Jenness State Beach
Jenness State Beach
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
77 reviews
Excellent
44
Very good
25
Average
3
Poor
3
Terrible
2
Maurene_K
Dover, NH12,583 contributions
Nov 2023 • Solo
On a warm day in early November, I took drive along the coast. When I got to Jenness State Beach, I noticed quite a few cars in the parking lot. I drove in and parked.
Some people were walking along the beach; others were sitting in beach chairs. A few were walking with dogs. That is permitted after November 1st. I did some walking myself.
It was a good place to be on a warm day in the fall after the summer crowds were gone.
In season, the bathhouse and restrooms are open.
Also in season, this beach is a good place for surfing medium-sized waves as well as the usual beach activities of sunbathing and swimming.
I’ve also been here during the regular season. It’s a nice sandy beach.
On a clear day, one can see some of the nine Isles of Shoals as I did. Some are in New Hampshire; some are in Maine.
I rate Jenness State Beach at 4.50 and can recommend a visit.
The reason for the delay in submitting this review was due to a months-long loss of my ability to post photos with my reviews and some health issues.
If you found this review useful, please click the THUMBS UP to indicate HELPFUL.
Some people were walking along the beach; others were sitting in beach chairs. A few were walking with dogs. That is permitted after November 1st. I did some walking myself.
It was a good place to be on a warm day in the fall after the summer crowds were gone.
In season, the bathhouse and restrooms are open.
Also in season, this beach is a good place for surfing medium-sized waves as well as the usual beach activities of sunbathing and swimming.
I’ve also been here during the regular season. It’s a nice sandy beach.
On a clear day, one can see some of the nine Isles of Shoals as I did. Some are in New Hampshire; some are in Maine.
I rate Jenness State Beach at 4.50 and can recommend a visit.
The reason for the delay in submitting this review was due to a months-long loss of my ability to post photos with my reviews and some health issues.
If you found this review useful, please click the THUMBS UP to indicate HELPFUL.
Written 21 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dana E
4 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
This beach is a 20 ft swath of sand extending about 1/2 mile long. Separating the beach from the road that runs alongside it is a 10 foot high berm of what looks like mining slag or dredging sludge. It's quite an eyesore. The beach has one parking lot that holds 60 cars and charges $20. If you park anywhere else you get slapped with a $50 fine for not having a parking "permit". There is no signage indicating this anywhere along the roads, however. The only people who are issued "permits" are local residents. Obviously the Rye Police Department had a rather dubious parking fee revenue generating scheme going on here. Visitors are not welcome to this very disappointing excuse for a beach.
Written 7 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
46oceangirl
Westford, MA1,775 contributions
Jul 2016
Came here by recommendation from a friend. Since I've been little I've always gone to Hampton Beach etc, the place to go, well about 20 mins north is a better beach, yes, no honky tonk shops/restuarants but more a vacation rental/locals beach with the most beautiful homes in Rye, NH. The beach is about a mile or longer. There is parking and the bathrooms are there as well. If you actually go past the state park entrance parking lot, further up past the general store on the left, you can park between the signs on either side. Use Cable Road to get beach access to walk to the beach, its a short street, beautiful, hard packed sand. Low tide is best, but even high tide there is sand to sit on. We went the last 2 days and plenty to do at low tide. Bring your paddle board, wind surfer, boogie boards, there are life guards too. Bring your own food, not much nearby, the general store and an inn across the street and maybe pizza place too/restaurant across the main beach area. We were further down but we brought a cooler. It over looks the Isle of Shoals on a clear visibility day. Water is cold, its New Hampshire, not numbing but still cold for mid July on a 90 degree day. Great beach and will be back over and over again. Love it! Portsmouth is up the road.
