Best Campgrounds near Gilead, ME

The White Mountains region around Gilead, Maine provides camping options across public lands, established campgrounds, and dispersed locations. Campers can find accommodations at Hastings Campground, a U.S. Forest Service facility in the Evans Notch area, or explore dispersed camping at White Mountains Camping on Little Larry Road. The area supports tent camping, RV sites with hookups, and cabin rentals at facilities like Timberland Campground in nearby Shelburne, New Hampshire. Most developed campgrounds operate seasonally from May through mid-October when weather conditions permit overnight stays.

Seasonal considerations affect campground availability throughout the region, with most established sites closing by late October or early November. Dispersed camping areas require no reservations but offer minimal amenities, while developed campgrounds like Hastings provide fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets. Many campgrounds feature water pumps or spigots for drinking water, though some primitive sites require visitors to filter water from nearby streams. Cell service varies significantly across the area, with some locations offering limited connectivity. A camper who visited White Mountains Camping on Little Larry Road noted, "Even had a cell signal that gave data with a weboost."

Campers frequently mention the peaceful nature of sites in this region, particularly those located on forest service roads. The primitive sites along Little Larry Road receive consistently high ratings for privacy and natural setting. One visitor described it as "8 huge, beautiful campsites in the heavily wooded Evans Notch section of The White Mountain National Forest. It's easy to forget there are other people camping on other sites because they're so far apart." Some developed campgrounds like Timberland have specific considerations, as a reviewer cautioned about the proximity to train tracks: "There are active tracks literally on the other side of the line of sites and there are freight trains that come through regularly including all hours of the nights." Most campgrounds in the area provide access to hiking trails, scenic views, and water features such as streams or rivers.

Best Camping Sites Near Gilead, Maine (246)

    1. Moose Brook State Park Campground

    29 Reviews
    Gorham, NH
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 466-3860

    $35 - $45 / night

    "This campground is just north bordering the White Mountain NF. Close to northern trailheads. NH take care in keeping their parks orderly. Nice site."

    "In addition to our designated spot, we had access to a large open space behind that many people utilized to play games or expand their camping area."

    2. Dolly Copp Campground

    20 Reviews
    Randolph, NH
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 466-2713

    $30 - $44 / night

    "This is a perfectly situated campground. Just off the main road connection Gorham and North Conway (Route 16), this campground is just minutes from town but has a wonderful wilderness feel."

    "My family of 4 tent camped for 1 night as we were making our way from Maine back to Indiana as part of our summer ‘24 New England camping adventure road trip."

    3. Timberland Campground

    11 Reviews
    Gorham, NH
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 466-3872

    $30 - $67 / night

    "Close to the main road but not too noisy. There are train tracks on the property but no trains went thru this weekend. Beautiful walking path right by the river!"

    "There is also a great playground and a beautiful nature trail along the Androscoggin River. The campground tends to have a mix of tents and RV folks."

    4. White Birches Camping Park

    10 Reviews
    Gorham, NH
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 466-2022

    $22 - $79 / night

    "It was unfortunate that my site was close to the main road, but that was my fault and it didn't really change how my weekend was.  They have remote sites for camping, see video.  "

    "While the campground looks to be primarily RV camping from the road, there are many tent sites tucked away in the trees and even two sites that are walk-in only and are situated right on the Androscoggin"

    5. Crocker Pond

    9 Reviews
    North Waterford, ME
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 466-2713

    $18 / night

    "Into the Whites from West Bethel, Crocker Pond is an off the beaten path car camping destination. Beautiful place to set up camp for a night to 14 days."

    "With no one else around we thought, “welcome to the perfect campsite.”  Each site offers a picnic table, fire ring, and access to the pond."

    6. Grafton Notch Campground

    13 Reviews
    Newry, ME
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 824-2292

    $28 / night

    "This campground is privately owned and is situated in an amazing spot in the mountains of Western Maine."

    "This small, private campground just outside Grafton Notch State Park offers clean, level, quiet sites with hot showers. If you don’t need wi-fi and hook-ups, this is the place for you!"

