Best Campgrounds near Canterbury, NH

Canterbury, New Hampshire provides access to several established campgrounds within a 30-minute drive, including Bear Brook State Park Campground and Pawtuckaway State Park Campground. The region includes a mix of state park facilities and private campgrounds that accommodate tent camping, RV sites with hookups, and cabin rentals. Most campgrounds in the area feature amenities such as drinking water, fire rings, picnic tables, and restroom facilities, while some also offer electric hookups, showers, and dump stations for RVs. Bear Brook State Park, located in nearby Deerfield, serves as a popular destination with hiking trails, fishing opportunities, and multiple camping areas.

Seasonal considerations affect campground operations throughout the region, with most facilities operating from May through October. Many sites require advance reservations, particularly for weekend stays and waterfront locations during summer months. As one camper noted, "Make your reservation well in advance if you're planning to visit during peak season or if you want a prime waterfront site." Winter camping options are limited, with most campgrounds closing after Columbus Day weekend. The terrain varies from relatively flat, accessible sites to more secluded areas with moderate elevation changes. Cell phone coverage can be inconsistent throughout the region, with several reviews mentioning limited connectivity at Bear Brook State Park and other nearby campgrounds.

Waterfront camping receives consistently positive reviews, with several campgrounds offering access to lakes and ponds suitable for swimming, fishing, and paddling. A review of Pawtuckaway State Park mentioned that "the park lines the shore of beautiful Pawtuckaway Lake. The 192 sites are wooded and many provide views of the lake." Family-friendly amenities are common at established campgrounds, including playgrounds, beaches, and hiking trails. Privacy between campsites varies significantly across the region, with state park campgrounds generally offering more spacious and secluded sites compared to private RV parks. Several campgrounds feature cabin rentals as alternatives to tent or RV camping, providing options for visitors seeking additional comfort or protection from New Hampshire's variable weather conditions.

Best Camping Sites Near Canterbury, New Hampshire (237)

    1. Bear Brook State Park Campground

    28 Reviews
    Candia, NH
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 485-9869

    $35 - $45 / night

    "Tucked away in what feels like the middle of nowhere New Hampshire is it's largest state park. Bear Brook is full of trails, ponds and a fairly large campground."

    "Site 91 is near the entrance, but large and set back from the camp road, so it offers some extra seclusion. It’s across the street from the playground."

    2. Granite State Campground

    7 Reviews
    Belmont, NH
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 393-6003

    "New bath houses, New hook-ups on many sites Close drive to Lake Winnisquam and Winnipesaukee, Close drive to Gunstock Mountain, not far from Laconia, wooded sites, The camp has some seasonal full timers"

    "This campground is one of my favorites in the lakes region. Affordable prices, large wooded sites and great staff."

    3. Epsom Valley Campground

    7 Reviews
    Epsom, NH
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 736-9758

    $35 - $165 / night

    "I enjoyed the hiking trails in the back and a pretty good amount of things to do near by. Being able to walk to a store and restaurant is great."

    "We only wanted to stay for one and when we arrived, the older women drove me around in the golf cart to see which site would best suit us and I just thought it was the sweetest thing!"

    4. Gunstock Campground

    13 Reviews
    Gilford, NH
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 737-4355

    $35 - $80 / night

    "I was lucky to receive a tranquil, secluded spot next to a brook - perfect."

    "Pros: 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"

    5. Lazy River Family Campground

    7 Reviews
    Epsom, NH
    12 miles
    +1 (603) 798-5900

    $26 - $30 / night

    "Saturday rolled around and some noisier guests came in for the night, they were several sites away and sounded like they were having a great time, didn't bother us."

    "The family will definitely be making a few return trips, especially with the reasonable drive from the boston area to the grounds."

    6. Pawtuckaway State Park Campground

    44 Reviews
    Raymond, NH
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 895-3031

    $35 - $140 / night

    "Driving around this past weekend I did notice that some of the sites had damp spots; site 71 was the worst with deep mud on the long approach."

    "My first time experiencing a park in the New Hampshire Park system. We went down with a group. Pawtuckaway State Park offers a variety of landscapes, with something to do and see for everyone."

