Dispersed camping options near Chocorua, New Hampshire extend beyond the popular Town Hall Road area into several lesser-known locations throughout White Mountain National Forest. The elevation in this region ranges from approximately 540 feet at Chocorua Lake to over 3,000 feet at nearby mountain camping areas. Seasonal temperature variations are significant, with summer averages reaching 75-80°F during day and dropping to 50-55°F at night.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: The Little River at the end of Haystack Road provides excellent fishing spots. "These sites are in a great location for hiking the northern white mountains. Very primitive car camping with only a fire pit at the site," notes one camper, who adds it's "close to fosters if you need supplies and a restroom."
Hiking trail access: Many dispersed sites connect to White Mountain trail systems. Near Cherry Mountain Road Dispersed, one camper shared, "Great location with access to the Cherry Mountain trail, and back down to Ammonoosuc Falls back down near Rt. 302." Sites here are positioned along the Cohos Trail, offering easy trail connections.
Swimming spots: Natural water features provide cooling options during summer months. At White Mountains Camping on Little Larry Road, "You can drive out to the main road and be right on the river," according to one reviewer, while another noted, "Creek runs through road near sites good for getting water to filter or washing."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many dispersed camping areas offer significant separation between sites. At Little Larry Road, one camper explains, "It's easy to forget there are other people camping on other sites because they're so far apart. It's wonderfully relaxing and quiet." Another notes there are "8 huge, beautiful campsites in the heavily wooded Evans Notch section."
Star viewing: Clear night skies away from light pollution create stellar viewing conditions. A camper at Cherry Mountain Road reported, "We enjoyed a spectacular view of the Blood Super Moon from the campsite. Overall the site was open to the sky near the road yet protected from the wind." The lack of artificial light makes astronomical observation exceptional.
Riverside locations: Many sites feature direct water access. At Tripoli Road, "There are little camp spots all over this road, too many to count so it's a good bet of getting one, especially on the weekdays," shares one camper, adding that they "got a great site right by the river (mid-Sept.)."
What you should know
Road conditions: Access roads to many sites range from passable to challenging. On Elbow Pond Road Dispersed Site, a visitor warns: "The road in is pretty rough and is not recommended for sedans or lower riding cars." Another notes they witnessed someone "afraid to drive across a dry wash in their new Jeep."
Seasonal closures: Most forest roads close during winter months. At Tripoli Road, a reviewer explains: "Tripoli Road is a seasonal road, opening in late May most years and closing in autumn. Check the White Mountain National Forest Facebook page for up to date road closures/status."
Navigation challenges: GPS reliability varies throughout the region. One Town Hall Road camper advises: "GPS initially took me on the wrong road - make sure you stay on Town Hall Rd no matter what the GPS says." At Cherry Mountain Road, sites are "only about 3 miles from the highway" but remain relatively secluded.
Tips for camping with families
Flat site selection: Finding level ground simplifies tent setup with children. A Cherry Mountain Road camper recommends: "We stayed on site #5 because it was flat, sunny, grassy and had a little brook." Sites vary significantly in topography throughout the area.
Water access considerations: Proximity to water sources benefits families but requires supervision. At Little Larry Road, one camper highlights that "the site at the very top of the road is huge and has a nice stream but if you are camping at any of the other sites, you don't have water flowing by."
Weather preparedness: Rain can impact the camping experience significantly. One Guyot Shelter visitor shared that reaching these backcountry sites "is pretty strenuous, but totally worth it!" Another Town Hall Road camper found that during rainy conditions, "our site remained relatively dry. We even enjoyed a small fire the next day."
Tips from RVers
Size limitations: Most dispersed sites accommodate smaller rigs only. One Elbow Pond visitor noted, "Camped in a very small spot, just barely enough room for our SUV and small teardrop to get off the road." Similarly, a Little Larry Road camper with an RV managed with "just enough t-mobile/starlink signal to watch streaming and message, but wouldn't be enough for remote work."
Site selection timing: Arriving mid-week significantly improves chances of securing suitable sites for vehicles. A Tripoli Road camper recommended, "Great spot for the weekdays, hardly anyone around and got a great site right by the river (mid-sept.)."
Leveling challenges: Many free camping areas near Chocorua have uneven parking. One camper at Hogan Road Pulloff described it as "a pull off the wild rocky road" that's "very private" but requires careful positioning.
