About
The Portsmouth Outdoor Pool, also known as Peirce Island Pool, is a seasonal public swimming facility located at 99 Peirce Island Road in Portsmouth, NH. It features a large main pool, a separate kiddie pool, and a bathhouse, offering public swimming, lap swimming, and swim lessons in a scenic waterfront setting on Peirce Island.
Specific information regarding the exact temperature of the pool(s) at the Portsmouth Outdoor Pool is not publicly available. As an outdoor facility, pool temperatures would typically fluctuate with ambient weather conditions and may be unheated or minimally heated to a comfortable level for swimmers during its operating season.
What are people saying (AI review summary)? This large, impressive outdoor pool along the Piscataqua River is highly praised for being a great value, especially for residents, and offers diverse areas for families, lap swimmers, and relaxation. Visitors appreciate the free parking and the overall enjoyable experience it provides on a hot summer day. However, several significant drawbacks were noted, including 'terrible' hours, a lack of shade, and 'obscure rules' enforced by management, which some found bureaucratic. The bathrooms and locker rooms are consistently described as poorly maintained and 'sketchy,' with a notable privacy concern regarding a plywood-covered opening between the men's and women's facilities. Lifeguard breaks are disruptive, requiring everyone to exit the pool at set times instead of staggered shifts. The pool can become incredibly crowded on nice days, necessitating vigilance over personal belongings, and lap lanes have unusual varying lengths due to the pool's curved shape. Despite these issues, the overwhelming sentiment is that the pool itself is a 'gem' and worth a visit for its sheer size and fun factor, with many hoping it remains open for a long time.
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Reviews
Listing Reviews
August 3rd, 2025Celina Adams
Best $5 you can spend on a hot summer day. The pool, located along the Piscataqua River, is huge. Kiddos are mostly at the end closest to the bath house, making the riverside end a bastion of adult lollygagging, lane swimming, and general relaxation etc. I wish they’d keep it open through September!
June 30th, 2025Brandon Staples
Terrible hours and not enough shady spots to escape direct sunlight or take a break between dips. They yell at you if you try to move any of the furniture. Too many obscure rules. Bunch of bureaucrats running what’s supposed to be a fun community feature. Otherwise, pool itself is excellent. Management of it, solid F
July 18th, 2024Benjamin Templar
The pool at this location is impressively large, making it a great spot for families and individuals looking to cool off during the summer. For non-residents, the entrance fee is quite reasonable at $5 for adults and $3 for children. However, there are a few concerns that potential visitors should be aware of. First and foremost, the bathrooms leave much to be desired. They are poorly maintained, and there's an unsettling feature—a large wall opening between the men's and women's bathrooms that is only covered by a piece of plywood. This can be particularly alarming for parents with young daughters, like myself, as it raises concerns about privacy and safety. The pool attracts a diverse group of attendees, which is nice to see. However, the lifeguard break schedule is quite disruptive. They clear everyone out of the pool at 2:45 PM and again at 4:00 PM, which seems unnecessary. It would be much more efficient if the lifeguards could take staggered breaks instead, allowing continuous use of the pool. Despite these drawbacks, I still recommend visiting this pool. The pool itself is quite pleasant and vast, almost like a miniature beach city. It's incredibly crowded on every nice summer day, so be prepared for that. Additionally, keep a close eye on your belongings, as the crowds can make it easy for things to go missing. In summary, while there are a few areas that need improvement, the overall experience is positive due to the sheer size and enjoyment factor of the pool. It's worth a visit, especially if you're looking for a spacious place to swim and have fun. Pro Tip: Free Parking!!
August 1st, 2022Rusty Morrison
This is a wonderful outdoor pool, with something for everyone--family swim, kid's area, lap swimming. The lap lanes are a little odd though, due to the curved shape of the pool, each lane has a different length. There is lots of room around the edges of the pool for chairs, and many groups bring their own chairs & picnic items, and make a day of it. Parking can be tight, at busy time you may have to park on the grass across the road from the pool. The bathrooms / locker rooms are a bit sketchy though.
July 7th, 2023Khadijah Cisse
We definitely hope this pool stays open for a really long time because it's a gem here in portsmouth. For residents the cost is so dirt cheap and free for kids. But the only thing to be aware of is that the lifeguards do require break time during which everyone must get out of the pool for 15 minutes
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Opening Hours
| Sunday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed |
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