    7. Sandy Beach Campground

    6 Reviews
    Contoocook, NH
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    8. Ramblewood Cabins and Campground

    1 Review
    Boscawen, NH
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 538-6948

    $25 - $45 / night

    9. Spacious Skies French Pond

    7 Reviews
    Henniker, NH
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 428-7616

    $24 - $185 / 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."

    10. Welcome to the Wolf Swamp

    1 Review
    Canterbury, NH
    0 miles
    Website

    $45 / night

    "were fully booked up

    • They provide firewood for $10 a bundle and it's a LOT of wood and it's very good wood  
    • They supply water (poland spring 2.5 gallon jugs) as there is no running water at or near"
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Recent Reviews near Canterbury, NH

988 Reviews of 237 Canterbury Campgrounds


  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 18, 2025

    Woodmore Family Campground and RV Park

    Good Campground

    Stayed for over a week off season , mid September. Very quiet during the week , weekend is Party Time when the gang pulls in on Friday Night. Very loud until after 10:00 on Friday / Saturday. 50 percent or more is seasonal camp sites. Sites in back are ok with trees and different levels. Sites are a little closer than I usually find. Neighbors are very considerate on site privacy. Owners are exceptionally helpful and work hard to keep the site functioning and clean. Coin operated showers with hot water, mostly nice and clean except after a crowd gets packed and checks out Sunday AM. Laundry room takes quarters for machines. Small store at office which was open every day. Game room with wi fi. Pool , playground , volleyball area. Good size wood bundle for $10 , delivered directly to your site. Lake access with kayaks , some local hiking. Major grocery store nearby along with Walmart.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 18, 2025

    Meredith Woods Four Season Camping

    Now called HUNTERS RUN Rv Park

    Good spot, lots of seasonal campers, new corporate owners and it’s named Hunter’s Run RV Park. Combined with another campground across the street. Called for reservations and staff helpful once they answered. Store and office hours are erratic. FireWood supply “iffy” so brought some locally sourced food. Camped at Lakeside area.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 18, 2025

    Clearwater Campground

    Now Hunter’s Run RV Park

    This is now called Hunter’s Run. Many seasonal campsites more than half the campground. Good site spacing. Store only open limited hours and staff on site only limited hours. Probably due to new corporate owners. Very quiet off season and during the week. No wood available during our visit, 2 bundles locked in cage area but nobody around to purchase from. Bathhouses and showers very clean at lakeside section of campground. Nice clean beach area at the lake. Looks like kayak and canoe rentals. This is on south side of NH route 104 which is a busy road. Some road noise noticed from our location near the lake. Gravel/dirt sites with fire pits ( rocks ) and picnic table. Called office to arrange for site and they called back. Staff very helpful to find a good site and making reservations.

  • Mindie C.
    Sep. 16, 2025

    York Beach Camper Park

    Hideaway

    Don’t let the entrance turn you off. Once you get back into the campgrounds, it’s so cute. You are nestled in the woods. You feel like you are in the Forest but so close to the ocean. It’s calm and peaceful. The owners are so friendly and kind.

  • Utshob A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Bear Brook State Park Campground

    Convenient and fun

    The park was easy to get to, only about half an hour from Manchester. It has kayak rentals and a very well stocked camp store, that was close to the camp sites. Our campsite was only about a hundred feet away from the camp store but still felt private.

    Our campsite also had a fire pit and a picnic table which were great.

    The size of the sites varies quite a bit though as well as their isolation, some were out in the open.

    For cell service: ATT seems to have pretty decent coverage but not Verizon.

