New Hampshire is known as the home of the White Mountains, an incredible view for camping. Campgrounds located near the White Mountains are so popular for a few reasons.
First, it is close to many amazing hiking locations. Second, there are many places to mountain climb and rock climb. Lastly, it is a place that attracts many tourists due to the attractions such as the Mount Washington Cog Railway and several other mountaintop rides.
All these campgrounds provide space for both tents, RVs or any other camping facilities. Listed below are seven RV camping spots that will leave you with an unforgettable vacation.
1. Lafayette Place Campground
Address: Interstate 93, Franconia, New Hampshire
Lafayette Place Campground, located in Franconia, New Hampshire will be the perfect place for a summer camping trip. This campground is part of Franconia Notch State Park which has a perfect base for hiking. The Appalachian Trail passes through the notch and offers beautiful views through the carved mountain passes.
There is an eight-mile valley between the Kinsman and Franconia mountain ranges that include the Flume Gorge, the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway, the New England Ski Museum, a swimming beach at Echo Lake, fly fishing at Profile Lake, a trail for cyclists, several beautiful waterfalls, and places to spot hawks and falcons.
There are 97 campsites at this campground that are large enough for both tents and RVs. They all have fireplaces for nightly s’mores of course! The Lafayette Place Campground is open year round, but services such as showers only run from May through October.
2. White Lake State Park
Address: 94 State Park Road, Tamworth, New Hampshire
Located in Tamworth, New Hampshire, White Lake State Park is one of the largest campgrounds in the White Mountains and one of the only campgrounds that have access to a lake with a swimming beach.
The lake came to be during the end of the ice age when ice was buried beneath glacier debris, which is pretty neat! Now, this ice age formed lake is a beautiful spot for camping and swimming.
There are 203 campsites at this state park that surround the lake and most have unforgettable lake views. At this campground, you can rent boats, go fishing, swimming and walk around and spot beaver homes.
The lake and picnic areas are open to the public during the day but restricted by the number of people to prevent overcrowding, so keep that in mind and get an early start to your day if you plan on staying here.
3. Hampton Beach State Park
Address: 160 Ocean Blvd Hampton, New Hampshire
With only 13 miles of coastline in the state of New Hampshire, it can be hard to enjoy all it has to offer, but not at Hampton Beach State Park. The park is known for its beaches and scenery. There are fishing, kayaking, canoeing or boating options that attract many campers. No need to worry about the water quality either, it has been rated five stars by the National Resources Defense Council.
The campground has an amphitheater to host live music or other events in, as well as a playground for kids. If you can go in September, you’ll make it for Hampton’s Seafood Festival which is always a family favorite. There are plently of bathrooms near the campsites as well as near the water, as well as a camp store. Other resturants or grocery stores are avaliable in walking distance from the park.
4. Pawtuckaway State Park
Address: 40 Pawtuckaway Road, Nottingham, New Hampshire
Pawtuckaway State Park, located in southern New Hampshire is in the middle of the seacoast cities of Concord and Manchester. The location of this park is what attracts most campers, but is not all they have to offer. The 192 campsites have a nice view of the swimming beach as well as options to rent boats, canoes, and kayaks.
There are wide varieties of hiking trials offered at Pawtuckaway State Park. Some lead to a mountaintop with a fire tower, others lead to beaver marshes and lastly the highlight hike that is a must- a boulder field with glacial erratic that were dropped by glacial ice as it melted at the end of the ice age.
A few conveniences you get when you stay here are hot showers, and a camp store. There are also cabins offered in additions to campsites. Five cabins are offered, each one sleeps up to six people. These cabins include electricity for those who hate that aspect of outdoor camping! They also include picnic tables and campfire rings.
5. Bear Brook State Park
Address: 157 Deerfield Road, Allenstown, New Hampshire
Bear Brook State Park is close to the cities of Manchester and Concord. Bear Brook State Park is the largest developed state park in the state of New Hampshire. It holds 101 campsites in the woods that surround Beaver Pond. At Beaver Pond, campers have the option to rent boats and canoes.
There are 40 miles of hiking trails that allow you to explore the forest, pond and hilltops in this part of New Hampshire. There are trials that are offered for mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding also. Archery can be a fun family bonding activity, and Bear Brook State Park is home to two archery ranges available to use if you bring your own equipment.
The campsite offers hot showers, laundry facilities, a camp store, and a dumping station for RVs- both ice and firewood are available.
6. Umbagog Lake Campground
Address: 235 East Route 26, Cambridge, New Hampshire
Umbagog Lake Campground is one of the top places to kayak in all of New England. Lake Umbagog covers part of both Maine and New Hampshire. Part of it is in the New Hampshire State Park and the majority of it is in the Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge.
The campsite includes 27 tent or RV sites that have electric and water hook-ups. You can rent canoes, kayaks and boats for a fun day fishing on the water. Swimming is also an option for those hot summer days. The park is well known for wildlife viewing with viewings of moose, deer, eagles and a variety of birds.
7. Sugarloaf Campgrounds
Address: Zealand Rd, off US Route 302, Twin Mountain, New Hampshire
Along the Zealand River and apart of the White Mountain Forest, the Sugarloaf campground lies. The campsites here are large and well separated from other campers. Each campsite provides a fire ring for cooking and a spigot or hand-pumped water.
There are no showers offered at this campground, but the popular hikes make up for it. There is a trail up Sugarloaf Mountain, a summit with 360-degree views. Close to this trail is another trailhead for a 2.8-mile family-friendly hike along the Zealand River. Just a few miles away from this trail is Mt. Washington with its famous Cog Railway.
Related Questions
What is the best waterfront campground in New England? White Lake State Park, Salisbury Beach State Reservation, and Silver Lake Park Campground are well-liked waterfront campgrounds.
What are some year round RV parks in New Hampshire? Most campgrounds are year round but a few options are Field & Stream RV Park, Meredith Woods Camping Area and Danforth Bay Camping & RV Resort.
