Parking & Directions

The main entrance to Pawtuckaway State Park is at 128 Mountain Rd., Nottingham, NH 03290, where you'll find the beach, campground, boat rentals and park office. The fire tower and boulder field are on the back side of the park; the tower's trailhead lot is reached from Route 107 and Reservation Road. Parking is limited on nice weekends and holidays, and on those mornings the beach often fills and closes to new arrivals. A day pass booked online up to 30 days ahead holds a space.

Getting to the Main Entrance

Set your GPS for 128 Mountain Rd., Nottingham, NH 03290. NH State Parks links that address to Google Maps from its park page. You pay the day-use fee at the tollbooth, then follow the park road to the beach lot, the campground or the park office.

The park's main access road crosses Burnham's Marsh. In April 2025 high water from a beaver dam reached the level of that road, which is why NHDES drew the marsh down and removed the old dike at its outlet.

Getting to the Fire Tower and Boulder Field

The hiking side of the park has its own approach. NH Forests and Lands, which runs the fire tower, says: take Route 107 from either Deerfield or Raymond to Reservation Road, and follow the signs on Reservation Road to a small parking lot at the base of South Mountain. Trailhead #6 leaves from that lot, about 0.4 mile from the tower. NH State Parks' video tour notes the South Mountain trailhead is right down the road from the boulder field.

NH State Parks lists the hiking reservation location as 7 Pawtuckaway Road in Nottingham. Roads near the park include private ones; the park map asks hikers to respect the owners of private roads and land next to the park and its access trails.

When the Lots Fill

NH State Parks says parking is limited, especially on nice weekends and holidays, and that the beach often reaches capacity in the morning. Once it is full, no more visitors are let in to the beach. Three ways to avoid being turned away:

• Book a beach pass or hiking pass online, up to 30 days ahead. Tickets stay on sale until 5 pm.
• Arrive early on summer weekends and holidays. Walk-in spaces are first come, first served.
• Have a backup. NH State Parks suggests Kingston State Park or Bear Brook State Park, each about half an hour away.

Season pass and State Parks license plate holders, and New Hampshire seniors, get a limited number of first-come spaces held for them, but NH State Parks says those aren't guaranteed and encourages a reservation anyway.

Parking for Campers

Standard campsites allow two cars. Extra vehicles go to the visitor center or beach parking lots, per the campground map. Day guests of campers pay the day-use fee at the tollbooth. More in the campground guide.

Off-Season Parking

The park stays open for recreation all year unless a closure is posted, but off-season the gates may be closed. NH State Parks' hiking map says the parking lot at park headquarters is kept open year round. Off-season the park is usually unstaffed and restrooms are closed. See hours.

Accessibility

The campground map's legend marks accessible facilities. For specific accessibility questions, NH State Parks asks visitors to call the park office directly at (603) 895-3031.