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Beaches in NH: Every Public, State and Ocean Beach (2026 Guide)

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Beaches in NH: Every Public, State and Ocean Beach (2026 Guide)

July 29, 2026

Tom DeMatteo

Written by Tom DeMatteo

Broker/Owner, Owl's Nest Real Estate · · Updated · 29 min read

New Hampshire's beaches include six ocean swim beaches in Seabrook, Hampton, North Hampton and Rye, about 20 state park beaches on lakes and ponds, and dozens of town beaches, many for residents only. The best known are Hampton Beach, Wallis Sands, Weirs Beach, Ellacoya and Wellington. Lake state beaches charge $4–$5 per adult in 2026.

Key takeaways

  • Ocean: New Hampshire has 13 miles of general coastline, the shortest of any coastal state (NOAA). The state swim beaches there are Hampton Beach (with North Beach), North Hampton, Jenness and Wallis Sands. Seabrook Beach is a town beach, and Odiorne Point is rocky shore.
  • State park day use (2026): $4 per adult at standard parks and $5 at the five high-use parks (Ellacoya, Mt. Sunapee, Pawtuckaway, Wellington, White Lake). Ages 6–11 pay $2. Ages 5 and under and NH residents 65+ are free (NH State Parks fees).
  • Per-car exceptions: Wallis Sands and Hampton Beach State Park South charge $15 per vehicle, and Livermore Falls charges $5 per vehicle.
  • Season pass: $60 Individual, $105 NH Resident Family, $120 Non-Resident Family, $175 Seacoast Parking (NH State Parks passes).
  • Season and lifeguards: most inland state beaches ran daily from mid-to-late May into early or mid-September in 2026. The NH State Beach Patrol guarded the five state ocean beaches in summer: Hampton from May 1, the others from May 25, with Hampton, Jenness and Wallis Sands covered through Labor Day (September 7, 2026).
  • Free beaches: Laconia's public city beaches, Ashland's Doggett Beach, Wolfeboro's Brewster Beach, Meredith's Waukewan Beach and the White Mountain river pools charge no admission. At most of them, parking is the thing you pay for or can't get.
  • Dogs: dogs are not allowed at any NH state park swim beach in summer. Seabrook Beach allows leashed dogs before 8 a.m. and after 6 p.m.
  • Before you go: check the NHDES Healthy Swimming Mapper for bacteria and cyanobacteria advisories.

In this guide

All New Hampshire beaches in one table

A public beach here is one that anyone can visit by paying the posted fee or parking legally. Beaches limited to town residents are listed separately below. Fees are the 2026 rates from NH State Parks or the town that runs the beach.