Written 16 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pam W
Scottsdale, AZ17 contributions
Jul 2014 • Family
This beach is great, not busy and we always get our "spot". Great for early morning walks as the sun is rising
Written 16 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HaskelUK
London430 contributions
May 2012 • Family
Lovely beach which at low tide is enormous and flat and at high tide is quite narrow. Loads of surfers trying to catch the impressive breakers. There is a smallish car park behind the beach which costs two dollars an hour. just behind the beach is a pizzeria, toilets and a surf shop selling clothes, ice creams, buckets and spades etc. Spent a wonderful few hours here. It was quite windy the day we went and there is no shade, neither of which bothered us. Highly recommend.
Written 12 May 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hawaiiantraveler66
Pearl City, HI690 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
First of all my dad was a state trooper in NH, prior to that he was a federal officer. So this ain’t a “defund police” statement but really, if out of state visitors are threaten like our family was we will recommend you drive north to OOB and York.
We rented a house on rye beach just north of Jenness. Decided to shop local and keep the 9% rooms meals and rental tax in the state. FYI, each town gets a cut of that tax based upon population.
We set up our spot right in front of the beach house we rented. We were 4 days into our stay. In those 4 days we have seen the Rye police walking the beach passing by dogs off leash which you can’t do, kid smoke pot which is still illegal in the state of NH and people drinking beer. Each time the police ignored them.
Until today, I brought down to the beach a Corona Seltzer. Within the first 5 minutes of sitting the police officer come right down the walk way right to our area looks right at me and says “what do u think you are doing?” I said I don’t know and he replied “no open carry on the beach! I’m not going to give you a warning because that’s well known”. First it’s not we’ll know because some beaches do allow it. So he gave me a $125 ticked and passed a bunch of young teen smoking e-cigs which you need to be 21 to buy in NH.
The Rye police suffer from John Wayne attitude and have a chip on the shoulder. Well I going to pay this ticket but the Rye Police end up getting a call from the NH Division of Natural & Cultural Resource. See the state beaches are under their jurisdiction and Sarah Stewart the commissioner for the state might like to know how law enforcements treats visitors. You will see this posting on other sites and a letter to Governors constituents services.
Yes I made a mistake but why do the ignore bigger violations and pick and choose who the ticket.
We rented a house on rye beach just north of Jenness. Decided to shop local and keep the 9% rooms meals and rental tax in the state. FYI, each town gets a cut of that tax based upon population.
We set up our spot right in front of the beach house we rented. We were 4 days into our stay. In those 4 days we have seen the Rye police walking the beach passing by dogs off leash which you can’t do, kid smoke pot which is still illegal in the state of NH and people drinking beer. Each time the police ignored them.
Until today, I brought down to the beach a Corona Seltzer. Within the first 5 minutes of sitting the police officer come right down the walk way right to our area looks right at me and says “what do u think you are doing?” I said I don’t know and he replied “no open carry on the beach! I’m not going to give you a warning because that’s well known”. First it’s not we’ll know because some beaches do allow it. So he gave me a $125 ticked and passed a bunch of young teen smoking e-cigs which you need to be 21 to buy in NH.
The Rye police suffer from John Wayne attitude and have a chip on the shoulder. Well I going to pay this ticket but the Rye Police end up getting a call from the NH Division of Natural & Cultural Resource. See the state beaches are under their jurisdiction and Sarah Stewart the commissioner for the state might like to know how law enforcements treats visitors. You will see this posting on other sites and a letter to Governors constituents services.
Yes I made a mistake but why do the ignore bigger violations and pick and choose who the ticket.
Written 31 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Charles F
Johnson, VT17 contributions
Aug 2018
First off this is a great little beach. It's pretty dead during the week but can get packed on the weekends. No doubt if you are looking at the reviews you'll see that there is limited parking. What we found out: during the week if you get there anytime between 8-9 you should be good for parking. During the weekend (a sunny warm day) get there no later than 8am. Be aware that there could be many surfers taking up parking spaces especially if there are size-able waves. The bathrooms are clean but lock around 5pm. There's a snack bar, a surf shop that rents wetsuits, surfboards and gives lessons as well as an inexpensive restaurant/hotel across the street. There is also private parking across the street if you miss out on the public parking spaces - one last thing - you have to pay $2/hr to park (credit cards excepted) from 8am-midnight.
Written 7 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mpugh22
Dallas, TX423 contributions
Jul 2014 • Family
A very big beach, and we had a lot of fun here. Plenty of space to play. Great for kids, as the shallow sands seem to go on forever. It's not as pretty has Hampton Beach to the south or Long Sands to the north, but also not as busy or loud. Not a whole lot of parking. Facilities are a little run down, but no big deal. Laid back, old school beach experience. Very, very nice.
Written 14 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stan B
Ashwaubenon, WI19 contributions
Jul 2018 • Family
We went on a Sunday and a Wednesday. On the weekends it is packed and near impossible to find a parking spot. Wednesday afternoon was much easier to park and the beach had plenty of room for our group of 7.
The kids had a lot of fun boogie boarding and playing on the beach. During the week there was room to kick a soccer ball around with out bothering anyone.
The kids had a lot of fun boogie boarding and playing on the beach. During the week there was room to kick a soccer ball around with out bothering anyone.
Written 6 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stacey Z
88 contributions
Aug 2017
I had never heard of this beach but so glad to of spent the day. The water was a perfect temp & the waves were perfect for my boys to learn to surf. We purchased surf board across the street & they spent the day trying to perfect their skills (5 & 10 years old;) also across the street was a pizza place & cafe. Parking wasn't easy but again I was trying to find a spot at noon. I did pay $20 at Paul's Carriage House .. this is a really nice restaurant that we did have dinner at with awesome service.
Written 14 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fkontos
Dover, New Hampshire
Do you have to reserve a parking spot and how do you do that right now?
Written 13 July 2020
When we went on July 4th we were able to pull in and get an open spot. We then went to the ticket box and purchased a ticket for the time we wanted to be there for.
Written 13 July 2020
A Tripadvisor member
New England
That time when we visited skimboarding was allowed, but now course of the pandemic I am not sure whether it is allowed. Two days ago, I went to Hampton Beach where swimming and skimboarding are allowed.
Written 18 June 2020
I think until the end of October but I would definitely google the times before you head there or call the town.
Written 10 September 2019
theluckyducky007
Manchester, Vermont
No lifeguards last Thursday? Is that normal? What is the schedule for them? Thanks
Written 20 August 2017
I've never seen one on this beach but you can grab amazing food across the street at the Beach Plumb!
Written 31 July 2017
NH has fairly strict laws for their beaches when it comes to dogs. They do have set hours where your dog is allowed, and always on a leash, but 99% of the time it says no dogs. Due to people not picking up up dog waste, leaving them unattended and off-leash, NH says leave Fido at home please.
Written 23 June 2017
Is there a place to park a car and trailer? We are moving a car but visiting the beach too. Thanks for your help,
Written 29 April 2017
When are the best weeks/months to surf at Jenness? Thinking about planning a vaca.
Thanks
Written 21 December 2016
It's New England, I would plan a trip to NH in the summer time, the last two weeks in July or the first two weeks in August, can't go wrong usually. Warmer water, higher temps locally. I'm not a surfer but we were at the beach in both months and people were out there on their boards. good luck. Pretty area and go into Portsmouth to eat dinner, great restaurants, downtown, shopping and waterfront.
Written 21 December 2016
Yes. When we were there on Friday and Saturday, they had people on surf boards, boogie boards and paddleboards. The waves are not huge as it was low tide and the tide was coming in but there was one woman out there surfing on smalls waves for a good portion of the afternoon. Its not Hawaii! It's the northeast and if its choppy out at sea then the waves are usually bigger inland. It was dead calm out at sea and people could still get up on boards. There was even a guy out there wind surfing.
Good luck.
Written 19 July 2016
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