39 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Tent campsites around Alexandria, New Hampshire provide varied camping experiences across the White Mountains region. Cardigan Campsites, located near Mount Cardigan, offers tent-only sites in a forested setting that serves as an excellent base for hiking the mountain's trails. Baker Rocks provides private, spacious tent platforms within wooded areas along the Baker River, with sites that include fire rings and picnic tables. The Appalachian Trail corridor also offers multiple backcountry tent camping options within hiking distance of Alexandria.
Most tent sites in the area feature basic amenities suited for self-sufficient campers. Established campgrounds like Baker Rocks provide drinking water, showers, and toilet facilities, while backcountry sites along the Appalachian Trail typically offer only primitive facilities like composting toilets. Water sources at backcountry sites are seasonal and may be unavailable during dry periods, requiring hikers to pack in their own water or use filtration systems. Fire regulations vary by location and season, with some shelters prohibiting fires entirely while established campgrounds provide designated fire rings with available firewood.
In early spring and fall, tent campers experience fewer crowds and cooler temperatures ideal for hiking the surrounding mountains. The tent platforms at Baker Rocks are positioned to provide privacy between sites, with some campers reporting they "felt very secluded" despite being relatively close to amenities. Backcountry sites along the Appalachian Trail, including nearby Moose Mountain and Trapper John shelters, offer more remote tent camping experiences with greater solitude but require longer hikes to access. Many backcountry tent sites include both shelter options and tent platforms or cleared tent spaces. According to one visitor at Sawyer Pond, "This is a great beginner backpacking trip, great even for kids! The site has one shelter and 6 campsites available on the bank of Sawyer Pond."
"I tent camped here while doing some fishing in the area. Baker Rocks had a host of different camping options onsite including tent platforms, yurts, and cabins."
"The campsites are private and spacious, the property is large and beautiful, close to the river. The owners are so kind and accommodating."
from $60 - $325 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $12 - $33 / night
Check Availability"The association maintains about a dozen campsites in the Squam Lake area -- some hike-in and others boat-in only."
"We really enjoyed our stay here - we prefer tent camping and like to be secluded; we are not into RV parks. This was fantastic. Beautiful trails, excellent kayaking, quiet and serene."
from $50 - $110 / night
Check Availability"Note: This is a back country shelter site that is hike-in only on the Appalachian Trail. There can be seasonal water sources but water is not guaranteed."
"Note this is a back country shelter along the AT in New Hampshire so it is entirely hike in."
from $45 / night
"Note this is a back country shelter along the Appalachian Trail, so it is 100% long hike in with no guaranteed water and a basic privvy."
"You can reach the backcountry campsites via a 1.5 mile walk from the Sawyer Pond Trail Head off of NH highway 302, or in 4.5 miles from the Sawyer Pond Trail Head off 112(the Kancamangus Highway)."
"Sawyer Pond was my introduction to backpacking more than 40 years ago."
"Step walk in and out though most of the tent plat forms have amazing views. I have stayed here twice and had great experiences."
"Bear box, food area, water source, cabin, Privy, and platforms."
from $15 / night
Check Availability
GuideAdorable little camp! In New Hampshire; Vermont is across the river on the north side of the property. Nice bathroom, showers, laundry room, library. Spacious lots with tables and fire rings. Some long time campers are set up.
LegendThere are 2 Big Rock Campgrounds in NH and they are very different! This is not the resort campground convenient to ATV trails, but a rustic campground offering large, level, wooded sites along the Kancamagus Highway just 2 miles east of the Lincoln Woods Visitor Center. It's a great location for exploring the sites and beautiful vistas along the Kancamagus, easy access to Franconia Notch and Lincoln, NH. Lincoln also offers a grocery store, restaurants, stores selling outdoor gear, moose tours, and adventure tours (zip/climbing).
Some of the sites are tent only, with parking separated from the tent pad/fire ring/picnic table. Others are large and level with ample space for RVs. You'll get some traffic noise, but there's less here than at places along 3 & 93.
There are no reservations; all sites are first-come, first serve and it's open from mid-May to mid-October. Bring cash or a check to pay for your campsite. It's self-service with an iron ranger. Fee (2018) is $22, an extra $5 for a second car.
Water is available. There are vault toilets and no showers. No cell phone service.
