in a romantic drama.

The water was calm and the trees were green. That is the thing about these New Hampshire filming locations.

They are not just sets. They are real places, full of their own stories and history.

1. Downtown Keene and the Jumanji Mural

That unmistakable rumble of a board game gone catastrophically wrong? Yeah, it happened right here in Downtown Keene, where the streets of this lively New England city doubled as the fictional town of Brantford in the 1995 blockbuster Jumanji.

Central Square buzzed with chaos during filming, and the energy of that wild production still seems to linger in the air today.

The crown jewel of any Keene movie pilgrimage is the legendary Parrish Shoes mural, boldly painted on a building along West Street near its intersection with Main Street. Robin Williams fans make special trips just to stand in front of it, snap a photo, and soak in that unmistakable cinematic nostalgia.

Honestly, seeing it in person hits differently than watching it on screen.

Beyond the mural, Downtown Keene rewards curious explorers with a genuinely vibrant local scene. Independent boutiques, cozy cafes, and a thriving arts community give this city a personality that no Hollywood set could ever fully replicate.

The architecture alone tells stories stretching back centuries, with handsome brick facades lining streets that feel both timeless and alive.

Keene is also wonderfully walkable, making it easy to wander and discover corners of the city that feel plucked straight from a storybook. Grab a coffee, stroll past the mural a second time, and let yourself imagine the sheer spectacle of a major Hollywood production taking over these charming streets.

Find this iconic spot at West Street and Main Street, Keene, New Hampshire.

2. Squam Lake and On Golden Pond

Few places on Earth carry the kind of warm, golden glow that Squam Lake radiates on a still morning. This breathtaking body of water in central New Hampshire served as the soul of the beloved 1981 film On Golden Pond.

Sanding at its edge, it is immediately obvious why legendary filmmakers chose it above all other locations.

Big Squam and Little Squam together create a shimmering patchwork of interconnected waters framed by dense forest and rolling hills. The famous Thayer family cottage, so central to the film’s emotional heart, still sits along the shoreline, glimpsed best from the water itself.

Seeing it from a boat brings an almost surreal feeling, like stepping directly into a memory that belongs to someone else.

The Squam Lakes Natural Science Center offers guided Discover Squam Cruises. They navigate past key filming locations while naturalists share fascinating stories about both the movie production and the lake’s rich ecological history.

Spotting a bald eagle or hearing a loon’s haunting call during the tour feels like the universe providing its own cinematic soundtrack.

Even without the film connection, Squam Lake stands as one of New Hampshire’s most spectacular natural treasures. The water is clear, the air is impossibly fresh, and the surrounding landscape shifts through gorgeous seasonal palettes.

Whether you arrive in summer or autumn, the experience is nothing short of magical. Start your golden adventure at the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Route 113, Holderness, New Hampshire.

3. Mirror Lake Jackson and The Good Son

There is something about Mirror Lake in winter that makes the air feel heavier, charged with a quiet drama. It perfectly explains why filmmakers chose it for the chilling ice-skating scenes in the 1993 psychological thriller The Good Son.

Macaulay Culkin’s unsettling performance felt all the more intense against this hauntingly beautiful New Hampshire backdrop.

Located in the charming village of Jackson, Mirror Lake earns its name spectacularly well. On calm days, the surrounding pine-covered slopes and snow-dusted peaks reflect so perfectly on the frozen surface that up and down seem to swap places entirely.

It is the kind of visual perfection that makes your brain momentarily question reality, which is exactly the sensation The Good Son was going for.

Visiting in winter obviously delivers the most atmospheric experience, but Mirror Lake charms throughout every season. Summer brings kayakers and picnickers, autumn arrives in an explosion of fiery foliage, and spring offers that delicate, tentative beauty unique to New England’s thawing months.

Each version of this lake is worth experiencing at least once.

Jackson itself is a postcard-worthy village that adds tremendous value to any visit here. Covered bridges, cozy inns, and mountain trails surround the area, turning a quick filming-location stop into a full weekend adventure.

The surrounding White Mountains provide a dramatic stage that Hollywood simply could not manufacture in a studio. Find Mirror Lake where Mirror Lake Road meets Lakeview Lane in Jackson, New Hampshire.

4. Phillips Exeter Academy and A Separate Peace

Walking through the gates of Phillips Exeter Academy feels like stepping into a world where ambition, tradition, and youthful intensity collide in the most compelling way.

