The Amesbury Town region features numerous campgrounds within a 30-mile radius, with easy access to both forested inland areas and Atlantic coastal camping. Summer temperatures average 70-85°F during camping season, while spring and fall can drop to 40-50°F at night. Campsites range from forested inland locations to waterfront spots with ocean views and access.
What to do
Water activities at Pawtuckaway State Park: Located about 30 miles from Amesbury, Pawtuckaway State Park offers excellent kayaking and canoeing opportunities. "This a a fantastic little camp for if you want to go canoeing or kayaking or boating of any kind! It's set up of three islands and a large majority of the campsites are right on the water," notes Matt R.
Visit downtown Portsmouth: Stay at Sea Coast Camping and RV Resort for easy access to Portsmouth. "About 5 miles to the east is Hampton Beach and a little farther is the town of Rye which are worth the drive. There we discovered Ray's Seafood and Petey's Summertime Seafood where you can get a great meal right next to the water," recommends Nancy W.
Hiking options: Harold Parker State Forest near Andover offers numerous trails for day hiking. "Lots of biking/hiking/walking trails, a nice small pond/beach, boat access, a few basketball courts, a volleyball court and a common huge fire pit added to the fun," shares Migdalia G.
What campers like
Easy beach access: Salisbury Beach State Reservation provides direct beach access. "We stayed here with my partner for her birthday while we were up in the Plum Island/Rockport area. Beautiful ocean access and great facilities. We stayed in a site right next to a large bathhouse with showers, plentiful stalls, and water bottle fill-up and rinse off station," reports Meg T.
Wooded sites for privacy: Wakeda Campground offers heavily wooded campsites. "We were overwhelmed by the beautiful massive forest. The campground was splendid with old tall, pine trees everywhere. They offered electric, water, and sewer hook up, trading post that had camping goods and snacks, WiFi hotspot, pool table, and lounging area," explains Pawsfuradventure T.
Proximity to local attractions: Most campgrounds are within 20 minutes of beaches, restaurants, and small towns. "The location is great being 10 minutes or so from Hampton beach. Lots of little farms in the area too," states Kris S. about Wakeda Campground.
What you should know
Site spacing varies significantly: Many campgrounds have tight quarters. At Beach Rose RV Park, "spaces are small, place is clean, nice pool and staff is very friendly, helpful and responsive! It's only about a mile from the beach. We rode bikes to Salisbury Beach and my young adult son rode his longboard to the beach," shares Ray C.
Seasonal camper presence: Many area campgrounds have a high percentage of seasonal campers. "Half of the park is seasonal campers (which is a lot more cramped and more junked up) and the other half is for transients. The two sides are separated by a tree line where the tent sites are located," notes Nancy W. about Sea Coast Camping.
Highway noise: Some campgrounds are affected by highway noise. Black Bear Campground is "1/4 mile off I95 run your ac or you will hear trucks engine breaking all night. A lot of cars in and out of the campground all night," warns Michael M.
Tips for camping with families
Pool amenities: Hampton Beach State Park offers ocean swimming, while other campgrounds have pools. "We have been camping here for many years. The staff and seasonal campers are all very friendly. The campground and bathrooms are kept very clean," Kelly F. mentions about Wakeda Campground.
Playground availability: Look for campgrounds with kid-friendly amenities. "Beautiful campground, clean facilities, decently priced. The pool, playground, bathrooms, and basketball court were all open and well maintained. We really enjoyed our stay!" reports Kristen L. about Tuxbury Pond.
Pet policies vary seasonally: When camping with pets near Amesbury Town, confirm seasonal rules. "What a beautiful location! If you plan ahead and get a water front site it's amazing... but all the sites are roomy and lovely to camp at! I went one summer on the way to Maine and loved everything! Kayaking, swimming area and hiking were all 5 stars! Tried to plan ahead this year and get a prime site to learn they don't allow dogs anywhere in the campground during summer months," notes Erin W. about Pawtuckaway.
Tips from RVers
Hookup placement: Check hookup locations before arrival. "Wish we knew in advance how the hookups were layed out because it is way far away from where our hose would reach and we had to go out and buy an extension due to it being located at the end of the site," cautions Devan R. about Black Bear Campground.
Water quality and pressure: Water quality varies between campgrounds. "No issues with electric, sewer or water hookups. Some of the best clear, clean, drinking water at high pressure we have come across," reports Chuck H. about Sea Coast RV Park.
Oceanfront RV options: For RVers seeking ocean views, consider Hampton Beach State Park. "It is basically a parking lot, but with full hookups and on the ocean. The ocean breezes are fantastic. One side of the campground is bordered by an inlet that fishing boats use to head out from the harbor," describes Steve K.
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