A
Amber G.
Scout
ScoutTripoli Road
So much fun!
Went on a weekend and it was still very peaceful! Lots to do on such a beautiful back road. We stayed at two different sites each night we were there and both were equally beautiful and peaceful
Camping near Center Conway, NH
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Center Conway, New Hampshire features multiple camping areas along the Saco River, offering a range of accommodation options from tent sites to RV hookups and cabin rentals. Eastern Slope Camping Area and Saco River Camping Area provide riverfront access with both primitive and developed sites. The region also includes dispersed camping options like Town Hall Road Dispersed, which offers free camping with minimal amenities. Several mixed-use campgrounds accommodate various camping styles, with locations like Danforth Bay Camping & RV Resort featuring cabin rentals alongside traditional camping areas.
Seasonal considerations heavily impact camping in the Center Conway region, particularly around water access. Many campgrounds operate from May through October, closing during winter months. Flooding can affect riverside campgrounds during spring runoff and after heavy rainfall. A visitor commented, "July 2023 was not kind to this campground. Flooding and closures were problematic at times but staff made things easier to deal with." White Lake State Park Campground and most developed sites in the area enforce quiet hours and have specific fire regulations. Road conditions generally accommodate standard vehicles, though some dispersed areas may require higher clearance during wet weather.
The Saco River serves as the primary attraction for many camping areas near Center Conway, with multiple campgrounds offering direct beach and river access. Water activities like tubing, swimming, and kayaking are popular among visitors. As described in feedback on The Dyrt, "This is a great camp ground if you're planning to just eat sleep and float. They have lots of things to do for kids though." Family-friendly amenities are common at developed campgrounds, with playgrounds, organized activities, and camp stores. Privacy varies significantly between sites, with riverside locations typically offering less seclusion but better water access. Many campgrounds provide full hookups for RVs, while others maintain more rustic settings with vault toilets and minimal amenities. Campers often note the balance between accessibility to North Conway's attractions and the natural setting along the river as a key advantage to camping in this area.
Best Campgrounds near Center Conway (313)
1. Eastern Slope Camping Area
"A large wooden shelter stood over our picnic table, with a decent amount of space next to it for tents or a small camper."
"Great location with easy ride to all North Conway attractions. Nice hay ride and playground. The beach is sandy and lots of room to spread out. We visited Story Land and Mt."
2. Town Hall Road Dispersed
"Awesome boondocking in New Hampshire, what a treat in the east coast! Just beautiful scenery, with trees, rivers, creeks, hiking trails with a pond- we absolutely loved our time here. "
"There were plenty of sites to choose from and most (not all) had access to the river as well as a fire ring. Sites were on a dirt road, but it was quiet for the most part."
3. White Lake State Park Campground
"Last weekend, our family stayed at White Lake State Park for four days."
"I’ve stayed here a few times and love the location and access to White Lake."
from $35 - $105 / night
Check Availability4. Covered Bridge
"He absolutely loved it and there was plenty of space in the tent site for him to roam around."
"This campground is in a great location. It’s nestled right off the Kancamagus with walking access to boulder loop trail and the swift river. It’s a quick drive to many hiking trails."
from $30 / night
Check Availability5. Danforth Bay Camping & RV Resort
"This campground is huge with over 300 sites set on nearly 200 acres and along a beautiful lake!"
"We love the golf carts and sandy beaches as well as the proximity to North Conway and Lake Ossipee. Staff are nice, quiet time is a bit over enforced."
from $40 - $85 / night
Check Availability6. Jellystone Park™ Glen Ellis
"Located between the Ellis River and the Saco River, this campground offers so many fantastic amenities."
"Plenty to do at the campground and around the surrounding area for people
of all ages.
Remember you are in the mountains... you will see wildlife."
7. Saco River Camping Area
"They have bike rentals, disc golf, ping pong table, outside big chess game, pool, outlet shopping was near by, near by historic sites, like kangamangus Highway, diana’s Bath, cathedral ledge, we went"
"People to our left and the ones behind us were annual vistors to this campground. We are new to Rving it was refreshing to be around such nice people."
8. Dry River Campground — Crawford Notch State Park
"Cool location right on the edge of the Dry River Wilderness. Great Basecamp for lots of hikes in the area. Some spots are right on the highway with not much tree cover in between so can be loud."
