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roy T.
Scout
ScoutCountry Barn Motel & Campground
Very appealing cabins
I stayed in one of the cabins and actually enjoyed it more than i thought.
Best Campgrounds near Bradford, NH
The central New Hampshire town of Bradford serves as a gateway to diverse camping experiences within a 30-mile radius. State parks dominate the landscape, with Pillsbury State Park offering primitive camping among ponds and wetlands where wildlife like moose and loons thrive. Private campgrounds such as Spacious Skies French Pond and Sandy Beach Campground provide more amenities for those seeking comfort. The region balances wooded sites with waterfront options, particularly around lakes and ponds that dot the landscape. Camping styles range from tent-only areas to full-service RV sites with hookups, while some locations like Keyser Pond Campground feature cabin rentals for those seeking a middle ground between roughing it and modern conveniences.
Most campgrounds in the Bradford area operate seasonally from May through mid-October, with peak season running from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Advance reservations are strongly recommended during summer weekends when waterfront sites fill quickly. Cell service varies significantly throughout the region, with many campers reporting spotty coverage in more remote locations. As one visitor to Pillsbury State Park noted, "It's one of the more primitive and lesser known gems of the New Hampshire State Park system." Weather considerations include summer thunderstorms and significant temperature drops at night, even during warm months. Many campgrounds maintain quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., creating a family-friendly atmosphere.
Waterfront sites consistently receive the highest ratings from campers visiting the Bradford area. Visitors frequently mention the tranquility of wooded settings and the accessibility of water activities. According to one camper at Greenfield State Park, "The lake is a great spot for kayaking and the sunset on the lake definitely didn't disappoint." Site privacy varies considerably, with state parks generally offering more secluded options than private campgrounds. Mosquitoes present a common challenge during summer months, with multiple reviewers recommending bug spray as an essential item. Families particularly appreciate campgrounds with playgrounds, hiking trails, and swimming areas. The New Hampshire camping season concludes with spectacular fall foliage, making September and early October popular despite cooler temperatures.
Best Camping Sites Near Bradford, New Hampshire (189)
1. Pillsbury State Park Campground
14 ReviewsWashington, NH8 milesWebsite+1 (603) 863-2860$29 - $40 / night
"Many campsites are on the lake. None are very far from the lake. There are also a few 'remote' campsites that are not accessable by car. They are accessable by a sort walk or boat. "
"Pillsbury resides in a very pretty spot nestled around a lake. There are campsites that are car accesable and remote campsites only accessable by boat. Canoe rentals are available at the park."
2. Spacious Skies French Pond
9 ReviewsHenniker, NH11 milesWebsite+1 (603) 995-4133$24 - $189 / night
"I had a view of the beautiful pond, which is really a lake, and wished I had more time to rent a kayak. The bathrooms were clean and easy to access, since I do not have sewer in my small pop-up."
"Restroom closed to covid, some campgrounds kept them open and just cleaned more. Well no complaint here we’re self contained. Some areas could use some tidying up."
3. Sandy Beach Campground
6 ReviewsContoocook, NH12 milesWebsite+1 (888) 707-14774. Oxbow Campground
5 ReviewsHillsborough, NH12 milesWebsite+1 (603) 464-5952$30 - $45 / night
"We stayed with our parents in their camper for a couple nights and had such a positive experience there!"
"We stayed right next to a cute pond on site 69. There was a family with several smaller children who were fishing g the pond. It was so cute to hear them squeal with glee when they caught a fish."
5. Greenfield State Park Campground
21 ReviewsBennington, NH22 milesWebsite+1 (603) 547-3497$35 - $105 / night
"Easy access to a bathroom (which was very clean). Quiet neighbors, everyone around us observed the quiet hours (10p-7a) and even during the day no one was super loud."
"Nice views of the lake, swimming, wide open sites, not too over crowded! I'd definitely go back!"
6. Keyser Pond Campground
5 ReviewsHenniker, NH12 milesWebsite+1 (603) 428-77417. Northstar Campground
5 ReviewsGoshen, NH11 milesWebsite+1 (603) 863-4001$32 - $37 / night
"We had a spacious site w/water and electric next to the Sugar River. We enjoyed our time here and will definitely go back."
10. Spacious Skies Seven Maples
11 ReviewsHancock, NH20 milesWebsite+1 (603) 525-3321$55 - $999 / night
"The shower worked well and it was nice not to have to walk to the restrooms, though they were close by. Our stay was during the week so it wasn’t very crowded."
