Hampton Falls Town Guide: Where to Eat, Stay and Explore

Hampton Falls is easy to miss. Most travelers heading to Hampton Beach or Portsmouth pass straight through it, and the town is happy to stay quiet. That is exactly why it is worth a stop. It is a small, rural Seacoast town with one of the state's best-known orchards, a long colonial history and a handful of places to eat, stay and shop that feel local rather than touristy. This guide covers the things to do in Hampton Falls NH, plus where to stay and how to fit the town into a wider Seacoast trip.

Hampton Falls at a glance

Hampton Falls is a town in Rockingham County. The 2020 census counted 2,403 residents, so it is small by any measure. It sits next to the larger beach town of Hampton.

The town's story is older than the state itself. European settlement began in 1638, when the area was part of Hampton. In 1709 it was officially established as the Third Parish of Hampton, which originally included the land that is now Seabrook and Kensington as well. The town received its own grant in 1726 under the name "Hampton falls," written with a lowercase f until around the time of the Revolution. Kensington split off as a separate town in 1737, and Seabrook followed after a new parish formed in 1768.

That history matters for visitors because it explains the landscape. Hampton Falls never grew into a city. It kept its farms, its open fields and its village scale, and much of what you will enjoy here comes from that.

A short history walk

If you like your sightseeing with a story, a few chapters of local history are worth knowing before you visit.

• Meshech Weare. One of Hampton Falls' best-known residents, Weare was among those who backed a 1739 proposal for the town to join Massachusetts. Today the Weare Monument stands in town, and records suggest a building that became a church may have stood near its site as early as 1665.
• The throat distemper. In 1735 and 1736, an epidemic now believed to be a severe form of diphtheria killed 214 people in Hampton Falls, 96 of them under the age of ten. It is a sobering reminder of how fragile colonial life was.
• An early manufacturing town. Around 1770, Hampton Falls was considered one of the leading manufacturing towns in New Hampshire.

A slow drive through town, with a stop near the town common, is the simplest way to take this in. Respect private property, as many historic homes are lived in.

Applecrest Farm Orchards

For most visitors, Hampton Falls means Applecrest Farm Orchards. The farm is on Exeter Road (Route 88) and describes itself as the largest apple orchard in New Hampshire. Growing fruits and vegetables is, in the farm's words, a fourth-generation way of life for the family that runs it.

What you will find:

• Pick your own. Applecrest offers pick-your-own fruit and publishes a season guide. Early summer is not apple season, so check the guide to see what is ripe when you visit.
• Farm market. The market carries meats, cheeses, dairy, pantry staples, local produce and the farm's own apples.
• Bakery. Pies, breads, crisps, biscuits, cookies and bars are scratch-made and baked fresh daily, and the market is known for its cider donuts.
• Creamery. The Creamery at Applecrest is the farm's ice cream stand, a seasonal favorite and an easy reward after a hot afternoon in the fields.
• Seasonal festivals. The farm runs harvest festival weekends in the fall.

Plan for at least an hour, more if you are picking. Bring a cooler if you are buying perishables and still have a beach stop ahead.

Where to eat

Hampton Falls is not a restaurant town, and that is part of its charm. Many visitors eat in Hampton, Exeter or Portsmouth and use Hampton Falls for farm food and picnic supplies. A few ideas:

• Farm-to-picnic. Build a picnic from the Applecrest market and bakery, then add ice cream from the Creamery.
• Catering for a group. If you are hosting a gathering at a rental or campsite, B Best Bites Catering makes charcuterie boards and boxes, plus dips, sandwiches and skewers for parties. It is run by a husband-and-wife team who turned their love of cooking and hosting into a business. This is an order-ahead service, not a sit-down restaurant.

Where to stay

Hampton Falls is small, but it has two very different ways to stay.

Hampton Falls Inn

The Hampton Falls Inn is on Lafayette Road and is listed as lodging with the Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce. We could not confirm a working website, so call the inn directly for current rooms and rates. Staying here puts you close to both the beach and the farm country inland.

Wakeda Campground

Wakeda Campground is on Exeter Road. The campground offers several site types, a calendar of activities and special events, and a seasonal camping program. It publishes dog policies, so check them if you are traveling with a pet. For families who want a Seacoast trip without beach-town prices or crowds, a campground a short drive inland is a smart base.

Garden and farm supplies

Dodge's Agway, listed with us as Dodge's Farm & Garden, is a family-owned feed and garden store in Hampton Falls. It carries lawn and garden supplies, live plants, pet food, poultry and livestock feed, wild bird supplies and outdoor living items. It is not a typical tourist stop, but if you are camping, renting a house for the season or simply love a good garden center, it is a useful place to know about.

How to fit Hampton Falls into a Seacoast trip

Because the town is small, it pairs well with its neighbors. A few combinations that work:

Beach and orchard day

Spend the morning at the farm, before the heat, then head to the beach for the afternoon. You will beat the crowds at both ends.

History and farm day

Combine a drive through Hampton Falls with a visit to nearby Exeter, then end at Applecrest for a late-afternoon treat.

A camping weekend

Base yourself at Wakeda Campground. Spend one day on the coast, one on farms and back roads, and pick up supplies locally.

Tips for visiting

• Go early in summer. Farm fields are hottest in the afternoon, and weekends get busy.
• Check seasons. Pick-your-own crops change through the year. The farm's season guide is the best source.
• Bring cash and a card. Small businesses differ in what they accept.
• Drive carefully. Roads through town are rural, and you will share them with farm traffic, cyclists and families.
• Be considerate. Hampton Falls is a residential town first. Keep noise down and park only in designated areas.

When to visit

Hampton Falls is pleasant from late spring through fall. In June the countryside is green and long days give you time for both the coast and the farms. Fall brings the apple harvest and festival weekends at Applecrest, and that is when the town is at its busiest. Winter is quiet, and some businesses are seasonal, so check ahead.

FAQ

What is Hampton Falls, NH known for?

Applecrest Farm Orchards, which calls itself the largest apple orchard in New Hampshire, and a long colonial history that dates to European settlement in 1638.

How big is Hampton Falls?

Small. The 2020 census counted 2,403 residents.

Is there lodging in Hampton Falls?

Yes. The Hampton Falls Inn and Wakeda Campground are both in town, and many more options are in nearby Hampton.

What is there to do in Hampton Falls in summer?

Visit Applecrest's farm market, bakery and creamery, check what is ready for pick your own, take a history drive through town, and pair it all with a beach afternoon.

Sources

• Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (2020 census, settlement 1638, Third Parish 1709, 1726 grant, Kensington 1737, Seabrook 1768, throat distemper, Meshech Weare, manufacturing around 1770): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampton_Falls,_New_Hampshire
• Applecrest Farm Orchards official site (largest apple orchard in NH, fourth generation, Route 88 address, farm market, bakery, creamery, pick your own, harvest festival): https://www.applecrest.com/
• B Best Bites official site (charcuterie boards and boxes, catering, husband-and-wife business): https://www.bbestbites.com/
• Dodge's Agway official site (family-owned feed store, departments): https://www.dodgesagway.com/
• Wakeda Campground official site (site types, activities, seasonals, dog policies): https://www.wakedacampground.com/
• Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce listing, Hampton Falls Inn: https://business.hamptonchamber.com/list/member/hampton-falls-inn-3131