"This state park campground located between Rte 302 and the Dry River in Crawford Notch is a great location for exploring family friendly trails to (Sawyer Pond, Arethusa Falls, Willard Cliffs to name a"
from $35 - $40 / night
Check Availability9. White Ledge Campground
"White Ledge Campground is in the White Mountain National Forest and should not be confused with nearby White Lake State Park."
"Water spigot and vault toilets, dumpsters all within easy walking distance of all sites. Great spot to start Carter Ledge Trail to hike Three Sisters and Mount Chocorua."
from $30 / night
Check Availability10. Jigger Johnson Campground
"Located on the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire, Jigger Johnson is one of those great sites that has close proximity to plenty of hiking, exploring, swimming and isn't too far from the hustle and bustle"
"earlier in the day, around 1 pm when new campers are welcomed."
from $24 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 1 hr 16 min from Lewiston, ME
- 1 hr 28 min from Portland, ME
- 1 hr 46 min from Manchester, NH
- 2 hrs 44 min from Burlington, VT
Recent Camping Photos near Center Conway, NH
808 Photos of 313 Center Conway Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Recent Reviews near Center Conway, NH
1471 Reviews of 313 Center Conway Campgrounds
- MMarie S.Scout
Gunstock Campground
Apparently Your Reserved Site Is More of a Suggestion
⭐**Gunstock Campground: Apparently Your Reserved Site Is More of a Suggestion**
I don't believe I have**ever** left a negative Google review. I generally think that when something goes wrong, you contact the business, give them an opportunity to make it right, and most businesses are genuinely interested in doing exactly that.
Gunstock Campground has cured me of that quaint notion.
I reserved a full-hookup campsite for two nights. I was unable to make it there the first night, but arrived shortly after 7:00 a.m. the next morning. The camp store, where registration takes place, wasn't open yet, so I headed out for my planned hike— about six miles through the Belknaps, including summiting Rowe twice and Gunstock.
By the time I returned, I was utterly exhausted, starving, and actually feeling weak. My ambitions for the afternoon were modest:**eat something, take a shower, and collapse at the campsite I had paid for.**
The staff at the camp store greeted me warmly, checked me in, and sent me on my way.
I drove to my site. There was already a camper in it. Not merely*parked* there, mind you. They had apparently moved right in. They were hooked up to**my site's water and electric**, with water spraying from their ill-fitting hose connection and forming a rather impressive puddle underneath the camper.
I returned to the camp store to report that someone had apparently activated Gunstock's new**"Choose Any Site You Like"** camping plan. A staff member went down to speak with them and came back to tell me they were "packing up." Excellent! My mistake was assuming" packing up" meant**leaving**. It did not.
Apparently these campers had actually reserved a site**two rows away** that had**no water or electric**. Yet somehow, sometime after arriving the previous night, they had accidentally found themselves two rows over, in my clearly different site, connected to utilities their reservation didn't include.
We've all made mistakes. I've occasionally parked one space away from where I intended. I've never accidentally parked**two rows away, hooked myself up to someone else's electricity and water, and spent the night.**
But perhaps I lack imagination.
After they had now consumed about an hour of my afternoon— which, incidentally, is an hour I normally bill at attorney rates— I went back toward my site expecting to find it finally vacated.
And it was! Because Gunstock had moved these folks to another site**two spaces away from me**, apparently allowing them to pay for the upgrade they had already been test-driving. So the people who knowingly or unknowingly occupied my reserved full-hookup site, used the utilities, and delayed me from getting into the site I paid for were rewarded with...a nearby full-hookup site.
They never walked over to apologize. At that point, I no longer felt comfortable staying. It's difficult to relax at a campground when you've just discovered that site assignments appear to operate somewhat on the honor system— and that when someone helps themselves to your reserved site and utilities, management's solution is apparently to make sure *they* remain comfortably accommodated nearby. So I left. On my way home, I called Gunstock and asked for a refund. Surely, I thought, this would be the easy part. After all, I had paid for two nights, hadn't used the first, couldn't get into my site when I arrived for the second, waited while unauthorized occupants vacated it, and ultimately left because the entire experience had become so unpleasant.
