Portsmouth is a town built on tight corners and colonial history. If you've ever tried to navigate the West End near the downtown fringe, you know exactly what I mean. Among the brick facades and trendy eateries, the CVS Islington St Portsmouth location sits as a weirdly essential hub for basically everyone living in the 03801 zip code. It's not just a place to grab a lukewarm Gatorade. Honestly, it’s the primary healthcare checkpoint for a massive chunk of the local population.
But here is the thing.
Navigating this specific pharmacy isn't always as straightforward as the GPS makes it look. Whether you are a local regular or just passing through the New Hampshire Seacoast, there are nuances to this spot—located specifically at 674 Islington Street—that can either make your life very easy or incredibly frustrating.
Why the CVS Islington St Portsmouth Location is a Logistics Nightmare (and How to Fix It)
Parking is a disaster. There. I said it.
If you are coming from the downtown side of Portsmouth, you’re dealing with a weird intersection where Islington meets Cass and Middle. The lot at this CVS is tight. Like, "don't bring your oversized dually truck here" tight. Most people don't realize that during the afternoon rush—roughly 4:15 PM to 6:00 PM—trying to turn left out of that parking lot back toward the heart of the West End is a fool's errand. You’ll sit there for ten minutes while locals in Subarus stare you down.
Pro tip? If you're heading back toward the salt piles or the bridge, turn right and loop through the side streets. It saves your blood pressure.
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Beyond the asphalt, the store itself serves as a "HealthHUB." If you haven't kept up with the corporate rebranding of CVS over the last few years, a HealthHUB is basically a pharmacy on steroids. They’ve got more clinical services than your standard corner store. We are talking about the MinuteClinic, which, let’s be real, is a godsend when you wake up with a sinus infection on a Sunday morning and your primary care physician is definitely not answering their phone.
The MinuteClinic at 674 Islington St usually has a Nurse Practitioner on staff. They handle the basics: strep tests, vaccinations, and those annoying DOT physicals that people always forget they need until the last second.
The Pharmacy Queue: A Lesson in Seacoast Patience
Let’s talk about the pharmacy counter. It’s the heart of the beast.
The CVS Islington St Portsmouth pharmacy team is notoriously busy. You have to remember that they aren't just serving the people in the immediate neighborhood. They are catching the overflow from the smaller local pharmacies and the folks coming in from Greenland or Rye because this location has extended hours compared to some of the independent shops.
Wait times fluctuate wildly. I've walked in at 10:00 AM on a Tuesday and been out in four minutes. I've also walked in at 5:30 PM on a Friday and seen a line that looked like people were waiting for playoff tickets.
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How to actually get your meds without losing your mind:
- The App is your best friend. Seriously. Don't call them. The phone lines at this location are often slammed, and you'll be stuck listening to that generic hold music for twenty minutes. Use the CVS app to check if your prescription is "Ready for Pickup."
- The "Ready" Text. Wait for the actual text confirmation. Just because your doctor said they "sent it over" doesn't mean it has been entered into the system, screened for insurance conflicts, and filled.
- Check the Pharmacy Hours specifically. This is a common mistake. The retail store hours are often different from the pharmacy hours. Usually, the pharmacy closes for lunch between 1:30 PM and 2:00 PM. If you show up at 1:45 PM, you’re going to be staring at a closed gate while your ice cream melts in your shopping basket.
More Than Just Prescriptions: The West End Life
Living in Portsmouth means paying "Portsmouth prices." This CVS is one of the few places in the West End where you can get household essentials without paying the premium "boutique" markup you find in the downtown shops.
The layout is a bit cramped. It’s an older building compared to the massive, sprawling CVS locations you see in the suburbs of Manchester or Concord. Because of that, the aisles are narrow. If you’re trying to navigate a double stroller through the beauty aisle, good luck.
They do have a surprisingly decent selection of local-adjacent goods. You'll find the standard seasonal items—lots of rock salt and shovels in the winter, and an aggressive amount of sunscreen and flip-flops come June. They also tend to stock a decent amount of "As Seen on TV" gadgets, which are always fun for a quick impulse buy when you’re waiting for a flu shot.
Dealing with Insurance and the New Hampshire Marketplace
A lot of people in the Portsmouth area are self-employed—freelancers, fishermen, artists, and small business owners. This means insurance can be a headache. The CVS Islington St Portsmouth staff is generally pretty savvy with GoodRx and other discount codes.
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If your insurance is acting up, or if you’re one of the many people caught in the "deductible trap," don't be afraid to ask the pharmacist if there is a cheaper generic or a manufacturer coupon. They see hundreds of people a day; they know the workarounds.
Also, keep in mind that this location is a primary spot for COVID-19 and flu boosters. During "sick season," the waiting area near the MinuteClinic can get a little crowded. If you're immunocompromised, you might want to wear a mask even if the mandates are long gone, just because the air in that specific corner of the store gets a bit stagnant.
The Reality of 24-Hour Access (Or Lack Thereof)
One of the biggest misconceptions about this spot is that it's a 24-hour miracle worker. In the past, Portsmouth had more "always open" options, but staffing shortages across New England have hit the pharmacy sector hard.
Currently, you should always double-check the closing times. As of now, the store usually closes around 10:00 PM or 11:00 PM, which is late for Portsmouth, but it isn't "middle of the night" late. If you have an emergency at 3:00 AM, you’re likely looking at a drive to a 24-hour location in a larger hub or heading straight to Portsmouth Regional Hospital’s ER.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit
To make your experience at 674 Islington Street as painless as possible, follow this specific checklist.
- Timing is everything. Aim for the "Golden Window" between 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM. The morning rush has subsided, and the lunch rush hasn't started.
- Park smart. If the front lot is full, don't try to squeeze into a spot that will get your car dinged. There is usually some street parking nearby, but read the signs—Portsmouth meter maids are legendary for their efficiency.
- Transfer early. If you’re moving to the area, don't wait until you have one pill left to transfer your prescriptions to the CVS Islington St Portsmouth system. Give it at least 48 hours for the systems to talk to each other.
- Leverage the MinuteClinic. For minor stuff like ear infections or tick bites (which are huge in NH), book an appointment online before you leave your house. Walking in without an appointment is a gamble you’ll probably lose.
- Use the Drive-Thru (with caution). There is a drive-thru, but it's narrow. If you have a large SUV, keep a close eye on your rims. It’s convenient, but during peak hours, the line can wrap around the building and block the entrance to the parking lot.
The Islington Street CVS isn't perfect, but it's a staple of the community. It’s where you see your neighbors in their pajamas buying milk and where you go when the New Hampshire winter finally gives you that cold you’ve been trying to avoid. Treat the staff with a little bit of that Seacoast kindness, and you’ll usually find they’ll go out of their way to help you out.
Go early, use the app, and watch your fenders in that parking lot. You'll be fine.