Beach Region Water, town Run by Cost and parking Best for
Ellacoya State Park Lakes Region Lake Winnipesaukee, Gilford State $5 adult / $2 child; lot fills on weekends Sand and facilities on the big lake
Weirs Beach Lakes Region Lake Winnipesaukee, Laconia City Free beach; paid parking in season Boardwalk, arcades, cruise boats
Bartlett Beach Lakes Region Lake Winnisquam, Laconia City Free A quiet free swim
Opechee Cove and Opechee Point Lakes Region Lake Opechee, Laconia City Free In-town swimming with bathhouses
Ahern State Park Lakes Region Lake Winnisquam, Laconia State Undeveloped park; check fee on park page Trails plus a walk-in beach
Brewster Beach Lakes Region Lake Winnipesaukee, Wolfeboro Town Free; first-come parking, no sticker Visitors to Wolfeboro
Carry Beach Lakes Region Lake Winnipesaukee, Wolfeboro Town Free sand; lot is resident pass or local-lodging guests Walking from downtown Wolfeboro
Allen Albee Beach Lakes Region Lake Wentworth, Wolfeboro Town Free sand; town pass rules for parking Warmer, smaller-lake water
Wentworth State Park Lakes Region Lake Wentworth, Wolfeboro State $4 adult / $2 child Quieter alternative to Winnipesaukee
Wellington State Park Lakes Region Newfound Lake, Bristol State $5 adult / $2 child; reserve on weekends Clearest water; largest state freshwater beach
Waukewan Beach Lakes Region Lake Waukewan, Meredith Town Free; about 20 spaces Early-morning or evening swims
Milton Town Beach Lakes Region Milton Three Ponds, Milton Town Check the town's access rules and fees Local lake day east of Winnipesaukee
Doggett Beach (Ashland Town Beach) Lakes Region Little Squam Lake, Ashland Town Open to all visitors; check the town page for parking and fees A guarded small-lake swim near Squam
Livermore Falls Pemi Valley Pemigewasset River, Holderness State $5 per vehicle; official lot only River swimming near Plymouth
Smarts Brook Pemi Valley Smarts Brook, Thornton WMNF Trailhead parking Cold pools off Route 49
Sculptured Rocks Pemi Valley Cockermouth River, Groton State Free Bedrock gorge swimming hole
Russell Pond Pemi Valley Russell Pond, Woodstock WMNF Campground; check day-use rules A quiet mountain pond
Franconia Falls White Mountains East Branch Pemigewasset, Lincoln WMNF Lincoln Woods parking, ~3-mile walk Hike-in swimming hole
Echo Lake Beach White Mountains Echo Lake, Franconia Notch State $4 adult / $2 child The mountain view
Echo Lake State Park White Mountains Echo Lake, Conway State $4 adult / $2 child Swimming near North Conway
White Lake State Park White Mountains White Lake, Tamworth State $5 adult / $2 child; closes when full Small children; shallow water
Lower Falls White Mountains Swift River, Albany WMNF National forest day-use fee River ledges on the Kancamagus
Mt. Sunapee State Park Beach West Lake Sunapee, Newbury State $5 adult / $2 child The one big public beach out west
Wadleigh State Park West Kezar Lake, Sutton State $4 adult / $2 child Small, uncrowded lake beach
Pawtuckaway State Park South Pawtuckaway Lake, Nottingham State $5 adult / $2 child Camping plus beach
Bear Brook State Park South Pond, Allenstown State $4 adult / $2 child Near Concord and Manchester
Clough State Park South Everett Lake, Weare State $4 adult / $2 child West of Manchester
Greenfield State Park South Otter Lake, Greenfield State $4 adult / $2 child Monadnock region
Contoocook Beach South Contoocook Lake, Jaffrey Town Free; non-residents park at Humiston Field and walk A Monadnock town beach open to visitors
Kingston State Park South Great Pond, Kingston State $4 adult / $2 child Inland swim near the Seacoast
Silver Lake State Park South Silver Lake, Hollis State $4 adult / $2 child; weekends only in 2026 Closest state beach to Nashua
Forest Lake State Park North Forest Lake, Dalton State Check park page North Country lake beach
Jericho Mountain State Park North Jericho Lake, Berlin State $4 adult / $2 child Berlin-area swimming
Hampton Beach State Park Seacoast Atlantic, Hampton State Free beach; meters, $15 per car at South lot Boardwalk, lifeguards, fireworks
North Beach Seacoast Atlantic, Hampton State Free beach; metered parking Hampton without the main-strip crowd
North Hampton State Beach Seacoast Atlantic, North Hampton State Free beach; metered parking Small, calmer ocean beach
Bass Beach Seacoast Atlantic, North Hampton — Roadside; no lifeguards or restrooms Surfing
Jenness State Beach Seacoast Atlantic, Rye State Free beach; 67 metered spaces Locals and surfers
Wallis Sands State Beach Seacoast Atlantic, Rye State $15 per vehicle; about 500 spaces Family ocean day with real bathrooms
Seabrook Beach Seacoast Atlantic, Seabrook Town Free sand; beach parking is residents-only Quiet sand south of Hampton Harbor
Great Island Common Seacoast Portsmouth Harbor, New Castle Town Non-resident vehicle fee, mid-May to Columbus Day Sheltered harbor beach
Odiorne Point State Park Seacoast Atlantic, Rye State $4 adult / $2 child Tide pools, not swimming

"WMNF" is the White Mountain National Forest. Its sites use federal recreation passes, not NH State Parks passes. "Child" means ages 6–11.

New Hampshire beaches map: region by region

New Hampshire's beaches fall into seven regions, and the region decides the water you get: warm, busy lake water in the Lakes Region, cold river pools in the mountains, or the Atlantic on the Seacoast. For an interactive map of every beach the state monitors, use the NHDES Healthy Swimming Mapper. This table is the region-by-region version:

Region Where it is Main beaches Water Section
Lakes Region Laconia, Gilford, Meredith, Wolfeboro, Bristol Ellacoya, Weirs, Wellington, Wentworth, Brewster Large, warm lakes Winnipesaukee, Laconia, Newfound
Pemi Valley Plymouth, Campton, Holderness, Thornton Livermore Falls, Smarts Brook, Sculptured Rocks Cold, clear rivers Swimming holes
White Mountains Franconia, Lincoln, Conway, Tamworth Echo Lake (both), White Lake, Lower Falls Cold mountain lakes and rivers White Mountains
Seacoast Seabrook to New Castle along Route 1A Hampton, Wallis Sands, Jenness, North Hampton, Seabrook Atlantic surf Ocean beaches
South Nashua, Manchester, Concord, Monadnock Silver Lake, Bear Brook, Clough, Pawtuckaway, Contoocook Small lakes and ponds Southern NH
West Lake Sunapee and Sutton Mt. Sunapee, Wadleigh Deep, clean lakes Table above
North Country Dalton and Berlin Forest Lake, Jericho Mountain Quiet, small lakes Table above

From the Pemi Valley, where we work, Wellington is about 25 minutes away and the Winnipesaukee beaches are under an hour. The Seacoast is closer to two hours, which is why most of our clients swim in lakes.