Nope. Instead, the staff member **defended the other campers**. I was told they arrived late and "mistakenly" took my site. I was even told they supposedly **hadn't used the utilities**. This was particularly fascinating information for me to receive because **I PERSONALLY SAW THEM HOOKED UP TO THE WATER AND ELECTRIC.** I also took photographs. Including the enormous puddle underneath their camper from the leaking water connection. But apparently my eyewitness account and photographs were no match for the alternative version of events.
For my inconvenience, however, Gunstock did give me a coupon for a **free Bavarian pretzel**. So there is that.
I paid for a full-hookup campsite. Someone else occupied it and used the hookups. I lost roughly an hour waiting to access what I had reserved. The other campers were accommodated with an upgraded site nearby. I left because I no longer felt comfortable staying. And when I asked Gunstock to make the situation right, they refused to refund me and instead argued with me about things **I had personally witnessed and photographed**. The most disappointing part isn't that another camper took my site. Campers can behave badly. Businesses can't control everything their customers do. **What a business CAN control is how it responds when that happens. ** Gunstock had every opportunity to turn this into a mildly annoying story about a camping mix-up. Instead, they turned it into my first negative Google review.
But hey... **I do have that free pretzel coupon.**
- KKrista R.
TravelerMoose Brook State Park Campground
Like Dispersed Camping... For $42
Pros: We have the p lube nearly to ourselves, thus it was very similar to dispersed camping. Nice little campground with two small ponds (One for fishing, the other for swimming). Nothing very remarkable, though.
Cons: As others have mentioned, if you want flush toilets and pay showers, you have to either stay at the more crowded, larger loop or walk across the highway to get to those amenities.
- GGeorge F.Scout
Cedar Haven Campground
Quiet
We stayed midweek and the park was 1/2 empty. Lots of kids activities. Wonderful bathrooms and showers. Great laundry. Close to Freeport but not the water
Richard P.ScoutSebago Lake Family Campground
Find a better place!
We just came back from a big family weekend there. We had 5 sites with 19 people(including children). This is by far the most rundown campground I've stayed! Only 1 bathroom facility was functioning. Of the 3 times I tried taking a shower, I only succeeded 1 time. The other 2 times(once at night and once the following morning at 6am) I only got drops coming out of the hot and cold faucets. I tried the only 2 stalls. Speaking of bathrooms...these have not been updated since the 60s-early 70s when I was camping with the same style bathroom facilities. The children's playground should be condemned!!! At least 25% of the wood is rotted. Some steps are missing from ladders. My granddaughter was swinging in the childs swing, the bottom unlatched and she fell through the bottom. If she wasn't monkey like in holding on she would have done a face plant to the ground. After looking at the swing, I found the plastic latch broken! 2 positives: the campsites are very nice! and the beach is great! Bottom line, these owners are not putting any money back into the campground and it's facilities. They are running it into the ground. I won't be coming back again!
- ccarolyn H.Scout
Hemlock Grove Campground
Great stay! :)
Wonderful stay! Clean bathrooms/showers. Woodsy and quiet. Clean campsites with water and electric. The people were super helpful and friendly! Wonderful stay, would easy stay here again :)
Jen P.TravelerTwin Mountain Campground
Lovely and peaceful
It was everything we were looking for, right on the river, quiet and clean, the section we stayed in was all tent camping so we weren’t sandwiched in between a bunch of RVs blocking the view. There was no lights, generators or loud music. Alcohol wasn’t permitted so that really cuts down on a lot of unnecessary nonsense. Pets are permitted and our dog loved it. It was very pleasant and relaxing. Can’t wait to go back.
- JJose L.Traveler
Town Hall Road Dispersed
Dispersed it is!
Stayed 8 nights with complete solitude. Bugs weren't too bad. There were plenty of dead birch trees and beech trees for firewood. Not any evergreens though. Site 16 has two campsites. I took the further one with plenty of room. Good size fire pit, but people before me left some large pieces of wood not completely put out along with lit coals.
Nikki M.ScoutCherry Mountain Road Dispersed
Dispersed camping in white mountains
We stayed in site #5. It was grassy and had a little creek running next to it that was lovely to listen to.
Guide to Center Conway
Camping spots near Center Conway, New Hampshire offer a mix of riverside and mountain terrain at elevations ranging from 400-900 feet above sea level. The region experiences warm summers with temperatures typically reaching 75-85°F during peak camping season from June through August. Weather patterns can change quickly, with afternoon thunderstorms common during summer months, requiring campers to secure equipment properly.
