State Parks Near Dover, New Hampshire
55 state park units lie within 50 miles of Dover, including 28 parks across the line in Maine and Massachusetts. The closest is Vaughan Woods Memorial State Park, about 4 mi east of town. 20 parks are within 25 miles, close enough for an evening visit.
- Closest park
- Vaughan Woods Memorial State Park4 mi east
- Within 25 miles
- 20of 55 within 50 mi
- With camping
- 72 with cabins
- Dog-friendly
- 14pets allowed
State parks near Dover, nearest first
Straight-line distance from central Dover; driving distance is usually longer.
Vaughan Woods Memorial State Park
Vaughan Woods Memorial State Park is a park in York County, about 4 miles east of Dover.
Hours, fees and rules for Vaughan Woods Memorial State Park →Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion
Things to do include winter sports, historic sites, canoeing and kayaking, fishing, and hiking.
Hours, fees and rules for Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion →Fort McClary State Historic Site
Covering about 27 acres, Fort McClary State Historic Site lies in York County, about 4 miles northeast of Portsmouth.
Hours, fees and rules for Fort McClary State Historic Site →Fort Constitution Historic Site
Things to do include historic sites and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Fort Constitution Historic Site →Fort Stark State Historic Site
Popular activities here are historic sites, canoeing and kayaking, fishing, hiking, and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Fort Stark State Historic Site →Odiorne Point State Park
Visitors come for cross-country skiing, mountain biking, winter sports, canoeing and kayaking, and boating. On the water side, there is a boat ramp.
Hours, fees and rules for Odiorne Point State Park →Wallis Sands State Park
Things to do include swimming, fishing, and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Wallis Sands State Park →Rye Harbor State Park
Visitors come for fishing and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Rye Harbor State Park →Jenness State Beach
Visitors come for swimming, fishing, and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Jenness State Beach →Northwood Meadows State Park
Visitors come for cross-country skiing, mountain biking, horseback riding, winter sports, and canoeing and kayaking.
Hours, fees and rules for Northwood Meadows State Park →Pawtuckaway State Park
The park supports snowmobiling, mountain biking, horseback riding, winter sports, and canoeing and kayaking. Water access includes a boat ramp and boat or kayak rentals. For overnight stays there are campsites (tent sites and showers).
Hours, fees and rules for Pawtuckaway State Park →North Hampton State Park
Visitors come for swimming and fishing.
Hours, fees and rules for North Hampton State Park →Storer Garrison State Historic Site
Storer Garrison State Historic Site is a historic site in York County, about 12 miles southeast of Sanford.
Hours, fees and rules for Storer Garrison State Historic Site →North Beach
Things to do include swimming, fishing, and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for North Beach →Hampton Beach State Park
Visitors come for horseback riding, swimming, and fishing.
Hours, fees and rules for Hampton Beach State Park →White Island Historical Site
Visitors come for historic sites.
Hours, fees and rules for White Island Historical Site →Kingston State Park
Visitors come for canoeing and kayaking, swimming, boating, fishing, and hiking. On the water side, there is a boat ramp and boat or kayak rentals.
Hours, fees and rules for Kingston State Park →Bear Brook State Park
Popular activities here are snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, mountain biking, and winter sports. Facilities for water recreation include a boat ramp and boat or kayak rentals.
Hours, fees and rules for Bear Brook State Park →Salisbury Beach State Reservation
Facilities for water recreation include a boat ramp. Overnight options include 2 camping areas, with RV sites and tent sites.
Hours, fees and rules for Salisbury Beach State Reservation →Maudslay State Park
Facilities for water recreation include a boat ramp.
Hours, fees and rules for Maudslay State Park →Plum Island State Reservation
Plum Island State Reservation is a 64-acre park unit in Essex County, about 4 miles east of Newburyport.
Hours, fees and rules for Plum Island State Reservation →Taylor Mill Historic Site
The park supports historic sites, canoeing and kayaking, fishing, and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Taylor Mill Historic Site →Robert Frost Farm Historic Site
Visitors come for historic sites, hiking, and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Robert Frost Farm Historic Site →Governor Wentworth Historic Site
Popular activities here are historic sites.
Hours, fees and rules for Governor Wentworth Historic Site →Ferry Beach State Park
Ferry Beach State Park is a 124-acre park in York County, about 3 miles north of Biddeford.