    7. White Mountains Camping on Little Larry Road

    6 Reviews
    Gilead, ME
    3 miles

    "These campsites are located on a dead end dirt road.  The campsites are spread out so you are not on top of each other (I think there are only 8 sites on the road.) "

    "Highwater trail with bridge close by. Great stars. Creek runs through road near sites good for getting water to filter or washing. Trailhead at end of road."

    8. Basin Campground

    8 Reviews
    Chatham, NH
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 447-5448

    $30 / night

    "It’s located in Evan’s Notch, so close to many wonderful hiking trails and next to lovely Basin Pond. So quiet!"

    "This campground has a day use area with a boat launch and picnic area on the right as you drive in. Non-motorized boats are allowed on the water and it’s a great swim spot in the summer."

    9. Town Hall Road Dispersed

    19 Reviews
    Chatham, NH
    17 miles

    "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."

    "With a nice fire ring next to the river. Reasonably level spot for our van. Also there is a fun hiking trail just up the road. Camp sites are well spread out."

    10. Hastings Campground

    5 Reviews
    Gilead, ME
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 466-2713

    $24 / night

    "Situated just off the Wild River and off of major roads, Hastings was incredibly peaceful while we were there."

    "A small campground located at the northern end of Evan’s Notch, close to some great hiking trails. Pit toilets. Very quiet."

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Recent Reviews near Gilead, ME

1168 Reviews of 246 Gilead Campgrounds


  • Mark W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 16, 2025

    Aziscoos Valley Camping Area

    Great campground near great fishing

    I've camped here several times (June, July, August, September, and October) over the last couple years--usually at no-hookup sites. Most of the sites get enough sun to keep batteries charged and most of the sites are free of Starlink obstructions. I usually stay there mid-week and it's very quiet.

    It's an easy drive to some of the best trout fishing in Maine and New Hampshire.

    The grounds and facilities are extremely well maintained. The staff is great, and I've met some fabulous people camping there. 

    It's Maine so the blackflies and mosquitoes can be a challenge early in the season. And toward the end of the season, you'll want a vacuum cleaner to deal with the Asian lady beetles that have invaded all of northern New England.

  • Marc D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 16, 2025

    Crawford Notch Campground

    Beautiful area

    Beautiful campground. Large secluded sites. Forested. Beautiful fall colors. Coin operated showers. Access to nearby trails.

  • Panvira T.
    Oct. 14, 2025

    Fransted Family Campground

    Good location

    The place so nice and cleaned,quite also close to you must see and things to do. The price reasonable too. Highly recommended

  • R
    Oct. 10, 2025

    Riverside Camping & RV Resort

    Impeccibly Maintained

    Easily one of the most well maintained sites we have visited. The host was attentive and gracious. Beautiful nature trails behind the campground. I found one that lead to a beach by the river, perfect for reading and relaxing.

  • Oksana S.
    Oct. 8, 2025

    Jellystone Park™ Glen Ellis

    Read before booking

    PLEASE READ BEFORE GOING We went to Jellystone Park at in Glen NH. We originally booked from Sunday to thursday. We left on Tuesday due to several issues with the cabin that the office staff refused to fix. Issues we had was 1. Cabin was filthy and had bugs inside. 2. Stove top wasnt working. 3. Fridge smelled so bad I had to wash it with warm water and dish soap. 4. Our cabin reeked like cigarettes to the point I couldn't bath my kids because when the bathroom got steamy the smell got sooo bad. I tried to adress the issues and was told they had a no smoke policy so its not their issue if it smelled because they did their part in putting a policy down. For it being filthy I was told they trust their cleaner so it qas me that made it filthy..(attached is one picture that I have this is just the bathroom on our first day their. Everything was covered in dirt, sand and soo dusty and bugs everywhere). I first spoke to James who yelled and was saying ridiculous excuses as to why its ok. Then the manager(dont remember name but she was older and blonde hair) screamed at me while I had my 2 year old with me. I was telling her calmly and very nice my concerns to which she was yelling to get out of the office. Then I was threatened to have the cops called if I complained again. I lost alot of money I cant afford to loose. But most important I was want to make people aware. I told them the website should state these things to be fair cause if I knew this i wouldn't have paid since they said its normal for stoves not to work and its out of their controll if someone smokes in the cabin. They said no one would stay if they posted those things. I left litterally shaking and crying because I couldn't believe it. They are nice if you dont complain. Discusting customer service horrendous management. Will be reporting everywhere already let my friends know so they dont go next year.