What to do
River activities on the Saco: 4.1 miles of hiking trails connect to many White Ledge Campground sites, offering direct access to the Carter Ledge trail up Mt. Chocorua. A camper noted, "We hiked the White Ledge Loop which was 4.1 miles and got amazing views. The brooks running through are beautiful."
Mountain hiking with elevation gain: 6 miles round trip from Covered Bridge Campground to Wiley's house. "We hiked a trail right from the campground to Wiley's house it was 6 miles round trip with the dogs and the trail was well marked and we had ice cream at Wiley's house which was great," reports one visitor.
Floating downstream: 10 miles of river access from shuttle drop-off points near Brownfield. Campers can drift back to their sites after arranging transportation. "Took a shuttle up with some kayaks- reasonably priced- and drifted back down 10 miles right to our site," shares one camper about their experience.
What campers like
Beach accessibility: multiple sandy entry points along the Saco River provide natural swimming areas. As one Eastern Slope Camping Area visitor described, "The river was awesome. The showers and bathrooms were the nicest I've seen in a campground."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: resident loons can be spotted and heard at White Lake State Park Campground. A camper shared their experience: "We had a recent trip here, and boy was it peaceful and relaxing... The lake is clear, the swimming area is shallow for quite a distance so you can feel comfortable with kids."
Free dispersed camping options: multiple pull-offs available along Town Hall Road with direct river access. "There were plenty of sites to choose from and most (not all) had access to the river as well as a fire ring. Sites were on a dirt road, but it was quiet for the most part," according to a recent visitor.
What you should know
Weather considerations: flash flooding risk exists for campgrounds located directly on the Saco River. Come prepared with tarps and adequate drainage systems for tent sites.
Road conditions: 7.9-foot height restriction applies when accessing Covered Bridge Campground from the Kancamagus Highway. "The covered bridge has 7.9' height restriction from the main scenic highway. We had to go out to Conway and drive back in," warns a camper with a taller vehicle.
Fire regulations: 11:30 PM fire curfew strictly enforced at most established campgrounds in the region. Many campers report security staff routinely checking sites for compliance.
Wildlife awareness: black bear activity reported at multiple campgrounds, requiring proper food storage. "They circled our camper at night. It was incredible to watch. Of course we never left any food out!" reports a visitor at one local campground.
Tips for camping with families
Noise considerations: select sites away from main roads for better sleep quality. At Town Hall Road Dispersed, "Sites were also a good distance from each other so it felt pretty private. We stayed two nights and at two different sites; enjoyed both."
Water safety: shallow swimming areas available at specific beaches with designated kid-friendly sections. "The lake is clear, the swimming area is shallow for quite a distance so you can feel comfortable with kids, and there is a separate boat launch area."
Children's activities: evening wagon rides offered at several campgrounds during peak season. "At night they did wagon rides around the campground which our little ones really enjoyed," shares a parent who camped in the area with young children.
Proximity to attractions: Story Land theme park located within 15-20 minute drive of many Center Conway camping areas, making it ideal for split-day activities.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: reserve back-in sites with adequate turning radius if driving larger rigs. A camper at Danforth Bay Camping & RV Resort shared, "We stayed at site M-9 and M-10," noting the "large sites with full hookups" that accommodate bigger vehicles.
Electric service: 50-amp hookups available at major campgrounds but often fill quickly during peak season from July through early September.
Dump station locations: not all campgrounds offer on-site facilities, so plan accordingly. Those staying at dispersed sites should note the nearest public dump stations in Conway.
Leveling requirements: bring blocks or levelers as many sites in the mountainous terrain require adjustment. "The site we had was very large. With our 20 foot trailer we could still fit our Ford 150 and Subaru Forrester in front of it and still had room for another car."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Center Conway, NH?
What camping is available near Center Conway, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, Center Conway, NH offers a wide range of camping options, with 313 campgrounds and RV parks near Center Conway, NH and 12 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Center Conway, NH?
Which is the most popular campground near Center Conway, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Center Conway, NH is Eastern Slope Camping Area with a 3.5-star rating from 17 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Center Conway, NH?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Center Conway, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 12 free dispersed camping spots near Center Conway, NH.
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