Independence Byway
Independence Byway is a State Scenic Byway in New Hampshire. Within New Hampshire it covers roughly 21 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along Independence Byway with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
The American Independence Byway loops 21 miles through Exeter (settled 1638) and Hampton (1639), two of New Hampshire's four original 17th-century towns. It also passes through Hampton Falls and Kensington, smaller towns that later split off from them. The roughly hour-long drive passes classic New England villages and colonial architecture while opening onto fields, marshes, and Atlantic Ocean views along the way. Exeter, which served as New Hampshire's capital during the Revolutionary War, anchors the route with the American Independence Museum, home to an original Dunlap Broadside printing of the Declaration of Independence and one of only three original Purple Hearts awarded during the Revolution, as well as Phillips Exeter Academy. Apple orchards, farmers markets, and fresh seafood round out a compact drive built for travelers more interested in Revolutionary-era history and coastal New England architecture than mountain scenery.
- 21-mile loop through Exeter, Hampton, Hampton Falls & Kensington
- Exeter, NH's Revolutionary War-era capital
- American Independence Museum
- Original Dunlap Broadside of the Declaration of Independence
- Phillips Exeter Academy
- Atlantic Ocean & marsh views
Plan a drive on Independence Byway →
What is a State Scenic Byway?
State Scenic Byways are roads a state has formally recognized for their scenic, natural, historic or cultural value — each state's own curated collection of drives worth taking slowly.
Where to Stay along Independence Byway
1 campground or RV park sits within about 5 miles of Independence Byway.
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