  • Yung H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 7, 2025

    Coos Canyon Campground and Cabins

    Fantastic

    Its a really cool spot to explore. I went when the water was low and was able to adventure where youre not meant to and man was it a blast.Found my own pride rock(lion king) and was able to meditate in silence and be away from all the boaters and atvs was super peaceful with a water near by. The tent campers around me were really solid people aswell.

  • S
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Crocker Pond

    Beautiful spot!!

    7 campsites in a really beautiful place!! We went in early October and about half the sites were full. It was very peaceful and great hiking nearby!

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Jefferson Campground

    Great Mountain Campground

    Nice campground in a beautiful location. This place is a bit off the beaten path of White Mountain tourist areas but is still within easy drive to all the major attractions. We picked this spot for that exact reason. Open field camping in the middle with wooded sites on the edges of the park. I originally chose a site that was a bit too small to properly unhook the trailer but staff helped me get a better location. Site 17 was too tight for 44 ft total length. Switched to site 5 pull through. Some sites face each other for camping with friends. Follow their map to pull in correctly. Staff is excellent and very helpful. Small store on site with necessities and fire wood. FYI Amenities: pool, playground, laundry (affordable) hot showers. Off season so the place was not busy, very quiet. This is on our short list for when we return next year.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Grafton Notch Campground

    Amazing place!

    We stayed here 2 nights in late September. The campground is very neat and tidy with lots of nice touches like flowers and seasonal decorations. The sites are gravel & the paths are covered in wood chips - both make walking cleaner because you are out of the dirt and mud. There is a path to the river and 2 picnic tables by the river. The bathhouse is clean and has a large shower with plenty of places to put your soap, shampoo, etc. There are also lots of hooks in the shower and bathroom for your stuff and the shower has a large bench to sit on as you get dressed. There are 2 dishwashing stations outside the bathhouse. Horseshoes and corn hole are on site and there is a well stocked camp store. Lots of information and brochures on the area. The owner is very kind and personable - I am looking forward to coming back!


Guide to Gilead

Campgrounds near Gilead, Maine feature dense woodlands at elevations ranging from 700 to 1,200 feet along the Androscoggin River valley. Summer temperatures typically reach 75-85°F during the day, dropping to 50-60°F at night. Many campsites in this region of western Maine provide access to the Evans Notch section of White Mountain National Forest, where camping is available from mid-May through mid-October.

What to do

Hiking on scenic trails: Basin Campground serves as an excellent base for exploring Evans Notch hiking options. One visitor noted, "Just a few miles north of Pinkham Notch visitor center, where trailhead for Mt Washington is and where you can grab a shower downstairs." Trails range from casual walks to challenging summit climbs.

Water activities on ponds and rivers: Crocker Pond offers swimming and fishing opportunities within walking distance of all campsites. "Beautiful views and access to pond. We got there at noon on Saturday and there were two sites left, we got one on the water, but it filled up right away," explained one camper who appreciated the water access.

Wildlife observation opportunities: The White Mountains region hosts diverse wildlife including moose and black bears. A visitor to Dolly Copp Campground reported, "There are signs to watch for moose throughout the forest as they are definitely around." Morning and evening hours offer the best wildlife viewing opportunities.

Mountain biking on forest trails: Several campgrounds connect to mountain biking networks. A visitor to Moose Brook State Park mentioned, "There are also many hiking trails in the park and a ton of great mountain biking terrain in the park and accessible from the park. The local Coos Cycling Club maintains the trails and is constantly improving and creating more terrain."

What campers like

Privacy between campsites: White Mountains Camping on Little Larry Road receives praise for its secluded sites. A camper observed, "8 huge, beautiful campsites in the heavily wooded Evans Notch section of The White Mountains National Forest. It's easy to forget there are other people camping on other sites because they're so far apart."

Clean facilities at established campgrounds: Visitors frequently comment on well-maintained bathrooms and shower facilities. A guest at Grafton Notch Campground stated, "The showers were hot and spacious. We were in Site 3 and it was perfectly distanced between the store and bathrooms."

Natural water features: Campsites with water access rank highly among visitors. At Town Hall Road Dispersed camping area, one reviewer shared, "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."

