Best Dispersed Camping near Durham, ME

The outskirts of Durham, Maine feature primarily dispersed camping options, with notable sites including White Mountains Camping on Little Larry Road. Located within an hour's drive, campers can access rustic, no-frills camping experiences in the surrounding White Mountain region. Town Hall Road Dispersed in nearby New Hampshire offers free camping with riverside sites that consistently receive high ratings from visitors. These areas primarily accommodate tent camping and smaller RVs, with most sites featuring fire rings but minimal other amenities. The region's camping landscape is characterized by wooded settings with streams and rivers providing natural boundaries between campsites.

Road conditions vary significantly throughout the area, with many sites accessible via dirt or gravel roads that may become challenging during wet weather. As one camper noted, "The road was not as bad as I anticipated. There was room for my Jeep Grand Cherokee towing a squaredrop camper to pass the very few oncoming vehicles we encountered." Cell service is limited or non-existent at most sites, though some visitors report spotty coverage at specific locations. According to a recent review, "Site 4 and 5 get some cell service" at White Mountains Camping on Little Larry Road. Most dispersed sites lack drinking water, toilets, or trash facilities, requiring campers to be self-sufficient and practice Leave No Trace principles.

Privacy and natural settings consistently rank as top features in camper reviews. Sites are typically well-spaced, providing a sense of seclusion even when areas are fully occupied. "The campsites are spread out so you are not on top of each other," reports one visitor to Little Larry Road. Wildlife sightings, including moose, are occasionally reported by campers who venture deeper into the forest roads. Seasonal considerations affect availability, with holiday weekends seeing high occupancy rates. Memorial Day through October represents the primary camping season, though some areas remain accessible year-round, weather permitting. Campers frequently mention the peaceful atmosphere and riverside locations as highlights of their experience in this region.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Durham, Maine (2)

    1. Town Hall Road Dispersed

    19 Reviews
    Chatham, NH
    49 miles

    "My first ever dispersed camping experience. So freaking amazing and unbelievable. It was pouring rain when we came to NH so we tried to wait out the rain, but it was getting dark."

    "Awesome boondocking in New Hampshire, what a treat in the east coast! Just beautiful scenery, with trees, rivers, creeks, hiking trails with a pond- we absolutely loved our time here. "

    2. White Mountains Camping on Little Larry Road

    6 Reviews
    Gilead, ME
    49 miles

    "We pulled in around 7:30 pm on a Sunday night and there were plenty of open spots. We took a huge one. Found a fairly flat area and stayed for the night."

    "8 huge, beautiful campsites in the heavily wooded Evans Notch section of The White Mountains National Forest."

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Durham, ME

8 Photos of 2 Durham Campgrounds


Dispersed Camping Reviews near Durham, ME

22 Reviews of 2 Durham Campgrounds


  • Atlas W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 30, 2023

    Town Hall Road Dispersed

    SO AMAZING!!

    My first ever dispersed camping experience. So freaking amazing and unbelievable. It was pouring rain when we came to NH so we tried to wait out the rain, but it was getting dark. We followed the directions given by previous reviews. Turn onto town hall rd. and keep going past the residential area until you get to gravel road. keep going straight until you see the national forest sign. about a mile later us when campsites started popping up. the first few were full since it was 7pm but we came across one right around where the pin is dropped for this location. the cliff wasn’t too steep here (i passed up a campsite before this one bc it seemed too steep for my liking) and pretty large. beautiful view of the water and even a path down to swim. 10/10 experience and i cant wait to go back.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 28, 2023

    Town Hall Road Dispersed

    Awesome Boondocking

    Awesome boondocking in New Hampshire, what a treat in the east coast! Just beautiful scenery, with trees, rivers, creeks, hiking trails with a pond- we absolutely loved our time here. 

