Are you thinking of heading to the beach? If you were thinking of heading to the east coast, point your RV toward eastern New Hampshire and Wallis Sands State Beach in Rye. Although it is smaller than many of the beaches on the New Hampshire coastline, this beach has been named number four out of six of the top-rated beaches in New Hampshire. Lined on both sides by huge rocks and a wall separating the beach from the beach store, this quaint seashore is a fantastic place to bring the family.
With a 500-space parking lot, you won’t have a hard time finding a place to park the rig and get out on the beach. You’ll have plenty of room to plant your beach umbrella and build a sandcastle before hitting the waves to cool off. Don’t bring your pooch, though. This beach doesn’t allow four-legged family members. Besides swimming and soaking up the sun, you can also do some fishing, hiking, biking, or even surfing.
You can also have a nice meal at one of the dozens of picnic tables on the grassy section of the beach near the beach store. Pick up whatever you may have forgotten at the store, such as sunscreen, beach toys, and snacks. The beach even has a shower if you need to wash away some of that sand. Even though Wallis Sands State Beach offers no campground, there are various RV resorts and state parks located just a short distance from the park, making it easy to come and play for the day.
Only 10 minutes from Portsmouth to the north, 35 minutes from Hampton to the south, and under an hour from Concord to the west, Wallis Sands State Beach in eastern New Hampshire is easy to get to as the park is accessible from I-95 in almost every direction.
Whether you are coming from the west, north, or south, you are sure to have a scenic drive on the way to Wallis Sands State Beach. The Colonial New Hampshire Seacoast Ride is approximately 40 miles of beauty from Portsmouth to Hampton. Along NH-1B toward New Castle, you’ll pass several oceanfront beaches and historical spots such as Fort Constitution and Fort Stark. You’ll also pass Odiorne State Park, which is another oceanfront beach you can stop and spend some time visiting on your way.
The roads are all relatively straight and wide enough for even the largest rigs, so you should not have any trouble maneuvering along any of the streets. When the roads do get curvy, you will be at the beach, and you can park your rig in the huge parking lot here. With over 500 parking spaces to choose from, you’ll have no trouble finding a spot to park.
Since Wallis Sands State Beach doesn't have a campground, why not stay nearby at another New Hampshire state park? Hampton Beach State Park is just an 11-mile drive from Wallis Sands State Beach. The Hampton Beach campground is open from May through October, but with only 28 waterfront campsites, it's best to reserve your spot early, especially if you plan on coming on a weekend or a holiday. Each site has 30-amp electric, water, and sewer hookups for your convenience. The maximum RV or trailer length is 40 feet, and each campsite has a campfire ring with a grill for cooking and a picnic table that seats up to six people. The beach is your front yard at this park. You can walk a few steps and take a dip in the water or toss a line in to catch some fish for dinner. If you forgot to bring anything, there’s a park store located next to the shower and restrooms, just across from the beach parking lot. Staying at Hampton Beach State Park and commuting to Wallis Sands State Beach for the day is fast and simple. Since pets aren't allowed on any of the state beaches, it's best to leave your furry friend at home.
Be sure to pack your swim fins and beach toys in the rig before heading to Wallis Sands State Beach because there is a huge beach here to enjoy. Grab a snorkel and see what’s under the water while you’re enjoying the ocean. You can find some pretty fish and maybe even some cool seashells if you look hard enough. Be aware that the lifeguards are only on duty between 10 AM to 5 PM from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day.
If there’s a sufficient amount of surf, you may want to try surfing. Generally, at Wallis Sands State Beach, there isn't always consistent, surf-worthy waves, so if the conditions aren't surfy enough, grab your surfboard and a paddle, instead. Your surfboard can double as a paddleboard, so why not head out into the waves to paddle around? Laying down, kneeling, or standing up, you can paddle as far out as you want, but make sure you wear a life jacket if you go too far out.
Building sandcastles with the kids is fun, but there are a lot of other things you can do in the sand on Wallis Sands State Beach. There’s always the obvious frisbee, volleyball, and badminton. How about a beach cornhole game? Just dig a hole big enough to put a large cup or bucket in and see who can toss the most beanbags into the hole. If you don’t have beanbags, use rocks, shells, balls, or whatever else you have handy. It doesn't take much to have a fun time on the beach. A little creativity goes a long way.
Even though Wallis Sands State Beach does not offer any officially named hiking or biking trails, you can still do some hiking or biking. Try a fat bike that has extra-wide tires for riding on the sand. Fat biking works best if the tires are not completely full. Take a walk along the beach and climb up along the rocks and cliffs overlooking the beach. You’ll find a couple of benches up there on the rocks to sit and watch the people play on the beach. Bring a camera or use your phone to get some pictures to share with your friends on social media.
The off-season is the best time to plan a picnic without a huge crowd. You will find dozens of picnic tables on this New Hampshire beach to enjoy a picnic if you don’t want to eat in the sand. Although where else can you enjoy a SAND-wich but in the sand? The beach store has plenty of snacks, drinks, ice, and other items you may need, but for the most part, all you need is a spot to sit and a bite to eat. You’ll be eating with the best view you’ve ever had.
Geocaching is the newest way to hunt for buried treasure. All you need is a device that has GPS, like your phone. Look up the geocaches located on Wallis Sands State Beach and then head to those coordinates to find the treasure. It is typically a waterproof box hidden somewhere that is out of the view of most but can be found easily if you know what to look for. Bring along a few small trinkets to place in the box if you plan on taking one for yourself. And don’t forget to put the geocache back exactly where you got it.