This storied institution in Exeter, New Hampshire, served as the cinematic stand-in for the fictional Devon School in the film adaptation of John Knowles’ classic novel A Separate Peace, and honestly, the campus could not be more perfectly cast.

The architecture here is staggeringly beautiful, a curated collection of Georgian brick buildings arranged across a sprawling campus that radiates academic gravitas. Manicured lawns stretch between towering trees, and the overall atmosphere is one of quiet, purposeful elegance.

Movie producers recognized immediately that no constructed set could replicate this level of authentic, lived-in institutional character.

Although the legendary jumping tree from Knowles’ novel no longer stands, the campus itself remains a deeply evocative space. Every pathway and courtyard seems to whisper stories of friendship tested, rivalries ignited, and the bittersweet business of growing up.

For fans of the novel or the film, a visit here carries genuine emotional weight.

Phillips Exeter welcomes visitors who wish to explore its grounds, making it accessible to curious film enthusiasts and literary pilgrims alike.

The town of Exeter surrounding the campus is equally charming, filled with historic architecture and a welcoming small-town energy that makes lingering feel effortless and entirely worthwhile.

Plan your visit to Phillips Exeter Academy at 20 Main Street, Exeter, New Hampshire, and prepare to feel the weight of history settle pleasantly on your shoulders.

5. Canobie Lake Park and The Thomas Crown Affair

Most people associate The Thomas Crown Affair with Steve McQueen’s magnetic charisma and impossibly cool wardrobe. True cinematic detectives know that New Hampshire played a surprisingly memorable supporting role.

Canobie Lake Park in Salem provided the vintage amusement park backdrop that gave the 1968 film some of its most visually distinctive moments.

Canobie Lake Park is genuinely one of the most charming amusement parks in the entire Northeast, operating since the early twentieth century with a personality that feels warmly nostalgic rather than aggressively commercial. The lakeside setting adds a layer of natural beauty that most modern theme parks simply cannot compete with.

Riding classic attractions here while knowing McQueen once walked these grounds adds an undeniable thrill to the experience.

The park offers a wonderful mix of classic rides, family-friendly attractions, and seasonal events that keep it feeling fresh while honoring its storied heritage.

The grounds themselves are beautifully maintained, with the lake providing a shimmering backdrop that changes mood dramatically from morning to evening.

Sunset at Canobie Lake Park is genuinely spectacular.

Salem is easily accessible from Boston and Manchester, making Canobie Lake Park a fantastic day-trip destination that combines cinematic history with genuine, unpretentious fun. Kids love it, adults get misty-eyed with nostalgia, and film buffs get to check off a seriously cool location from their list.

The park sits at 85 North Policy Street, Salem, New Hampshire, ready to deliver its own brand of old-school magic to anyone willing to show up.

6. Downtown Portsmouth and The Whistle at Eaton Falls

Portsmouth has always possessed a certain cinematic quality, a layered, lived-in elegance that makes every street corner feel like the opening shot of a great film. The 1951 drama The Whistle at Eaton Falls recognized this immediately.

They used Downtown Portsmouth’s historic streets and period architecture to create an utterly convincing New England mill town atmosphere that still resonates today.

Market Square sits at the heart of this coastal gem, anchored by the stately North Church steeple that has presided over Portsmouth life for centuries.

Wandering through the surrounding blocks, it becomes easy to imagine Lloyd Bridges navigating these very sidewalks, the city’s mid-century character perfectly preserved in its architectural bones.

The Moffatt-Ladd House and the Wentworth-Gardner House add further layers of historical grandeur to every stroll.

What makes Portsmouth so special for film location hunters is that the city genuinely looks the part without any artificial enhancement. The historic district has been thoughtfully preserved, meaning the streets that appeared on screen in the early 1950s remain remarkably recognizable today.

That continuity between past and present creates a quietly powerful experience for anyone paying attention.

Modern Portsmouth layers vibrant contemporary culture onto its historic foundation, with outstanding independent restaurants, galleries, and live music venues filling buildings that have stood for generations.

The combination of cinematic heritage and present-day vitality makes this seacoast city one of the most rewarding destinations in New Hampshire.

Begin your exploration at Market Square, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and let the city reveal its layers at whatever pace feels right.