  • Erin D.
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Lost River Valley Campground

    Dirty and Disappointing

    Here’s the revised version of your review with the laundry issue added in seamlessly:⸻ I came to this campground after seeing it advertised in a New Hampshire magazine, noting that it had once been recommended by Yankee Magazine. Unfortunately, it seems that recommendation must have been from many years ago, because what we experienced was nothing like what was promised. From the moment we arrived, it was clear the property was extremely rundown. The entrance and camp store were full of broken wood, broken signs, and musty smells. The bathrooms were absolutely atrocious—filthy, smelly, and clearly not maintained. They may not have been updated in years, but they could at least be kept clean, and they were not. The playgrounds—despite this being advertised as a family-friendly campground—were unsafe and neglected. Structures were practically falling down, weeds were everywhere, and one so-called playground was nothing more than a tarp on the ground with a tiny jungle gym. The game room was equally disappointing: dirty, moldy, and unusable. We had also looked forward to using the laundry facilities, but they were completely out of order and appeared to have been that way for quite some time. This was extremely disappointing and added to the sense that the entire campground is neglected. The swimming area was also a major letdown. The water was murky and uninviting—I wouldn’t even consider kayaking or putting my feet in it. Calling it a“beach” is misleading; it was unkempt and unpleasant. Overall, this campground was an extreme disappointment. It felt neglected, unsafe, and unhygienic in every way. I will not be returning, and I would strongly caution others to look elsewhere for a true family-friendly New Hampshire camping experience.⸻ Would you like me to shorten this into a punchier version(since some review sites have word limits), or keep it as a full detailed account for maximum impact?

  • S
    Aug. 23, 2025

    Cold Springs Camp Resort

    All Around Exceptional

    This place is just great! They have clean, flat sites, easy to navigate and get our fifth wheel in. The facilities are spotless. There are numerous pools and hot tubs, activities and the people that work there are just the nicest! Our kids were never scolded for being loud and neither were the adults. We have booked our return trip already and can't wait to go back!

  • W
    Aug. 20, 2025

    Quechee State Park Campground

    Good location

    The park is in a good location; it is right next to the road. We were at sight #3.  We were able to walk to the gorge as well as to the Antique mall.  The staff was very friendly and accommodating with us. My wife really enjoyed it and had a lot of fun. The ice cream was really close and really good. 

    The issue I had was the camp next to ours had the generator on all night long and I had a hard time getting back to sleep after going to the bathroom. Next time I will get a volunteer or park ranger to get it turned off.


Guide to Canterbury

Camping near Canterbury, New Hampshire offers options within a 30-minute driving radius. The area sits between the Lakes Region and the Merrimack Valley, with terrain varying from forested hills to riverfront lowlands. Summer temperatures typically range from 55-85°F while fall brings cooler camping weather with overnight temperatures sometimes dropping into the 30s by late October.

What to do

Mountain biking trails: Bear Brook State Park Campground features extensive trail systems popular with cyclists. "The biking trails were a blast. We'll definitely be back again," notes Eammon C., who visited specifically to check out the mountain bike trails. The park's 10,000-acre forest preserve allows riders to access trails directly from campsites.

Boating and fishing: Spacious Skies French Pond provides direct access to a sizeable body of water. "Where we parked our trailer was some gravel sand and dirt. Great site across from a beach, on French Pond I'm guessing is at least 25 acres," shares Harold C. The pond offers opportunities for fishing and non-motorized boating.

Hiking with views: Gunstock Campground offers direct access to mountain trails with panoramic vistas. "Got to walk to hike Gunstock," mentions Christine M., highlighting the convenience of trail access. The campground's location at a mountain resort provides numerous hiking options with minimal driving.

What campers like

Privacy between sites: Epsom Valley Campground receives praise for its secluded camping areas. One camper noted, "The spots were pretty spacious and the rules were very relaxed." The campground's "wilderness area" offers particularly private tent sites while still providing full hookups.

Clean facilities: Gunstock Campground maintains well-kept bathhouses and common areas. "Very well kept and quiet grounds," reports Ryan F. Multiple reviews mention the attention to cleanliness at facilities throughout the property, with showers and restrooms receiving consistent positive feedback.

Waterfront locations: Pawtuckaway State Park Campground offers prime lakeside camping. "If you plan ahead and get a water front site it's amazing... but all the sites are roomy and lovely to camp at," shares Erin W. The park features camping areas spread across three islands with many sites directly on the water.

