Stratham Town Guide: Where to Eat, Shop and Explore

Stratham is easy to miss. Most people drive through it on Route 101 or Route 108 on the way to Portsmouth, Exeter or the beaches, and never stop. That is a shame, because this small Seacoast town has one of the region's best hill parks, a long farming history that still shows along Portsmouth Avenue, and a handful of local businesses worth planning a morning around. This guide covers the things to do in Stratham NH that hold up in every season, with a few places to eat and shop from our directory.

Stratham at a glance

Stratham is a town in Rockingham County with 7,669 residents at the 2020 census. It covers about 15.5 square miles and sits just northeast of Exeter, on the tidal side of the Seacoast.

Water defines the town. The Squamscott River forms its western boundary, and most of Stratham drains into it. The east side of town drains to the Winnicut River instead. Both rivers flow into Great Bay, the broad, shallow tidal estuary at the heart of the inland Seacoast, and the whole town sits inside the Piscataqua River watershed.

Three state routes cross Stratham: 33, 108 and 111. The Route 101 expressway runs through the southern part of town, which is why so many visitors know Stratham only as an exit sign. Two large companies have a presence here: Stratham is home to the only Lindt & Sprungli factory in the United States and to the headquarters of the Timberland Corporation.

A short history

Stratham was settled in 1631 and incorporated in 1716, the sixth town in the colony to be incorporated. Before English settlement, the Pennacook called the area Winnicutt. Early colonists knew it as the "Squamscott Patent" or "Point of Rocks," a nod to its position between Great Bay and the Squamscott River.

The town takes its name from Wriothesley Russell, Baron Howland of Streatham, a friend of Royal Governor Samuel Shute. One detail makes Stratham unusual for a New England town of its size: it was comprehensively mapped in 1793 by Phinehas Merrill. Because that map survives, historians can identify which of the town's buildings predate it.

Several Stratham properties are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the John Crockett House and the original Wiggin Memorial Library building. If you like old houses, a slow drive along the town's older roads is a pleasant way to spend an hour.

Stratham Hill Park

Stratham Hill Park is the town's best-known outdoor space and the main reason to pull off the highway. Stratham Hill and neighboring Jewell Hill are both glacial drumlins, and at 290 feet they share the title of highest point in town. That is not high by New Hampshire standards, but on the flat coastal plain it is enough to give you a view.

The park and the nearby Gordon Barker Town Forest share a combined trail system used by hikers and mountain bikers. It is a good option for a short walk with children, a trail run, or a quiet loop on a weekday morning. The park has a long community history too. From 1967 the town hosted the annual Stratham Fair there each summer, and since 2023 the town has held a "Summerfest" at the park instead.

Our hero image shows a trolley at Stratham Hill Park around 1905, a reminder that people have been coming here for fresh air and a view for well over a century.

The Squamscott River and Great Bay

The Squamscott is a tidal river. The freshwater Exeter River becomes the saltwater Squamscott in downtown Exeter, then flows north between Newfields and Stratham to Great Bay. Its name comes from the Squamscott people, who called it Msquam-s-kook, usually translated as "at the salmon place" or "big water place."

The river passes under Route 108 at the Newfields and Stratham line, and from there it reaches Great Bay just south of the mouth of the Lamprey River. The marshes along its banks are typical of the Great Bay estuary: wide, open and full of birds in the shoulder seasons. If you have a kayak or canoe and experience with tides, the Squamscott is one of the Seacoast's most rewarding paddles. If not, the views from the bridges and roadsides still give you a feel for the estuary.

Farm stands and garden shops

Stratham has been farm country for nearly four centuries, and that heritage is still visible on Portsmouth Avenue.

• Barker's Farm is a fifth-generation family farm in Stratham, run by a mother-daughter team. The farm grows vegetables, sweet corn, strawberries and cut flowers, and its farm stand also carries local meat, dairy, cheese and baked goods. In early October it is a natural stop for fall produce. Check the farm's website for the current season's schedule.
• Stratham Circle Nursery is a family-owned nursery founded in 1991. It describes itself as one of the largest retail and wholesale sources of large trees and shrubs in New Hampshire, on a ten-acre site near the Stratham traffic circle. Fall is a good planting season in New England, so this is a useful stop if you are working on a garden at home. The nursery welcomes leashed dogs.

Where to eat in Stratham

Stratham has a small but useful set of places to eat, easy to combine with a stop at the farm stands or a walk at the park.

• Ginger Fox is a takeaway micro-bakery in Stratham that describes itself as a modern patisserie. The menu covers pastries and baked goods, breakfast sandwiches and French-inspired tartines, lunch and coffee, and it leans on seasonal ingredients. It is a strong choice for a morning coffee before a walk at Stratham Hill Park.
• Tailgate Tavern is a casual American restaurant built around the spirit of tailgating: draft beer, elevated comfort food, and games on the screens. It also does takeout and catering. It suits a family dinner or a relaxed evening watching a game.

Shopping: a vintage barn

Yellow Barn Mercantile on Squamscott Road sells antique, mid-century modern, vintage and almost-new furniture and home goods, much of it updated or restored. The shop keeps limited regular hours and also opens by appointment, so check its website before you make a special trip.

Planning tips

• Combine Stratham with Exeter. Downtown Exeter is next door, and the two towns pair well for a day: a hike and a farm stand in Stratham, then museums and dinner in Exeter.
• Use the hill for the view. Stratham Hill is modest, but it is the high point of a flat landscape. A clear fall day is the best time to go.
• Mind the tides. If you plan to paddle the Squamscott, check the tide tables and go with someone who knows tidal water. Currents and mud flats change quickly.
• Shop the season. Farm stands change their offerings through the year. In October, look for fall vegetables and local products, and check each farm's website for its current hours.
• Respect private land. Many of Stratham's historic houses and farms are private. Enjoy them from the road.

Getting to Stratham

Stratham is in the middle of the Seacoast road network. Route 101 runs east to the coast at Hampton and west toward Manchester. Route 108 runs north toward Newfields and Newmarket and south to Exeter. Route 33 runs along Portsmouth Avenue toward Portsmouth. That location makes Stratham a convenient base for exploring Exeter, Portsmouth, the Hamptons and Great Bay in a single trip.

FAQ

What is Stratham, NH known for?

Stratham is known for Stratham Hill Park and its trails, its farming history, its location on the Squamscott River and Great Bay, and as home to the only U.S. Lindt & Sprungli factory and the headquarters of Timberland.

How many people live in Stratham, NH?

The 2020 census counted 7,669 residents.

What is the best outdoor activity in Stratham?

Walking or mountain biking the combined trail system at Stratham Hill Park and the Gordon Barker Town Forest.

When was Stratham founded?

Stratham was settled in 1631 and incorporated in 1716.

Is Stratham on the ocean?

No. Stratham is on the tidal Squamscott River and drains to Great Bay, an estuary connected to the ocean by the Piscataqua River. The beaches at Hampton and North Hampton are a short drive east.

Sources

• Stratham, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (population, history, geography, Stratham Hill Park, routes): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratham,_New_Hampshire
• Squamscott River, Wikipedia (etymology and course): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squamscott_River
• Barker's Farm official website: https://www.barkersfarm.com/
• Stratham Circle Nursery official website: https://www.strathamcirclenursery.com/
• Ginger Fox official website: https://www.gingerfoxbakery.com
• Tailgate Tavern official website: https://tailgatetavernnh.com/
• Yellow Barn Mercantile official website: https://yellowbarnmercantile.com/
• Hero image: Wikimedia Commons, File:Trolley at Stratham Hill Park, Stratham, NH.jpg