5 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Alton, New Hampshire lack dedicated horse facilities according to available data. None of the reviewed properties list horse corrals among their amenities, with Gunstock Campground, Ramblewood Cabins and Campground, Hancock Campground, Hidden Valley RV and Golf Park, and Tippicanoe Campground all specifically marked as not having horse corrals. Trail riders seeking equestrian camping options may need to look beyond the immediate Alton area for appropriate accommodations.
The White Mountain National Forest region offers more potential for horseback riding with several trail systems available for day use. Hancock Campground, located along the Kancamagus Highway, provides basic tent and RV camping without electric hookups but allows pets, potentially making it suitable for day riders who trailer in. Most campgrounds in the region maintain clean facilities with trash disposal and toilets, though equestrians should contact properties directly regarding specific horse-related policies, trailer parking availability, and proximity to riding trails since none advertise specialized equestrian amenities.
"Fairly extensive camp ground associated with Gunstock ski area on central New Hampshire."
"I was lucky to receive a tranquil, secluded spot next to a brook - perfect."
from $35 - $80 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $25 - $45 / night
Check Availability"This would be one of few places I find acceptable to camp, that are near other people. I usually don't like camping with 20+ other people in one looped area."
"Used the tent sides a quick hill walk down from the parking lot. River great for splashing around and nearby path to Lincoln Woods trail."
from $30 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $35 - $45 / night
Check Availability
GuideFairly extensive camp ground associated with Gunstock ski area on central New Hampshire. We arrived without a reservation a bit after the office closed, but Elena, the manager came out to let us in and allowed us to check in. She was great. Dogs must have proof of rabies vaccine. Very nice showers. Beautiful fall colors.
RangerThis would be one of few places I find acceptable to camp, that are near other people. I usually don't like camping with 20+ other people in one looped area. The sites here are pretty well spread out. Not ALL of them, but look around. We found what I would think is the best. The one we ended up at had stairs leading from the car down to our site. It was further away from the other sites and had the pretty much private stream running by it. The area we had for use was pretty huge, we had a giant tent 10-12 plus a pop up tent to put over the picnic table, and there was still a ton of room for the car, fire pit and general run around area for our dog. I never felt like we had to lock up everything we owned either. A short walk to the toilets from all sites. Bring a headlamp of course. TP is in the outhouses bring a spare hand sanitizer bottle to use after.
FYI there is a pretty awesome hike close by you can do. I mean you have to drive there but it wasn't far. It goes up to Mt Moosilauke. We ended up taking Beaver Brook Trail to the Cascades, checked out the shelter and headed to Moosilauke Summit. A crazy hike pretty much going up the side of a waterfall. The peak was 4,802ft. Worth it! I'd say an 8 mile trek from the car, up, and back. I included just a couple pictures to entice you since its not about the campsite! There are a TON of trails near this campsite, this would just be my favorite of the 6 or 7 we did.
GuideI was lucky to receive a tranquil, secluded spot next to a brook - perfect. This campground has nothing to do, or plenty you can do - walking, hiking, biking, and close access to all Gunstock's adventures.
TravelerMost amazing spot I’ve ever camped and not too many people. Used the tent sides a quick hill walk down from the parking lot. River great for splashing around and nearby path to Lincoln Woods trail.
LegendI 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.
LegendHancock Campground is one of 6 national forest campgrounds along the Kancamagus Highway. Campsites can't be reserved and the campground does fill up on the weekends. We were lucky to score a walk-in tent site on a Saturday in August, and while it did feel a bit like a tent city, we loved that there were no cars at the campsites. It made the tenting area feel more like a community. This is a busy campground, but lovely all the same.
We got site #19, which was one of the last sites available. It had a picnic table, fire pit, and bear box. There were awesome waterfront sites nearby, but they were taken, of course. Cost was reasonable - $22 per night. Pit toilets were near the parking area, but there was a real bathroom with a sink and a flush toilet in the car camping area. There is also a fabulous swimming hole. Clear, cold and deep just off the car camping area.
Hancock Campground is a five-minute drive from Lincoln, NH, and very close to awesome hiking trails in the White Mountain National Forest and Franconia Notch State Park.
RangerPros: Beautiful area, not a bad size campground, quiet nights (but this could be because 3 out of the 4 sites right near us were empty), free hot showers that are not dirty, lots of trails on edge of the grounds, lots and lots of tent sites, platform on campsite, pool and playground available, camp store, bike & Segway trails, quick access to some of NH’s most beautiful mountains. Staff is friendly. Cons: So many roots all over the sites, the platform did not fit our tent for 12 on it. More of the sites have very little separation from the neighboring campers near you. We explored the grounds & noted some sites that were a smidge more secluded and plan to return again sometime!
ScoutI stayed at Hancock campground in mid April this year. Great clean accessible bathrooms, beautiful grounds and large campgrounds. Leashed dogs are allowed. There are both walk-in and drive up tent sites. The walk-in sites are directly next to the beautiful Pemi River. Great overall would return again.
RangerSome pros and lots of cons. We stayed at a walk-in site by the river.
I never fully appreciated just how much camp hosts do. There was no ranger and no host. We arrived early on a Thursday, hopeful we could get a spot by the water. There are only two spots that are truly private in any way. They were both taken- fine. However, one of the groups had not registered and stayed until 4 or 5pm until everyone else had already set up for the day…then they left! So uncool. The site went unused because at that point, no one was going to move all their stuff. Maybe a camp host would’ve noticed that?
