Quick answer: Pickleball in Exeter NH centers on the town’s 10 outdoor courts at Recreation Park, 4 Hampton Road. Exeter Parks & Recreation runs organized open play there from early May through October 30, sorted by skill level, for a one-time season fee of $25 for residents or $35 for non-residents. In winter, play moves indoors to the Exeter Area YMCA on Linden Street or to the club courts in Newmarket.
The 30-second version
- One big public site. Recreation Park’s Lower Courts are lined for 10 pickleball courts.
- Open play is cheap, but it isn’t free. A season wristband costs $25 resident / $35 non-resident for mornings or evenings, or $35 / $45 for both.
- A paddle rack runs the courts. Courts are split by level, and your paddle in the rack holds your place in line.
- The town teaches the game. Beginner clinics are $40 resident / $50 non-resident and include open play for the rest of the year.
- Season ends October 30. After that, it’s the YMCA or a private club until spring.
I’m Jason Regan, and I cover New England pickleball town by town from my home base in Leominster. Exeter is one of the better-organized setups I’ve looked at on the Seacoast. The town runs it like a real program, with levels, a paddle rack, a teaching pro and adaptive play. Here’s where to play, what it costs and what changes when the weather turns. Everything below comes from the Town of Exeter’s own program pages, checked October 2026.
Where can you play pickleball in Exeter NH?
The main spot for pickleball in Exeter is Recreation Park, Lower Courts, 4 Hampton Road. The town says the Lower Courts “are lined with 10 Pickleball courts,” and its booking system lists them as multi-purpose tennis and pickleball courts. Our listing: Exeter Recreation Park.
Parks & Recreation is based at the Exeter Community Center, 10 Hampton Road, 603-773-6151. That’s where you register and pick up your wristband.
Indoors, the Exeter Area YMCA at 56 Linden Street is the in-town option (our listing). More on that below.
Coming from somewhere else on the Seacoast? See our guide to pickleball in Portsmouth. For the Nashua side of southern New Hampshire, start here. The New Hampshire hub covers the whole state.
How does open play work in Exeter?
Open play is the heart of it. The 2026 season runs May 4 to October 30 for adults 18 and up:
- Mornings: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 7 to 11 a.m.
- Evenings: Tuesday and Thursday, 5 p.m. to dusk.
- Courts by level. Courts are marked Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced or Open, so you can find a game that fits.
- A paddle rack decides who’s up next. If you’re new to that system, our pickleball etiquette guide explains how rotation works.
- Wear the wristband. Registered players get a wristband. You wear it or clip it to your bag or water bottle so the volunteers can see you’ve paid.
One thing the directories get wrong. Most court-finder sites list Recreation Park as “free to play.” That isn’t the whole story. The town’s organized open play needs paid registration. The town doesn’t publish a rule for the courts outside those program hours. If you want to play at 1 p.m. on a Saturday, call Parks & Rec before you go.
What does pickleball in Exeter cost?
These are the town’s published 2026 fees:
| Program | Resident | Non-resident |
|---|---|---|
| Open play season: mornings or evenings | $25 | $35 |
| Open play season: combo (both) | $35 | $45 |
| Late-season rate from Aug. 1 (one session type / combo) | $15 / $20 | $25 / $35 |
| Intro to Pickleball clinic (2 weeks) | $40 | $50 |
| Private lesson, 1 hour (1 / 2 / 3 to 4 players) | $75 / $120 / $200 | |
| Pickleball scramble (per player) | $30 | |
The math is the selling point. May 4 to October 30 is 26 weeks, or 78 scheduled morning sessions. At $25 that works out to about 32 cents a session if you went to all of them. Even if weather wiped out half, it’s still under a dollar. Paying by credit card adds a 3% processing fee.
Can you take pickleball lessons in Exeter?
Yes, and the town runs them. The instructor is Peter Litichevsky, a retired physical education teacher and 4.5-rated player.
- Intro to Pickleball (18+). Two Monday mornings, 9 to 10 a.m., with 4 to 8 students. Five sessions ran from June to August in 2026. You learn to hit the ball, keep a rally, keep score and play by the rules. The clinic also signs you up for open play for the rest of the year, so you aren’t stuck after week two.
