With only a small strip of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, New Hampshire is a typically overlooked beach destination. Given its northern New England location, summer is the top time of year for a trip to the seashore here. With a laid-back vibe and a lot to do, the beaches in “The Granite State” all make lovely hometowns or vacation spots.
4 Best Beach Towns to Live in New Hampshire
Even though New Hampshire has the smallest oceanic coastline in the country, it still has a couple of spots to enjoy beach life. There are 13 miles of shoreline (131 miles by NOAA) in the Granite State, but skipping over these few top beach towns would be a mistake. Avoid the big crowds of the …
Top Beaches and Coastal Towns in NH
Despite having only 13 miles of coastline, there are a few seaside gems located in New Hampshire. Probably the most famous is Hampton Beach, a popular spot for its white sand beaches and cool coastal waters. Its a neighbor to the much larger coastal city of Hampton. Further south is the town of Rye, which also attracts locals and visitors to its seashores.
Guide to Visiting the Beaches in New Hampshire
New Hampshire makes the most of its 13 miles (131, according to the NOAA) of coastline by packing five ocean beaches inside its state parks and other private and public shores. The Granite State also has a few beach towns where residents enjoy a comfortable life by the ocean and welcome visitors for a break from nearby big cities.
Since New Hampshire has such a small amount of Atlantic Ocean shoreline, tourists from outside New England sometimes don’t pay much attention to its coastal sands. Despite their short length, New Hampshire’s beaches are beautiful and provide excellent opportunities to escape crowds.
New Hampshire’s Seacoast beaches are great for a day trip from Portsmouth or as a weekend getaway from Boston or Portland, Maine. Enjoy everything from the lively Hampton Beach to the tranquil Wallis Sands. Jenness Beach and Hampton Beach are two of the best beaches in the Atlantic Coast region of the state.
Hampton Beach has been one of the most frequented New Hampshire beach towns for decades, thanks to its vast stretches of white sand. Jenness State Beach is a gorgeous place near the coastal town of Rye, ideal for long walks, picnics, and beach fun. It’s one of the top state beaches for families due to the calm Atlantic waters, which make it a perfect swimming beach.
Sharks
Since 1837, there has never been a recorded case of a shark attack in New Hampshire waters. But different species have been seen off the state’s coast, especially in the summer.
New Hampshire Coastal Climate
The coast of New Hampshire has sunny summers, cold winters with plenty of snow and wind, and mild, partly overcast autumns and springs. Peak travel season is from June to September. This time of year is pleasant and dry.
July sees an average high of 76 °F in the Hampton Beach region, while January sees an average low of 32 °F. Water never gets any warmer than 69 °F or colder than 42 °F. Due to the limited coastline, these temperatures are typical throughout the whole coast.
Activities
When the weather is nice, the local beaches offer a wide range of outdoor activities. Popular activities consist of water sports, including swimming, boating, and surfing. Treasure hunting on the beach is a fun activity that can be done at any time of the year, as can watching the sun rise or go down.
Besides the ocean, several state beaches are close to various facilities like bathrooms, playgrounds, or picnic tables. In the summer, activities like yoga sessions by the sea are often held on the busier beaches of Hampton Beach.
Accommodations
Surprisingly, the New Hampshire shore offers more lodging possibilities than one would anticipate. There are a wide variety of accommodations all along the coast, including condos, cottages, hotels, and motels.
Ashworth by the Sea, one of the most famous hotels in the area, has been drawing guests for over 100 years. Campsites are available at a few state parks, particularly in the Hampton area, so you can spend the night outdoors when the weather is nice.
Keep New Hampshire’s beaches in mind when you’re ready to explore this short but stunning coastline. They have fewer tourists than some other east coast states, but there are still plenty of fantastic options for a beach vacation.
