Sights in Hampton Beach & Around
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Hampton Seashell
North of the state park, where NH 1A becomes Ocean Blvd, the town of Hampton is both beach and honky-tonk playground. In summer this vast main beach is crowded with all of humanity. At the center of the strip the Hampton Seashell is a band shell with an amphitheater, as well as public toilets, a first-aid station and the chamber of commerce information center. Across the boulevard, the Hampton Beach casino has live entertainment, video games, fast-food stands and souvenir shops. Beach admission is free, but you’ll have to feed quarters to the parking meters ($1.50 per hour).
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Jenness State Beach
As NH 1A enters Rye, parking along the road is restricted to vehicles with town parking stickers, but Jenness State Beach has a small metered parking lot that’s open to the general public. Further north near Rye Harbor you’re allowed to park along the roadway. Climb over the seawall of rubble and rocks to get to the gravel beach. It lacks facilities, but it is much less crowded than anything further south.
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Seacoast Science Center
At the northern tip of the seacoast, just before NH 1A turns westward to Portsmouth, lies the underutilized Odiorne Point State Park. It is the site of the Seacoast Science Center. Undersea videos, huge aquariums and a hands-on ‘touch tank’ are the highlights of this family favorite. The center hosts lots of special activities such as trail walks, lighthouse tours and concerts.
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Hampton Beach State Park
The beach actually begins south of the state line, on the north bank of the Merrimack River at Salisbury Beach State Reservation in Massachusetts. Take I-95 exit 56 (MA 1A) and head east to Salisbury Beach, then north along NH 1A to Hampton Beach State Park a long stretch of sand shielded by dunes. Facilities include changing rooms, toilets and a snack bar. Parking is $10 per day.
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North Hampton State Beach
In the residential neighborhoods north of Hampton Beach you’ll find a few less crowded and less spectacular beaches. Ten minutes north of Hampton Beach, North Hampton State Beach is not nearly as wide but is quieter than its grand southern neighbors. It has all the same facilities, including metered parking.
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Wallis Sands State Beach
North of Rye Harbor, Wallis Sands State Beach has a wide sandy beach with views of the Isles of Shoals. Besides the bathhouses, there are grassy lawns for children’s games and a large parking lot ($10), making this the top spot for families with smaller kids.
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Odiorne Point State Park
At the northern tip of the seacoast, just before NH 1A turns westward to Portsmouth, lies the underutilized Odiorne Point State Park. It lacks a beach, but instead offers seaside strolls and forested trails, as well as sweet hidden spots for picnicking and fishing.
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