Leighton O.
Guide
GuidePawtuckaway State Park Campground
Very nice campground! Some sites right on the lake. Have camped there several times. Lots of space between sites.
Tent Camping near Belmont, NH
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Tent campers near Belmont, New Hampshire have several options ranging from established campgrounds to backcountry sites, including waterfront tent campsites and wooded tent platforms suited for self-sufficient campers. Squam Lakes Association maintains tent sites accessible by boat or hiking trails around Squam Lake, while the more primitive Sawyer Pond offers walk-in tent camping with waterfront views about 40 miles north. Cardigan Campsites provides a convenient base for hikers exploring Mt. Cardigan, with tent sites available during the warmer months.
Tent camping areas in this region typically feature basic amenities designed for self-sufficient campers. Many sites include fire rings, though some locations like Paugus Brook Farm prohibit fires due to regional restrictions. Composting toilets are common at established sites, but drinking water is limited or unavailable at most locations, requiring campers to bring their own or use filtration systems. According to one visitor at Squam Lakes Association, "The campsite had a composting toilet in each camping area, but no picnic table or drinking water. Come prepared with your own water...or a filter." Access varies significantly, with some sites requiring short hikes while others like Baker Rocks offer more accessible tent platforms.
The New Hampshire tent camping experience offers considerable solitude and natural immersion compared to developed campgrounds. Most tent-only sites are positioned within wooded areas providing ample shade and privacy. A recent review noted that Baker Rocks tent platforms "are within the wooded area around the property and felt very secluded." Seasonal considerations affect the tent camping experience, with fall offering colorful foliage views and summer providing warmer water temperatures at pond-side sites. Backcountry options like Sawyer Pond feature tent platforms and fire pits with pond views, though firewood gathering can be limited near popular sites. First-come, first-served policies apply at many primitive tent campgrounds, making weekday visits preferable for those seeking guaranteed spots and quieter surroundings.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Belmont (33)
1. Squam Lakes Association
"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."
Check Availabilityfrom $50 - $110 / night
2. Viewland Campground
3. Cardigan Campsites
4. Lost Boys Hideout
Check AvailabilityAvailable this weekend
from $49 - $149 / night
5. Salmon Falls River RV Resort and Family Campground
"Multiple pools, a water slide, high ropes, a jump pad, mini golf and more!!! My niece had so much fun! Sites are close together and they are short staffed but other than that a great place!"
6. Baker Rocks
"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."
Check Availabilityfrom $60 - $325 / night
7. AAC Rattlesnake Campground
Check Availabilityfrom $12 - $33 / night
8. Crown Point Campground
9. Sawyer Pond
"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."
10. Paugus Brook Farm
"I stayed here tent camping on the way to some fishing on the Saco River."
Check Availabilityfrom $25 - $45 / night
Drive Time
- 37 min from Manchester, NH
- 1 hr 24 min from Boston, MA
- 1 hr 54 min from Portland, ME
- 2 hrs 2 min from Lewiston, ME
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Belmont, NH
52 Photos of 33 Belmont Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
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Tent Camping Reviews near Belmont, NH
1172 Reviews of 33 Belmont Campgrounds
- PPatrick
TravelerPawtuckaway State Park Campground
Great spot with all types of different campsites.
Rebecca W.
ScoutBearcamp River Campground
Bearcamp River Campground
Bear camp River campground is a great place to camp for a weekend or be a seasonal. You can walk 6/10 of a mile to the covered bridge nearby and float right down to the beach at the campground or you can start on one side of the campground and float to the other via river for a good 30 minute float!! You get to Camp right on the Riverside. Owners (Mike and Tabby ) are great. Good place for the kids to run around and explore. The Camp store has sweatshirts and sweatpants , candy and snacks ,s’mores kits, and much much more. They also sell wood and ice on site. There is also hot showers for free, and bathrooms. Two thumbs up from this happy camper.
Nancy W.
LegendSea-Vu West Premier RV Resort
Pleasantly surprised.
This campground is mostly seasonal, privately owned park models, but has 45 spaces for RV’s. I was a little skeptical about staying at this campground with so many park models and seasonals but was pleasantly surprised at how nice, clean, and tidy all the sites were. They obviously take pride in how things look because the grounds and campsites were very well-kept.
