Equestrian camping options near Chatham, New Hampshire are limited, with none of the reviewed campgrounds offering dedicated horse corrals or specialized equine facilities. The Freeport/Durham KOA in Maine, approximately 45 miles southeast of Chatham, accommodates various camping styles including tent sites, RV spots with full hookups, cabins, and yurts, but lacks specific horse amenities. The campground spans over 50 acres with wooded areas and nature trails, though reviews make no mention of horse-friendly policies or trail riding opportunities.
Gunstock Campground in Gilford, New Hampshire provides 250 campsites across diverse terrain, with some sites positioned along a creek in wooded settings that offer more privacy. While the campground connects to hiking and biking trails on Gunstock Mountain, no specific bridle paths or horse-accessible trails are documented in visitor reviews. The campground maintains clean facilities including flush toilets and hot showers, but lacks essential equestrian amenities such as corrals, tie-outs, or designated areas for horse trailers. Campers seeking equestrian-friendly options may need to explore primitive camping in White Mountain National Forest where some trails permit horseback riding, though specific horse camping facilities are not evident in the reviewed campgrounds.
$30 / night
"Luckily -- we were only about ten minutes from one of our favorite campgrounds in New Hampshire. Let me tell you why we like it so much."
"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."
$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."
"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.
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.
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!
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 near Chatham, New Hampshire provides limited options for those traveling with horses. The White Mountain National Forest surrounds Chatham with elevations ranging from 700 to over 3,000 feet, creating varied terrain that experiences dramatic seasonal changes. Winter temperatures often drop below 0°F, while summer camping conditions typically remain under 80°F with frequent afternoon thunderstorms.
Riverside relaxation: At Hancock Campground, the Pemigewasset River offers natural recreation. "The river access was great, though the water was very low. We appreciated having a bear box on our site, especially since we couldn't keep anything in our car," notes Lindsey M., who advises bringing a cart for tent sites.
Winter camping experiences: Cold-weather enthusiasts can test their skills in the White Mountains. "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," reports Heather B. about Hancock Campground's year-round availability.
Hiking access: Many campgrounds serve as bases for White Mountain trail exploration. "Great place to set up camp to get some 4Ks in the whites," explains Kim O., referring to the 4,000-foot peaks in the region. Horse riders seeking trail access should contact rangers about specific equestrian-friendly paths.
Swimming opportunities: Natural water features provide cooling options during summer months. "There is also a fabulous swimming hole. Clear, cold and deep just off the car camping area," describes Tara S. about Hancock Campground.
Privacy options: Some campers seek seclusion even in established sites. "I recommend getting a site in the river side away from the street. Absolutely beautiful!" advises Lisa S. about Hancock Campground, where sites vary significantly in privacy levels.
Wooded campsites: Tree cover provides both shade and natural barriers between sites. "I recommend the sites back in Breezy Knolls (K01-K17 I think?) and then I believe sites 203 and 205 were nice and tucked away in the trees as well," suggests Melissa B. about Gunstock Campground, noting that wooded sites are limited there.
Insect awareness: Bees and other insects can impact camping experiences in certain areas. "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.
Bathroom facilities: Campgrounds offer varying levels of facilities. "The campground also has flush toilets, which was a big plus, since most other campgrounds in the area only have vault toilets," mentions Lindsey M., highlighting an important distinction for those seeking more developed amenities.
Site selection timing: At Freeport/Durham KOA, seasonal events fill quickly. "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. The campground fills up for this event so make reservations early," advises Rebus B.
Kid-friendly activities: Some campgrounds provide scheduled events for children. At Freeport/Durham KOA, there are "lots of activities for kids including a flashlight candy hunt, water slide, and s'more roast," according to Rebus B., who's been returning for years.
Campsite positioning: For families seeking quieter settings, location within a campground matters. "We tend to be in the open area, we were able to get both satellite with our roof-mounted dome and some over-the-air channels from Portland," notes Nancy W. about Freeport/Durham KOA, where site selection affects both amenities and noise levels.
Entertainment options: Some campgrounds offer additional recreation. "There is a pool with slide, a playground, a basketball hoop, a disc golf net. They have hayrides and a nightly train ride for younger visitors," reports Iris A. about the family-oriented activities at Freeport/Durham KOA.
RV site specifics: Larger rigs require appropriate accommodations. At Freeport/Durham KOA, Nancy W. notes, "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, but are so wide that even if you don't know your neighbors, it would not be a bother."
Utility connections: Full hookup availability varies by campground. "Large campsites, clean amenities, nice dog park, great store with everything you need and located near like Winni," reports Ryan P. about Gunstock Campground, where RV services include electric, water, and sewer connections.
Connectivity challenges: Internet and cell service can be limited. "WiFi and cell service are both spotty," warns Iris A. about Freeport/Durham KOA, while Lynn T. adds, "bad WiFi and poor Verizon reception," important considerations for those needing to stay connected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Chatham, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Chatham, NH is Hancock Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 28 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Chatham, NH?
TheDyrt.com has all 3 equestrian camping locations near Chatham, NH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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