- Private and small-group lessons. One-hour Friday-morning slots at 9 or 10 a.m., for one player up to a group of four. Good for working on your dink, serve or kitchen play.
Want more options on the Seacoast? Our coaching page lists New England instructors by area.
Does Exeter run pickleball tournaments?
It runs scrambles, which are friendly round-robins. The 2026 dates were August 30, September 27 and October 18, all Sundays from 2 to 5 p.m.
- Format. Players go into packs of 8 and play 7 games, partnering with every player in the pack once. Games go to 11, win by 2, with a 15-minute cap.
- Scoring. You’re scored on your own points. The top 3 cumulative scores win prizes.
- Sanctioned. USA Pickleball sanctions the events. Every player needs an active paid membership. The town says the cheapest tier that qualifies is Challenger, at $12 a year.
- Where the money goes. The town says scramble proceeds “will be saved for court improvements.”
The deadline to get a shirt for October 18 was October 2. Call the office to see if spots are left. For bigger events, see our New Hampshire tournament calendar.
Is there adaptive pickleball in Exeter?
Yes, and it’s one of the best things about pickleball in Exeter. With equipment from Northeast Passage, the town brings 4 sport wheelchairs, a ball launcher and adaptive paddle grips. It uses high-visibility pink balls.
- Adaptive Pickleball: Tuesdays, 6 to 8 p.m., June 2 to August 25 in 2026. Free, registration required, 2 to 12 players per date.
- Special Olympics Pickleball: Wednesdays, 10 to 11 a.m., June 3 to August 26 in 2026, also free. Jim Tufts leads it. He taught PE at Exeter High School for 42 years. The town says the program has run weekly at the YMCA and Rec Department since 2022.
Where can you play pickleball in Exeter in winter?
Open play ends October 30. After that, you have two main options:
- Exeter Area YMCA, 56 Linden Street. Our directory lists 4 indoor courts. Court-finder sites describe pickleball there as members-only. The Y’s own pickleball web page has been taken down, though, so call before you count on a schedule.
- Seacoast Fitness and Pickleball, 191 Exeter Road, Newmarket. It lists 5 indoor pickleball courts and 2 outdoor, with open play 7 days a week. It’s a membership club.
Our indoor pickleball in New Hampshire guide has more year-round options. If you want to keep playing outside into November, read how to play pickleball in cold weather first.
Frequently asked questions
How many pickleball courts are in Exeter NH?
The town’s main site is Recreation Park’s Lower Courts at 4 Hampton Road. The town says they are lined for 10 pickleball courts. Indoors, the Exeter Area YMCA on Linden Street has courts for members.
Is pickleball free in Exeter NH?
Organized open play is not free. You register for the season and wear a wristband. In 2026 it cost 25 dollars for residents or 35 dollars for non-residents for mornings or evenings, or 35 and 45 dollars for both. The town doesn’t publish rules for play outside program hours, so call Parks and Rec at 603-773-6151.
When is open play pickleball in Exeter?
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7 to 11 a.m., and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 p.m. to dusk. The 2026 season ran May 4 to October 30. Courts are split by skill level, and a paddle rack sets who plays next.
Can non-residents play pickleball in Exeter?
Yes. Non-residents can register for open play, clinics and scrambles. They pay a little more, for example 35 dollars instead of 25 for a season of morning or evening open play.
Where can I play indoor pickleball near Exeter NH in winter?
The Exeter Area YMCA at 56 Linden Street offers indoor play for members. Call the Y for the current schedule. Seacoast Fitness and Pickleball at 191 Exeter Road in Newmarket has 5 indoor courts and open play 7 days a week for members.
Sources: Town of Exeter Parks & Recreation, Adult / Senior Pickleball, 2026 Open Play (and its fee sheet), Intro clinics, Private lessons, 2026 Scrambles, Adaptive Pickleball and Special Olympics Pickleball; Seacoast Fitness and Pickleball, club site. Verified October 2026. Schedules and fees change, so confirm before you go.