"We loved being next to the large field and basketball court where we watched the kids play without having to worry where they disappeared to."
Recent Camping Photos near Bradford, NH
398 Photos of 189 Bradford Campgrounds
David G.
Tippicanoe Campground
Evan B.
Pillsbury State Park Campground
Louise L.
Northstar Campground
patrick M.
Crows Nest
Spacious S.
Spacious Skies French Pond
The Dyrt
Sandy Beach Campground
Kathleen B.
Keyser Pond Campground
Linda G.
Cozy Pond Camping Resort
Steve K.
Lost Boys Hideout
isabella K.
Spacious Skies Seven Maples
Rick C.
Cold Springs Camp Resort
Recent Reviews near Bradford, NH
730 Reviews of 189 Bradford Campgrounds
Alizé B.ScoutField and Stream RV Park
Highly recommend
Amazing place and community, unfortunately very expensive.
- SS W.Scout
Oxbow Campground
Clean, Spacious & Friendly
Oxbow Campground in Deering has a helpful and friendly staff. The bathrooms are kept clean although should be updated.
The campsites are spacious, trash picked up and very quiet at night promoting a good night's sleep.
They sell their own fire wood, an employee who services campers is also available.
They have a propane fill station for your convenience too!
Dogs must be kept on leashes for safety.
Owners live right there within the park.and take pride in their facility.
A nice family owned and run park promoting peacefulness.
Adam B.
RangerBetween the Brooks Farm
Quiet spot easy to get to
Stayed here for a week. Josh and Dori were super nice and helpful. Level grass field with water and 30amp hookup. Fire pit port o potty, creek across the street. Very pretty setting. Dark sky area. Cell att and Verizon we decent enough to work plus they had WiFi if needed.
Sue B.RangerHapgood Pond NF Campground
Great campground and location
Our favorite campground in the area is Winhall Brook, but it has been closed for about 3 years since the flooding in VT. Hapgood Pond is a good alternative. It is a little more primitive with pit toilets in most of the campground except the bath house. We appreciate the pond for swimming and the nice easy pond loop trail for hiking. Hapgood is in close proximity to Manchester and near the Appalachian Trail.
- MMatthew L.Scout
Forest Glen
Forest Glenn campground
Forest Glenn campground is a very nice campground on Wheelwright pond in Lee New Hampshire! Not well kept up but makes you feel like you’re still camping and not glamping ( glamorous camping ) besides some of the very nice campers here with 2 stories on them! Anyway cutting to the chase, just to let any new comers know that are looking for camping in the Lee area if you so choose to camp at forest Glenn depending who you are or how you approach this place dictates if you will have to feel like your stepping on eggshells your entire stay… the owner is a angry Drunk who is sometimes very nice to others or very nasty, and I personally mostly see him being nasty. A couple years back I wanted to look at the campground to see if this would be a place I wanted to stay at so I walked into the office and asked them if we could look around and the lady was in the process of writing us a pass to drive through. This man comes in and said whats going on so I politely told him that we were interested in his campground and we wanted to look around. He completely flipped out said he doesn't understand, said his campground is his back yard, we can't allow this how would you like if I just walked around your back yard etc etc.... yelling at us the whole time and spitting while screaming and then told us to get out of his sight…. This place mind you is overrun by golf carts and I have heard of incidents where people get hit by them because who cares about the posted 5mph speed limitations if your in a golf carts right? Right! And CLEARLY this place is a Double standard place so you will not be treated equal… and as far as I know this place has secret people who camp supposedly working at camp like the manager and security and the plumber or electrician who look like their helping but while helping they gather information about you to spread it around to others or to cause problems with you and the owner!! Oh how thoughtful… one Morning I was in the office and the owner pulled me into the rec room to have a talk with me about my string lights suggesting I shut them off at night and I’m not allowed to use them anymore. I said “sir why would I do that there are 50 other sites with spot lights and string lights Who are these lights bothering that I need to take them down for? “ he said use them inside the trailer I don’t want to see them on again! “ now tell me how that makes any sense… so I shut them off and it became like a minefield on my site at night with no lights while the campers down a different street get to have theirs on. There is no privacy at this place, things keep going missing, and the sites are packed like sardines with no room for Jesus. There are also people staying here over winter and it’s a seasonal campground tell me how that makes any sense. Anyway definitely an experience to be at where drama hits too close to home and the golf cart parking spots are rolling a little to close to my feet. “ oh sorry my foot slipped “ #welp time to search for another place. Seems to be a trend with almost every campground. Angry owners who automatically cause problems or can’t run their own business place without drug addicts for help ( to say the least me and my wife WILL NOT BE COMING BACK )
Sandra P.ScoutHarbor Hill Camping Area
Best Seasonal Campground in the Lakes Region!