What are the best beaches in New Hampshire?

These are our ten picks, chosen for water quality, sand, facilities and how the day actually goes.

1. Wellington State Park, Bristol

NH State Parks calls it the largest freshwater swimming beach in the state park system. It sits on Newfound Lake, and the water is clear enough to see your feet when you're chest-deep. Admission is $5 per adult, and on summer weekends a day-use reservation is the only sure way in.

2. Hampton Beach State Park, Hampton

The classic NH ocean beach, with the boardwalk, State Beach Patrol lifeguards and summer fireworks. The sand is free. You pay at the meters, or $15 a car at the South lot.

3. Wallis Sands State Beach, Rye

The best family ocean beach. It has a bathhouse with rinse stations, about 500 parking spaces and a wide sand flat at low tide. It costs $15 per car, and NH residents 65 and older get in free.

4. Ellacoya State Park, Gilford

About 600 feet of sand on Lake Winnipesaukee, with views to the Sandwich and Ossipee ranges. It's the only state park beach on the big lake, so the lot fills on hot weekends.

5. White Lake State Park, Tamworth

The state's park page says the water stays shallow "for a long way out," which makes it the best choice for small children. The beach sits in a pitch-pine forest with a campground next door.

6. Echo Lake Beach, Franconia Notch

Sits directly under Cannon Mountain at about 1,900 feet. Expect colder water than in the Lakes Region, and a view nothing else on this list matches.

7. Weirs Beach, Laconia

Free sand and the Winnipesaukee boardwalk. It's busy, and that's what most people go for. Parking is $2 an hour in season.

8. Jenness State Beach, Rye

The locals' ocean beach, with lifeguards, restrooms and showers. It has 67 metered parking spaces, so arrive early.

9. Livermore Falls, Holderness

Our local swimming hole on the Pemigewasset, with a cobble river beach below the falls. It costs $5 a car, and the water stays cold all summer.

10. Mt. Sunapee State Park Beach, Newbury

A deep, clean lake on the west side of the state, at the $5 high-use rate. It's the one large public beach on Lake Sunapee.

Best lake beaches in NH for families

For small children, look for a shallow entry, restrooms, and a lot that won't turn you away at 10 a.m.

  • White Lake State Park, Tamworth. The shallowest water of the state beaches, plus a loop trail around the pond. It closes to new arrivals when it fills.
  • Wellington State Park, Bristol. The most sand and the most room to spread out, with picnic groves in the pines.
  • Ellacoya State Park, Gilford. A gentle, shallow entry on Winnipesaukee with picnic pavilions. Go midweek.
  • Wentworth State Park, Wolfeboro. A smaller, warmer lake with much less traffic than Winnipesaukee.
  • Bartlett Beach, Laconia. Free, with bathhouses open on weekends in the city's beach season. There's no lifeguard, so watch your own.

NH state beaches: 2026 fees

NH state beaches are the swim beaches run by the NH Division of Parks and Recreation. Inland, you pay per person at the gate. On the Seacoast, the beaches are free to walk onto and you pay for parking. These are the rates on the NH State Parks entry fee page as of November 2026:

Fee type Parks Adult Ages 6–11 Ages 5 and under / NH 65+
High-use day use Ellacoya, Mt. Sunapee, Pawtuckaway, Wellington, White Lake $5 $2 Free
Standard day use Bear Brook, Clough, both Echo Lakes, Greenfield, Kingston, Odiorne Point, Silver Lake, Wadleigh, Wentworth and others $4 $2 Free
Per vehicle Hampton Beach State Park South, Wallis Sands $15 per car ($30 RV, bus or van) — NH 65+ free at Wallis Sands
Per vehicle Livermore Falls $5 per car — —
Metered Hampton Beach, North Hampton, Jenness Metered parking; meters run April 1–October 31 — —

Reservations. Day-use reservations open 30 days ahead on the state's ReserveAmerica system and cost a $1 transaction fee. Ellacoya, Wellington, White Lake and Wallis Sands close to walk-ins when their lots fill on hot weekends. You don't need a reservation, but on a July Saturday it's the only sure way in.

When does beach season start in New Hampshire?

Inland state beaches open on weekends in late April or May, go daily by late May (mid-June at Wadleigh and at Echo Lake in Franconia Notch), and go unstaffed after Labor Day or in mid-September. These are the 2026 dates from the NH State Parks inland beaches schedule. Expect similar dates in 2027.