All campsites are 50/30-amp full hook-up with level gravel pads with grassy patios, a picnic table, and fire pit. We stayed in site#702 which was long enough for our 45’ motorhome and tow car. All the utilities were easy to reach and the electric worked well. The only problem was that we were parked under a large oak tree that was profusely shedding large acorns. There are some sites that are in the open which I would definitely choose, if I came back in the fall. The campground is gated which is a nice feature. It is located a mile or so off Route 1 which means you don’t get the road noise and traffic, but still conveniently located near shops and restaurants.
One nice feature are the shaded walking trails in the park. While they are not super long, it is a nice change from walking the roads (which are paved). Other amenities include a decent size swimming pool (closed while we were there), a basketball court, playground, laundry, and camp store. I thought it was a little expensive at $75/night (for full hook-up) at the end of the season, especially since the pool was closed.
- Nancy W.Legend
Sun Outdoors Wells Beach
Tight sites and expensive, busy area along the Maine coast
We stopped here in the summer to check out the coastal towns in southern Maine. There are many campgrounds in the area and we chose this one because they had a 25% off coupon (on a 7-night stay) which gave us the best nightly price in the area. However, the nightly rate was still$74/night, one reason being they charge a “resort fee” of$15/day which is ridiculous. This is a typical resort-style campground with lots of amenities (most of which we never use). But, for some people, this is a destination campground because of all the amenities- a large heated swimming pool, basketball courts, sand volleyball, bocce, fitness center, two playgrounds, 18-hole minigolf (that you pay extra for), and more.
The campsites in the front of the park are sandwiched between the swimming pool and Route 1 which is very busy and noisy. Campsites in the far back portion of the campground are shaded and a much quieter section. Camping pads and patios are a mix of gravel and sand. Many sites have shade and some have an astroturf patio (I think those are “premium” sites). Our campsite was in the middle section which was fairly quiet but the sites are close together with no privacy. The site was a long and level pull thru with a gravel pad and gravel/sand patio. All sites have a picnic table and fire pit.
There is a tent-only section and they have renal cabins. There is lots to do for families in the area including the beach and amusement and water parks. Restaurants of all sorts are nearby. You can easily walk to Congdon’s Donuts which is a Maine classic.
- Nancy W.Legend
Seacoast Camping and RV Resort
Nice Campground, Love the area!
This is a nice, clean, well-maintained campground for RV and tenting. The campground is located on Route 1 which means you are convenient to a lot of things but there is lots of traffic. Half the campground is seasonal/long term campers and the other side is mostly transients. The roads and campsites are fine crushed gravel with nice grassy patios. The campground is very well maintained (the best part being that the mower collects they cut the grass so no clippings get tracked in your camper). There are some mature trees that provide shade but don’t impede navigating in and out of sites or impacting slide outs.
Campsites range from tent with water/electric to RV water/electric and RV full hook-up 50-amp and full hook-up 30-amp. There are three bathhouses on the property (one of which has a dishwashing sink) and laundry. Tent sites 50-55 are in an are set away from RV sites and more private. They are also close to a large bathhouse with multiple toilets and showers. Tent sites 90-100 are across from a large playground which can be quite chaotic, but if you have kids, this is a great spot.
Our site (#147) was a long pull-thru with a descent amount of space between our neighbors. We got about half a dozen over-the-air channels (one being a major network station) and were able to connect with eastern arc satellites with our Dish Satellite. The 50A electric was good as was the water pressure.
The campground does not have much in the way of amenities except for a game room, basketball court, and playground. The game room is pretty cool with lots of arcade-style games, a pool table, foosball, and table tennis. While we were there, they just finished putting in all new playground equipment and enlarged the size making it really big and a hit with the kids in the park. Once convenience is that maintenance picks up garbage at your site (between 8am– 3pm). Unfortunately, people leave them out after hours and animals got into them and scattered garbage everywhere. We've stayed here before and always enjoy being in the area as it is close to the fun cities of Portsmouth and Newburyport.
Devon B.ScoutCrow's Nest Campground
Play Games
The recreation hall was a nice surprise. We had some rainy weather one afternoon and the kids were able to play games while we relaxed for a bit. Saved the day honestly😂
Riley B.ScoutCrow's Nest Campground
Spend A Few Days
We came up looking for a campground where we could actually spend a few days without constantly driving somewhere. Ended up fishing, swimming, walking along the river and exploring the area. The campground gave us plenty to do, but it was also nice having the option to just sit at the campsite and do nothing. Would definitley come back.
