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 (242)

    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

    8 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

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

    $35 - $80 / night

    "Fairly extensive camp ground associated with Gunstock ski area on central New Hampshire."

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

    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. Spacious Skies French Pond

    9 Reviews
    Henniker, NH
    15 miles
    Website
    +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."

    8. Sandy Beach Campground

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

    9. Ramblewood Cabins and Campground

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

    $25 - $45 / night

    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

1015 Reviews of 242 Canterbury Campgrounds


  • M
    Feb. 17, 2026

    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.
    Feb. 16, 2026

    Harbor 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.

  • L
    Feb. 5, 2026

    Tuxbury Pond RV Campground

    This camping trip truly exceeded my expectations

     The campground was clean, peaceful, and surrounded by wide open views. During the day, the natural landscape felt refreshing and expansive, and at night, the sky was filled with stars, creating a calm and almost magical atmosphere. The layout of the campsite was well planned, making it easy and comfortable for both beginners and experienced campers to enjoy their stay. One fun thing I did after the trip was use Idea To Image to recreate some of the moments that stood out to me—sunrise over the tents, the warmth of the campfire, and the quiet starry night. It helped me turn those memories into beautiful visuals that really captured the peaceful vibe of the experience. Looking back at them now feels like being transported right back to the campsite. Highly recommend this place if you’re looking to slow down and reconnect with nature.

    One fun thing I did after the trip was use Idea To Image to recreate some of the moments that stood out to me—sunrise over the tents, the warmth of the campfire, and the quiet starry night. It helped me turn those memories into beautiful visuals that really captured the peaceful vibe of the experience. Looking back at them now feels like being transported right back to the campsite. Highly recommend this place if you’re looking to slow down and reconnect with nature.

  • Will S.
    Dec. 9, 2025

    Barn 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.

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 26, 2025

    Little Ossipee Lake Campground

    Great location

    This cpground is full of seasonal sp no transient sites. Has good owners who keep the park clean and well maintained. Very friendly campground.

  • cThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 17, 2025

    Cape Neddick Oceanside Campground

    Two week stay

    Read reviews on google. That’s the experience we had. The signs no everything. Cash only. The management is very weird acting and riding around on a bicycle. I feel so weird making this review because this place is odd . The tenants are fun and the scenery is great. But but but you’ve been warned. Turn your blue tooth off and your WiFi so that your cellphone privacy is protected.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 21, 2025

    Spacious Skies French Pond

    Helpful staff

    The staff was friendly. Don't forget the flashlight. There is very little lighting to find your way around the winding roads of the campground which adds to the charm.

  • Marc D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 21, 2025

    Mount Ascutney State Park Campground

    Great state park

    This is a beautiful state park at the base of Mt ascutney. The campground is lovely. Forest Ed and beautiful fall colors in October. Good facilities. Friendly staff. Some noise from the interstate but not terrible. There is a 3.7 mile road that is extremely steep but paved, and goes to the summit of the mountain. Less than 1 mile hike from there to the observation tower. Great views. Lots of hiking trail trails.


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.