Park Weekends from Daily from Unstaffed from
Pawtuckaway April 25 May 1 September 27
Bear Brook May 2 May 22 September 8
Echo Lake, Conway May 2 May 9 October 31
White Lake — May 9 October 12
Clough, Greenfield, Kingston, Livermore Falls May 9 May 22 September 7–8
Ellacoya May 9 May 16 September 20 (weekends to October 13)
Wellington May 9 May 16 September 20 (weekends to October 11)
Mt. Sunapee May 9 May 16 September 21
Wentworth May 16 May 22 September 7
Silver Lake May 16 Weekends only September 8
Echo Lake, Franconia Notch May 22 June 19 October 12
Forest Lake, Jericho — May 22 September 7
Wadleigh May 23 June 12 September 7

"Unstaffed" doesn't mean closed. You can usually still walk in, but there are no lifeguards, restrooms may be shut, and you pay at the self-serve box. Water temperature matters more than the calendar: the big lakes are cold until late June and warmest in August.

Which NH beaches have lifeguards?

The NH State Beach Patrol guards the five state ocean beaches. These were its 2026 dates and hours (NH State Beach Patrol):

Beach Lifeguards on duty (2026) Hours
Hampton Beach, Main and South May 1 to Memorial Day weekend 10:15 a.m.–4:45 p.m.
Hampton Beach, Main and South May 25 to Labor Day (September 7) 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Hampton Beach, Main and South September 7–30 10:15 a.m.–4:45 p.m.
North Beach, Hampton May 25 to August 22 Not published
North Hampton State Beach May 25 to August 21 Not published
Jenness State Beach May 25 to September 7 10:15 a.m.–4:45 p.m.
Wallis Sands State Beach May 25 to September 7 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

No state ocean beach has lifeguards from October through April, and the state says hours can change without notice (603-227-8707). Inland, NH State Parks doesn't publish a lifeguard schedule, and its White Lake page warns that lifeguards may not always be on duty. Treat an inland state beach as unguarded unless you see a guard in the chair. Laconia's city beaches have no lifeguards except residents-only Bond Beach, and river swimming holes never have them.

What does a New Hampshire state park pass cost and cover?

A New Hampshire state park pass costs $60 for an individual, $105 for a resident family and $120 for a non-resident family as of November 2026, and it covers day-use admission at every NH state park that charges per person, including the inland state beaches. The pass is good for one year from the day you buy it, not for a calendar year, and a family pass covers 2 adults and up to 4 dependents. Prices are from the NH State Parks season pass page as of November 2026:

Pass Price Covers
Individual Pass $60 ($64.50 shipped) The passholder at all per-person day-use parks
Resident Family Pass $105 ($109.50 shipped) 2 adults and up to 4 dependents; proof of NH residency required
Non-Resident Family Pass $120 ($124.50 shipped) 2 adults and up to 4 dependents
Seacoast Parking Pass $175 ($179.50 shipped) One vehicle at Hampton Beach State Park South and Wallis Sands only
Individual Youth Pass $25 (by phone, 603-271-3556) One child ages 6–11 at day-use parks

What a state park pass does not cover: Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway, Flume Gorge, camping, metered parking, and (except for the Seacoast Parking Pass) the $15 parking charge at Hampton Beach South and Wallis Sands. A pass also doesn't get you in once a park is full. Passholders who reserve still pay the $1 transaction fee.

Is it worth it? For a family of two adults and two kids ages 6–11, one day at a $5 park costs $14. The $105 resident family pass pays for itself after eight visits, and the $120 non-resident pass after nine. If you mostly go to the ocean, only the Seacoast Parking Pass helps. At $15 a day, it pays off after 12 visits to Hampton South or Wallis Sands.

Free admission without a pass: NH residents 65 and older (with an NH license or state ID), children 5 and under, active-duty military (the service member), NH resident retired veterans with 20+ years of service, and NH disabled veterans with the required proof. NH State Parks does not accept the federal America the Beautiful Senior, Annual or Military passes, though it honors the federal Access Pass for people with disabilities.

Fee change coming for out-of-state visitors. On August 19, 2026, the Legislature overrode Gov. Ayotte's veto of HB 1102. The law requires state parks to charge non-residents at least twice what residents pay (NHPR). As of November 2026, NH State Parks has not published the new two-tier rates. Until it does, the prices above are what the state charges. Check the fee page before you buy a pass for 2027.

