Odiorne Point State Park is a public recreation area that opened in Rye, New Hampshire in July…read more1972. It is administered by the New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation. The park is located along the Atlantic seacoast in Rye, not far from Portsmouth. The area is the site of the Pannaway Plantation: the first European settlement in New Hampshire. Settled in 1622, the plantation was completely abandoned by the 1630s when the settlers moved to nearby Strawberry Banke. The land was settled in the mid-1660s by the Odiorne Family, whom the park is now named after. From 1942 to 1947, the park was the home of Fort Dearborn. The ruins of the deactivated World War II-era fort can still be seen today. Today the park is home to hiking trails, bike paths, a playground, picnic areas, pavilions, and a Seacoast Science Center which opened in 1992. My family and I visited Odiorne Point State Park this summer while we were heading to Maine for a summer getaway. We had some time to kill before we could check in to our AirBnb, so we decided to stop at the park. We had fun exploring the grounds and my two sons especially enjoyed playing on the nautical-themed playground. The highlight of the park is the Seacoast Science Center. There are all sorts of exhibits devoted to the conservation of marine and coastal environments. My two sons loved learning about whales, local shellfish populations, the local fishing industry, the fight against ocean pollution, and underwater exploration. There was even a cool gift shop where we picked up a few things. Whether you live in the area or you're just passing through like us, Odiorne Point State Park is a fun place for the whole family!

I feel the need to preface all of my nature reviews with this: being 90% forested and having around…read more3500 miles of coastline, Maine (and NH) has a tremendous amount of spaces, walkways, paths, and trails of all kinds and of all levels. There's something for everyone. What I'm reviewing is how a spot compares to similar outdoor spots in my personal opinion. Being in nature - and remembering to carry in, carry out - is always five stars! :) Parking? Yes. Loop trail? Yes. Well marked signs? Yes. Element of surprise? Yes. I was looking for state parks in New Hampshire and this one caught my eye because of the name, if we're being honest. It sounded magical! So was the way it was advertised: "picnickers can enjoy sweeping views of the ocean and rocky shore, and explorers can uncover evidence of past military occupation. An extensive network of trails wind through the dense vegetation and traverse the park. [t]he property is also renowned for its... seven distinct habitats that can be visited within an hour's walk. Although the spectacular rocky shore is the one of the most notable, the woodlands, uplands, salt marsh, freshwater and salt ponds, and sandy beach (non-swimming) combine to create one of the region's most diverse nature walks." I like a little bit of everything, and this sounded like it had just that! The first time I came I bought a pass online; when we arrived it was a freak snowstorm and we were the only ones there. So we had a literal winter wonderland to play around it. The views from the coast were lovely and offer plenty of picnic tables to sit and enjoy yourself at, but exploring the woods that day was even more amazing - we spent a lot of time with a big buck who kept finding himself lazily meandering on the same trail as us. Thank goodness for binoculars! And the element of surprise! There was also some tremendously graffitied old batteries, a breakwater (that becomes nearly inaccessible when the tide is high; reversely when the tide is low that same area exposes a Sandy beach), there's an area called Pirate's Cove, an old cemetery, and Dolphin Fountain (which looks like it belongs in France, not NH). This became an immediate favorite! I can't wait to come back and see it in Spring and Summer! (SIDE NOTE: There's also the Seacoast Science Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit, that provides educational exhibits related to the seacoast area for a separate fee; but, I haven't been able to check that out yet!)

The Rye Harbor State Park offers some great views of the Atlantic Ocean, the Isles of Shoals, and…read morethe Rye Harbor. This is a great place to do some saltwater fishing, have a picnic, or just to enjoy the scenic views. Others may utilize this spot for private events and for weddings. There is a fee to access the park, and when it is unstaffed for a portion of the year, there is a self-paying kiosk. Plenty of parking off the main road as well!

This little park has a beautiful view of the ocean. Please be aware that between the hours of 7am…read moreand 9pm, no dogs are allowed after April until late fall.