This is a great campground to be a seasonal at! 1 mile from a beautiful beach on Lake Winnipesaukee. 1 mile from town with cute shops and nice restaurants. Friendly staff. Seasonals are very friendly and welcome new seasonals. Campground is taken care of. It is family owned and they really care. I love the fact it is all seasonal- it has a wonderful community feel.
Will S.ScoutBarn Door Hostel & Campground
Incredible comforting vibe
Have been here twice, both end of season and beginning of season. The owners/operators are attentive, caring and engaged. Facilities are above par, the location is about the best you can get, highly maintained and they have Goose, probably one of the best dogs ever. Do yourself a favor and stay here... nights around the fire up in the whites in a safe and welcoming place are beyond description.
- DDavid P.
GuideHinsdale Campground At Thicket Hill Village
Great quiet place!!
I stayed at the camp for about 2 months while working up in NH. And it was wonderful big pool and playground for the kids. Plenty of trails close to everything you need. Full hookup site was awesome
Guide to Bradford
The Bradford area sits at the foothills of central New Hampshire's Monadnock region, with elevations ranging from 400-1200 feet. Camping options within a 30-mile radius of Bradford include both waterfront and wooded sites, with temperatures typically dropping 15-20 degrees at night even during summer months. Most campgrounds near Bradford offer a mix of tent, RV, and cabin sites with varying levels of amenities.
What to do
Kayaking on quiet ponds: At Pillsbury State Park Campground, the interconnected ponds provide perfect paddling opportunities. "Kayaking on May Pond and discovering little islands and coves was a highlight," notes Jessica N., who appreciated the "super quiet, considerate campers" at this primitive camping location.
Basketball and field games: Seven Maples Campground has both basketball courts and open fields for group activities. One camper reported, "We loved being next to the large field and basketball court where we watched the kids play without having to worry where they disappeared to."
Fishing for trout: Oxbow Campground maintains a dedicated fishing pond separate from their swimming areas. "The fishing pond was perfect. I will be returning soon. I highly recommend this place if you have a family or simply need a place to clear your mind," shares Kelly W., who visited in 2024.
Hiking trails from campsites: Multiple trail networks connect directly to camping areas. One visitor to Pillsbury State Park mentioned, "There are great hikes that you can get to right from your campsite, connecting to the Monadnock-Sunapee greenway (a 48-mile trail connecting two of NH's beautiful mountains)."
What campers like
Private waterfront sites: Northstar Campground offers riverside camping with natural sound barriers. "The sites near the river were nice and quiet," reports Patrick M., who camped there in 2021.
Clean facilities despite rustic settings: Many campers note that even primitive campgrounds maintain cleanliness. "The campground, pool, playground and bathrooms were very clean," reports Erin M. about Seven Maples, while another camper at Crows Nest mentioned, "This campground has nice, quiet, shaded riverside sites and other sites options as well."
Considerate campground owners: Spacious Skies French Pond receives praise for staff helpfulness despite facility limitations. One 2024 visitor, Ann B., commented, "I only stayed a few nights, but enjoyed it thoroughly. I had a view of the beautiful pond, which is really a lake, and wished I had more time to rent a kayak."
Spacious wooded sites: Several campgrounds offer well-spaced sites with natural vegetation barriers. At Seven Maples, a camper noted, "Our site was spacious and wooded. The Grove and Hemlock Heights are particularly nice areas with more spacious, wooded and quiet sites."
What you should know
Variable cell service: Coverage can be spotty at most campgrounds near Bradford. At Pillsbury, reviews note: "Be prepared to not have much cell phone service either if you need things while you're camping. If you have Verizon and you're at campsite 34 you can get a little service."
Water quality concerns: Swimmers should check on pond conditions before planning water activities. One Pillsbury State Park visitor warned, "Swimming in the stream is safe but the lake is loaded with leeches!"