Free public beaches in NH

Town and city beaches are where swimming in New Hampshire is free. You pay for parking, or the lot is limited to residents. These charge no admission:

  • Weirs Beach, Laconia. Free sand on Winnipesaukee. Parking costs $2 an hour at the Lakeside Avenue kiosks in season.
  • Bartlett Beach, Laconia. A free beach on Lake Winnisquam. There are no lifeguards.
  • Opechee Cove and Opechee Point, Laconia. Both free. Laconia's bathhouses open on weekends only, 8 a.m.–7 p.m., during the city's beach season.
  • Doggett Beach (Ashland Town Beach), Ashland. On Little Squam Lake by the covered bridge. The town describes it as open to all visitors, with lifeguards 10 a.m.–4 p.m. daily and no pets (Town of Ashland). Check the town page for parking and any fee.
  • Brewster Beach, Wolfeboro. Free first-come parking with no sticker needed.
  • Waukewan Beach, Meredith. Free, with parking for about 20 cars.
  • Contoocook Beach, Jaffrey. Open to non-residents, who park at Humiston Field on Howard Hill Road and walk (Town of Jaffrey).
  • Sculptured Rocks, Groton. A free state natural area.
  • The Seacoast state beaches. Free to walk onto. You pay for parking.

Residents-only town beaches in NH

Many NH town beaches are owned by the town and limited to its residents, so day-trippers shouldn't plan around them. Rules change, so confirm with the town before you go:

  • Gilford Town Beach (Varney Point Road). Run by Gilford Parks and Recreation for residents. Guest passes are handled through the department.
  • Center Harbor Town Beach. A town ordinance limits it to residents of Center Harbor and Moultonborough and their guests, with a parking permit on every car (Town of Center Harbor).
  • States Landing, Moultonborough. A resident-permit beach and boat launch on Moultonborough Bay.
  • Bond Beach, Laconia. Residents and taxpayers only, with a pass from the City Clerk ($15 for one, $25 for two). It is the only Laconia beach the city staffed with lifeguards in 2026 (City of Laconia).
  • Sanbornton Town Beach on Lake Winnisquam. For Sanbornton residents.

That scarcity is why deeded beach rights show up in home prices. More on that below.

Dog-friendly beaches in New Hampshire

No NH state park swim beach allows dogs in summer. Dog-friendly beach time in New Hampshire means the ocean in the off-season, early mornings and evenings at Seabrook, or a town beach whose rules allow it.

Beach When dogs are allowed
Seabrook Beach Memorial Day–Labor Day before 8 a.m. and after 6 p.m., leashed, waste picked up (Seabrook Police, 2026 beach ordinances)
Hampton Beach October 1–April 30, on a leash of six feet or less
North Beach, Hampton October 1–April 30, leashed
Jenness State Beach October 1–April 30, leashed
Wallis Sands October 1–April 30, leashed
North Hampton State Beach, Odiorne Point Never; pets are banned year-round
Echo Lake State Park, Conway Not May 1–October 31 (back trails at the ledges only)
Ellacoya, White Lake Not May 1–October 31
Wellington, Livermore Falls and other inland state beaches Not on the beach or swim area May 1–September 30; some parks, such as Wentworth and Silver Lake, post no pets at all
Echo Lake (Franconia Notch) Hiking trails and the designated dog-walk area only
Ahern State Park On the trails, not the beach

Rules are from the NH State Parks pets policy and each park's page. Town beaches set their own rules, so check the town's parks page before you bring a dog.

Lake Winnipesaukee public beaches

Lake Winnipesaukee is New Hampshire's largest lake at about 44,500 acres. Our Lake Winnipesaukee guide covers its bays, water quality and ice-out. Can you swim in Lake Winnipesaukee? Yes, but only four of its beaches are open to the general public. The rest of the lake's swimming happens from boats and private docks.

Ellacoya State Park (Gilford). On Route 11, on the southwest shore: 600 feet of sand, picnic pavilions and a gentle shallow entry. The lot fills on summer weekends, so book the day-use reservation when the 30-day window opens or arrive when the gate opens. Midweek it is a far quieter beach. For life on that shore, see our Gilford NH town profile.

Weirs Beach (Laconia). A free city beach (Endicott Rock Park) on Lakeside Avenue. It has no lifeguards, and the city's bathhouses open on weekends only, 8 a.m.–7 p.m., in its beach season (from June 27 in 2026). Parking is paid from the Saturday before Memorial Day through Columbus Day: $2 an hour at the Lakeside Avenue kiosks, or $2.50 an hour with no time limit at the Endicott Rock lot (City of Laconia). For the boardwalk, cruises, webcam, camping and Motorcycle Week, read our Weirs Beach guide.

Brewster, Carry and Albee beaches (Wolfeboro). Wolfeboro shows how NH town beaches work. Brewster Beach on Winnipesaukee is open to everyone, with first-come parking. Carry Beach, also on the big lake and walkable from downtown, is public sand, but its lot requires a Wolfeboro resident or taxpayer pass, with an exception for guests of licensed Wolfeboro lodging. Allen Albee Beach on Lake Wentworth runs on similar pass rules. If you're visiting, go to Brewster. If you're buying in Wolfeboro, the town beach pass is one of the perks you'll use most.

