Hampton Beach
Hampton Beach, NH
Hampton Beach anchors New Hampshire's entire 18 mile coastline almost by itself, a boardwalk strip of arcades, fried seafood stands, and a summer concert series at the Seashell Stage that draws a crowd every night of the week. It's the closest thing New Hampshire has to a true boardwalk beach town.
The boardwalk and summer concerts give it a real scene most New England beach towns don't have, though the crowd and the metered parking make a summer weekend a production.
How we score beachesMetered spots along Ocean Boulevard fill by mid morning in July. The state park lot at the south end is a more reliable bet, even with the short walk back up the strip.
Metered parking runs along Route 1A and Ocean Boulevard. The Hampton Beach State Park lot at the south end charges a separate day fee.
The beach is flat and sandy with ramps from the boardwalk. The state park section has a paved path to the sand.
Dogs are banned from the beach May 1 through September 30. Outside that window, leashed dogs (6 feet max) are welcome.
Water stays cool through summer, generally in the 60s, typical of the Gulf of Maine. The Seashell Stage concert series runs all summer, which shapes the evening crowd more than the tide does.
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