Camping options around Concord, New Hampshire extend beyond established state parks, with numerous private campgrounds within a 30-minute drive of the capital city. The region sits at elevations ranging from 275 to 400 feet above sea level, creating gentle rolling terrain ideal for camping. Most campgrounds in the area operate in a typical New England camping season from May through mid-October, though weather conditions can extend or shorten these timeframes.
What to do
Water activities at Pawtuckaway: Pawtuckaway State Park Campground offers excellent kayaking opportunities around its islands. "This a a fantastic little camp for if you want to go canoeing or kayaking or boating of any kind! It's set up of three islands and a large majority of the campsites are right on the water," notes one visitor.
Mountain biking trails: Bear Brook State Park Campground features extensive trail networks. A camper reports, "We camped here to check out the mountain bike trails in the park and we're not disappointed on either count. The campground is nice and spacious, well kept and the staff is friendly. The biking trails were a blast."
Mini golf and riverside recreation: Some private campgrounds offer additional activities beyond hiking. At Epsom Valley Campground, "We played the mini golf in the front and had so much fun!" One visitor also mentioned, "I enjoyed the hiking trails in the back and a pretty good amount of things to do near by. Being able to walk to a store and restaurant is great."
What campers like
Waterfront sites: Many campers appreciate direct water access. At Pawtuckaway State Park Campground, "The sites on the water book up quickly but they're perfect for fishing and boating. Also, the view!" Another camper adds, "In 2018 we stayed in sites 110 and our friends stayed in 109 on Big Island. Those were wonderful sites, level with great views of the lake."
Multiple swimming options: Some campgrounds feature both pools and natural swimming areas. According to visitors at Cold Springs Camp Resort, "Great campground. The pools are amazing. Kid pools. Adult pools! Adult hot tub." Another camper noted, "7 pools which include 2 hot tubs, a small 2x2 pool for kiddos, 1 adult only pool and 3 family pools."
Attentive staff: Smaller campgrounds often provide personalized service. One visitor to Epsom Valley Campground mentioned, "In my initial phone call to the campground, I reserved a site for 1 month... the hosts were the sweetest older folks and they were beyond friendly." Another camper shared, "The owner was amazing, friendly and super accommodating!"
What you should know
Site privacy varies significantly: Many campgrounds have a mix of secluded and open sites. At Bear Brook State Park, "Mostly level sites sit under towering pines and vary greatly in size. Many of the sites are separated from their neighbors by large, downed pine trees." Another camper notes, "Some of the sites are a bit too close to each other but there are some that are nice and private."
Cell service is inconsistent: Coverage depends on carrier and location. According to a camper at Spacious Skies French Pond, "There's good free wifi at camp, and good cell reception with Verizon and ATT." Meanwhile, at Bear Brook State Park, "Cell phone coverage varies from 1-2 bars, not always 4G, on Verizon."
Seasonal campers dominate some parks: Many private campgrounds have long-term residents. One visitor to Lazy River Family Campground observed, "Lazy River was recommended to us by a family member, for a low key campground to get out feet wet camping!" However, another mentioned, "Some of the seasonal sites look cluttered."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Choose sites near play areas if traveling with kids. At Autumn Hills Campground, "They do have a pool, park, dog park, lake and food trucks visits at times. They have community fires and dances." But consider placement carefully as "Site 93 is so close to the playground and the fire ring placement makes it seem like families enjoying the playground will be tempted to walk through your site."
Educational opportunities: Some parks offer unique learning experiences. At Bear Brook, there are "Two archery ranges and wheelchair accessible docks for fishing. For history, check out the antique snowmobile museum and the Civilian Conservation Corp(CCC) museum. The CCC built much of the infrastructure here and elsewhere in the country."
Halloween events: Several of the best places to camp near Concord, New Hampshire offer special themed weekends. At Lazy River Family Campground, one visitor mentioned, "Halloween themed weekend was so incredibly fun. The seasonal sights go all out!" Similarly, at Cold Springs, "We went for halloween weekend in August and their haunted house was incredible for a campground!"
Tips from RVers
Site selection matters: Research specific site numbers before booking. A visitor to Autumn Hills notes, "Before going to camping, I saw some reviews with bad comments and started to worry about this trip. But when I got there, it was way better than my expectations." At Bear Brook, "Site 91 is near the entrance, but large and set back from the camp road, so it offers some extra seclusion."
Hookup availability: While many campgrounds offer full hookups, some have limitations. At Bear Brook State Park, "There are no hookups, but there is running water and a dump station is available." Meanwhile, at Sandy Beach Campground, most sites are "Long term. Camp was pretty much full, even then it was quiet."
Road conditions: Interior campground roads can be challenging. At Cold Springs Camp Resort, roads are "very narrow. Made it hard to back in our spot." At Bear Brook, one camper noted, "I found that the little loop to my campsite was tight to exit (I was towing a 14' teardrop, not a big trailer) and I had to be careful to swing wide at the corner."