    Town Hall Rd is a long road with many designated dispersed sites, all far apart from each other and all varying in levelness and size. We got lucky and snagged a perfect spot 2 miles in from the entrance sign- completely level (didn’t even need our leveling blocks) and big enough for our 26ft class c. Each site is different, but there were plenty that could fit a medium sized RV like ours. I wouldn’t recommend a giant 5th wheel or class A to come here looking for a spot. The road is dirt, but it’s hard packed and smooth, with a few dips and holes here and there. A little narrow but it’s manageable. The downside of a great road is the speeding cars and trucks- very annoying but thankfully there wasn’t much traffic in early October. I’d say more than half the sites were open when we stayed there mid-week. 

     No amenities here, just a rock fire pit to designate that it’s a spot. Please pack out your trash. Zero cell service in this whole area, but some messages popped through while we were hiking. weBoost did not help. Heavily wooded area, so it’s not so great for solar panels and probably not starlink either (we don’t have starlink so I can’t report on that).

  • Josie W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 8, 2024

    Town Hall Road Dispersed

    Great location!

    We loved this spot. There were plenty of sites to choose from and most (not all) had access to the river as well as a fire ring. Sites were on a dirt road, but it was quiet for the most part. Sites were also a good distance from each other so it felt pretty private. We stayed two nights and at two different sites; enjoyed both. Would love to return here in the future.

  • candice J.
    Aug. 11, 2021

    Town Hall Road Dispersed

    Perfect spot!

    Town Hall Rd off 302 just keep going past houses until you see the National forest sign. 6-8 spots some big enough for med. camper.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 21, 2025

    Town Hall Road Dispersed

    Few Solar/Starlink Options

    If all we needed was a campsite with no solar or starlink, this would be 5 star review. Lots of options, great hiking in the area. But if you need solar or starlink, there’s only 1 or 2 viable spots. We were lucky to snag on one a Monday afternoon (last site before turnaround on FR38) and stayed all week.

  • Mark M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 28, 2021

    Town Hall Road Dispersed

    Peaceful camping

    GPS initially took me on the wrong road - make sure you stay on Town Hall Rd no matter what the GPS says.

    After getting past the resident area you'll find a bunch of different pull outs to camp at. Really peaceful and the sites are well spread out.

    There's a hiking trail up the road if you go to the very top (I think for Mirror Lake?) otherwise you won't have anything else to see that far up.

  • Alex S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 14, 2023

    Town Hall Road Dispersed

    Absolutely perfect!

    We followed directions exactly as listed below. It does take about 10 minutes to reach the campsites but it’s so worth it. We passed up a couple on the left as you first drive in as they were too steep. We found our spot which had some river access and it was gorgeous. It had an above and below spot which hosted our two tents. It was clean, quiet and other campers were friendly as well. I absolutely would stay here again.

  • Daniel S.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 30, 2023

    Town Hall Road Dispersed

    Town Hall Rd

    The GPS will take you to Dundee Rd. These sites are actually off end of Town Hall Rd. It was very busy and most sites were taken over Memorial Day weekend.

  • HThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2021

    Bull Brook Road: Dispersed Campsite

    White Mountain Dispersed

    We arrived pretty late on June 22 and got one of the last available spots for the night. There were a number of decently spaced out sites. We drive an e150 and had no trouble getting to the site, and we saw some other vans, along with RVs and tents. Be careful of ticks! We woke up to one in our bed and had to shake everything out. It wasnt an issue in the end but you do need to be aware of them. It was a quiet and peaceful night there otherwise, even with all the other sites full.


Guide to Durham

Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Durham, Maine, where you can immerse yourself in nature without the constraints of traditional campgrounds. Enjoy the freedom of choosing your own spot while taking in the stunning landscapes of the region.

Tips for free and dispersed camping near Durham, Maine

  • When visiting Town Hall Road Dispersed, be prepared for a first-come, first-served experience, as it can get busy during peak times.

Enjoying nature while free camping near Durham

Dispersed campers should check out Town Hall Road Dispersed

  • This location features sites right by the water, providing a unique opportunity for fishing and relaxing by the river, making it a favorite among outdoor enthusiasts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Durham, ME?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Durham, ME is Town Hall Road Dispersed with a 4.7-star rating from 19 reviews.