Pawtuckaway State Park Campground and Bear Brook State Park Campground offer tent, RV, and rustic cabin options within 15-20 miles of Candia, New Hampshire. The region encompasses multiple water bodies with elevations ranging from 200-900 feet, creating diverse camping environments across the Merrimack River Valley. Summer temperatures typically reach highs of 80-85°F, while spring and fall camping seasons experience cooler 50-70°F days with overnight lows occasionally dropping to 40°F in late season.
What to do
Paddling activities: Kayaking and canoeing are popular at Pawtuckaway State Park Campground, where multiple water access points connect to the park's island system. "This a a fantastic little camp for if you want to go canoeing or kayaking or boating of any kind! It's set up of three islands and a large majority of the campsites are right on the water," notes camper Matt R.
Hiking trails: The extensive trail network at Bear Brook State Park Campground offers day hikes ranging from 1-10 miles through varied terrain. "Located in a 10000 acre forest preserve, the campground is heavily forested and very secluded from civilization," reports Ellen C. The park contains multiple ponds connected by well-marked walking paths.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple ponds and lakes within the camping area contain bass, perch, and trout depending on season. "The sites on the water book up quickly but they're perfect for fishing and boating. Also, the view!" mentions J L. about Pawtuckaway's waterfront sites.
What campers like
Lakefront access: Calef Lake Camping Area provides direct water access with swimming areas separate from fishing zones. "Located Beside a lake, The water is great for swimming, and the playground is absolutely perfect for kids and adults alike," writes Alyse-Beast F. The campground maintains separate dog-friendly water areas.
Weekend activities: Autumn Hills Campground organizes structured weekend events throughout the camping season. "They do have a pool, park, dog park, lake and food trucks visits at times. They have community fires and dances," notes Jen in her review. The campground schedules activities primarily on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Privacy options: Some sites offer more seclusion than others at various campgrounds. "Lots of small people powered boats on the lake," mentions Susan B. about Pawtuckaway, while another camper explains how Bear Brook offers "spacious and private from the other sites on either side."
What you should know
Booking windows: Reservations open January 1st for most campgrounds, with waterfront sites booking 4-6 months in advance. At Pawtuckaway, a camper notes, "If you plan ahead and get a water front site it's amazing... but all the sites are roomy and lovely to camp at!"
Pet policies: Rules vary significantly between campgrounds. According to Erin W., "Tried to plan ahead this year and get a prime site to learn they don't allow dogs anywhere in the campground during summer months. I would of hoped for one loop but NH state parks are anti-dog I guess." Always confirm pet policies before booking.
Site variations: Wakeda Campground has sites with significant differences in privacy and amenities. "We were overwhelmed by the beautiful massive forest. The campground was splendid with old tall, pine trees everywhere," explains Pawsfuradventure T., though noting some sites are more exposed than others.
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options: Multiple swimming areas exist across different campgrounds, each with unique features. "They have 3 outdoor pools and 1 indoor pool. Lots of activities for the kids and the bathrooms were pretty clean for a campground," shares Julia B. about Friendly Beaver Campground.
Noise considerations: Campgrounds have varying enforcement of quiet hours, typically 10pm-7am. "Campers aren't respectful of other campers and very noisy here," mentions one Pawtuckaway reviewer, while another notes Bear Brook remains "quiet even on closing weekend."
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature playground equipment for children ages 3-12. "We've been back her a few times because my girls love it. They have 3 outdoor pools(sports,toddler,regular) plus an indoor pool for rainy or chilly days. They also have crafts, hayrides and games,playground and other events," shares Kate C.
Tips from RVers
Hookup locations: Site layouts vary significantly, affecting convenience for larger rigs. As noted about Tuxbury Pond RV Campground, "We stayed here for a week, our site was large with full hookups and the area was very clean, some sites in other sections are closer together."
Dump station access: Not all campgrounds offer on-site dump stations. Those that do may have limited hours (typically 9am-7pm) and weekend congestion. "Bathhouses offer coin-operated showers; I noticed a price difference between the two of them, so went with the less expensive option!" mentions Jean C. about Bear Brook.
Winter accommodations: Some RV sites remain open year-round with varying levels of winter service. "Open in the winter for $400/mo. + elec." mentions Kiarra M. about one campground, though noting that full services may not be available during off-season months.