TravelerMy first time in camping in New Hampshire, the whole area is spectacular and I felt lucky to find a spot in this campground next to the stream. There was a microburst over the campground the night I was there but the water drained down into the stream so I was not sleeping in a puddle. My site was in the row closest to the road where there was truck noise for much of the night. I recommend getting a site as far away from the road as possible.
LegendI reviewed this campground last fall after visiting on the final day of the season, but I just had a chance to sty here during a peak summer weekend and have a few additional insights. Fees are now up to $20/night, still a bargain, but it comes with only the most basic amenities, i.e. vault toilets, running water at faucets, picnic tables and fire rings. Although the campground description indicates that the sites are first-come, first-served, this has changed and many of them are available online in advance. I didn't realize this and when i arrived late Friday afternoon I had 5 or 6 campsites to choose from that could accommodate my small teardrop camper; if I were tent camping, I'd have had a couple more sites available to me. The tent only sites require a short walk from the parking area.
When you arrive, each site will be labelled either Reserved or _Open. _ If it is Reserved, the dates it is reserved will be listed and they may not be contiguous. All the sites filled up Friday night.
I had site 24 which I liked. it was very large and level, with ample space for today's large tents. The water spigot was near the site next door. I could see my neighbors, but they didn't bother me. Every host site always seems to look messy with tarp-covered items and wood piles and site 24 will give you a view of the host site, but it's far enough away that you can ignore it.
If I were in a tent, I'd try for site 22. It's a walk-in site that includes 7-8 steps down, but it opens into a large open area and just a bit beyond there is a small brook, too.
The campground is just a few miles west of I-93 and the town of Woodstock. If you want to hike Mooselauke or the Kinsmans, the Appalachian Trail crosses 112 nearby. Lost River Gorge is nearby as are numerous tourist attractions/activities in Woodstock and Lincoln. Take some time to explore Cascade Park in Woodstock if you want to cool off in the river and lounge on the rocks (park on the street or in the lot that is north of 112 just before the traffic light at Rte 3 in Woodstock). While you're there, pick up ice cream at Coneheads; choose among numerous hard serve ice cream made on site (downstairs) or dozens of soft-serve flavors.
This side of 112 seems quieter than the stretch east of Lincoln. Noise level was quite low. Cell coverage is non-existent for several miles around here; you'll start to get a signal closer to Lost River Gorge in the direction of Woodstock.
GuideCool location right on the edge of the Dry River Wilderness. Great Basecamp for lots of hikes in the area. Some spots are right on the highway with not much tree cover in between so can be loud. Some walk in sites with platforms are further from the road
Vid is from the river off the trail that starts in the campground
GuideWalk in sites at Russel Pond are nice. spacious sites with fire pits and a picnic table. Potable water is close by along with a bear box. Bathrooms are clean and the showers are $2.50 for 5 minutes. Genuinely nice staff a close proximity to several nice hikes.
LegendWe had a last minute change of plans to our hiking trip due to a delay. We wouldn’t have the time to hike into our pre planned area before dark, so decided to set up shop here. This place was actually pretty great. Each site was pretty large and most of them had access to the river. Which had nice areas for swimming and wading. Each site had its own bear box and it was only a short hike down from the car. The park connected directly to some beautiful AT trails that we took advantage of the next day. It was also pretty cheap! $12 or $15 if I remember correctly. All self registration.
GuideStep walk in and out though most of the tent plat forms have amazing views. I have stayed here twice and had great experiences. A outhouse is located at this tent site as well as pump-able water, bear boxes and a shelter. Great place to stay on the Pemi Loop. It is a carry in carry out campsite.
Traveleri stayed here for one night with a large group (maybe 40ish people) prior to setting out on our backpacking weekend.
This is a great campground, very clean. toilets available, and dumpster for trash were very convenient. There was potable water available also, and picnic tables. parking was tricky for our large group, and we had a bit of trouble fitting in all of the cars, but if you have a smaller group it should be no problem.
campground was very quiet, no real road noise or anything could be heard. ground was soft and grassy, although i would still recommend using a sleeping pad, was not as hard as some other campgrounds I have stayed at. had a nice big grassy area for the large group.
The Alexandria area of New Hampshire's White Mountains offers backcountry camping experiences ranging from 500 to 2,900 feet in elevation. Several campgrounds feature platform camping on wooden structures designed to minimize environmental impact while providing stable tent foundations. Water availability remains highly seasonal with most sources drying up during July and August droughts.