Limited services at primitive sites: Greenfield State Park Campground and similar parks offer fewer amenities. "Pit toilets, sites are spacious, cell reception for Verizon isn't great," notes one visitor to Pillsbury, summarizing the trade-offs of more remote camping.
Cash-only policies: Some parks don't accept credit cards for on-site purchases. "Everything is cash here, no cards accepted except when reserving a site online," reports Brandon C. about Pillsbury State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Pool amenities for kids: Seven Maples Campground offers extensive water features. "The pool is amazing for kids of all ages with water slides and a splash area," says Erin M., though she cautions "There's no life guard or staff monitoring the pool area so it did get a little too crazy at times for my little ones."
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature playground equipment. "The playground is really big with plenty to do. There's also a fishing pond and short hiking/biking trails," notes a Seven Maples visitor.
Rental equipment availability: Some campgrounds offer on-site boat rentals to save packing space. "Rentals of canoes and kayaks were helpful," mentions a Pillsbury State Park visitor, making it easier for families to enjoy water activities without hauling equipment.
Safety considerations: Check campground layouts when booking with small children. "We were right on the pond, so the kids could fish whenever. Lots of hiking trails (the dogs loved it)," shares Richard W. who stayed at Seven Maples with family.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds require leveling blocks. One Spacious Skies French Pond visitor noted, "Sites not fully level but leveling blocks took care of it."
Hook-up reliability: Electrical service can be inconsistent at some campgrounds. A Seven Maples camper reported, "Had issues with 30 amp service at site was not providing enough power, could not run all my campers amenities While my 20 amp designated outlet at home runs my entire camper with no issue."
Tight navigation: Keyser Pond Campground and similar sites can be challenging for larger rigs. "Definitely aimed towards more of the RV/camper fields. It seems like the majority of the sites are seasonals," explains one Keyser Pond visitor, while another adds that "sites are wicked small, packed together."
Seasonal site options: For those considering longer stays, several campgrounds offer seasonal options. "Tthe sites all have water, 50amp and sewer hookups. Very few tenting, mostly RVs on the well laid out grounds," notes David G. about Tippicanoe Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to Bradford Beach in Milwaukee?
How do I get to Bradford Beach in Milwaukee?
Bradford Beach is located on Lincoln Memorial Drive along Milwaukee's lakefront. From downtown Milwaukee, head east toward Lake Michigan and follow Lincoln Memorial Drive north. Similar to how campers access Pillsbury State Park Campground, which is known for its accessible lakefront sites, Bradford Beach is clearly marked with signage. The beach is approximately 2 miles north of the Milwaukee Art Museum. If using public transportation, MCTS bus routes stop within walking distance. For those using GPS, enter "2400 N Lincoln Memorial Dr, Milwaukee, WI" for accurate directions.
Is there parking available at Bradford Beach?
Is there parking available at Bradford Beach?
Yes, Bradford Beach offers a dedicated parking lot along Lincoln Memorial Drive. Similar to Tully Lake Recreation Area, which provides ample parking for day visitors, Bradford Beach's lot can fill up quickly during summer weekends and holidays. Arrive early to secure a spot, especially between 11am-3pm. There's also limited street parking available in the surrounding area. Parking fees typically apply during peak season (Memorial Day through Labor Day), with rates around $2-5 per hour depending on the day.
What amenities are available at Bradford Beach?
What amenities are available at Bradford Beach?
Bradford Beach offers numerous amenities for visitors, similar to the comprehensive facilities at Kampfires campground. The beach features volleyball courts, concession stands serving food and beverages during summer months, and rental equipment for water activities. Public restrooms and outdoor showers are available for rinsing off sand. Woodmore Family Campground visitors appreciate clean facilities, and similarly, Bradford Beach maintains clean public areas with trash receptacles throughout. The beach also has lifeguards on duty during peak season, accessible walkways, and several tiki bars operating in summer. Beach cabana rentals are available for those seeking shade.
Are dogs allowed at Bradford Beach?
Are dogs allowed at Bradford Beach?
Dogs are not allowed at Bradford Beach during the official beach season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). This is similar to pet policies at Bear Brook State Park Campground, which has designated pet-friendly areas but restricts pets in certain locations. During off-season months, leashed dogs may be permitted, but owners must always clean up after their pets. For dog-friendly alternatives, consider visiting the designated dog beach at Roverwest Dog Park in Riverwest or Bay View Dog Beach. Always check current regulations as policies may change, and remember that service animals are typically exempt from these restrictions.
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