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Major city · United States

ExeterExeter, New Hampshire

Give Exeter one night, or a half-day stop off the Amtrak Downeaster: the walkable centre, two small museums and a prep school fill an afternoon.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Exeter is a small New Hampshire town on the Exeter River, about an hour by train from Boston and 20 minutes from Portsmouth. It is a real town rather than a resort: a compact downtown of brick storefronts, a 1781 boarding school, a Revolutionary-era museum and a river walk. Most travellers see it as a half-day or one-night stop on the Seacoast, not a destination in itself.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
May–Oct; foliage peaks early-to-mid October
avoid Jan–Feb (cold, ice), mud season in March
Airports
BOS · MHT
Nights
1
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Exeter911 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Exeter, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$3–5
  • Sit-down mealDinner main, mid-range restaurant$18–32
  • Street or quick mealDeli sandwich or bowl$10–16
  • BeerDraft beer$7–9
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum entrycheck$8–12
  • Budget bedHostel or shared bed (nearest are in Portsmouth), a night, per personUS$55
  • Mid-range bedChain hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$170
  • High-end bedChain hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$280

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$80 · Mid US$140 · High US$260

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Phillips Exeter AcademyAmerican Independence MuseumDowntown Water Street shopsAmtrak Downeaster stop
Airports
BOS Boston Logan International (Amtrak Downeaster from Boston North Station, about 1 h 10 min; driving is about 1 h) · MHT Manchester-Boston Regional (About 40 min by car via NH-101)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    1°C (34°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    3°C (37°F)

  3. Mar

    Avoid

    8°C (46°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    14°C (57°F)

  5. May

    Best

    20°C (68°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    25°C (77°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    28°C (82°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    27°C (81°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    23°C (73°F)

  10. Oct

    Best*

    16°C (61°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    10°C (50°F)

  12. Dec

    not flagged

    3°C (37°F)

Best: May–Oct. Avoid: Jan–Mar. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (28°C (82°F)), coolest Jan (−10°C (14°F) low), wettest May (12 rain days), driest Feb (9). Averages, not a forecast.

* only part of the month (early, mid or late).

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Exeter: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

1°C (34°F)

−10°C (14°F)

10 rd

Feb

3°C (37°F)

−9°C (16°F)

9 rd

Mar

8°C (46°F)

−4°C (25°F)

10 rd

Apr

14°C (57°F)

2°C (36°F)

11 rd

May

20°C (68°F)

8°C (46°F)

12 rd

Jun

25°C (77°F)

13°C (55°F)

11 rd

Jul

28°C (82°F)

16°C (61°F)

10 rd

Aug

27°C (81°F)

15°C (59°F)

9 rd

Sep

23°C (73°F)

11°C (52°F)

9 rd

Oct

16°C (61°F)

5°C (41°F)

10 rd

Nov

10°C (50°F)

0°C (32°F)

10 rd

Dec

3°C (37°F)

−7°C (19°F)

11 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The centre is walkable in 15 minutes end to end. There is no useful local bus for visitors; a car helps for Route 108, the malls and day trips. Amtrak's Downeaster stops at Exeter station, 60 Lincoln Street, with five or six trains a day each way between Boston and Brunswick, Maine.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Portsmouth, New Hampshirego

Door to door: About 30 min by car

Amtrak Downeaster to Dover then bus, or 20 min by car on NH-101/US-1

Market Square, Strawbery Banke and the waterfront make a full day.

Hampton, New Hampshire

go

Door to door: About 25 min

Car on NH-101 east, about 20 min

Hampton Beach boardwalk and sand; best in summer.

Durham, New Hampshire

go

Door to door: About 20 min

Amtrak Downeaster, one stop north, about 8 min

University town; a short stop, not a day.

Dover, New Hampshirego

Door to door: About 25 min

Amtrak Downeaster, about 15 min

Bigger downtown, more restaurants.

Bostongo

Door to door: About 1 h 10 min

Amtrak Downeaster from Exeter station

Day trip both ways on the same line.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Downtown / Front Street

Walk to the bandstand, Water Street shops and restaurants; one historic inn.

Portsmouth Avenue (NH-101 Exit 11)

Chain hotel with parking; you need a car for the 5-min drive downtown.

Portsmouth or Hampton as a base

More beds and dining; Exeter becomes a day trip by train or car.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$70–110 excl. bed
Mid
$110–180 excl. bed
High
$180+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Chain hotel double room1 × 1 night × US$170US$170
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$140US$280
Amtrak Downeaster, Boston to Exeter, one way2 × US$20 · checkUS$40
Car rental, one day, compact1 × US$70 · checkUS$70
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$59
Trip total≈ US$325 per person per day, bed includedUS$649

2026 estimate in US dollars; prices are shown before New Hampshire meals tax. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–5
Deli sandwich or bowl$10–16
Dinner main, mid-range restaurant$18–32
Draft beer$7–9
Museum entrycheck$8–12
Amtrak Downeaster, Exeter to Bostonabout $20 one way (check)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A low-crime small town; the real risks are winter ice, deer on NH-101 at dusk and unlit river paths after dark.
  • Rush hour on NH-101 and Portsmouth Avenue adds a few minutes of stop-and-go.
  • Winter ice on sidewalks and river paths; boots with grip, not sneakers.
  • Small-town hours: many shops and restaurants close early and some close Monday or Tuesday.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Exeter Police non-emergency
603-772-1212
Poison Control (24 h)
1-800-222-1222

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

ExeterExeter, New Hampshire

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Exeter Police non-emergency603-772-1212
  • Poison Control (24 h)1-800-222-1222

Embassy

No embassies here; your consulate is in Boston. US visitors: your own country's embassy is in Washington, DC.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Amtrak Downeaster, Boston North Station → Exeter: about $20 one way, about 1 h 10 min (check)
  • Taxi or rideshare, Exeter station → downtown: about $8–12, 5 min (check)
  • Car, Exeter → Portsmouth on NH-101: about 20 min, no toll (check)

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Where is the train station? — Where is the station?
  • Do you take cards? — Can I pay by card?
  • Table for two, please — A table for two, please
  • How much is it? — How much is it?
  • Is it walkable from here? — Is it far to walk?

Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Exeter. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Oct; foliage peaks early-to-mid October · avoid Jan–Feb (cold, ice), mud season in March · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for BOS and MHT: last Downeaster departures, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Two walking clusters with rescue anchors: downtown Front and Water streets, and the Phillips Exeter campus.
  3. Place pages with verified hours for the American Independence Museum and the Class of 1942 library.
  4. Winter and foliage fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources