Coastal Byway

Length: 18.5 miles
Communities: Portsmouth, New Castle, Rye, North Hampton, Hampton, Seabrook
Highlights: Enjoy sweeping ocean views, fried dough at Hampton Beach, boat tours from Rye Harbor, the Seacoast Science Center at Odiorne Point State Park, historic forts and mansions, living history at Strawbery Banke Museum, summer concerts at Prescott Park, abundant culinary options in Portsmouth and some of the best craft beer anywhere from breweries up and down the corridor.
Website: www.nh.gov/dot/programs/scbp/tours/coastal.htm

The New Hampshire Coastal Byway follows NH Routes 1A & 1B 22 miles from Seabrook to Portsmouth. The Byway connects ten units of the State Park system as well as numerous local and private parks and recreational attractions. Historic structures along the route trace the history not only of the region but the country as a whole. The Byway overlooks the sandy beaches and rocky shores of the Gulf of Maine and the ecologically rich Hampton Seabrook Marsh. Last but not least, it carries U.S. Bicycle Route 1 and the East Coast Greenway through New Hampshire.

The 18.5 mile Byway takes about an hour to drive if you don’t stop—but why wouldn’t you stop when there’s so much to take in? Stroll the boardwalk in Hampton Beach, enjoy the blooms of Fuller Gardens, take a deep sea fishing excursion from Rye Harbor, explore tidepools and old forts at Odiorne Point State Park, and top it off with a summertime concert at the Prescott Park Arts Festival and an unmatched range of dining options in downtown Portsmouth.