Family Weekend

Fall in the Upper Valley is a busy time for visitors, so we encourage you to make a hotel reservation as soon as possible, if you haven’t done so already. There are no hotel blocks on hold for families for this special weekend. You may want to look for availability within an hour or so of Hanover in both New Hampshire and Vermont. Don’t forget to also check out Airbnb, Vrbo, Quechee Lakes rentals, Eastman Lake rentals, and bed-and-breakfasts.

Moosilauke Ravine Lodge, owned by Dartmouth and about an hour from Hanover, has blocked off some of their hostel-style rustic mountain accommodations for families attending Family Weekend. Discounted rates are available for those for whom regular prices are cost prohibitive. Reservations are required. From January – May, please fill out this online form to submit a reservation request.  After May 1, please call (603) 764-5858 between 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. ET Wednesday–Monday with questions and to make your reservation. Hearty breakfasts and family-style dinners are also offered at the lodge—reservations required.

Whether you’re exploring the campus, Hanover, or the entire Upper Valley this weekend, we’ve got your guide for where to go and what to eat. From Big Green athletics, hiking, apple picking, curling up with a book and a coffee, or enjoying a cruller at Lou’s Bakery, there's something for the whole family on campus and beyond.

We planned the weekend with Friday and Saturday night dinners as free time so you can enjoy time with your student and other families. We suggest you make dinner reservations for both evenings as soon as possible. 

The Upper Valley Business Alliance is a great resource for area restaurants.

The main on-campus dining location at the Class of 1953 Commons (aka FOCO) is open to families for dinner Friday and Saturday night from 4:00–8:30 p.m. and is a great option for those with food allergies or dietary restrictions. Students on a meal plan can use their guest passes, or families can pay at the door for an all-you-can-eat meal at discounted rates. Families are also welcome to enjoy the dining hall for breakfast and lunch.

Find your way around Dartmouth’s 269-acre main campus and beyond.

Drop off your donated non-perishable food and personal care items at the Family Weekend check-in tables. The items will be donated to the Upper Valley Haven in White River Junction, which has been providing food relief and temporary shelter and educational programming for home-insecure and at-risk families and adults since 1980.

Don’t forget to wear Dartmouth green to show your Dartmouth pride! 

New England weather can be unpredictable in the fall, so be sure to check the weather forecast—function (including comfortable shoes) and not fashion is the key...and layers are always a wise choice.