Best RV Parks & Resorts near Gilead, ME

We chose to stay at this campground because it was close to downtown Bethel, had river access, and had a full hook-up site for our 45’ RV. Campsites vary from full hook-up pull through to grassy shaded private sites perfect for tent camping. The sites are pretty close together and ours was a buddy site which meant our patio faced our neighbor’s patio. Since the sites were so close, we were practically sitting next to them. Luckily, they were nice people and we enjoyed talking to them. 

Not all sites are level and we found it difficult to get into because of the tight roads and dangling tree limbs. Some of the best sites are unfortunately reserved for work campers. These are pull-ins with a view of a grassy field. The wifi at our site (#21) was horrible and we never used it. There is no cable and we were not able to pick up any over-the-air television channels. The campground is pretty wooded which was nice for the shade but meant we were not able to get satellite reception with our dome mounted receiver. We ended up using our portable receiver and after two days of moving the unit we were finally able to lock into the satellites. 

We selected a 50-amp full hookup pull through site which was $46/night. Our sewer was uphill at our site which is a big pet peeve of ours and super annoying when it comes to empty the tanks. The 50-amp worked well and it was well-placed in the site as was the water. The roads and campsites are gravel and the patios are a mix of gravel and grass. Each site has a picnic table and fire pit. The campground is adjacent to a paved walking/biking path that leads to downtown Bethel. We used the path to walk over to the farmers market and found it very convenient to walk our dog. There is also a mowed path through a field that we also liked for walking our dog. 

The best aspect of this campground is the access to the Androscoggin River. The park rents kayaks, canoes, and tubes and has a shuttle service that will take you up river for so you can float back to the campground. We used the campgrounds shuttle livery service to take our kayak and paddleboard up river for a leisurely float down the river so we could enjoy the scenery, have a picnic, and fish. (Since we used our own boats, the coast was cheaper.) The campground offers this service to non-campers which meant there were a lot of people walking through the campground. The bathroom in the campground was old and tired and heavily used by people floating the river which and was pretty dirty. They also have a sluice on the property, where (for a fee) you can get a bucket of mined material and get to sort through it looking for minerals and gems. Whatever you find, you keep. 

The campground is located off Route 2 which is fairly convenient but the road noise was pretty loud as this is a heavily trafficed road. Downtown Bethel is just a few minutes away and has a brewery, grocery, restaurants, shops, and the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum. About five miles away is Sunday River which is a ski area. We took the chair lift up the mountain so we could hike around and take in the beautiful views.  On the way, we stopped at Sunday River Brewery and had a delicious meal and great beer.

This is one of the rare New Hampshire campgrounds that is open year round. For years I drove by this campground deterred by the run-down, deserted red building next door that is NOT associated with the campground. On a last-minute whim I called and snagged one of the final two sites for the holiday weekend, spending 3 nights here. I wanted to be someplace where I could track the baseball playoffs, so finding a place with wifi (fair, better closer to the bath house) and 2-3 bar 3G/4G Verizon access was a plus. This campground has a large number of seasonal sites, but also has sites available for the occasional camper, with discounts available if you stay for a week.

Sites are wooded, generally moderately sized, though the seasonal sites are much larger. Tent sites do not have hook-ups, but they have small shelters that provide additional protection fro the weather. Some of the tent sites are sloped. They also tend to be long and narrow, opening up to a wider area with the picnic table, fire pit and tent pad. Tent sites in the K row are near the road, so although you don't get much campground noise, you do hear road traffic.

The bathhouse is clean, well-lit, and heated (a treat on those cold autumn mornings). There's also a laundry room with 4 washers and dryers if you need to clean up or dry out after a rough day on the trails. Sites are close to each other. They've separated sites with fence panels in some places to provide some privacy. There's an inground pool, a large playground, and a horsehoe pit.