I'll give this 5 stars because my daughter loves it here. I'd give it 4... because lack of…read morebathrooms. When my daughter and I first came here, we saw a kid hiding... peeing.

Cool playground for kids. Lots of little spaces for them to hide. Sort of have to keep track of…read morethem. Kind of cool old school playground I like it.

Odiorne Point State Park is a public recreation area that opened in Rye, New Hampshire in July…read more1972. It is administered by the New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation. The park is located along the Atlantic seacoast in Rye, not far from Portsmouth. The area is the site of the Pannaway Plantation: the first European settlement in New Hampshire. Settled in 1622, the plantation was completely abandoned by the 1630s when the settlers moved to nearby Strawberry Banke. The land was settled in the mid-1660s by the Odiorne Family, whom the park is now named after. From 1942 to 1947, the park was the home of Fort Dearborn. The ruins of the deactivated World War II-era fort can still be seen today. Today the park is home to hiking trails, bike paths, a playground, picnic areas, pavilions, and a Seacoast Science Center which opened in 1992. My family and I visited Odiorne Point State Park this summer while we were heading to Maine for a summer getaway. We had some time to kill before we could check in to our AirBnb, so we decided to stop at the park. We had fun exploring the grounds and my two sons especially enjoyed playing on the nautical-themed playground. The highlight of the park is the Seacoast Science Center. There are all sorts of exhibits devoted to the conservation of marine and coastal environments. My two sons loved learning about whales, local shellfish populations, the local fishing industry, the fight against ocean pollution, and underwater exploration. There was even a cool gift shop where we picked up a few things. Whether you live in the area or you're just passing through like us, Odiorne Point State Park is a fun place for the whole family!

Located in Rye Nh at a state park on the ocean with a view of the harbor and you can walk along the…read morewalkway there's also a park for the kids to play in climbing, and swings the park is a good size and then you can walk over to the science center and enjoy there fun activities like learning about nature and the New England coast sharks whales and other wildlife species it's not that big but it's really nice to explore they have a old fort that you can climb on. The state park has a lot of trails and other fun stuff to explore worth a trip to go to but make sure that the weather is nice.

I absolutely looooooove this park! Having formerly lived a stone's throw from here on Mechanic…read moreStreet, I would frequent this park on the daily back in the day. It is a staple in Strawbery Banke and Portsmouth. It is always so super clean, there are bathrooms available, there is street parking nearby, and it is actually quite large and has a lot to offer. In the summertime they offer plays on their stage that are free to the public, as well as other shows for a small fee. Several musicians play here too (Ani DiFranco, anyone?!), and people usually bring their chairs or blankets and camp out on the grass to watch the entertainment. There is plenty of green space, but there are also walkways, and benches scattered throughout. Toward the front end of the park, there is a wildflower garden with a fountain that operates during the summer months. There is a vegetable and herb garden that is within the center of the park as well that members of the park can pay into if they wish to do so. There is also a composting station toward the back end of the park too. This park is very green friendly, no pun intended! My favorite part of the park though are the docks that jut out into the Piscataqua River. There are three if I'm not mistaken, and there are benches on each for your sitting and viewing pleasure. It is a very tranquil, relaxing, and quiet park off the beaten path right on the outskirts of the downtown area heading into Strawbery Banke. River boats also depart from here, and you can buy your tickets on the Prescott Park website. Overall, this is one of my favorite parks, not only for what it offers, but for what it symbolizes for me, which is pure happiness and nostalgia. I come here every time I'm down town, and it really never gets old. Keep up the good work, Portsmouth :)

Patriot was here at Prescott Park on May of 2026 on a warm Saturday afternoon. Nice park area…read morewith a stage area and food venue

A lovely Sunday afternoon hiking trail. The scenic walking trails, peaceful lake views, and…read morewell-maintained grounds make it the perfect place to unwind, exercise, or spend quality time outdoors. This park has a relaxing, almost storybook feel to it. The stone castle adds such a unique charm, and the views from certain overlooks are truly breathtaking, especially with all the snow and ice covered lake. It's clean, quiet, and feels like a little escape from the busy world.