Wentworth State Park (Wolfeboro). On Route 109 on Lake Wentworth, $4 per adult. It's a smaller, warmer lake with much less traffic. This is where we send families who tried Ellacoya on a Saturday once.

Beaches in Laconia NH and Lake Winnisquam

Laconia touches three lakes and runs four city beaches through Parks and Recreation. Three are free; Bond Beach needs a resident or taxpayer pass (City of Laconia beaches). In 2026 the city's beach season began June 27, and only Bond Beach had lifeguards.

  • Bartlett Beach on Lake Winnisquam. Free, no lifeguards.
  • Opechee Cove and Opechee Point on Lake Opechee. Both free and unguarded. Check the NHDES mapper for advisories before you swim.
  • Bond Beach. Residents only (see above).
  • Ahern State Park on Lake Winnisquam. 128 acres and 3,500 feet of shoreline, with trails and a beach but no developed facilities. Dogs are allowed on the trails but not on the beach.

Winnisquam is the lake people look at when Winnipesaukee prices stop making sense. Our Lake Winnisquam guide covers the shore towns, and Lake Winnisquam homes for sale shows what is listed now.

Newfound Lake, Squam Lake and Meredith

Wellington State Park (Bristol) is the Newfound Lake public beach. It's on West Shore Road and has the largest freshwater swimming beach in the state park system, under the pines, with picnic groves and a peninsula nature trail. Admission is $5 per adult, and a free NH Fish and Game boat ramp sits next to the park. Newfound is spring-fed, about 180 feet at its deepest, and one of the clearest lakes in the state. Our Newfound Lake map and beach guide covers the four shore towns, and the Bristol NH town page covers living near the park year-round.

Waukewan Beach (Meredith) is a free beach on the small lake behind downtown Meredith, with about 20 parking spaces. Waukewan is also the town's drinking-water supply, so town rules apply. Meredith's other town beach, Leavitt Beach, has a swim area, but parking there is limited to vehicles with a Meredith Facility Use Permit (Town of Meredith).

Is there a public beach on Squam Lake? Not a large one. Most of Squam's shoreline is private, and there is no public swim beach like Ellacoya or Wellington. The Squam Lakes Association in Holderness keeps up access points mainly for paddlers. The closest public swim beach is Ashland's Doggett Beach on Little Squam, which the town describes as open to all visitors. Scarce public access is exactly what makes private access on Squam valuable. Our Squam Lake guide explains the different levels of water access there.

Swimming holes in New Hampshire: the Pemi Valley

The best free swimming in New Hampshire is in river pools, not at beaches. The Pemigewasset corridor between Plymouth and Waterville Valley has the most of them, and it's our home turf. These spots have no lifeguards and real current, and the water stays cold all summer. Skip them the day after heavy rain.

  • Livermore Falls Recreation Area (Holderness). Off Route 175, where Campton, Holderness and Plymouth meet. It's $5 per vehicle, with toilets and a cobble river beach below the falls and the old Pumpkin Seed bridge. Use the official lot at 86 Livermore Road, because roadside parking gets ticketed.
  • Smarts Brook (Thornton). A White Mountain National Forest trailhead on Route 49. An easy walk up the trail takes you to pools and cascades. This is where we send vacation rental guests when the Livermore lot is full.
  • Sculptured Rocks (Groton). The Cockermouth River runs through a narrow bedrock gorge carved into potholes, inside a 272-acre state natural area west of Newfound. It's free. The rock is slippery, and jumping is a bad idea when the water is low or fast.
  • Franconia Falls (Lincoln). About three miles up the flat Lincoln Woods Trail off the Kancamagus. Swimming can be restricted in high water, so ask at the Lincoln Woods visitor center. Our things to do in Lincoln NH guide covers the other swimming holes near Lincoln, including Agassiz Basin.
  • The Mad River and Corcoran Pond. The Mad River runs cold and clear along Route 49 through Campton. Up the valley, Waterville Valley's Corcoran Pond has a small beach at Town Square run by the resort, so check its current access rules.
  • Russell Pond (Woodstock). A Forest Service campground pond up Tripoli Road. Check day-use rules before you build a day around it.

These spots are five to fifteen minutes from the homes we sell in Campton and Thornton, where prices run well below the big lake towns. In Plymouth itself, Langdon Park has a sandy river beach on the Baker River; our things to do in Plymouth NH guide covers it.

