Camping options near Cornish, New Hampshire extend across both Vermont and New Hampshire sides of the Connecticut River Valley, an area marked by rolling hills and elevations ranging from 400 to 3,200 feet. Seasonal operation typically runs from May through mid-October, with many campgrounds closing after the fall foliage season peaks. Road access varies significantly between paved highways and maintained gravel routes.
What to do
Hiking at Mount Ascutney: Mount Ascutney State Park offers multiple trail options ranging from beginner to advanced. "There are four different trails up the mountain of varying levels of difficulty. You can also drive right to the top and hike around on the summit trails, which are really pretty and pop out onto ledges with gorgeous vistas," notes one visitor to Mount Ascutney State Park Campground.
Swimming in local waterways: Natural swimming areas provide cooling options during summer months. At Jamaica State Park, "you can go to the waterfall/rock slides and take a dip in the pools," while nearby, one camper mentions "a great swimming hole called 20-foot hole not far from the base of the mountain."
Mountain biking on established trails: Several campgrounds maintain dedicated bike trails of varying difficulty. "The state park maintains its own mountain biking trail loop, which is accessible directly from the campground. It is a 3 mile beginner friendly loop, with some nice rollers and moderate terrain," reports a cyclist who stayed at Mount Ascutney.
What campers like
Private, spacious sites: Many campgrounds prioritize spacing between sites. At Tree Farm Campground, "the campground is clean and quiet, with sites that are spacious and private," according to a recent visitor. Another camper notes, "Plenty of room, busy on holiday weekends generally very quiet. Wooded and trees between sites."
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms and shower facilities rank high with campers. At Jamaica State Park Campground, a guest mentions, "Bathrooms and showers were also kept nice and clean which is always a plus. Our tent site was very spacious, you could of easily accommodated a family of four with a large tent."
Nature trails: On-site walking paths provide recreational options without driving. One Tree Farm visitor highlighted "fabulous hiking trails with lots to see, including a pond, waterfalls, and streams," while another camper at Jamaica State Park appreciated that "there is plenty of trails in the area."
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Mobile connectivity varies widely through the region. At Newfound RV Park, a camper notes, "I work remotely, so having internet access is mandatory, we were able to use our AT&T hotspot with decent service."
Road noise: Several campgrounds experience highway sound. At Mount Ascutney, a visitor mentions, "The road nearby is noisy. Because of its location, you can hear both the local highway and I91. If being in the quiet wilderness is important to you, than this campground might not work out."
Seasonal limitations: Most campgrounds operate on a limited schedule. Jamaica State Park operates from "May 12 to Columbus Day weekend," while Tree Farm Campground runs from "May 10th to October 19th," requiring advance planning for late fall visits.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas. At Crow's Nest Campground, "There's nice little swimming area on the river for kids," while another camper notes that Sandy Beach Campground has a "playground on the beach."
Swimming options for children: Water access points vary in depth and safety. One family mentioned at Jamaica State Park, "For us, they also had a playground to play at, and a boat dock to kayak. The bugs were not fun in the summer."
Wildlife awareness: Local animal life may impact camping experience. At Dorset RV Park, one camper warns, "while the campground is pet friendly, a warning about free roaming chickens would have been nice. I would not have brought my (prey driven) dogs if I had known there were free roaming chickens."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: RV sites vary significantly in how level they are. A camper at Dorset RV Park observed, "Our site was level but some definitely were not," while another noted, "The roads and campsites are gravel and a little tight to get around because of all the trees but we were able to manage in our 45' motorhome."
RV site accessibility: Navigating to rv sites near Cornish, New Hampshire requires careful planning. At Sandy Beach Campground, one RVer shared, "We had a nice corner site which fit our 34' rig just fine," while another noted it's "Mostly a 5th wheelers park but you can see a 34 foot class A here and there so don't fret, there is room."
Hookup reliability: Electrical and water connections vary between campgrounds. At Dorset RV Park, a visitor noted, "The hookups were all well-placed and we didn't have any issues with the electric and the wifi at our site worked well," providing reliable service for their camping needs.