7. Swanzey’s Covered Bridges and Jumanji

Swanzey might be the most photogenic town in New Hampshire that most people have never heard of. The filmmakers behind Jumanji clearly knew exactly what they had found when they drove those winding rural roads.

The town’s collection of historic covered bridges and unspoiled countryside provided the authentic small-town New England texture that the film needed to ground its fantastical story.

Swanzey boasts four magnificent historic covered bridges, each one a testament to nineteenth-century craftsmanship and the enduring appeal of practical beauty. The West Swanzey Covered Bridge, also known as the Thompson Bridge, stands as a particular highlight.

Originally constructed in 1832 and lovingly repainted in recent years, it spans the Ashuelot River with a quiet confidence that makes photographers stop their cars mid-road.

The Slate Bridge on Westport Village Road carries its own distinct personality, framed by a landscape that shifts dramatically with the seasons. Autumn transforms this entire area into something almost absurdly beautiful, with fiery foliage reflecting in the river beneath each bridge.

Even in the flat grey of winter, these structures possess an architectural dignity that commands respect and admiration.

Driving the covered bridge loop through Swanzey requires only a couple of hours but delivers a deeply satisfying sense of connection to a slower, more deliberate way of life.

Combine the movie angle with the pure scenic pleasure of the route and you have one of the most rewarding half-days available anywhere in the state.

Find the West Swanzey Covered Bridge at Main Street, West Swanzey, New Hampshire, and the Slate Bridge on Westport Village Road, Swanzey, New Hampshire.

8. Mount Washington and Return of the Secaucus 7

Mount Washington does not whisper. It roars.

The highest peak in the entire Northeastern United States commands attention with a ferocity that filmmakers behind Return of the Secaucus 7 captured brilliantly. They were using the surrounding White Mountains trails and rugged scenery as a canvas for their character-driven drama.

Standing at the base of this mountain, you feel its scale in your chest before you even take a single step upward.

John Sayles’ 1980 film brought a group of old friends together against this backdrop of grand, indifferent wilderness. The contrast between human smallness and mountain enormity gave the story a resonance it might not have achieved elsewhere.

The trails winding through this region offer hikers everything from manageable day walks to genuinely challenging ascents that test both body and resolve.

Every elevation gain rewards with increasingly spectacular views.

The Mount Washington Auto Road provides an alternative route to the summit for those who prefer their mountain majesty with slightly less physical exertion. Either way, arriving at the top delivers a perspective-altering experience that no photograph fully prepares you for.

On clear days, the views extend across multiple states and into Canada.

The Appalachian Mountain Club Highland Center at Crawford Notch serves as an excellent base for exploring this entire region, offering trail information, lodging, and that particular camaraderie that seems to develop naturally among people who choose mountains as their playground.

Begin your high-altitude adventure at the Mount Washington Auto Road, 1 Mount Washington Auto Road, Gorham, New Hampshire.

9. The Friendly Toast Portsmouth and Love in Kilnerry

Walking into The Friendly Toast on Congress Street in Portsmouth is like stepping through a portal into the most wonderfully chaotic, joyfully maximalist dimension imaginable.

Every surface tells a different story, vintage signs compete for wall space with original artwork, and the overall effect is one of gleeful, unapologetic personality.

It is absolutely no mystery why the makers of Love in Kilnerry chose this extraordinary space for their interior dining scenes.

The restaurant’s famously eclectic decor creates an environment that functions almost like a film set on its own terms, requiring zero additional dressing or art direction.

Mismatched furniture, retro memorabilia, and an atmosphere crackling with genuine local energy make every visit feel like a unique experience rather than a repeatable transaction.

No two corners of this room feel quite alike, which keeps the eye endlessly entertained.

The Friendly Toast has earned its devoted following not just through visual spectacle but through a menu that celebrates all-day breakfast and comfort food with genuine enthusiasm and creativity. The kitchen takes familiar concepts and executes them with enough flair to make everything feel special.

Eating here amid the cinematic backdrop feels like participating in something slightly larger than an ordinary meal.

Portsmouth’s Congress Street location places The Friendly Toast within easy walking distance of the city’s historic waterfront and Market Square. This is making it a natural anchor for any full day of exploration in this remarkable seacoast city.

Settle into a booth, admire the organized chaos surrounding you, and appreciate that real movie magic sometimes happens in the most delightfully unexpected places.

Find this gem at 113 Congress Street, Portsmouth, New Hampshire.