Activities in the area include very convenient access to hiking trails ranging from family friendly Surgarloafs to classic 4000-footers along Franconia Ridge, and peaks along the northern ridge of the Pemi Wilderness (Garfield, Galehead, Twins), trails to Mt Washington and the Presidentials, as well as numerous peaks and waterfalls in the Crawford Notch area. Cog railway is just a few miles down the road if you want to catch an early ride. Trails for ATVs and snowmobiles are also nearby.

I haven't stayed here, but I checked it out on Columbus Day weekend because it's one of the few campgrounds open year-round (plowed, unlike Lafayette Place, which is walk-in) in the White Mountains. Most of the reviews talk about the walk-in tent sites, but there's more to this campground that is located along the Kancamagus Highway just before the Lincoln Woods Visitors' Center.

If you're a tent camper and don't mind carrying your gear downhill to a site, drive straight ahead to a parking lot. A few of the sites (3 & 4) are accessible from the far end of the parking lot, but for most of them you'll head down the steps in the middle with sites in two levels branching out on each side. Sites are large, but close together and although you're in the woods, there's not much to separate you from your neighbors. Even sites 10-20 are directly on the water.

Sites 22-55 are suitable for RVs and tents. Those on the back side of the loop are close enough that you can hear the Pemi River running below. A few of the sites are pull-through. There are no hook-ups, but water available via spigots and flush toilets are available - except in winter. I'd recommend sites on the back side of the loop to provide some more distance from traffic noise. I chatted briefly with a host who remarked that sites on the western end of the loop have some cell phone coverage, unlike the rest of the campground.

If you stay here, you're only a few miles from Lincoln where you can pick up any necessary supplies. This end of the Kanc your nearest hiking options are Lincoln Woods and Greeley Pond for family friendly trails, or Lincoln Woods to head into the Pemi wilderness, including peaks in the Pemi loop and Owl's Head. The Hancocks are via a trail at the hairpin on the Kanc. Franconia Notch and its many hiking trails and the multi-use trail are a short drive away.

Bring cash or a check to pay your camping fee in the iron ranger. Fees cover the first vehicle; a second vehicle is an additional $5.

The Chocorua KOA is a great campground with super friendly staff, a variety of sites and lots of activities and things to do for everyone in the family.

We stayed with two other families on pull-through full hook-up sites 43, 45, and 47. Although we were on the main road, we really enjoyed these sites. They were wooded and in a central location close to the playgrounds, pavilion, beach and nature trails. Site 45 was pretty narrow but the other two sites had a bit more space so we mostly used 43 and 47 to hang out. We especially loved that the pull-through road behind our sites was not a main access road so we had a nice long stretch of road that was just for us. We played games and the kids road bikes without having to worry about cars driving through.

There are also a lot of really nice tent sites along the water, cabins, teepees, lodges and great areas for groups to camp. They are fairly strict with quiet hours so it is a very quiet campground at night.

The facilities are nice and clean. The pavilion and fire pit area are a nice place to gather with games and a mining station to enjoy. There are two playgrounds for little and big kids. The bathrooms are quite dated but clean. The pool is freezing cold so the kids didn’t swim much. The beach area is small and not deep enough to swim but the kids enjoyed playing in the sand and water. There are a lot of options for boat rentals- paddle boats, kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, and row boats. There is a beautiful board walk that leads through the marsh to a system of short nature trails. We really enjoyed walking the trails though some need a lot of work due to fallen trees and overgrowth. There were also a lot of free activities for the kids like crafts, wagon rides and games with a full schedule of events. You really never have to leave this campground!

This is also an incredibly dog-friendly campground with a fun dog park, a special swimming pond just for dogs and doggie day care available. This is one of the most pet loving campgrounds we’ve ever camped in and our pup loved it!!

We had a great trip and will definitely be back!

This hilltop RV park is still in its infancy, but offers pull through sites, seasonal sites with sewer. Water is available from a tank; you'll need to provide your own power, whether solar or generator. You'll need to be self-contained, with no bathroom facilities available. The sites are separated by grass and some small trees/shrubs in places.