Hike Mt. Cardigan: A 3-mile round trip from Cardigan Campsites to the summit rewards with panoramic views. "The climb is challenging but shouldn't take too long. Great fire tower views at the top too!" notes Madison G.
Fish the Baker River: Baker River access points near Baker Rocks provide opportunities for anglers. "I tent camped here while doing some fishing in the area... I only caught a few minnows when fishing but that may have been more to do with the angler," reports Justin P.
Visit farm animals: Some campgrounds maintain small farm areas. "They even have animals to visit like bunnies and goats (far away from the campsites)," says April W. about her stay at Baker Rocks.
Rock climbing at Rumney: Located near Alexandria, the Rumney climbing area attracts climbers from across New England. "I started climbing at Rumney about a decade before this campground was developed, and man, were we overdue for one!" shares Les R. about AAC Rattlesnake Campground.
Private wooded sites: Many tent camping areas near Alexandria offer seclusion between sites. "The tent sites are within the wooded area around the property and felt very secluded. There was a bit of road noise overnight," notes Justin P. about his Baker Rocks experience.
Water access: Several campgrounds feature river or pond access. "Around the campground there was a little beach along the Baker river... Along another bend of the river were two chairs for taking in the scenery," describes one camper about Baker Rocks.
Stargazing opportunities: Clear mountain nights provide exceptional stargazing. "The pond is gorgeous and the stars were AMAZING. You do have to forage for firewood, which can be rough, but there's a fire pit right in front of the lean to. I've never seen stars like I did here, all around the pond," shares Erin H. about her experience at Sawyer Pond.
Boat-in camping options: For water-based adventures, some nearby lakes offer boat-access campsites. "The association maintains about a dozen campsites in the Squam Lake area -- some hike-in and others boat-in only. There are some with tent platforms and all have fire rings," explains Shari G. about Squam Lakes Association campsites.
Water sources are unreliable: Many backcountry campsites have seasonal water sources. "There is a water source in the area but it did not have water when I visited (probably on account of the drought)," notes Justin P. about Trapper John Backcountry Campground.
Bear safety required: Food storage precautions are necessary. "There is one bear hang located just in front of sites 3 and 4 that is large enough to accommodate food from multiple groups. You will need rope to hang your food, however a cable is provided," advises Sarah C. about Sawyer Pond.
Firewood availability varies: Some sites require foraging while others provide wood. "The site had a large tent platform they could fit multiple tents, a brand new picnic table, a fire ring (with a free bundle of firewood), two chairs by the fire ring," reports Justin P. about Baker Rocks.
Campsite popularity: Popular sites fill quickly, especially on weekends. "Due to the site's popularity, plan accordingly. Have a back-up plan for an alternate camping location. We witnessed several parties, many with young children, arriving late to find that all the sites were occupied," warns Sarah C. about Sawyer Pond.
Start with easier backpacking trips: For families new to backpacking, choose shorter trails. "This is a great beginner backpacking trip, great even for kids! The site has one shelter and 6 campsites available on the bank of Sawyer Pond," recommends Sarah C.
Consider tent platforms for stability: Platforms make tent setup easier with children. "Our family of 4 visited Baker Rocks during a very rainy week and still had an amazing time. The campsites are private and spacious, the property is large and beautiful, close to the river," shares April W.
Check for wildlife viewing opportunities: Many campgrounds offer wildlife education. "The area offers water sports of all kinds, amazing views, spectacular hiking and backpacking in the White Mountains and some cute little villages along the local highways," mentions Shari G. about Squam Lakes.
Pack insect protection: Mosquitoes can be problematic during summer months. "Do bring bug spray, the mosquitoes at certain times of day were aggressive, as to be expected," warns April W. from her Baker Rocks experience.
Consider glamping alternatives: For RVers seeking tent camping near Alexandria, New Hampshire who want some comforts, look into yurts and cabins. "Baker Rocks had a host of different camping options onsite including tent platforms, yurts, and cabins... I would definitely stay here again if I'm in the area and might try some of the glamping options as well," suggests Justin P.
Check road conditions: Many camping areas have seasonal road closures. "The easier access is from the Sawyer River Rd, though until the road opens after mud season, it will be a longer hike. Check the White Mountain National Forest website for information about road openings in the spring and fall," advises Jean C.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Alexandria, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Alexandria, NH is Cardigan Campsites with a 4-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Alexandria, NH?
TheDyrt.com has all 39 tent camping locations near Alexandria, NH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
