New Hampshire’s coast might not be huge, but it sure packs a punch on a hot summer day when all we want to do is cool down. In addition to the opportunity for splashing in the water, beaches here often offer fun amusements, restaurants, and bars. All of that adds up to some very busy beach towns. Hampton Beach, one of our favorites, is often one of the busiest which means parking is usually tough. This year, things are going to get even tougher with some strict new rules in place. Here’s what you need to know!

Hampton Beach is one of the most popular summer destinations in the region. With a popular boardwalk filled with restaurants, snack shops, and bars there’s a good reason so many people love visiting.

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Tons of fun things to do means lots of people visit from other towns and even other states. We can’t blame them, but the local people who live in Hampton Beach don’t always love the traffic.

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Parking has become a real problem, forcing people who live here year-round to face less parking spots and more congestion.

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As a result, beginning in the summer of 2021 parking rules will change significantly for those visiting.

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Residential roads in both Hampton Beach and North Beach will now be open only to those who are actually residents. In the past, visitors were permitted to park on these streets for free. Residents complained of blocked driveways, litter on the roads and a lack of local parking.

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In Hampton Beach the streets that are now off-limits to tourists include the lettered streets going south beginning from N Street to Q Street, as well as Island section, the area of Harris and Fellows Avenue and roads west of Ashworth Avenue.

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In the North Beach area the off-limits streets will be those that are numbered as well as King’s Highway, the roads west of Kings Highway and the Plaice Cove area.

smulligannn / Flickr While it’s still unclear how the new parking rules will go into effect, non-resident visitors are being told to plan on parking in the state-metered lots or the privately owned lots.

Before you start making other summer plans, remember that nothing is so hard that it can’t be figured out for a good beach day!

If your summer plans include visits to Hampton Beach you’ll want to make sure you understand how to park before you arrive. For more information visit the official Hampton Beach website’s parking information page.

davidwilson1949 / Flickr

dougtone / Flickr

galfred / Flickr

galfred / Filckr

smulligannn / Flickr

While it’s still unclear how the new parking rules will go into effect, non-resident visitors are being told to plan on parking in the state-metered lots or the privately owned lots.

Before you start making other summer plans, remember that nothing is so hard that it can’t be figured out for a good beach day!

Some people are surprised to learn that New Hampshire actually has more than just one beach area. For those who want to explore a few, we’ve got a fun day for you. This road trip will give you the best New Hampshire beach day you’ve ever had!

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Address: Hampton Beach, Hampton, NH 03842, USA