Epping Town Guide: Where to Eat, Stay and Explore

Epping is the kind of New Hampshire town many travelers know only as an intersection. Routes 125 and 27 cross here, and plenty of drivers heading for the Seacoast, Manchester or the Lakes Region pass straight through. Stop instead, and you will find a small town with a surprising amount going on: a drag strip with decades of history, a barbecue restaurant that takes its smoke seriously, a growing retail and dining center, and easy access to the rest of the Seacoast. This guide covers the things to do in Epping NH and places to eat from our directory.

As always, hours and seasonal schedules change. Each business below posts current information on its website, so check before you go.

Epping at a glance

Epping is a town in Rockingham County. The 2020 census counted 7,125 residents, up from 6,411 in 2010. The main village, where about 2,700 people live, sits along Route 27 just west of Route 125.

The town has deep roots. It was originally part of Exeter, one of the four original New Hampshire townships. Its location on major roads has made it a retail center for the surrounding towns, and today that shows in the shopping and dining along its main roads.

Epping's position is its biggest asset for visitors. It is a short drive to Exeter, the Seacoast beaches and Portsmouth to the east, and to Manchester to the west. That makes it a practical, less expensive base for exploring the region, or a good place to break up a longer drive.

Where to eat in Epping

Huntspoint Meat and BBQ

Huntspoint Meat and BBQ is the reason many people make a special trip to Epping. It is a family-owned meat and Central Texas-style barbecue restaurant at 114 Calef Highway. The kitchen specializes in 100 percent wood-smoked barbecue, cooked in a Texas pit with real wood, and prepares its side dishes from scratch.

Huntspoint is also a butcher and caterer. Its premium meats are sold at the Epping location and online, and the business describes itself as an experienced caterer. If you are planning a cookout during a summer stay, it is worth knowing about.

Cinco's Cantina

Cinco's Cantina is a Mexican restaurant with locations in Dover, Rochester and Epping. The Epping restaurant is at 1 Brickyard Square, a shopping and dining destination in town. It is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, and the restaurant offers online ordering, catering and function room rentals.

Cinco's itself pitches the Epping location as a natural stop around a shopping trip to Brickyard Square, which is exactly how many visitors use it.

The Railpenny Tavern

The Railpenny Tavern is at 8 Exeter Road, at the corner of Routes 125 and 27, right at the town's main crossroads. It serves dinner during the week and brunch and dinner on weekends, and it offers private dining for groups. Reservations can be made online or by phone, which is useful on busy summer weekends. The tavern is part of the JGroup Hospitality family of restaurants, and its website lists events and specials alongside its dinner, brunch and drinks menus, so it is worth checking what is on before you book. Its spot at the crossroads also makes it the easiest place in town to meet friends coming from different directions.

Telly's Restaurant and Pizzeria

Telly's Restaurant and Pizzeria at 235 Calef Highway is an Italian restaurant known for brick oven pizza, calzones, wraps and salads, along with a large draft beer selection. In summer the big draw is outdoor dining with a fire pit, and Telly's also hosts live entertainment. It posts its events calendar on its website if you want to time a visit around a performance.

Things to do in Epping

New England Dragway

The New England Dragway at 280 Exeter Road is Epping's best-known attraction. It is a drag racing track with a long history, and it has marked 60 years of racing. The track has hosted the NHRA New England Nationals, and its schedule includes regular race days for spectators as well as programs for racers, such as street nights and track rentals.

For visitors, the appeal is simple: it is loud, fast and unlike anything else on the Seacoast. The track publishes its season schedule, ticket information, spectator FAQ and seating maps online. Bring ear protection, sun protection and water on a hot August day.

Ride with DG Cycles

DG Cycles is a premium bicycle dealer and service center at 75 Railroad Avenue. It carries road, mountain, hybrid, gravel, kids' and electric bikes from brands including Giant, Kona, Salsa, Liv and Jamis, and offers repairs and professional bike fitting. If you have brought a bike on vacation and something goes wrong, or you are shopping for a new one, it is the place to go.

Ask at the shop for local route suggestions before you set out, and remember that many back roads have narrow shoulders.

Shopping at Brickyard Square

Brickyard Square is home to Cinco's Epping restaurant and a mix of shops and eateries, and it has become a regular stop for people from the surrounding towns. Epping's role as a retail center is not new: Telly's notes that the town's location has long made it a shopping hub for its neighbors. Pair a browse here with a meal and you have an easy half day.

Where to stay

Epping's lodging is limited, so most visitors stay in a nearby town and drive in. Exeter, Portsmouth and Hampton all have a wide range of hotels and inns within a short drive, and the New England Dragway publishes a list of hotels near the track for race weekends. Our directory's Seacoast lodging pages are a good starting point.

A sample day in Epping

Morning. Stop at DG Cycles if you need a tune-up, then head out for a ride on the back roads.

Midday. Make the trip to Huntspoint Meat and BBQ for lunch, and pick up meat for a cookout later if you are staying nearby.

Afternoon. Spend a race day at the New England Dragway, or browse the shops around Brickyard Square.

Evening. Have dinner at the Railpenny Tavern, Cinco's Cantina or Telly's. On a warm night, Telly's outdoor dining with a fire pit is a pleasant way to end the day.

Getting there

Epping's village sits along Route 27 just west of Route 125, and the Railpenny Tavern marks the corner where the two routes meet. A car is essential, since the main attractions are spread out along the highways.

Frequently asked questions

What is Epping, NH known for?

The New England Dragway, its crossroads location on Routes 125 and 27, and its role as a retail center for neighboring towns.

Is Epping a good base for exploring the Seacoast?

Yes, especially if you want to be within reach of both the coast and Manchester. Lodging in town is limited, so many visitors stay in Exeter or Portsmouth.

Where can I get barbecue in Epping?

Huntspoint Meat and BBQ serves Central Texas-style, wood-smoked barbecue at 114 Calef Highway.

Is the New England Dragway family friendly?

It welcomes spectators and publishes an FAQ and seating maps. Drag racing is very loud, so bring ear protection, especially for children.

Sources

• Epping, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (Rockingham County; 2020 and 2010 census; village along Route 27 west of Route 125): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epping,_New_Hampshire
• Telly's Restaurant and Pizzeria (Epping originally part of Exeter; retail center; menu; outdoor dining with fire pit; live entertainment; 235 Calef Hwy): https://www.tellysrestaurant.com/epping-nh
• Huntspoint Meat and BBQ (family-owned; Central Texas-style; wood-smoked; catering; 114 Calef Highway): https://bbq.huntspoint.com
• Cinco's Cantina (locations; 1 Brickyard Square, Epping; lunch and dinner daily): https://www.cincoscantina.com
• The Railpenny Tavern (8 Exeter Road at Routes 125 and 27; brunch and dinner; private dining): https://www.railpennytavern.com/
• New England Dragway (60 years of racing; NHRA New England Nationals; schedule, street nights, track rentals, hotels near the track): https://www.newenglanddragway.com
• DG Cycle Sports (75 Railroad Ave, Epping; bike types and services): https://www.dgcycles.com/