Why hire a car in Portsmouth?
Situated near the mouth of the Piscataqua river, Portsmouth in New Hampshire is a relatively undiscovered town. Fish shacks are dotted along the coast and the water is gently busy with the back and forth of fishing boats bringing in their haul of lobsters.
Just on the outskirts of Portsmouth is Great Bay, a protected estuary with wetlands, salt marshes and mudflats. And when you are ready to move on hire a rental car in Portsmouth and take advantage of the great road links by heading south to Boston and beyond.
How to get to and around Portsmouth?
Fly into Boston Airport, which is 55 miles south of Portsmouth on the Interstate 95. The drive of one hour and 20 minutes takes you north past Salem and Georgetown, following the Atlantic coast.
What brands are available?
Hertz car rental in Portsmouth has a collection point in Lafayette Road, otherwise pick up your keys at the airport. , Thrifty and National all have counters at Boston Airport.
Must-sees within an easy drive of Portsmouth
Portsmouth’s heart is on the water. The coastline winds and spikes, leaving miles of small coves and tiny islands perfect for exploring. The Naval Shipyard is just across the river and there are harbour cruises that take visitors to the nearby sights. Five miles south in Rye is the perfect spot for whale watching – just one of the reasons to get a hire car in Portsmouth. There is a small beach in town, but if you are in search of a more traditional (some might say kitsch) seaside resort then head to Hampton. Hampton beach is 15 miles from Portsmouth, taking about 20 minutes by car, and this sandy beach is long and wide and often busy. The lively strip behind the beach boasts a casino and music hall, amusement arcades and ice cream parlours.
A 12-mile drive north of Portsmouth is the family-friendly city of Dover. If you are travelling with kids pay a visit to the Children’s Museum for interactive exhibits, dinosaurs and a submarine. Dover is the oldest settlement in New Hampshire and a walking tour of the city takes in some of the area’s historic buildings.
Heading inland, the city of Manchester is 45 miles from Portsmouth, a drive of 50 minutes. This is a large working city as offers a change of pace from Portsmouth. The city’s Currier Museum has an impressive collection of works, including paintings by Picasso, Monet, O’Keeffe and during the summer months there is a shuttle bus that takes visitors from the museum for a tour of the nearby Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Zimmerman House.
Tips and tricks for driving in Portsmouth
Portsmouth has great road links. Interstate 95 can be busy at times but the roads are wide and well signposted. I-95 is the main highway on the east coast.
Ready to plan your Portsmouth city break?
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