The Best Small Towns in New Hampshire to Chill Out

There's nothing like a small town to escape the hectic energy of daily life. However you define "chilling out," New Hampshire's smallest places make room for it in ways natural to each place. Some towns gather it all in one place, like Hampton Beach, where sand, boardwalk, and restaurants coexist, so even in the middle of a busy summer, you can relax without thinking about what to do next. Other towns, like Exeter and Littleton, keep New England history alive in ways that don't feel drab and dull, like in a landmark pub or a plush inn from the 1800s. Quiet river trails, small local breweries, and streets where everything you need is steps away mean the state gives people space to step back, breathe, and truly unwind in the way that suits them best.

Portsmouth

Portsmouth could be seen as a busy place, at least on paper, but it's calm in practice. The town meets the Piscataqua River head-on, with a downtown compact and easy to navigate so that nothing feels rushed, even on summer weekends. The central hub, Market Square, stays active without tipping into full-blown chaos, framed by early brick buildings that now hold places meant for sitting awhile. This includes Black Trumpet, which is housed inside a former 1803 chandlery and is the perfect place to enjoy a curated wine and food menu.

Speaking of which, Portsmouth is a "foodie" destination in New Hampshire. Visitors chill out in the dark, cozy interiors of the farm-to-table Cure or take in the weird, vintage vibes at The Friendly Toast. Prescott Park borders the river a few blocks away from the heart of the restaurant district, giving the town an easy off-switch. Here, people drift between benches, garden paths, and the waterfront. The park is also home to the annual Prescott Park Arts Festival, which features performances from June through August. From the park, it's an easy walk to The Press Room for a cocktail or to a number of historic and top-rated hotels, such as The Bow Hotel. If enjoying great food, a walkable downtown, and a vibrant art scene is your way of chilling out, look no further than Portsmouth.

Wolfeboro

Three lakes weave through Wolfeboro, starting with Crescent Lake, cutting through downtown, Lake Wentworth to the east, and Lake Winnipesaukee dominating the western edge. A row of New England storefronts lines Main Street, just up from the harbor. Trails follow the Cotton Valley Rail Trail along old railroad tracks, while Wentworth State Park opens the shore for swimming or quiet paddling. The Wright Museum of World War II sits tucked just off Main Street, giving visitors a look at the home front during the 1940s, and the New Hampshire Boat Museum preserves restored wooden vessels right on the harbor. The Wolfeboro Inn and The Inn on Main put you in the heart of both the lakefront and downtown, steps from a trolley tour looping through Millionaire's Row, a luxurious residential area.

Exeter

Exeter may be famous for being the birthplace of the sculptor of President Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial, but it is also one of the better places in New Hampshire to kick back and relax. Unlike some of the other towns on this list, Exeter is extremely quiet, sitting around the Squamscott River in the southeastern part of the state. A stay at the Exeter Inn gives you easy access to the downtown core while providing a timeless 1930s charm. Phillips Exeter Academy threads through town with historic red-brick buildings and green quadrangles that invite walking, reading on a bench, or pausing at the riverbank to watch crew teams glide past.

The 1721 Ladd-Gilman House, now home to the American Independence Museum, sits steps from Main Street alongside Folsom Tavern, where the original 1775 room still hosts walking tours of Revolutionary-era life. There's even some great hiking in Exeter if you want to stretch your legs in spectacular forests. To the north, Henderson-Swasey Town Forest provides trails near Fort Rock Farm, and to the south is the Jolly Rand Road Historic Trail. If all of this is a little too quiet, Exeter kicks things up a notch in October with the annual Powder Keg Beer & Chili Festival, which transforms downtown into a local hangout with craft beer, chili, and music.

Rye

There's no shortage of beach towns in New England where tourists flock to when the weather gets warmer. Most of them are jam-packed with people and include large boardwalks and mega-attractions. Rye is not one of these places. There's no dense downtown, no boardwalk energy, just eight miles of coastline along the Atlantic. From Jenness Beach to Wallis Sands State Beach, you can wander along the sand, although not the whole way, as residential areas, Rye Harbor, and quiet little strips with restaurants such as Petey's Summertime Seafood break up the walk. Odiorne Point State Park adds texture to the shoreline with bike paths, picnic areas, and rocky edges where the Sunken Forest appears at low tide, its ancient tree stumps exposed just offshore. While there are limited lodging options, you'll find small, privately owned spots and more options in nearby Hampton.

Hampton

Hampton is Rye's more popular neighbor, but that doesn't mean it's all noise and no substance. The New Hampshire town has two modes, and the quieter one is where it really shines. Along the Atlantic, the town's shoreline flips from high-energy summer crowds to wide-open calm once the season loosens its grip. Hampton Beach State Park runs right along the ocean and stays open year-round, with sand, a campground at the mouth of the Hampton River, and enough space to swim, fish, or just sit with your Kindle. It borders the main beach strip, with places like Bernie's Beach Bar and the Casino Ballroom clustered close enough that nothing requires much planning. Summer brings a scene-heavy atmosphere, but everything sits within a tight radius, making it easy to settle in rather than rush around. For something quieter, North Beach is located just north of the main hub. It's edged by dunes and a historic Coast Guard station, with the highly rated 935 Ocean, A Beachside Inn right by the water. The two beaches are broken up by the Hampton Salt Marsh Conservation Area, 350 acres of tidal flats and grasses that replace crowds with birds and sky.

Littleton

At the edge of the White Mountains, along the Ammonoosuc River, Littleton doesn't rely on a single season to justify a visit. Main Street stays active whether snow is piled along the curbs or the Ammonoosuc is running high in spring, and everything important happens within a few flat, walkable blocks. Chutters' famously long candy counter pulls people inside no matter the weather. A few steps away, the Riverwalk Covered Bridge gives the town a natural pause point, where people stop for photos but also just to stare out at the beauty of it all.

If it's snowing or just too cold to be outside, you can see a similar view from inside Schilling Beer Co., right next to the bridge. Unlike other towns in New Hampshire, Littleton isn't dominated by luxury hotels. Instead, historic inns are where you'd stay. This includes Thayer's Inn on Main Street, which was originally opened in 1850. Cute little inns and the local restaurants and bars that surround them aside, Littleton is also wonderful for embracing the outdoors. To the south of town, you can ski Mt. Eustis Ski Hill, and to the north, you can get lost wandering the Parker Mountain Trails.

New Hampshire's small towns allow relaxation to exist in almost every form, giving tourists the very best of the state. History is always a beat away in places like Portsmouth and Littleton, with pubs filled with stories and inns that transport you back in time. Busier New Hampshire towns like Hampton give visitors everything they could possibly want within a few blocks, so that planning or worrying about reservations is nonexistent. Regardless of the season, the state offers spaces designed for stepping away from obligations and letting the day stretch out however you need it to.