4 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Limited equestrian camping options exist near Center Conway, New Hampshire. Based on the available campground data, none of the reviewed facilities specifically advertise horse corrals or dedicated equestrian amenities. Freeport/Durham KOA in Maine, approximately 65 miles east of Center Conway, and Gunstock Campground in Gilford, New Hampshire, about 45 miles southwest, both accommodate various camping styles including tent sites, RV spots, cabins, and yurts, but neither specifically mentions horse facilities in their amenities list. Campers report clean facilities at Gunstock with 250 sites spread across the property.
Trails suitable for horseback riding can be found in the White Mountain National Forest surrounding Center Conway, though riders must confirm trail-specific equestrian access regulations before visiting. Hancock Campground, located along the Kancamagus Highway, provides camping options but doesn't list horse-specific accommodations. Primitive camping with horses may be permitted in designated areas of the national forest with proper permits. The Pemigewasset River flows through some camping areas, providing water access. Equestrians planning trips should contact White Mountain National Forest rangers directly for current information on horse-accessible trails and camping regulations, as trail conditions and policies vary seasonally.
"This would be one of few places I find acceptable to camp, that are near other people. I usually don't like camping with 20+ other people in one looped area."
"Used the tent sides a quick hill walk down from the parking lot. River great for splashing around and nearby path to Lincoln Woods trail."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $35 - $80 / night
Check Availability"It is next to the Highway on a paved fire road. So you can hear traffic. And it is paved (which is good if it’s wet and muddy elsewhere). The other spots looked amazing."
"They have a fire pit, plenty of woods around, and are free."
"The haunted house is scary enough that I waited by the exit! (This part is NOT for the little kids). The campground fills up for this event so make reservations early."
"The location is good as it is about 10-15 minutes far from the town of Freeport(home to L.L."
GuideFairly extensive camp ground associated with Gunstock ski area on central New Hampshire. We arrived without a reservation a bit after the office closed, but Elena, the manager came out to let us in and allowed us to check in. She was great. Dogs must have proof of rabies vaccine. Very nice showers. Beautiful fall colors.
RangerThis would be one of few places I find acceptable to camp, that are near other people. I usually don't like camping with 20+ other people in one looped area. The sites here are pretty well spread out. Not ALL of them, but look around. We found what I would think is the best. The one we ended up at had stairs leading from the car down to our site. It was further away from the other sites and had the pretty much private stream running by it. The area we had for use was pretty huge, we had a giant tent 10-12 plus a pop up tent to put over the picnic table, and there was still a ton of room for the car, fire pit and general run around area for our dog. I never felt like we had to lock up everything we owned either. A short walk to the toilets from all sites. Bring a headlamp of course. TP is in the outhouses bring a spare hand sanitizer bottle to use after.
FYI there is a pretty awesome hike close by you can do. I mean you have to drive there but it wasn't far. It goes up to Mt Moosilauke. We ended up taking Beaver Brook Trail to the Cascades, checked out the shelter and headed to Moosilauke Summit. A crazy hike pretty much going up the side of a waterfall. The peak was 4,802ft. Worth it! I'd say an 8 mile trek from the car, up, and back. I included just a couple pictures to entice you since its not about the campsite! There are a TON of trails near this campsite, this would just be my favorite of the 6 or 7 we did.
GuideI was lucky to receive a tranquil, secluded spot next to a brook - perfect. This campground has nothing to do, or plenty you can do - walking, hiking, biking, and close access to all Gunstock's adventures.
TravelerMost amazing spot I’ve ever camped and not too many people. Used the tent sides a quick hill walk down from the parking lot. River great for splashing around and nearby path to Lincoln Woods trail.
LegendI haven't stayed here, but I checked it out on Columbus Day weekend because it's one of the few campgrounds open year-round (plowed, unlike Lafayette Place, which is walk-in) in the White Mountains. Most of the reviews talk about the walk-in tent sites, but there's more to this campground that is located along the Kancamagus Highway just before the Lincoln Woods Visitors' Center.