What you should know

Site variation: Bear Brook State Park Campground has significant differences between sites. Jean C. explains, "Mostly level sites sit under towering pines and vary greatly in size. Many of the sites are separated from their neighbors by large, downed pine trees." Research specific site numbers before booking to ensure the camping experience matches expectations.

Reservation timing: Bear Brook State Park Campground fills quickly during peak season. "During the peak season, I'm sure it's a different story given its proximity to Concord and Manchester and the variety of activities available," notes one camper who visited during the off-season when sites were plentiful.

Phone coverage: Cell service varies significantly between campgrounds. At Bear Brook, "Cell phone coverage varies from 1-2 bars, not always 4G, on Verizon," according to Jean C., while at Gunstock Campground, a reviewer noted, "For cell service: ATT seems to have pretty decent coverage but not Verizon."

Tips for camping with families

Swimming options: Sandy Beach Campground offers waterfront recreation for children. "The sandy beach is nice but the swimming area is quite weedy," notes Tammy, providing an honest assessment. The campground includes both beach and pool swimming options.

Playground access: Bear Brook State Park Campground has several play areas. "Site 91 is near the entrance, but large and set back from the camp road, so it offers some extra seclusion. It's across the street from the playground," advises Jean C. Some sites are very close to playground areas, which can be convenient or potentially noisy.

Campsite selection: When camping with children at Gunstock Campground, site location matters. "The campground has a fenced in dog park, playground, showers, clean bathrooms, and laundry facilities," shares Melissa B. The layout includes both wooded areas and open spaces with varying proximity to amenities.

Tips from RVers

Site accessibility: Granite State Campground has invested in improvements for RVs. "New bath houses, New hook-ups on many sites," reports Andrew P., who visited with a Boy Scout troop. The campground accommodates both seasonal campers and transient RVs.

Backing considerations: Some campgrounds require careful maneuvering. At Bear Brook, Jean C. found "the little loop to my campsite was tight to exit (I was towing a 14' teardrop, not a big trailer) and I had to be careful to swing wide at the corner." Sites designed for larger rigs are typically found along main campground roads.

Utility availability: Most campgrounds offer varying levels of hookups. At Spacious Skies French Pond, visitors should verify what's available before arrival. "The campground is advertised as having full hookups with Wi-fi and cable. Asked about Wi-fi, 'it's not all hooked up yet'. Told them our cable didn't work, 'it's not connected yet'," reports David S.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find camping sites in Canterbury?

Canterbury offers several excellent camping options nearby. The Pastures Campground is an adorable little camp with spacious lots featuring tables and fire rings. It offers nice bathrooms, showers, laundry facilities, and even a library. Another option is Bear Brook State Park Campground, located in New Hampshire's largest state park, offering trails, ponds, play structures, a camp store, beach, and even a small baseball diamond. It's an extremely family-friendly destination. Other nearby options include Epsom Valley Campground and Granite State Campground, both offering drive-in access with basic amenities like water and toilets.

What is the best time of year to camp in Canterbury?

Late spring through early fall (May to October) is the ideal time to camp in Canterbury, with summer offering the warmest temperatures. For spectacular scenery, consider autumn camping at Big Rock Campground, which features 28 wooded sites in the White Mountains with convenient access to Lincoln for supplies. Fall camping at Covered Bridge Campground is also excellent, offering quiet surroundings and spacious tent sites perfect for enjoying New Hampshire's famous fall foliage. Summer provides the most comfortable temperatures and access to water activities, while spring offers blooming wildflowers but potentially muddy conditions. Always check campground seasonal opening dates, as many New Hampshire campgrounds close during winter months.

What amenities are available at Wolf Swamp Campground near Canterbury?

Wolf Swamp Campground near Canterbury provides several essential amenities for a comfortable camping experience. The campground features reservable sites with drive-in access, making it convenient for most campers. Basic amenities include potable water access and toilet facilities. For those seeking alternative options with more extensive amenities, consider Woodmore Family Campground and RV Park, which offers clean facilities, friendly staff, organized activities, and a welcoming atmosphere with reasonable rules. Another option is Roots and Wings Homestead, which provides a peaceful retreat in rural New Hampshire.