White Mountains beaches

  • Echo Lake Beach, Franconia Notch State Park. Off the Parkway under Cannon Mountain, $4 per adult. Kayak and paddleboat rentals are available in season. The water is noticeably colder than in the Lakes Region.
  • Echo Lake State Park, Conway. A different Echo Lake, below the ledges outside North Conway village, $4 per adult. It's the closest beach to North Conway. Dogs aren't allowed May 1–October 31.
  • White Lake State Park, Tamworth. A beach in a pitch-pine forest, with a loop trail and a campground of about 200 sites, $5 per adult. The state warns lifeguards may not always be on duty, and the beach closes to new arrivals when it reaches capacity.
  • Lower Falls, Albany. Swift River ledges and pools right beside the Kancamagus Highway at a national forest day-use fee site. It's crowded on weekends. Go on a weekday morning.

For hikes and drives to pair with a swim, see things to do in the White Mountains.

New Hampshire ocean beaches

All of New Hampshire's ocean beaches are on or just off Route 1A between Seabrook and New Castle. The Gulf of Maine rarely gets warm here; most summers it peaks in the low-to-mid 60s. Every state ocean beach is free to walk onto, so the real question at each one is parking.

Hampton Beach

Hampton Beach State Park (160 Ocean Boulevard) is the state's busiest beach, with the boardwalk, several bathhouses, an RV campground and State Beach Patrol lifeguards from May through September. Meters run April 1–October 31, and the South lot is $15 per car. North Beach, at the north end of town, is guarded from late May to late August and is the quieter way to swim in Hampton. Dogs aren't allowed May 1–September 30. Our Hampton NH town page covers living near the beach.

Wallis Sands State Beach, Rye

$15 per vehicle and free for NH residents 65+. About 500 spaces, lifeguards 10 a.m.–5 p.m. from late May through Labor Day, and a large bathhouse with outdoor rinse stations. It's the easiest ocean day with small children.

Jenness State Beach, Rye

At 2280 Ocean Boulevard, with 67 metered spaces, lifeguards 10:15 a.m.–4:45 p.m. through Labor Day, restrooms and showers. Leashed dogs are allowed October 1–April 30. In 2026 Rye removed about 90 public parking spaces along Ocean Boulevard and nearby streets, so roadside parking near Jenness is scarcer than it was (NHPR, June 5, 2026). For the town itself, see the Rye NH town page.

North Hampton State Beach and Bass Beach

North Hampton State Beach is a small beach with a bathhouse, metered parking and lifeguards from late May to late August. Pets are banned year-round. Bass Beach, just north, is a surf spot with no lifeguards or restrooms.

Seabrook Beach

The southernmost sand in the state, just south of Hampton Harbor, and much quieter than Hampton. It's a town beach, and beach parking is restricted to Seabrook residents with a sticker, with fines of $50 to $200 and towing (Town of Seabrook). Visitors without a sticker need to park legally outside the beach district. Leashed dogs are allowed before 8 a.m. and after 6 p.m. in summer. The Seabrook NH town page covers the town itself.

Great Island Common and Odiorne Point

Great Island Common in New Castle is a sheltered harbor beach with lighthouse views. Non-residents pay a vehicle admission fee at the gate from mid-May through Columbus Day, on the town's posted rate schedule; the town's non-resident season passes sold out for 2026 (Town of New Castle). Odiorne Point State Park in Rye ($4 per adult) has tide pools, trails, WWII bunkers and the Seacoast Science Center, but it's a rocky shore, not a swim beach.

Beaches near Nashua, Manchester and southern NH

Southern New Hampshire has no big sand beaches, but it has several small state park beaches, all at the $4–$5 day-use rate. Silver Lake State Park in Hollis is the closest to Nashua; it ran weekends only in 2026, so check before you go. Bear Brook (Allenstown) and Clough (Weare) are the nearest to Manchester and Concord, Pawtuckaway (Nottingham) adds camping and the longest season, and Kingston State Park on Great Pond is an inland option near the coast. In the Monadnock region, Jaffrey's Contoocook Beach is open to visitors who park at Humiston Field.

Is there a public beach on Uncanoonuc Lake? Not one the Town of Goffstown lists. Its only listed water facility is Glen Lake and Boat Access at 260 Elm Street, and parking there is for residents with a transfer-station sticker (Town of Goffstown). Call Goffstown Parks and Recreation (603-497-3003) before you drive.

East of Winnipesaukee, Milton Town Beach is on Milton Three Ponds. Check the Town of Milton's page for current access rules and fees before you go.

NH beach advisories today

NHDES samples public beaches from Memorial Day through Labor Day and posts every active advisory on the Healthy Swimming Mapper. A beach "closed due to bacteria" usually has an advisory posted, not a locked gate.

