Jenness State Beach
Rye, NH
New Hampshire only has about eighteen miles of coastline total, and this stretch in Rye is where locals actually go instead of the more crowded strip closer to the state line. Rocky outcrops break up the sand, and the water stays cold enough that most people just wade.
One of the stretches locals actually use instead of the more crowded strip near the state line, parking is limited and metered so early arrival matters.
How we score beachesParking is limited and metered, so arrive early if you're coming on a summer weekend.
Dogs are banned from the state beach in summer and from the adjoining town beach between 9am and 7pm from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, but are allowed on leash during early morning and evening hours in season and freely off-season.
New Hampshire's brief coastline runs a short, cold season, with water rarely getting out of the 60s even at the height of summer. Late June through August is the real window, before fall chill sets back in early along this stretch.
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