Campsites near Dorchester, New Hampshire provide year-round options with most facilities open from Memorial Day through mid-October. The region sits at elevations between 800-1,200 feet in the western foothills of the White Mountains, creating distinct microclimates with cooler temperatures than surrounding areas. Winter camping opportunities exist at select locations with modified amenities and plowing services.
What to do
River activities: access at multiple points. At Plymouth Sands Camping Area, visitors appreciate the sandy beach and water recreation opportunities. "The river is very clean and a nice spot to hang out in the sun and splash around (not very deep most of the year)," notes Tyler A. The campground also features volleyball nets along the river.
Climbing excursions: within 15 minutes of campgrounds. Baker River Campground serves as an excellent base for rock climbing enthusiasts. "Nice private campground. Bathrooms were clean and recently remodeled. Host is extremely nice and welcoming. We have stayed here on multiple occasions when in the Rumney area for climbing and biking," says Dana M. The campground offers a group site specifically for climbers.
Hiking trail access: varied terrain options. Trails around Baker Rocks provide morning walking opportunities for campers. "The campground is in a convenient location near lots of hiking trails and attractions. The sites are decently spacious and have various configurations for utilities," reports Jeremiah C. Many sites offer direct trail access with trailheads located within walking distance.
What campers like
Secluded riverside sites: natural sound barrier. Baker Rocks offers tent platforms within wooded areas that feel very private. Justin P. describes, "The tent sites are within the wooded area around the property and felt very secluded. The facilities here were great. There is a full bathhouse with individual rooms for showers and sink/toilets, with running water."
Wooded privacy: natural site separation. Branch Brook Campground features well-spaced campsites among trees. "The campsites are well-spaced, providing privacy while still feeling part of a community of fellow campers. The amenities are superb, with clean and modern facilities that make camping comfortable and convenient," shares Laura G.
Clean facilities: regular maintenance. Many campgrounds maintain bathroom facilities with varying levels of amenities. "The bathroom is very clean. They offer showers that cost you a few quarters. There are no hookups but they do have a dump station if you are in a RV," reports Jan B. Shower facilities typically operate on quarter systems with rates between 25-50 cents per 3-5 minutes.
What you should know
Cell coverage: varies by location. Signal strength changes dramatically between campgrounds. At Lost River Valley Campground, Dawn D. notes, "Very nice, quiet campground. Staff was extremely friendly and helpful. No cell service on the south side of campground." Some campgrounds offer WiFi near office areas only.
Seasonal considerations: weather impacts. Fall camping offers unique color experiences while spring brings variable conditions. "Fall camping at branch brook is nothing short of magical. We just happened to book a trip right at peak season for fall foliage.... the colors were absolutely unreal," explains Matt R. Off-season camping requires additional preparation for temperature fluctuations.
Campground layout: terrain varies. Many campgrounds feature hilly layouts that impact accessibility. "The campground is very hilly and kids are ripping around in pedal and motorized bikes and scooters which is fine but no control at all in regards to speed and helmets," observes Lauren Q. Site selection should account for mobility needs and equipment size.
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: schedule around peak times. Facilities like pools tend to get crowded during peak hours. "The pool is the main attraction and really great but gets very very busy. No one was controlling the slides so kids were going down in multiples and not making sure no one was at the bottom," reports Lauren Q. Morning or evening use typically offers less crowded conditions.
Site selection: consider proximity to amenities. When booking at hillier campgrounds, location matters significantly. Jessica W. advises, "If you have never been before, book a sight as close as possible to the pool and office, because the further you get, the higher the altitude. We chose bottom of the hill sites so we lucked out but it could've been very difficult to navigate with two/three very young kids."
Campground programs: check activity schedules. Quechee State Park Campground offers regular programming for younger campers. "Rangers also run fun programs for children- my children churned butter and made popcorn over the campfire one night, and made tie dyed T-shirts the next (for no fee)," shares Jen B. Most activity schedules are posted weekly at office locations.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: varies by campground. Check electrical capacity before booking to ensure compatibility. "We stayed on site#20 with my class B van. Here are some highlights and details of my experience: Site Location: Conveniently near the road going out and to the beach. Amenities: Electrical and water hookup, a well-placed fire pit, and a bathroom/shower house right across from my site," notes Michael W.
Site leveling: prepare for terrain. Many campgrounds feature uneven sites requiring leveling blocks. Chris A. mentions, "Biggest Con- It looks like the state has spread out RCA on the sites, which probably could have been spread out better and made more level. Also tough to drive a stake into." Bringing additional leveling equipment is recommended for most locations.
Winter access: limited options. Winter camping carries additional challenges including road conditions. "This review is about my winter experience. I DO NOT recommend this campground in the winter. I feel that the owners/managers are very neglectful. They do a bad job plowing (my rig bottomed out twice on snow banks) and I fishtailed on the access road," warns Mara S.