If you're a tent camper and don't mind carrying your gear downhill to a site, drive straight ahead to a parking lot. A few of the sites (3 & 4) are accessible from the far end of the parking lot, but for most of them you'll head down the steps in the middle with sites in two levels branching out on each side. Sites are large, but close together and although you're in the woods, there's not much to separate you from your neighbors. Even sites 10-20 are directly on the water.
Sites 22-55 are suitable for RVs and tents. Those on the back side of the loop are close enough that you can hear the Pemi River running below. A few of the sites are pull-through. There are no hook-ups, but water available via spigots and flush toilets are available - except in winter. I'd recommend sites on the back side of the loop to provide some more distance from traffic noise. I chatted briefly with a host who remarked that sites on the western end of the loop have some cell phone coverage, unlike the rest of the campground.
If you stay here, you're only a few miles from Lincoln where you can pick up any necessary supplies. This end of the Kanc your nearest hiking options are Lincoln Woods and Greeley Pond for family friendly trails, or Lincoln Woods to head into the Pemi wilderness, including peaks in the Pemi loop and Owl's Head. The Hancocks are via a trail at the hairpin on the Kanc. Franconia Notch and its many hiking trails and the multi-use trail are a short drive away.
Bring cash or a check to pay your camping fee in the iron ranger. Fees cover the first vehicle; a second vehicle is an additional $5.
LegendHancock Campground is one of 6 national forest campgrounds along the Kancamagus Highway. Campsites can't be reserved and the campground does fill up on the weekends. We were lucky to score a walk-in tent site on a Saturday in August, and while it did feel a bit like a tent city, we loved that there were no cars at the campsites. It made the tenting area feel more like a community. This is a busy campground, but lovely all the same.
We got site #19, which was one of the last sites available. It had a picnic table, fire pit, and bear box. There were awesome waterfront sites nearby, but they were taken, of course. Cost was reasonable - $22 per night. Pit toilets were near the parking area, but there was a real bathroom with a sink and a flush toilet in the car camping area. There is also a fabulous swimming hole. Clear, cold and deep just off the car camping area.
Hancock Campground is a five-minute drive from Lincoln, NH, and very close to awesome hiking trails in the White Mountain National Forest and Franconia Notch State Park.
RangerPros: 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 the grounds, lots and lots of tent sites, platform on campsite, pool and playground available, camp store, bike & Segway trails, quick access to some of NH’s most beautiful mountains. Staff is friendly. Cons: So many roots all over the sites, the platform did not fit our tent for 12 on it. More of the sites have very little separation from the neighboring campers near you. We explored the grounds & noted some sites that were a smidge more secluded and plan to return again sometime!
ScoutI stayed at Hancock campground in mid April this year. Great clean accessible bathrooms, beautiful grounds and large campgrounds. Leashed dogs are allowed. There are both walk-in and drive up tent sites. The walk-in sites are directly next to the beautiful Pemi River. Great overall would return again.
RangerSome pros and lots of cons. We stayed at a walk-in site by the river.
I never fully appreciated just how much camp hosts do. There was no ranger and no host. We arrived early on a Thursday, hopeful we could get a spot by the water. There are only two spots that are truly private in any way. They were both taken- fine. However, one of the groups had not registered and stayed until 4 or 5pm until everyone else had already set up for the day…then they left! So uncool. The site went unused because at that point, no one was going to move all their stuff. Maybe a camp host would’ve noticed that?
The sites were FILTHY with trash, dog poop and food waste. Pretty crazy considering this was supposed to be a bear area. There was also a bad smell wafting around, hmm…maybe because of the trash and dog poop? Stepping in dog poop and trying to clean off your boots is a significant bummer. The site we were stuck at also had ashes and chunks of wood all over the picnic table. Cleaning up this much in order to feel comfortable really sucked.
There was no running water at any of the pumps and the pit toilets were quite full.
There is a bridge nearby but the river covered any vehicle noise very well. It was also nice to be right off the highway and five minutes from town, yet it felt like a proper national forest experience.
There’s an upper loop with drive in sites. They didn’t seem very private and you could see the road. I wouldn’t stay up there.
Being by the river was beautiful. I would stay here again, but with more preparation for the campground’s limitations.
