The RV camping landscape near Lawrence, Massachusetts extends beyond just hookup options, with many campgrounds offering seasonal activities and recreation opportunities. The region has a humid continental climate with warm summers and cold winters. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-85°F while winter sees frequent freezing temperatures, affecting which campgrounds remain open during colder months.
What to do
Fishing and boating access: Sandy Beach Campground in Contoocook offers both fishing and boating opportunities on their beach area. "Sandy beach by the water has plenty of room to relax out in the sun as well as launch areas to set out in a paddle boat, canoe or row boat, all available on site," notes Robert M. The campground provides boat rentals directly on the property.
Golfing excursions: Hidden Valley RV and Golf Park combines camping with golfing on their extensive property. "This campground is 1300 acres owned and operated by the Simonsen family in Derry, NH. The main attraction of this campground is the golf course of 9 or 18 holes. There is a pro shop, golf cart rentals, etc," writes Christy C. Golfers can play a full round without leaving the campground property.
Beach access: Beach Rose RV Park provides easy beach access for campers. "Great campground, though 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," says Ray C. The campground is positioned for convenient ocean recreation with multiple transportation options.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Sea Coast Camping and RV Resort receives consistent praise for cleanliness. "This is one of the cleanest, most meticulously maintained campground we have been to. So quiet and peaceful as well. Wifi service was excellent," shares Rebecca S. The campground maintains both their grounds and facilities to high standards.
Pool amenities: Thousand Trails Moody Beach offers swimming options when campers need a break from ocean waters. "The pool area and hot tub are open until 8pm and are at a comfortable temperature. We stayed in the newer area with larger spots near the entrance to the park," mentions Laura C. Pool facilities provide an alternative to beach swimming and typically remain open through summer months.
Entertainment options: Tuxbury Pond RV Campground provides organized activities for guests. "Pros: Friendly staff, clean bathrooms, clean grounds, gated campground with card key access in/out of the grounds, 2 pools (closed for the season during our stay), pavilion, activities/entertainment, fairly quiet during quiet hours, laundromat, playground, dog park, boating pond, Horse shoe & Basketball court," notes Sara D. The campground schedules regular events, including comedy shows and live music during peak season.
What you should know
Navigation challenges: GPS systems often struggle with campground entrances in the region. "A little tip about GPS: if you're using Apple Maps, it will likely take you to a turn that is not the campground entrance, there's even a hand-written sign on someone's lawn that has directions to the entrance," advises Sara D. about Tuxbury Pond. Calling ahead for specific directions may save confusion upon arrival.
Site selection considerations: Pine Acres Resort and other campgrounds can have issues with event noise. "Stopped for the night on our way to Maine. Site was across from the pavilion. Arrived at 6:30 pm and there had to be about 30 or more golf carts parked in front of our site. Large crowd of people gathered yelling and karaoke started until 11:20," reports LL J. Request sites away from common areas if seeking quieter experiences.
Variable water recreation quality: Some campgrounds advertise water access but have limitations. "The sandy beach is nice but the swimming area is quite weedy. Our biggest issue though was the over-abundance of gypsy moth worms," shares Tammy about Sandy Beach Campground. Water conditions can vary seasonally and may not match expectations.
Tips for camping with families
Playground facilities: Woodmore Family Campground and RV Park caters to families with children. "We had a wonderful time tent camping. The grounds were beautiful and the sites were a good size. Very happy with the facility and will be returning for sure," writes Tara K. The campground offers playgrounds and recreation areas specifically designed for children.
Alternative entertainment: Beach Rose RV Park provides options during inclement weather. "Kids had enough driving for the day so we had to stop. We called last min and were thankful they had a spot. Arrived at dark and they were friendly and accommodating. Took a walk around in the morning and everyone was so nice," says Jac. Many area campgrounds offer indoor facilities when weather prevents outdoor activities.
Programming awareness: Some campgrounds schedule adult-oriented entertainment. "Then around 8, there was a gentleman that started setting up for a comedy show that they would be doing that night. A staff member came to our site and let us know that there is an 18+ comedy show," reports Sara D. about Tuxbury Pond. Check activity calendars if traveling with children.
Tips from RVers
Site backing challenges: Narrow roads can make maneuvering difficult at many area campgrounds. "Our site was a gravel back-in which was plenty long and level. The roads in the park are fairly narrow and we had to drive over the grass across from our site in order to back in," notes Nancy W. about Sea Coast Camping. Larger rigs may require careful planning and assistance when backing into sites.
Cellular service variations: While cellular service is generally available, signal strength varies by location and carrier. "Forget about cellphone signal, it was 0," warns Ana at Tuxbury Pond regarding tent sites. AT&T users generally report better coverage than other carriers in the region.
Reservation timing: Peak season creates high demand for RV sites throughout the area. "We decided to take a first trip in our RV to Moody Beach to see how the Leprechaun handled and setup. It was only the second open weekend and a few things were still being setup," mentions Deborah. Making reservations several months in advance is necessary during summer weekends, especially for premium sites.