Such a wonderful, peaceful place. Remembering hiking with my mother from Kenoza street, where my…read moreNana lived, over a big hill and down to the dirt road that circled Kenoza Lake, then, like magic arriving at this amazing castle. Then to top it off, getting to visit the elk statue just a bit below. My parents were divorced when I was a wee lad , my mother moving to Texas, which made the castle and lake even more precious to me and I visited it whenever I had the opportunity to do so.

Perfect location for an afternoon picnic. Beautiful views of the ocean. Peaceful and relaxing…read more Bathrooms are very clean, and the park is very well maintained. The only negatives are the cost of parking fees and the small size of this park.

Since we frequent this area often, it's surprising we haven't been here before. Being a nice, sunny…read moreday finally, we thought we'd stop and see what was there. It is a small park with a parking lot that probably fills quickly during tourist season, summer. But since it is April, we had no difficulty with that. There were picnic tables and benches with a clear view of the ocean. Other picnic tables were outside, but under cover which would be nice on a very warm day! There was a grassed area with a monument that showed a replica map of the New England coast from 1614 by John Smith. Bathrooms are there also, but locked up for the season. Nice little area for a quick lunch stop or road trip break if you can get in there in season!

Perfect spot in downtown Dover for kids to play after going to the Children's Museum or out to eat…read more They have a splash pad that's usually open in the summer as long as there isn't a drought advisory. The park has a fun "music" area with outdoor xylophone type instruments and drums. Swings, Slides, Splash pad, and Sand areas to play. It can get a little busy and on one occasion there were some interesting characters skulking about. There is parking on either side of the park. Water fountain available. Some shade available as well!

This is probably one of the coolest playgrounds we've been to. Didn't expect to see it. We were…read moregoing to the children's museum and then came out to a really cool playground. I liked all the different swings. They really are inclusive. All the different things that require the kids have balance. The slides are a little scary but my son did like them. There's definitely a lot of people when we went. Seems to be a visited place especially on nice days which I get but we would love to go back especially if they have a splash pad. I mean, I honestly think it's a very neat park that has lots of different things to it. You definitely can't get bored there and it seems to be inclusive to everyone, not just able body.

The way to Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse was closed for renovation so we ended up just checking…read moreGreat Island Common. It's actually a large enough place with plenty of parking and had some good amount of spots for gatherings/picnics/BBQ. I didnt feel like it was the most beautiful place although the view of the harbor was. I enjoyed the little painter decor that they have and that wide open feel of just standing by the waters. However i felt like the place needed some TLC. Idk. The gentleman by the entrance was very kind and sweet though and allowed us to just check the area for some quick pics for free as we didnt stay too long for this visit.

I'll tell you it was almost surreal. It was a litle like…read morebeing the only person in the world, just staring out at the wild ocean at sunset. Especially in january when there wasn't another soul in this tiny park, at the edge of this picturesque town of Portsmouth. I was of course struck by the wild beauity that makes up the NH/Maine Coastline and the crashing of the waves but the place itself was absolutely adorable. I could see the vibrant scenes of warmer months even though my face and lips were equally chapped in the brisk wind. Very clean, very organized and well layed out little park. There is a long walk on the rocks out to the sea and some sandy beach area for walking but I can't imagine it would be a fun place to swim with all those rocks and rocky shallow areas. I'd love to do a day trip or 3 day weekend up here just so I can bring my dogs here to enjoy this relaxed little area. There is a sweet little bench beneath a tree straight ahead when you pull in, and it would be probably the cutest place to get a kiss, enjoy a quiet moment or even a proposal. Le sigh. Can I live here and build a little hut beside the large sprawling waterfront mansions? I promise I won't be a bother. The trees in bloom here must be a sight in the fall,but no matter what season it was so worth stumbling upon.

Cute little park hidden in a neighborhood behind the hospital and with easy access to the…read moreinterstate. Great play structure with a few slides, big kid and baby swings, tire swing, and teeter totter to name some features. There's also a basketball court and a baseball field for plenty of options to play and run! Lots of planes fly over which is an added bonus for the littles to see.