Visitor Information

Admission tickets for Castle tours are sold at the Front Gate located on Route 171 & admission tickets for basement tours are sold online in advance and same-day at the Gift Shop (based on availability).  Tickets are sold from 10:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. After purchasing your tickets at the gate, you will continue to drive up a 2 mile scenic road with stops at a waterfall and a scenic overlook. We recommend allowing 20-30 minutes to traverse this road and stop at the scenic locations. This is a one way road, so if you see something you like on the way up, stop at that parking lot because you won’t be visiting on your way back.

Many GPS devices guide you to an incorrect location, so please pay careful attention to signs when you are in the area. If your GPS directs you to turn left on to Ossipee Park Road, do not – continue STRAIGHT on Route 171 for 2 miles. The Front Gate will be located on your left, clearly marked. You can find more detailed directions here, including a map of the Lakes Region.

For guests driving campers longer than 26 feet or ANY vehicle towing we ask that you please use our 586 Ossipee Park Road entrance. Do not enter via the Main Gate on Route 171.

Special “Rainy Day” Pricing Admission Rates

A visit to the Castle is a great rainy day activity! If the noon weather forecast on WMUR.com predicts a 50% or higher chance of rain during our operating hours the following day, guests can purchase Castle in the Clouds tickets for everyone in their party at 50% of all regular admission prices!

$9 Adult admission
$7.50 Senior admission (65+)
$6.50 for Veteran admission
$5 Youth admission (ages 5-17)

Tickets will be available on our website, must be purchased by 11:59 PM the day prior to your rainy day visit and are valid for that day only.

We have a large parking lot for all guests to use. Upon arrival at the Front Gate you will drive an additional 2 miles up the Scenic Road and then park in our main parking lot. From there you will walk to the Carriage House for trolley service to the mansion. Parking is included in the price of your admission.

If you are coming for a wedding or for lunch only, enter via Ossipee Park Road and follow signs for parking on your left. The walk from the parking lot is about 2-3 minutes on a packed gravel and paved roads (if you’re coming for a wedding and don’t want to walk in heels, slip a pair of flats in your bag!)

For guests driving campers longer than 26 feet or ANY vehicle towing we ask that you please park in Bus and RV Parking, which is clearly marked in the grassy area located just to the left of the main parking lot. Once parked in RV parking, you may call 603-476-5900 to request trolley service, or walk 3-5 minutes to the Gift Shop to purchase tickets.

Castle in the Clouds is accessible to those who require assistance*. Visitors may drive up the Scenic Road through the main entrance, enjoying an overlook that is viewable from the car. Handicap parking is located outside the Carriage House. Wheelchairs can access the Carriage House Restaurant and visit the Art Gallery. There is an elevator to bring guests to the second floor’s Winnipesaukee Ballroom for events, weddings and special functions. Access to the Gift Shop may be limited based on the size and turning radius of the wheelchair/scooter.

To tour the mansion, visitors with difficulty boarding the trolley may request an “Assisted Drive” and follow the trolley up the Castle Road in their personal vehicle so long as it’s shorter than 26 feet in length. The museum is accessible on the first floor as well as the gardens; “Armchair Tours,” a booklet with pictures of the second floor and its layout, may be perused by those unable to use the stairs.

*Please see Prohibited Items for a list of equipment that may have limited access in the mansion.

For all those guests who like to plan their trips accordingly, here is a list of items that are not allowed inside the museum or on the Lawns and Gardens. Some of these items are allowed on the property, but not at the historic mansion. Before you board the trolley please securely lock these items in your vehicle:

• Food and drinks of any kind, including water bottles
• Strollers of any size
• Gum
• Smoking and e-cigarettes
• Strollers
• Hiking sticks
• Umbrellas
• Backpacks
• Over-sized bags
• Back-pack baby carriers (both metal-framed and frameless)
• Hand held baby-carriers, ie: car seats
• Weapons
• Tripods and mono-pods
• Selfie Sticks (prohibited in interior only)
• Drones
• Any over-sized item that may endanger the structure or the collections

Depending on size, the following items may have limited or no access inside the Lucknow Mansion. A Museum Guide may assist you with storing these items if they are not required for the duration of your tour.

• Wheelchairs
• Walkers
• Motorized/Mobility Scooters

We do not allow animals, other than service animals, in any buildings, on the trolley OR on the Lawns of Lucknow. This means if you’d like to tour the mansion, your pet would have to stay in the car or with a trusted member of your party who isn’t touring. Some families opt to swap turns watching pets and touring the mansion. The 28 miles of hiking trails throughout the property are certainly pet friendly and much loved by animals. Sorry, but pets are not allowed in the restaurant.

Pets will not be permitted to attend special events such as Walks & Talks, Auto Shows or other field events. Please visit our Program Calendar to see if there are any special events during your visit.

Designated  smoking areas are located outside The Carriage House, in the main parking lot and near the Meadows by Shannon Pond. Smoking, including the use of e-cigarettes, is never allowed in any building, on the trolley or at the Lucknow Lawns. For assistance in locating a smoking area, please ask any employee. Please help keep our gardens and grounds clean and always dispose of your cigarettes in an appropriate container.

Whether you are visiting for a tour of the mansion or if you plan to dance the night away at a wedding, we want all of our guests to have an enjoyable and memorable experience. Here are a few things to keep in mind during days when we have weddings:

If you are coming as a Wedding Guest:

– Use Ossipee Park Road for entry (for GPS use 586 Ossipee Park Road Moultonborough, NH 03254).

– Park in the main parking area and walk to the Carriage House. This is about a 5 minute walk on packed gravel.

– Relax in the Carriage House for a drink or take in the views from The Terrace while you wait for trolley service to the ceremony site.

– Use restrooms in the Carriage House before you board the trolley as there is only a porta-potty at the ceremony site.

If you are coming as a Castle Guest on the day of a wedding:

– Trolley service will run as normal, every 15 minutes from the Carriage House to the mansion until 3:45pm – if you’d like to tour the mansion please be sure to board the trolley by 3:45pm.

– The Lawns of Lucknow will close at 4:30pm; no access will be granted to the Lawns during the ceremony.

– The mansion will close at 4:45pm.

– Please don’t hesitate to call our offices to see if a wedding is taking place the day of your visit and to learn what suggestions we have for your trip to the Castle.

Photography for non-commercial use is allowed and encouraged throughout the estate. You will definitely want to have your cameras at the ready during your visit – with over 5,000 acres of land you never know when you’ll see interesting wildlife! In the past year we’ve spotted multiple black bear, deer with fawns, moose, and a bobcat. For the comfort of all guests and to protect the collections, tripods, monopods, and selfie sticks are prohibited inside the mansion. Otherwise, non-flash photography for personal use is welcome inside the house. Please note that drones are not allowed on the property.