Loudon: Motorsport, Museum and Lovejoy Trails

Motorsport, local history, and outdoor activities shape Loudon in different ways. New Hampshire Motor Speedway is located in Loudon, New Hampshire, along Route 106; the New England Racing Museum is also on its grounds. Lovejoy Trails and Clough Pond offer other reasons to visit. If you are looking for a hotel in Loudon, it helps to first decide whether a race, the museum, a woodland trail, or early-season fishing will shape your stay. Different dates and seasonal conditions matter depending on your plans.

Motorsport and Racing Events

The annual Loudon Classic motorcycle race takes place on the full 1.6-mile road course. A NASCAR Cup Series race is scheduled for September 26, 2027, on the Speedway’s 1.058-mile oval. The road course and oval therefore represent two different track formats: one is used for the Loudon Classic, the other for the planned Cup Series race. If your trip is tied to an event, check the specific date in advance.

The announced program for Laconia Motorcycle Week 2026 includes racing events, demo rides, vendor booths, and camping at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The announced program thus includes other activities on the grounds in addition to the races. The event is a separate occasion from the separately announced Cup Series and Loudon Classic races.

Racing Museum and Loudon’s History

The New England Racing Museum is located on the grounds of New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Exhibits include New England race cars and motorcycles from all disciplines, winner’s trophies, racing helmets, photographs, and unique racing artifacts. A museum visit therefore offers a different focus from attending an event: the collection includes trophies, equipment, and photographic records of racing as well as vehicles.

A 2001 historical overview places the Historical Society in the Loudon Community Building, affectionately known as “Charlie’s Barn.” It describes many artifacts there in orderly displays that offer a vivid picture of Loudon’s past. This historical perspective complements the museum’s focus on motorsport, though the two institutions do not cover the same subject matter.

Lovejoy Trails and Paths Through the Landscape

Lovejoy Trails wind for two wooded miles through former farmland. The property includes sections with varied terrain and numerous stone walls. There is also a 0.4-mile trail with a boardwalk over a wetland. The descriptions thus highlight different trail lengths and landscape features: the longer wooded route, with varied terrain and stone walls, and the shorter trail with a boardwalk.

Access to Lovejoy Trails is via Lovejoy Road in Loudon, north of the intersection with Memory Lane. Parking is available at the trailhead during snow-free months. This seasonal condition can be factored into your plans; check parking conditions before heading out, especially if you are traveling outside the snow-free months.

Early-Season Fishing at Clough Pond

A report dated April 6, 2023, describes Clough Pond in Loudon as one of the well-stocked early-season fishing areas where anglers often catch trout on opening day. The fishing described is therefore tied to the early season and opening day, not to every season in general. Stocking and seasonal conditions may change, so check current information before fishing.

Whether your stay is shaped by a race date, racing history, Lovejoy Trails, or seasonal fishing, plan around the dates and conditions relevant to each activity. You can then compare hotels in Loudon for your travel dates.

Discover more destinations: Bow, Boscawen, Warner, Sutton, Hooksett, Andover, Bradford, Wilmot

For the broader travel overview: Merrimack County.