  • Bacteria. At freshwater beaches, NHDES issues an advisory when one E. coli sample exceeds 158 counts per 100 mL, or two samples exceed 88. The advisory lifts once follow-up samples come back clean.
  • Cyanobacteria. Blue-green algae blooms trigger a separate warning that can cover a whole cove or lake. Stay out of water that looks like pea soup or spilled paint, and keep dogs out too.
  • After storms. Heavy rain washes runoff into shallow swim areas, so advisories cluster in the day or two after a downpour. Enclosed coves post more often than open, deep beaches like Wellington.
  • Ocean beaches. The same mapper covers Hampton, Rye and the rest of the coast, so check it before an ocean day too.

What beach access does to home values

Here's what we see at closings in Grafton, Belknap and Carroll counties: lake access is a ladder, and each step down shows up in price. True waterfront property on the big lakes sells in the millions. One street back, a house with deeded beach rights (a shared association beach) costs a fraction of waterfront and gets you most of the summer. A step below that, being ten minutes from Wellington or Ellacoya is a real selling point for year-round homes in Bristol, Gilford and Meredith. When we list a home with "beach rights," we check the association documents first. Is access deeded or a revocable license? What are the dues? Is there a waitlist for docks and moorings?

Buying? Start with NH lakefront homes for sale, or compare the best lakes in New Hampshire. Already own a lake place? Get a free home valuation to see what your access rights are worth.

Frequently asked questions

Does New Hampshire have beaches?

Yes, both ocean and lake beaches. New Hampshire has 13 miles of general Atlantic coastline with beaches in Seabrook, Hampton, North Hampton, Rye and New Castle. Most of its beaches are on lakes: about 20 state parks have swim beaches, and towns run dozens more on Lake Winnipesaukee, Winnisquam, Newfound and smaller lakes. The White Mountains add free river swimming holes.

What are the best beaches in New Hampshire?

On the ocean, the best are Hampton Beach State Park for the boardwalk, Wallis Sands in Rye for a family day, and Jenness for a quieter local beach. On the lakes, Wellington State Park on Newfound Lake has the clearest water, Ellacoya is the best Lake Winnipesaukee beach, White Lake in Tamworth suits small children, and Echo Lake in Franconia Notch has the best mountain view.

How much is a New Hampshire state park pass?

As of November 2026, NH State Parks sells an Individual Pass for $60, a Resident Family Pass for $105, a Non-Resident Family Pass for $120 and a Seacoast Parking Pass for $175. Online orders add $4.50 for shipping. Passes are valid for one year from purchase and cover per-person day-use parks. They don't cover the Flume, the Cannon Tram, camping or metered parking.

Are New Hampshire state park beaches free?

Not inland. In 2026, inland state park beaches charge $4 per adult at standard parks and $5 at Ellacoya, Mt. Sunapee, Pawtuckaway, Wellington and White Lake, and ages 6–11 pay $2. Children 5 and under and NH residents 65 and older get in free. The Seacoast state beaches are free to walk onto, but parking is metered or $15 per car. The free beaches are town ones: Weirs, Bartlett and Opechee in Laconia, Brewster in Wolfeboro and Waukewan in Meredith.

When do New Hampshire beaches open?

In 2026, inland state beaches opened on weekends in late April or May, ran daily from mid-to-late May, and went unstaffed in early or mid-September. Wellington and Ellacoya stayed open on weekends into mid-October. On the coast, State Beach Patrol lifeguards were on duty from May 1 at Hampton and May 25 at the other state beaches, through Labor Day at Hampton, Jenness and Wallis Sands.

Are dogs allowed at NH beaches?

Not at the state park swim beaches in summer: pets are barred from state beaches and swim areas May 1–September 30, and at Ellacoya, White Lake and Echo Lake in Conway through October 31. Hampton Beach, North Beach, Jenness and Wallis Sands allow leashed dogs October 1–April 30. Seabrook Beach allows leashed dogs before 8 a.m. and after 6 p.m. in summer. North Hampton State Beach and Odiorne Point ban pets year-round.

Which Lake Winnipesaukee beaches are open to the public?

Ellacoya State Park in Gilford (state day-use fee), Weirs Beach in Laconia (free beach, paid parking) and Brewster Beach in Wolfeboro (free, first-come parking). Carry Beach in Wolfeboro is public sand, but its lot needs a resident pass or proof that you're staying at Wolfeboro lodging. The town beaches in Gilford, Center Harbor and Moultonborough are for residents.

Is there a beach in Portsmouth NH?

Not a swimming beach inside the city. The closest are Great Island Common in New Castle, a harbor beach where non-residents pay a vehicle fee in season, and Wallis Sands State Beach in Rye, which charges $15 per car and has lifeguards in summer. Odiorne Point in Rye, between the two, is tide pools rather than a swim beach.

Sources

Park fees, town parking rules and beach policies change from season to season. Confirm current details on the official park or town page before you go.