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Hancock Campground offers limited equestrian accommodations near Conway, New Hampshire, with select sites that can accommodate horse trailers in the drive-in camping area. The campground features 56 sites along the Pemigewasset River, with both walk-in tent sites and drive-in sites suitable for smaller horse trailers. Sites near the river provide natural water access for horses, though the campground lacks dedicated horse corrals or stalls. The first-come, first-served policy makes securing horse-friendly sites challenging during peak seasons, especially on weekends when the campground fills quickly. Bear boxes at each site provide secure storage for feed and tack.
The White Mountain National Forest trail system connects directly to Hancock Campground, offering access to bridle paths and multi-use trails suitable for day rides. Lincoln Woods Trail, accessible from the nearby visitor center, serves as a primary access point for equestrians exploring the Pemigewasset Wilderness. Trailer parking is limited to standard campsite dimensions, with no dedicated equestrian parking areas. Gunstock Campground, located approximately 45 minutes south, provides more spacious sites that can accommodate larger horse trailers, though it also lacks dedicated equestrian facilities. Winter camping remains available at Hancock for cold-weather trail riding, with plowed access maintained year-round, though water sources are unavailable during freezing months.
"We love the location and being at that elevation the stars are amazing at night."
"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."
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"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.
TravelerWe’ve been going to Hancock for a couple of years now. We just saw our first bear in the campground which was awesome. We love the location and being at that elevation the stars are amazing at night. Lots of fun to be had whether it’s hiking, seeing waterfalls, stargazing, swimming in the Pemigewasset River, shopping in North Conway, eating at one of the many local restaurants, etc. There’s something for everyone and this campground is dog friendly too. Great sites that are well maintained and clean bathrooms.
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.
Hancock Campground provides seasonal access for equestrians with limited trailer accommodations along the Kancamagus Highway. The first-come, first-served campground features 56 sites near the Pemigewasset River at 1,320 feet elevation. Winter camping remains available for cold-weather enthusiasts, though water sources are unavailable during freezing months. The campground maintains plowed access year-round, making it accessible for winter trail riding near Conway, New Hampshire.
Winter camping experiences: Hancock Campground remains open during colder months, offering a unique winter camping option for equestrians and other visitors. "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... Water would have earned it five stars," notes a Hancock Campground visitor.
Post-hike recovery spots: After tackling challenging trails, Hancock provides a convenient rest area. "After we hiked the 4K's we were tired and needed a close place to stay for one night. Finally we found Hancock and it was very peaceful with no bothers so we could go fall asleep sound," shares a camper.
Streamside relaxation: Sites along the Pemigewasset River offer natural water features and ambient sounds. "Set up a hammock on the shoreline and have a tasty beverage before bed," suggests one camper about the riverside experience, noting the proximity to water enhances the camping experience.
River access sites: The waterfront locations at Hancock Campground rank among the most sought-after. "I recommend getting a site in the river side away from the street. Absolutely beautiful!" advises a regular visitor to this horse-friendly campground near Conway.
Off-season tranquility: Many experienced campers prefer visiting during shoulder seasons. "We came at the end of October to try to hike Franconia Ridge... we were the only ones in it and we picked the site right next to the rambling river. It was amazing," reports one Gunstock Campground visitor about fall camping.
Bear-resistant storage: Bear boxes at walk-in tent sites provide security for food and supplies. "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," notes a camper about the practical storage solutions.
Insect activity: Bee populations can create challenges at certain sites during warmer months. "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... They were the worst on our last day," cautions a visitor to Freeport/Durham KOA.
Site selection timing: Arrive early to secure preferred locations, especially river 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," explains one camper about the competitive first-come, first-served system.
Walk-in site logistics: Tent-only areas 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)," notes a visitor about the walk-in camping arrangement.
Swimming access points: Look for deeper water spots along the river for cooling off. "There is also a fabulous swimming hole. Clear, cold and deep just off the car camping area," explains a visitor about the natural water features available to families at equestrian campgrounds near Conway.
Noise considerations: Select sites based on preferred sound environments. "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 (not awful, but still semi constant)," advises a camper about balancing natural sounds with road noise.
Bathroom facility options: The campground offers both vault toilets and flush toilets in different areas. "The campground also has flush toilets, which was a big plus, since most other campgrounds in the area only have vault toilets. There were vault ones near our site, but I preferred to walk a bit further to the flush ones," mentions one visitor about the sanitation options.
Site selection for horse trailers: Look for specific areas that accommodate larger vehicles. "The wooded area back there is beautiful though so the sites definitely made up for it. Campground has a fenced in dog park, playground, showers, clean bathrooms, and laundry facilities," notes a camper at Gunstock Campground about finding suitable spaces.
Winter water limitations: During colder months, bring additional water supplies. "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... Water would have earned it five stars," explains a winter visitor about seasonal resource availability.
Road conditions: Expect variable road quality throughout the camping area. "Some of the cons for this park are the lack of cable, so-so wifi, and the dusty gravel roads and pot holes," cautions an RVer about transportation considerations when pulling trailers or larger vehicles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Conway, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Conway, NH is Hancock Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 27 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Conway, NH?
TheDyrt.com has all 3 equestrian camping locations near Conway, NH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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