- RRachel J.Scout
Crow's Nest Campground
A Longer Stay
We have a big RV and had no trouble getting settled in. Having the full hookups made things super easy, especially for a longer stay.
Guide to Belmont
Tent campsites near Belmont, New Hampshire range from secluded woodland settings to more established camping areas with basic amenities. The region sits between Lakes Winnipesaukee and Winnisquam at approximately 500 feet elevation, experiencing warm summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak camping season. Most primitive camping options in this region require visitors to pack out their trash and come prepared with water filtration systems or enough drinking water for their stay.
What to do
Hiking to spectacular views: Sawyer Pond offers tent campers access to both scenic camping and trail options. "The trail head is located at the end of a 9 mile road and there are several spots for parking," notes visitor Hunter P., who adds the hiking trail is "mostly flat with a few minor hills" making it accessible for various ability levels.
Rock climbing access: AAC Rattlesnake Campground provides tent campers with convenient lodging near popular climbing destinations. "Maintained by the American Alpine Club, pretty much all the campers here are rock climbers," reports Les R., who appreciated having dedicated camping near Rumney climbing areas.
Water activities: Tent camping locations around the Belmont area provide access to fishing, kayaking, and swimming opportunities. At Squam Lakes Association, camper Jen S. reported, "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."
What campers like
Private, wooded sites: Many primitive tent sites around Belmont offer privacy that RV parks cannot. At Baker Rocks, a visitor noted, "The tent sites are within the wooded area around the property and felt very secluded. There was a bit of road noise overnight."
Shelter options: Some tent camping areas feature unique structures for campers seeking alternatives to standard tent platforms. At Sawyer Pond, Ryan M. reported, "Probably one of my favorite nights out, stayed in the open air shelter. No one else was there. Waist deep snow made hike in a little more difficult, post holing every 5th step. Can't beat the view from shelter over Sawyer pond."
Simple amenities: Campgrounds provide different levels of basic facilities. Hunter P. described Sawyer Pond's offerings: "The camping area had 6 sites, 2 toilets, and 1 lean-to. There is a platform to pitch a tent (or 2) on and a fire pit with a grill attachment at each campsite."
What you should know
Firewood availability: At many tent sites near Belmont, gathering firewood can be challenging. At Sawyer Pond, Hunter P. noted "there was very little available firewood near the campsites," while another visitor mentioned "there is plenty of dead and downed wood to have a nice (responsibly small) campfire without cutting down standing trees."
Fire restrictions: Some campgrounds prohibit fires entirely due to local regulations. At Paugus Brook Farm, Justin P. reported that "fires aren't permitted due to area fire restrictions," an important consideration for campers planning evening activities.
Reservation systems: Tent camping options have various booking methods and timelines. Sarah C. warned about Sawyer Pond's popularity: "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."
Tips for camping with families
Choose appropriate hiking distances: When selecting tent camping with children, consider trail length. Hunter P. described Sawyer Pond as "a 1.5 mile hike from the parking lot to the campsite and pretty easy. It is mostly flat with a few minor hills (I saw children and elderly folks easily using this trail)."
Look for entertainment options: Some family-friendly campgrounds offer activities beyond the campsite. At Salmon Falls River RV Resort, Samantha N. reported, "If you have young kids this place is so fun! Multiple pools, a water slide, high ropes, a jump pad, mini golf and more!!! My niece had so much fun!"
Consider unique accommodations: Alternative camping options can enhance family experiences. April W. shared about Lost Boys Hideout: "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... We stayed 2 nights in the double bell tent with two clean full size beds."
Tips from RVers
Limited RV options near climbing areas: Most tent sites near popular outdoor recreation spots lack RV amenities. When visiting AAC Rattlesnake Campground near climbing routes, visitors should know this area primarily serves tent campers, not RV users.
Explore alternatives with amenities: RV campers seeking full hookups can find options slightly farther from Belmont. Aaron G. found Salmon Falls River RV Resort offered necessary services: "Campsites are level and site is fairly easy to maneuver with bigger rigs. Have great activities daily for the kids a nice store onsite."
Consider seasonal timing: RVers should check operating schedules before planning trips to campgrounds near Belmont. Most campgrounds in this region operate seasonally, typically from May through October, with limited winter camping options for RVs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Belmont, NH?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Belmont, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Belmont, NH is Squam Lakes Association with a 4.0-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find
tent camping near
Belmont, NH?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Belmont, NH?
TheDyrt.com has all 33 tent camping locations near Belmont, NH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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