There is a small pool that should re-open after the coronavirus restrictions are eased.  If you're driving a big rig and have an ATV or other toys, you'll want to take a look here. There's plenty of space for your vehicle, trailer, and toys!

It's right next door to Milan Hill State Park and is convenient to ATV trails as well as hiking, walking, and biking opportunities in the area. Take a walk over to Milan Hill SP and climb the fire tower! Sites at the top of the hill provide a view of peaks in the distance. Jericho Mtn with its trails is also within 30 minutes drive.

Follow them on FB and they'll help you stay up to date with trail openings and closures. If you need to register your OHRV, you can do that at the campground.

If you've forgotten something, Berlin is nearby and Gorham offers a Walmart Supercenter.

It was the end of the season when I visited and there were signs of ongoing development.

There aren't many campgrounds open in the winter in NH, but this campground just before the entrance to the larger Dolly Copp campground in Gorham is one of them. During the summer, it offers 11 sites for groups only with reservations required. 

There's a blend of wooded/open sites located in a loop. So often it seems that group sites are wide open fields with minimal separation. Barnes Field provides clearly defined sites with picnic tables and fire pits. Water is supplied by a hand pump and toilets are vault. There are showers ($) nearby in Dolly Copp. 

Rates in summer start at $40 for 10 campers and increase by $10 increments to $70 for 40. In winter you pay a per vehicle fee of $15.

There were youth groups and adult AMC groups at the campground. 

Site 8 is more secluded and up a small hill. Site 7 is in inside of the loop, wooded, and wet around the perimeter.

It's located in close proximity to hiking trails in the northern Presidentials and Carter range. Wildcat ski is 6 miles south. There are numerous trails around for cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and ATVs.

This is a small family-owned and operated campground just a few miles outside of St. Johnsbury, Vermont. The campground abuts the Moose River which makes for a pretty backdrop and wonderful place to dip your toes in the water. The shallow river is a clear flowing rocky river. 

The campground is a mix of seasonal and transient campers with sites large enough to fit big rigs. There is also a rental camper and cabin available. There were tent sites but the owner mentioned they may fade those out. We stayed in a large pull thru (well over 125’), full hook-up site in the center section of the campground. (Site 27 @ $47/night). The electric worked fine and the sewer was easily reached with my 20’ sewer hose. The pad was gravel (as were the roads) and the patio was nice grass. Cable television is available and produced 32 stations. Our Verizon hotspot and phone worked well. 

There are lots of activities at this park. It seems like every week there was a community bonfire where lots of palettes were set ablaze. During our stay, there was a potluck dinner in which the owners supplied roast beef and hosted us in a large covered pavilion. One evening they drove around the campground offering free ice cream sandwiches or drum sticks. Some mornings they supplied free bagels or donuts and always had free coffee. And, there were people always on the porch playing cards. Amenities include river access, a decent size dog park, large covered pavilion, bathhouse and laundry. When you arrive, you are given a swag bag with printed information about the surrounding area and businesses. This is a really nice touch because the reusable bag can be used in the grocery store as plastic bags have been banned in Vermont. 

If you can score a riverfront site those are nice to sit outside and enjoy a fire. The pull thru sites are very close on one side as each RV pulls in the opposite direction; however, the sites are so long that if you pull up far enough you are not looking at your neighbor. Your patio opens to a neighbor but the sites are far enough away that it’s not a bother and you don’t feel like you are on top of them. Probably the nicest site in the park is #23 which is a back-in site with your patio facing the river. 

The campground is in a good location, just a few miles from downtown St. Johnsbury, just a mile or so from “Dog Mountain,” and about 15 miles from Littleton, New Hampshire. There is a town forest just a few miles away that has some nice hiking trails. The campground is pretty small so we were happy to find places to hike with our dog.