Hours, fees and rules for Ferry Beach State Park →Wentworth State Park
Things to do include canoeing and kayaking, swimming, fishing, and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Wentworth State Park →Sandy Point State Reservation
Sandy Point State Reservation is a 1-acre park unit in Essex County, about 7 miles northwest of Gloucester.
Hours, fees and rules for Sandy Point State Reservation →Georgetown-Rowley State Forest
Georgetown-Rowley State Forest is a forest in Essex County, about 8 miles southeast of Haverhill.
Hours, fees and rules for Georgetown-Rowley State Forest →Baldpate Pond State Park
Baldpate Pond State Park is a park in Essex County, about 7 miles southeast of Haverhill.
Hours, fees and rules for Baldpate Pond State Park →Lawrence Heritage State Park
Covering about 26 acres, Lawrence Heritage State Park lies in Essex County, in Methuen.
Hours, fees and rules for Lawrence Heritage State Park →Ahern State Park
Popular activities here are snowmobiling, mountain biking, winter sports, canoeing and kayaking, and fishing.
Hours, fees and rules for Ahern State Park →Willowdale State Forest
Facilities for water recreation include a boat ramp.
Hours, fees and rules for Willowdale State Forest →Ellacoya State Park
Things to do include swimming, boating, fishing, and picnicking. Facilities for water recreation include a boat ramp. Camping is available: campsites, including RV sites and showers.
Hours, fees and rules for Ellacoya State Park →Halibut Point State Park
Covering about 67 acres, Halibut Point State Park lies in Essex County, about 5 miles northeast of Gloucester.
Hours, fees and rules for Halibut Point State Park →Bradley Palmer State Park
Facilities for water recreation include a swimming pool and a boat ramp.
Hours, fees and rules for Bradley Palmer State Park →Lawrence Riverfront State Park
Lawrence Riverfront State Park is a park in Essex County, in Lawrence.
Hours, fees and rules for Lawrence Riverfront State Park →Scarborough Beach State Park
In Cumberland County, about 6 miles east of Saco, Scarborough Beach State Park covers about 65 acres.
Hours, fees and rules for Scarborough Beach State Park →Boxford State Forest
Boxford State Forest is a forest in Essex County, about 8 miles southeast of Lawrence.
Hours, fees and rules for Boxford State Forest →Clough State Park
Popular activities here are mountain biking, canoeing and kayaking, swimming, boating, and fishing. On the water side, there is a boat ramp.
Hours, fees and rules for Clough State Park →Harold Parker State Forest
Overnight options include campsites, with tent sites.
Hours, fees and rules for Harold Parker State Forest →Endicott Rock Historic Site
The park supports historic sites.
Hours, fees and rules for Endicott Rock Historic Site →Crescent Beach State Park
Covering about 282 acres, Crescent Beach State Park lies in Cumberland County, about 5 miles southeast of South Portland.
Hours, fees and rules for Crescent Beach State Park →Two Lights State Park
In Cumberland County, about 5 miles south of Portland, Two Lights State Park covers about 43 acres.
Hours, fees and rules for Two Lights State Park →Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsborough State Forest
Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsborough State Forest is a forest in Middlesex County, about 3 miles northwest of Lowell.
Hours, fees and rules for Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsborough State Forest →Daniel Webster Birthplace
Popular activities here are historic sites and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Daniel Webster Birthplace →Lowell Heritage State Park
On the water side, there is a boat ramp.
Hours, fees and rules for Lowell Heritage State Park →Silver Lake State Park
The park supports snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, winter sports, canoeing and kayaking, and swimming. On the water side, there is boat or kayak rentals.
Hours, fees and rules for Silver Lake State Park →Warren H. Manning State Forest
Warren H. Manning State Forest is a forest in Middlesex County, about 4 miles south of Lowell.
Hours, fees and rules for Warren H. Manning State Forest →Billerica State Forest
Billerica State Forest is a forest in Middlesex County, about 4 miles south of Lowell.
Hours, fees and rules for Billerica State Forest →Mackworth Island
Mackworth Island is a 87-acre state park in Cumberland County, about 5 miles northwest of Portland.
Hours, fees and rules for Mackworth Island →White Lake State Park
The park supports snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, winter sports, canoeing and kayaking, and swimming. On the water side, there is boat or kayak rentals. For overnight stays there are campsites (tent sites and showers).
