Raymond Town Guide: Where to Eat, Stay and Explore

Raymond is the kind of New Hampshire town most people know from a highway exit. Route 101 runs through it on the way between Manchester and the Seacoast, and plenty of travelers never get off. That is their loss. Raymond has a classic town common, a restored railroad depot, a river running through the village, and part of a 5,500-acre state park in its north end. This guide covers the things to do in Raymond NH, plus local places to eat, shop and see a show from our directory.

Businesses mentioned here are included for editorial reasons only and do not sponsor or endorse this site. Hours and offerings change, so check each business's own website before you go.

Raymond at a glance

Raymond is a town in Rockingham County with 10,684 residents at the 2020 census. The main village, where 3,738 people lived in 2020, sits along the Lamprey River near Route 27. The town covers about 29.6 square miles and is drained by the Lamprey and Exeter rivers, both part of the Piscataqua River watershed. Its highest point is Dumplingtown Hill, at 625 feet, near the western border.

Five state routes cross the town: 27, 101, 102, 107 and 156. That makes Raymond an easy base for day trips. The Seacoast is to the east, Manchester is to the west, and the Lakes Region is a reasonable drive to the north.

A short history: from Freetown to Raymond

Raymond was first settled by families from Exeter as a parish of Chester and was known as Freetown. According to Joseph Fullonton's History of Raymond, published in 1875, the old name came from the ship timber trade: the king claimed the best trees, locals took them anyway, and, as Fullonton put it, "being successful here, none molesting, they called it Freetown." The town was incorporated in 1764 under its present name.

Two other bits of local history are worth knowing before you walk around:

• The library. In 1906 Andrew Carnegie awarded a $2,000 grant toward a Carnegie library in Raymond. The Dudley-Tucker Library opened in 1908, overlooking the Common.
• The fence. New Hampshire Historical Marker number 273 in Raymond recognizes Frank J. Mafera, a resident who patented the first method for weaving chain link fencing in 1930 and then founded a fence company in town.

The depot and the rail trail

Railroads shaped Raymond for more than a century. The Concord and Portsmouth Railroad reached town in 1850, and the line later became the Portsmouth Branch of the Boston and Maine. Passenger service ended in 1954. The last train served Raymond on July 31, 1980, and the tracks were abandoned in 1982 and removed in the years that followed.

Two things survive. The line is now a rail trail, which gives walkers, runners and cyclists a flat, off-road path through town. And the restored depot is now home to the Raymond Historical Society. Seeing the depot from the outside costs nothing, and it is a good starting point for a walk around the village and the Common. Check with the historical society for times when the building is open.

Pawtuckaway State Park

The north part of Raymond includes part of Pawtuckaway State Park, a 5,500-acre preserve named for Pawtuckaway Lake and the Pawtuckaway Mountains. The park runs from the west shore of the lake to the west side of the mountains. For a town guide, that is the headline attraction: Raymond residents and visitors have a large state park almost on their doorstep.

In August, the lake is the obvious draw. Bring a picnic, plan for a swim or a paddle, and check the New Hampshire State Parks website for current fees, parking and rules before you go. An early start is a good idea on summer weekends.

The Lamprey River

The main village sits on the Lamprey River, which gives Raymond a different feel from the highway strip. A walk along the river and through the village center is a low-key way to spend an hour, and the river is part of the larger Piscataqua watershed that eventually reaches the sea at Portsmouth.

Where to eat in Raymond

Raymond's food scene is casual and local. These are some options in our directory.

• Pizza by George. The restaurant says it was founded in 1993 and specializes in New York-style pizza, pasta and subs, with its dough made fresh daily and its veal hand-pounded. It also notes a stuffed pizza it is proud of. Dine in, take out or book catering.
• Lucky Corner Chinese Restaurant. On Freetown Road, a name that nods to the town's history, Lucky Corner offers dine-in and take-out Chinese food and online ordering.
• Agape Cakes and Confections. A bakery on Route 27 that makes custom cakes and one-of-a-kind pastries, posts a weekly menu, and also runs a mobile trailer for events. It notes that it can sometimes help with a last-minute cake.
• Stillwells One Stop Ice Cream Shop. In the Cozy Corners Plaza on Route 27, Stillwells serves Richardson's ice cream, gelato and Italian ice. On a hot August afternoon after the lake, this is the stop.

Things to do indoors

Not every day is a lake day. Raymond has two less obvious options.

• American Playlist Theater. This company describes itself as a modern live theater built around classic radio theater. Productions are staged as live audio performances with actors, announcers, musicians and sound effects, and past shows are available as podcasts. It is an unusual night out and a good fit for anyone who grew up on radio drama or loves a podcast.
• Gorilla Games. A shop that buys and sells video games, consoles and gaming memorabilia from every era of gaming. If you have kids or teenagers in the car, or a box of old cartridges in the attic, it is worth a stop.

Where to stay

Raymond is mostly a day-trip town, but it also works as a base thanks to its central location on Route 101. Our directory lists campgrounds and RV sites in town, and hotels are a short drive away in Manchester, Exeter and along the Seacoast. Browse our lodging listings for the Merrimack Valley and Seacoast to compare options.

A sample day in Raymond

• Morning. Coffee, then a walk past the Common and the Dudley-Tucker Library, and over to the depot and the start of the rail trail.
• Midday. Drive north to Pawtuckaway State Park for a swim, a paddle or a picnic by the lake.
• Afternoon. Ice cream at Stillwells on Route 27 on the way back into town.
• Evening. Pizza or Chinese food in town, and if the schedule lines up, a live radio theater show.

Tips for visiting

• Getting there. Route 101 is the fastest approach from Manchester or the Seacoast. Route 27 runs through the village.
• Summer weekends. Plan an early start for the state park on hot weekends.
• Bikes. The rail trail is flat and off-road, which suits families and casual riders.
• History buffs. Look for Historical Marker 273 about the chain link fence, an unexpected piece of Raymond's past.

FAQ

What is Raymond, NH known for?

Raymond is known for its town common and Carnegie-funded library, its restored railroad depot and rail trail, and for including part of Pawtuckaway State Park. It is also where a resident patented the first method for weaving chain link fencing.

How many people live in Raymond, NH?

The 2020 census counted 10,684 residents in the town.

Is Pawtuckaway State Park in Raymond?

Part of it is. A portion of the 5,500-acre park lies in the north of Raymond.

What county is Raymond, NH in?

Rockingham County.

Why was Raymond once called Freetown?

According to an 1875 town history, the name came from the ship timber trade, when locals took trees claimed by the king.

Sources

• Raymond, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (population, history, railroad, geography, Historical Marker 273): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond,_New_Hampshire
• Pawtuckaway State Park, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pawtuckaway_State_Park
• Pizza by George: https://pizzabygeorgenh.com
• Lucky Corner Chinese Restaurant: https://luckycorner888.com/
• Agape Cakes and Confections: https://www.agapecandc.com
• Stillwells One Stop Raymond: https://www.stillwellsicecream.com/locations/raymond
• American Playlist Theater: https://americanplaylistth.wixsite.com/website
• Gorilla Games: https://www.gorillagamesnh.com/