Camping areas around Atkinson, New Hampshire range from densely wooded state parks to riverside campgrounds within a 25-mile radius. The region sits at approximately 315 feet above sea level and features glacial landforms including drumlins and kettle ponds. Most campgrounds operate from early May through mid-October with peak season running July through August when daytime temperatures average 80-85°F.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Tuxbury Pond RV Campground provides access to pond fishing. One visitor noted, "The pond unusable," so checking water conditions in advance is recommended, particularly during dry spells or late summer.
Mountain biking trails: Bear Brook State Park Campground offers extensive biking networks. "We camped here to check out the mountain bike trails in the park and we're not disappointed on either count," reports one reviewer. Another mentioned, "Mountain biking is awesome here, can ride right off the campground and onto the trails!"
Golf while camping: Hidden Valley RV and Golf Park combines camping with golfing on the same property. A visitor mentioned, "The main attraction of this campground is the golf course of 9 or 18 holes. There is a pro shop, golf cart rentals, etc." The facility spans 1300 acres with both camping and recreation options.
Hiking accessible trails: The camping area includes several trail systems suitable for different ability levels. One camper at Bear Brook noted, "Numerous trails call out of exploration, around ponds and up and down hills, with geocaches to be found."
What campers like
Waterfront sites: Pawtuckaway State Park Campground receives consistent praise for its water access. "The sites on the water book up quickly but they're perfect for fishing and boating. Also, the view!" wrote one camper. Another mentioned, "What a beautiful location! If you plan ahead and get a water front site it's amazing."
Wildlife encounters: The region supports diverse wildlife viewing opportunities. At Wakeda Campground, a visitor observed, "Walking around we saw wild turkeys, bunnies, and a hummingbird."
Clean facilities: Salisbury Beach State Reservation maintains well-kept bathrooms according to reviews. "Clean facilities, super quick access to the beach, friendly staff," stated one camper. Another noted the "large bathhouse with showers, plentiful stalls, and water bottle fill-up and rinse off station."
Spacious sites: Campsites vary considerably in size across different facilities. One camper at Lorraine Park Campground remarked, "Large sites. Clean bathroom. Good for families or couples." At Wakeda Campground, a visitor noted, "Great employees, clean reliable power. No issues great spread out sites."
What you should know
Road conditions vary: Access road quality differs between campgrounds. At Exeter Elms Campground, multiple visitors mentioned problematic roads with one stating, "When you first drive-in the potholes are ridiculous and the sites are unkempt."
Seasonality impacts: During peak summer months, campgrounds fill quickly and noise levels increase. One visitor to Pawtuckaway State Park observed, "This campground is beautiful and in a nice location in the state park but is really crowded in the summer months with large groups of loud children."
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly across the region. At Tuxbury Pond RV Campground, a camper reported, "Forget about cellphone signal, it was 0." At Bear Brook State Park, another noted, "Cell phone coverage varies from 1-2 bars, not always 4G, on Verizon."
Reservation systems: Many campgrounds use different reservation systems with varying policies. For Tuxbury Pond, a visitor observed, "You do not get a choice during the online booking to choose the campsite to reserve & the site # is not included in the confirmation email."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: When choosing sites with children, consider proximity to play areas. At Wakeda Campground, a reviewer noted, "Employees are very welcoming and the place is clean. Quite big but secluded spots at the same time."
Swimming options: Most campgrounds offer swimming facilities, but quality varies. At Calef Lake Camping Area, a visitor mentioned, "Beautiful campground lake front spots" and "swimming pond that you can canoe in that looked fairly clean."
Bathroom proximity: With children, bathroom access becomes important. One camper at Calef Lake noted, "We were very far from the bathrooms and tons of mosquitoes," suggesting checking site maps before booking.
Planned activities: Many campgrounds schedule children's events, particularly on weekends. At Exeter Elms, one camper mentioned, "Adult bingo ever Friday DJ for kids every saturday," while another at Calef Lake noted "family activities, playground, swimming pond."
Tips from RVers
Hookup positioning: At some campgrounds, utility placement creates challenges. For Hidden Valley RV Park, a reviewer noted, "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."
Site dimensions: Many campgrounds have size limitations for larger rigs. A Salisbury Beach visitor observed, "Many of the sites are short but since you can park on the grass that turns out not to be a problem."
Dump station access: Not all campgrounds offer on-site dumping. According to reviews, Wakeda Campground provides "electric, water, and sewer hook up" while Lorraine Park offers "spacious showers" but limited hookup options at certain sites.
Reservation timing: For peak season stays with RVs, advance booking becomes critical. At Beach Rose RV Park, a camper noted, "It's a 50 site campground and built 20 years ago, so it's cozy small sites in some spots," emphasizing the limited availability for larger vehicles.