The sites were FILTHY with trash, dog poop and food waste. Pretty crazy considering this was supposed to be a bear area. There was also a bad smell wafting around, hmm…maybe because of the trash and dog poop? Stepping in dog poop and trying to clean off your boots is a significant bummer. The site we were stuck at also had ashes and chunks of wood all over the picnic table. Cleaning up this much in order to feel comfortable really sucked.
There was no running water at any of the pumps and the pit toilets were quite full.
There is a bridge nearby but the river covered any vehicle noise very well. It was also nice to be right off the highway and five minutes from town, yet it felt like a proper national forest experience.
There’s an upper loop with drive in sites. They didn’t seem very private and you could see the road. I wouldn’t stay up there.
Being by the river was beautiful. I would stay here again, but with more preparation for the campground’s limitations.
Camping options near Alton, New Hampshire sit within the Lakes Region, where elevations range from approximately 500 to 1,000 feet above sea level. The area experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures typically between 70-85°F and winter temperatures often below freezing. Most campgrounds in this region operate seasonally from May through October, with limited facilities remaining open during colder months.
Golfing and swimming access: Hidden Valley RV and Golf Park combines camping with recreation on its 1,300-acre property. "The main attraction of this campground is the golf course of 9 or 18 holes. There is a pro shop, golf cart rentals, etc." notes Christy C. The park also offers "2 swimming beaches" for cooling off during summer months.
Mountain adventures: Gunstock Campground provides direct access to Gunstock Mountain activities. "It has pretty spacious sites, they have an aerial obstacle course and a mountain coaster, places to swim, music festivals, hiking, etc." reports Kasey H. The location serves as a convenient base for both summer and winter recreation with trails accessible directly from the campground.
Winter exploration: For off-season travelers, some campgrounds maintain limited winter operations. "Stayed here for two nights in late December. Site #40 along the river was close to the bathroom yet had plenty of privacy from other sites," writes Heather B. about Hancock Campground. Winter camping requires additional preparation but rewards with solitude and snow-covered landscapes.
River proximity: Many campsites offer water access, with riverside spots particularly valued. "We got the last site on the river, which had a nice little opening to the water and had a bit more tree coverage to separate us from our neighbors," explains Lindsey M. about Hancock Campground. These water-adjacent sites typically fill quickly, especially during summer weekends.
Clean facilities: Campgrounds in the region generally maintain good standards for bathrooms and common areas. At Tippicanoe Campground, David G. appreciates that "Everything is immaculate from the bathrooms, shower, clubhouse, store and grounds so you can relax and know that the kids are safe." Regular maintenance contributes to comfortable stays even during peak season.
Wooded seclusion: Privacy-conscious campers should seek tree-covered sites. "I recommend the sites back in Breezy Knolls (K01-K17 I think?) and then I believe sites 203 and 205 were nice and tucked away in the trees as well," suggests Melissa B. regarding Gunstock Campground. Advance research helps identify more secluded options.
Equestrian limitations: Horse campgrounds near Alton, New Hampshire remain notably scarce. Feature lists for Gunstock, Ramblewood, Hancock, Hidden Valley, and Tippicanoe all specifically indicate "NO horse-corral" available. Equestrian camping facilities require traveling beyond the immediate Alton area.
Site selection challenges: Many campgrounds have varied site quality and location. At Hidden Valley, Carry M. notes: "The water and electric were between our site and the next on one side and sewer between our site and the one on the other side. This made it difficult to place our trailer on the slanted site and reach all services." Research specific site numbers before booking.
Insect awareness: Some locations experience seasonal insect activity. "Our site was completely swarmed with bees. We checked a few vacant sites to see if maybe it was just our site, but we found them all around," reports Lindsey M. about Ramblewood Cabins and Campground. Bringing appropriate repellents helps manage this common outdoor challenge.
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. "The campground has a fenced in dog park, playground, showers, clean bathrooms, and laundry facilities," mentions Melissa B. about facilities at Gunstock. These amenities provide entertainment options during downtime between outdoor adventures.
Beach safety: Water features require supervision but offer popular recreation. At Tippicanoe Campground, families appreciate that you "come here and enjoy yourself with no worries. Rand Pond is the body of water at the campground and is restricted to under 10 HP boats." Water access points with limited boat traffic create safer swimming environments for children.
Activity planning: Ramblewood Cabins and Campground and others organize regular events. "Many seasonal campers have been here for years and keep coming back for the friends and activities," observes David G. about Tippicanoe. Checking event calendars before arrival helps families coordinate their stays with planned programming.
Hookup access: RV campers should confirm utility placement when booking. "There are 300 camping sites with full hookups. Very reasonably priced at $40 per night," reports Christy C. about Hidden Valley, though site-specific layouts vary considerably across properties.
Size considerations: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger rigs. "Nice RV campground with alot of seasonal residents," says Shawn C. about Hidden Valley RV and Golf Park, which features sites that can handle bigger vehicles. Others like Hancock specifically note "NO big-rig-friendly" in their amenities list.
Seasonal restrictions: RV campers seeking sites in horse-friendly campgrounds near Alton, New Hampshire should consider seasonal limitations. "Most of the campers are seasonal which is May - October each year," observes Christy C. Many New Hampshire campgrounds close completely during winter months, with limited year-round options for RVers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Alton, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Alton, NH is Gunstock Campground with a 4.9-star rating from 14 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Alton, NH?
TheDyrt.com has all 5 equestrian camping locations near Alton, NH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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