I've stayed here 3 times now, once for just a quick overnight and twice for full weekends. It tends to be quiet due to restrictions against playing music outside your tent/trailer. There are also few, if any, seasonal campers - I think those are probably in the field around the pool as the site numbers do not appear on the campground map. It is now open year round, but I don't know what the facilities are like in the off-season.

Many of the sites offer water and electric, but a number of them do not. A few offer sewer. The campground is located along the river, but not all sites have easy access to the river, making it something pretty to look at, but harder to get to. Sites are generally level with easy access. You do need to call to make reservations, which in this day and age drives me crazy. If you have more than one vehicle, the second one needs to park in a separate lot and there is a daily fee.

The pool and large playground offer entertainment options for the kids; there's also a volleyball net. There is cell phone coverage at the campground (Verizon), but if you are going very far afield, consider downloading necessary maps and information before you go. When you get into the Notches, cell phone coverage is poor to absent.

The camp store has souvenirs, clothing, and a variety of food and camp supplies. There's a restaurant on site with picnic tables out front or you can get it to go and take it to your campsite. If you need something else, Fosters' Crossroads is just around the corner and offers an even greater variety as well as gas. Yayas Market and Deli is another option a short distance north on Rt 3. 

Activities abound in the area, offering everything from hiking, biking, wildlife watching, or a cog railway trip up Mt Washington. Franconia Notch is 15 minutes south, where you can do a family friendly hike to Artists Bluff or Lonesome Lake or something more rigorous and classic (if well equipped) to Franconia or Kinsman Ridges. The Sugarloafs and hikes to Zealand Hut are also family friendly and just up the road. Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge offers access to the Presidential Rail Trail and wildlife watching. Catch a sunset or a brilliant night sky from the scenic view pull-off on 115 (near Sunset Paradise Rd), just a 10 minute drive from the campground.

We wanted somewhere to stay near White Mountain National Park and while Beaver Hollow wasn’t super close it was only a little over 30 minutes away so not too bad. As the description says, this was just an “Ok” campground in our opinion. Here’s the breakdown.

Pros: Super friendly staff! The lady at the front desk was incredibly nice and super helpful. They normally don’t allow anyone to do laundry after the office closes but she was nice enough to keep it open for us and just had us lock the door when we finished. If you have kids they apparently do a hay ride and a little barrel train ride every Saturday. The campground is only about 3 minutes from grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, etc. which is nice. As a side note, I highly recommend checking out Hobbs brewery just up the road if beer/breweries are your thing. They provide a picnic table and a fire ring, always one of our favorite amenities. They have a very nice pool, although we didn’t get a chance to enjoy it, but definitely one of the nicest campground pools we’ve seen.

Cons: Sites are not very large. We were fortunate to have a somewhat decent sized site but the site behind us was so small that their picnic table was practically touching our water and electric hook up area (as you’ll see in pictures) and our sewer was just a couple feet away so that couldn’t have been great for them. A big majority of the sites are taken by full time/seasonal campers and while I have nothing against that it just does tend to make the campground feel more junky and crowded because their sites have so much stuff on them. In relation to that, a lot of the campground did just look very junky. The playground/dog park area was not kept up well at all and again, it just felt crowded most places. Their wi-fi was extremely spotty - as in, one minute you could be streaming with it just fine, the next minute you couldn’t even get online at all. My wife was able to use it for work most the week but it wasn’t strong enough for both of us so I had to use our Verizon jetpack to work off of. But as anyone who camps a lot knows, campground wi-fi is almost never reliable so that wasn’t a complete shock by any means. This is not really a con just a kind of annoying thing - you have to have a key card to get in the campground so you have to make a $20 cash deposit to have that card, but you do get it back when you leave as long as you return the card of course.

Overall: As I’ll say for the 3rd time, it’s just an “Ok” park. Definitely not the worst we’ve stayed in but definitely not the best. It served its purpose of giving us a place to stay for a week to visit NH and that’s about all I’d recommend for anyone else planning to stay here.