Well-designed fire rings and cooking areas: Many established campgrounds provide fire pits with cooking grates. A camper at Basin Campground noted, "The fireplaces have a cool double decker grill for cooking. It was very quiet as most people are there to hike and fish."

What you should know

Weather considerations: The White Mountains experience rapid weather changes. A camper at Timberland Campground noted, "Not allowed to bring your own wood for fire, they have enough onsite and it's priced fairly." Being prepared for temperature fluctuations is essential.

Wildlife safety protocols: Bear activity requires proper food storage. At Dolly Copp Campground, a ranger "confirmed that black bear are prominent and will venture across picnic tables and sites, so be certain to store food & toiletries safely per rules!"

Water availability varies by location: Some sites require water filtering from natural sources. A visitor to Little Larry Road mentioned, "Creek runs through road near sites good for getting water to filter or washing."

Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies throughout the region. At White Birches Camping Park, a reviewer explained, "They require a $10 CASH deposit for access to the gate key which we weren't aware of when we got here and I couldn't find any mention of it on their website."

Tips for camping with families

Look for campgrounds with activities: White Birches Camping Park offers family-friendly amenities. A visitor noted, "Quite a few activities for kids- bounce house, play ground and heated swimming pool. On Saturday nights around 7pm they blow up a projector for movie night which was a pleasant surprise."

Choose locations with swimming options: Many families appreciate water features for recreation. At Moose Brook State Park, a camper reported, "Perfect for family camping! Fishing, swimming, river walks, biking and movie nights!"

Consider proximity to attractions: Some campgrounds offer easy access to family destinations. A reviewer explained, "Less than 40 minutes in either direction are Story Land and Santa's Village, NH family destinations for generations."

Select sites with adequate shade: Wooded sites provide protection from summer sun. A visitor to White Birches Camping Park observed, "Tent sites are well spaced and almost all of them are in the shade which is a huge bonus!"

Tips from RVers

Check campground road access: Some forest roads have limitations. At Town Hall Road Dispersed, a camper shared, "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."

Be aware of electrical limitations: Power capacity varies between campgrounds. At Hastings Campground, a visitor noted, "The camp sites were all large, wide and flat. The grounds were pristine and well maintained."

Consider site privacy: Some campgrounds offer better spacing between RV sites. A reviewer at Grafton Notch Campground reported, "Sites are gravel, level, and have enough trees to afford privacy between sites."

Know your hookup requirements: Campgrounds offer varying levels of service. At Dolly Copp Campground, a visitor mentioned, "Tucked away in a beautiful area of the Whites this site is for all hikers. With trails leading to the Wild River Wilderness right from your campsite plus lots of other gems along the road."

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the camping options at Gilead?

The Gilead area offers diverse camping experiences for all preferences. Crocker Pond provides secluded car camping with seven sites (five directly on the water) and allows stays up to 14 days. For RV travelers, Bethel Outdoor Adventure and Campground offers full hook-up pull-through sites for large rigs, while also providing grassy shaded sites for tent campers. Additional options include riverfront camping, private wooded sites, and state park campgrounds throughout the broader Western Maine and White Mountains region.

What amenities are available at Camp Gilead?

Campgrounds in the Gilead region offer varied amenities to enhance your outdoor experience. Grafton Notch Campground features 15 well-wooded sites with access to hiking trails and natural sightseeing spots. Timberland Campground provides beautiful walking paths along the river. Many area campgrounds offer water access, with options like Crawford Notch Campground featuring riverside sites and 60 acres of hiking trails. Facilities typically include restrooms, picnic tables, and fire rings, with some locations offering wood sales, boat rentals, and shower facilities.

When is the best time to visit Gilead for camping?

The prime camping season in Gilead and the surrounding region runs from late spring through early fall. Mollidgewock State Park Campground shines in late spring with beautiful wildflowers dotting grassy campsites. Most private campgrounds like Lakeside Pines Campground operate from May through October. Many campgrounds in the area, including Grafton Notch Campground, specifically operate from mid-May through Columbus Day weekend. Summer offers warm days perfect for water activities, while September brings spectacular fall foliage with fewer crowds. Be prepared for ticks in spring and early summer.