5 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Dispersed camping options with horse facilities near Center Harbor, New Hampshire remain limited. Gunstock Campground in Gilford accommodates campers with pets but does not offer dedicated horse corrals or equestrian facilities according to current amenity listings. The campground features 250 sites with tent, RV, and cabin options, but equestrian campers should note the absence of specialized horse infrastructure. Camping sites include water and electric hookups, showers, toilets, and picnic tables, with sites situated in both wooded and open areas.
Hancock Campground, located approximately 30 miles from Center Harbor, similarly allows pets but does not provide horse-specific amenities. Situated along a river with natural surroundings, this campground offers primitive camping with limited facilities. The campground features basic tent and RV sites without hookups, vault toilets, and drinking water. Equestrians seeking dedicated horse camping may need to explore facilities further from the immediate Center Harbor area that specifically advertise horse corrals, paddocks, or equestrian trail access. Seasonal considerations affect campground operations, with Hancock maintaining year-round accessibility while Gunstock operates on a more limited seasonal schedule.
"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"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 Availabilityfrom $25 - $45 / 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."
from $35 - $45 / night
Check Availability
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.
Dispersed camping options near Center Harbor, New Hampshire include sites with varied terrain and recreational possibilities, with elevations ranging from 504 to 2,240 feet in the surrounding White Mountains foothills. Most local campgrounds operate seasonally from May through October, though Hancock Campground remains accessible year-round for primitive camping. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing, requiring appropriate cold-weather gear for off-season visits.
Hiking from campgrounds: Gunstock Campground offers direct access to multiple trails on the mountain property. "Got to walk to hike Gunstock. Wished there was a restaurant within walking distance. But not a show stopper," notes Christine M. at Gunstock Campground.
Mountain adventure activities: Seasonal activities include aerial courses and mountain coaster rides at select recreation areas. "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," shares Marc D. about Gunstock.
River access and swimming: Campgrounds with water access provide cooling options during summer months. "There is a fenced in dog park, playground, showers, clean bathrooms, and laundry facilities. Would definitely camp here again. I just prefer the wooded/shaded tent sites...which are limited at this place," explains Melissa B. about her stay at Gunstock.
Riverside tent sites: Many campers favor sites along waterways for the natural ambiance. "We camped here Wednesday-Friday on one of the riverfront tent sites. We arrived around 11:15 am and got the last site on the river, which had a nice little opening to the water and had a bit more tree coverage to separate us from our neighbors," reports Lindsey M. at Hancock Campground.
Winter camping options: For cold-weather enthusiasts, year-round facilities provide rare winter access. "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. The campgrounds were well cared for and the staff was friendly," notes Heather B. about Hancock.
Site privacy and natural surroundings: Secluded sites remain in high demand despite limited availability. "It has pretty spacious sites, they have an aerial obstacle course and a mountain coaster, places to swim, music festivals, hiking, etc.," states Kasey H. about the offerings at Ramblewood Cabins and Campground.
Limited equestrian facilities: Horse campgrounds near Center Harbor, New Hampshire remain scarce, with most local sites lacking dedicated horse corrals or equestrian accommodations. "This campground is run by a very pleasant couple who take great pride in this property. Everything is immaculate from the bathrooms, shower, clubhouse, store and grounds so you can relax and know that the kids are safe," explains David G. at Tippicanoe Campground, which like other area campgrounds does not specifically advertise horse facilities.
Seasonal insect activity: Bee populations can affect camping comfort at certain locations. "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," warns Lindsey M. about Hancock Campground.
Site selection considerations: Campers should research site layouts before booking. "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," advises Melissa B. about Gunstock Campground.
Bear safety precautions: Secure food storage systems protect both campers and wildlife. "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," mentions Lindsey M. from her Hancock experience.
Navigating carry-in sites: Some prime riverside locations require carrying equipment from parking areas. "These sites were carry-in only, which wasn't convenient, and it was a lot of work to carry all of our gear from the parking lot to the site (the main part of the path was a hill)," shares Lindsey M. about Hancock's tent sites.
Recreation access for children: On-site activities provide entertainment options without driving. "We have stayed here a few times and really enjoyed sites and hospitality!" reports Anne G. about her experience at Tippicanoe Campground.
Campground access and security: Some properties feature gated entry systems requiring key cards. "The campground is gated so you have to make sure you keep your key card with you whenever leaving in order to get back in," advises Melissa B. about Gunstock Campground.
Site sizing and separation: RV campers should research site dimensions before booking. "Large campsites, clean amenities, nice dog park, great store with everything you need and located near lake Winni," states Ryan P. about his stay at Gunstock Campground.
Hookup availability: Water and electric connections vary significantly between campgrounds. "The campground features basic tent and RV sites without hookups, vault toilets, and drinking water," is common for more primitive campgrounds in the area, while Tippicanoe notes "the sites all have water, 50amp and sewer hookups."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Center Harbor, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Center Harbor, NH is Gunstock Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 15 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Center Harbor, NH?
TheDyrt.com has all 5 equestrian camping locations near Center Harbor, NH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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