Hours, fees and rules for White Lake State Park →Lynn Woods Reservation
Lynn Woods Reservation is a park unit in Essex County, about 2 miles west of Lynn.
Hours, fees and rules for Lynn Woods Reservation →Breakheart Reservation
Breakheart Reservation is a park unit in Essex County, about 3 miles northeast of Melrose.
Hours, fees and rules for Breakheart Reservation →Great Brook Farm State Park
Great Brook Farm State Park is a park in Middlesex County, about 6 miles south of Lowell.
Hours, fees and rules for Great Brook Farm State Park →Rollins State Park
Visitors come for hiking and picnicking.
Hours, fees and rules for Rollins State Park →
Best picks by activity
Camping near Dover
- Pawtuckaway State Park 16 mi southwest · Campground listed
- Hampton Beach State Park 20 mi south · Campground listed
- Bear Brook State Park 24 mi west · Campground listed
- Salisbury Beach State Reservation 25 mi south · Campground listed
- Ellacoya State Park 36 mi northwest · Campground listed
+ 2 more in the list above
Cabins and lodging near Dover
- Pawtuckaway State Park 16 mi southwest · Cabins or other roofed stays
- Bear Brook State Park 24 mi west · Cabins or other roofed stays
Dog-friendly state parks near Dover
- Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion 11 mi southeast · Pets allowed under park rules
- Fort Stark State Historic Site 12 mi southeast · Pets allowed under park rules
- Wallis Sands State Park 14 mi southeast · Pets allowed under park rules
- Rye Harbor State Park 15 mi southeast · Pets allowed under park rules
- Jenness State Beach 15 mi southeast · Pets allowed under park rules
+ 9 more in the list above
Swimming near Dover
- Wallis Sands State Park 14 mi southeast · Beach, pool or swim area
- Jenness State Beach 15 mi southeast · Beach, pool or swim area
- Pawtuckaway State Park 16 mi southwest · Beach, pool or swim area
- North Hampton State Park 17 mi south · Beach, pool or swim area
- North Beach 18 mi south · Beach, pool or swim area
+ 9 more in the list above
Hiking near Dover
- Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion 11 mi southeast · Hiking trails listed
- Fort Stark State Historic Site 12 mi southeast · Hiking trails listed
- Odiorne Point State Park 13 mi southeast · Hiking trails listed
- Northwood Meadows State Park 16 mi west · Hiking trails listed
- Pawtuckaway State Park 16 mi southwest · Hiking trails listed
+ 8 more in the list above
Fishing near Dover
- Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion 11 mi southeast · Fishing listed
- Fort Stark State Historic Site 12 mi southeast · Fishing listed
- Odiorne Point State Park 13 mi southeast · Fishing listed
- Wallis Sands State Park 14 mi southeast · Fishing listed
- Rye Harbor State Park 15 mi southeast · Fishing listed
+ 14 more in the list above
Questions about state parks near Dover
What is the closest state park to Dover?
Vaughan Woods Memorial State Park is the closest, about 4 miles east of Dover in a straight line. Next are Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion and Fort McClary State Historic Site.
How many state parks are near Dover?
55 state park units are within 50 miles, and 20 within 25 miles. That includes parks, recreation areas, historic sites and natural areas run by the state.
Which state parks near Dover have camping?
7 parks list camping, the nearest being Pawtuckaway State Park, Hampton Beach State Park and Bear Brook State Park. Check each park page for site types, hookups and how to reserve.
Are dogs allowed at state parks near Dover?
Yes, at 14 parks, including Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion, Fort Stark State Historic Site and Wallis Sands State Park. Dogs usually must be leashed, and some areas such as beaches or buildings may be off-limits.
Are there free state parks near Dover?
None of the nearby parks list free entry; most charge a daily vehicle fee or accept an annual pass. Fees are on each park page.
State parks near other cities
- Near Rochester, NH9 mi northwest
- Near Sanford, ME18 mi north
- Near Newburyport, MA26 mi south
- Near Haverhill, MA30 mi south
- Near Biddeford, ME30 mi northeast
- Near Manchester, NH32 mi southwest
- Near Concord, NH34 mi west
- Near Lawrence, MA36 mi southwest
Or see all New Hampshire state parks, Maine state parks, Massachusetts state parks or every city we cover.
Built from official park data and updated as parks change; this list was last rebuilt Oct 30, 2026. Features shown are those the official source lists. Filter these parks on the map.