Equestrian camping options in the Center Conway area offer limited dedicated facilities but provide access to numerous recreational trails throughout White Mountain National Forest. Most campgrounds are within a 45-minute drive of Center Conway, with several sites accepting both tent campers and RVers seeking proximity to hiking and water activities.
Trail hiking at Hancock Campground: Located along the Kancamagus Highway, campers can access numerous White Mountain trails. One reviewer notes, "Great place to set up camp to get some 4Ks in the whites. I have stayed here many times, three times in the winter and a few times in the summer. Quiet, clean sites."
Water activities at riverside sites: Hancock Campground offers river access for swimming and fishing. "There is also a fabulous swimming hole. Clear, cold and deep just off the car camping area," reports one camper. Many sites are positioned directly alongside the water for easy access.
Winter camping opportunities: The Center Conway region offers year-round camping options. A Hancock visitor shares, "We came at the end of October to try to hike Franconia Ridge (there ended up being a blizzard when we got to the top) and we stumbled upon this campground. We were the only ones in it and we picked the site right next to the rambling river."
Riverside relaxation: Many campers appreciate water-adjacent sites. A Hancock visitor recommends, "Set up a hammock on the shoreline and have a tasty beverage before bed. Sites can be close together." Another adds, "This campground is great! I recommend getting a site in the river side away from the street. Absolutely beautiful!"
Adventure activities: Gunstock Campground offers numerous recreational amenities beyond traditional camping. "They have an aerial obstacle course and a mountain coaster, places to swim, music festivals, hiking, etc.," writes one reviewer. The 250-site property provides diverse activity options.
Seasonal flexibility: The availability of camping during off-peak months appeals to many visitors seeking solitude. A winter camper at Hancock notes, "Stayed here for two nights in late December. Site #40 along the river was close to the bathroom yet had plenty of privacy from other sites."
Campsite selection matters: At Hancock, location significantly impacts experience. "I recommend getting a site in the river side away from the street," advises one camper, while another suggests, "You'll probably want to be closer to the river (although people will get up early to fish, get on the river etc.) because there is traffic along the road."
Insect considerations: Some campsites experience seasonal insect activity. One Hancock visitor warns, "Big negative: Our site was completely swarmed with bees. We checked a few vacant sites to see if maybe it was just our site, but we found them all around, including all over the cars in the lot."
Facility variations: Freeport/Durham KOA in nearby Maine offers additional amenities for those willing to travel. "There are lots of site choices, cabins, yurts, and tent sites to choose from. The location is good as it is about 10-15 minutes from the town of Freeport, the pretty coastal town of South Freeport, four craft breweries and a cidery."
Activity-focused campgrounds: Gunstock provides numerous family options. "Good Location, Clean, Lots of Camping Options," notes one visitor. Another adds, "Very well kept and quiet grounds. The lot I was in was not wooded but still quiet. Check in was quick and friendly."
Holiday camping events: Some campgrounds offer special seasonal activities. A Freeport/Durham KOA camper shares, "The Halloween celebration is really well done- campers decorate their sites, there is an in-costume parade, and the central, bigger rigs are set up for trick or treating."
Protected food storage: For families camping with food supplies, Hancock provides bear boxes. "We appreciated having a bear box on our site, especially since we couldn't keep anything in our car. It was big enough to fit our grill, cooler, trash, and bag of groceries."
Site accessibility considerations: At Freeport/Durham KOA, RVers appreciate the spacious pull-through sites. "The park has nice super long 50 amp FHU pull-thrus in the front of the park which will fit any length RV and tow vehicle. Some of these sites are 'buddy' sites with a shared patio."
Connectivity challenges: When seeking horse campgrounds near Center Conway, New Hampshire, RVers should note connectivity limitations. A Freeport visitor reports, "Some of the cons for this park are the lack of cable, so-so wifi, and the dusty gravel roads and pot holes," while another mentions "bad WiFi and poor Verizon reception."
Site separation variations: At Gunstock, site privacy varies significantly. "Most of the sites are out in the open though, or very close together. Not so bad if you're camping in trailers or RVs, but if tent camping you won't really have any privacy in those locations."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Center Conway, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Center Conway, NH is Hancock Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 27 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Center Conway, NH?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Center Conway, NH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
