Odiorne Point State Park
Rye, NH
A rocky stretch of New Hampshire's short coastline with tide pools, shoreline trails and old coastal fortifications among the woods. Visit at low tide to explore the rocks, and bring water shoes.
Odiorne Point State Park in Rye covers 333.7 acres (about 135 ha) on the Atlantic coast near Portsmouth. Pannaway Plantation, the first European settlement in New Hampshire, was established here in 1623, and a memorial commemorates it. In World War II the military used the site for Fort Dearborn (1942 to 1947), a coastal fortification. Remains of the gun emplacements and concrete platforms can still be seen today.
The park has coastal trails, tide pools and picnic areas, and you can hike, cycle and fish. The Seacoast Science Center has aquariums, touch tanks and whale skeletons, and runs a marine mammal rescue facility. Low tide is the best time for the tide pools; tide tables are easy to find online. Allow half a day for the trails, ruins and science center; sturdy shoes or water shoes are useful on the rocks.
- Nearest town
- Rye, NH
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 43.0440, -70.7160
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and August–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July and October. Cold, short days in December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Nearby
Strawbery Banke Museum
Nubble Light
Marginal Way
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
Campsites nearby
- Great Bay CampingCampsite11 mi from Odiorne Point State ParkTentsCaravansWaste disposal
- Winding Rivers CampgroundCampsite13 mi from Odiorne Point State ParkTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterDogs allowed
- Beach AcresCampsite18 mi from Odiorne Point State ParkTentsCaravansNo dogs
- Tuxbury Pond RV CampgroundMotorhome stopover18 mi from Odiorne Point State ParkMotorhomesWi-Fi
- Tuxbury Pond RV CampgroundMotorhome stopover18 mi from Odiorne Point State ParkMotorhomesWi-Fi
- Pine Acres RV CampgroundMotorhome stopover22 mi from Odiorne Point State ParkTentsMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposalWi-Fi
All campsites in New Hampshire · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Odiorne Point State Park?
Odiorne Point State Park is in Rye, NH, at GPS 43.0440, -70.7160. It is about 18 mi from Newburyport.
Can you camp near Odiorne Point State Park?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Sea Coast Camping And RV Resort, about 7 mi away; within 25 mi there are 46 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
What is there to see near Odiorne Point State Park?
Places worth a stop nearby: Strawbery Banke Museum (3 mi), Nubble Light (10 mi), Marginal Way (15 mi) and Parker River National Wildlife Refuge (21 mi).
When is the best time to visit Odiorne Point State Park?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and August–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)