RV campgrounds near Durham, New Hampshire operate primarily from April through October, with most closing during winter months. The region sits approximately 14 miles inland from the Atlantic coast at an elevation of about 80 feet above sea level. Many campgrounds feature wooded sites with deciduous trees that provide excellent fall foliage viewing during September and October.
What to do
Beach access: 15-minute walk: The Wild Acres Sun RV Resort in Old Orchard Beach offers direct beach access. "Quick walk to the sand and just a little further to the pier. Clean and neat facilities. Great activities for the kids," notes Bryan.
Fishing: Stocked ponds: Several campgrounds maintain stocked fishing ponds with catch-and-release policies. "Super fun pool and a small campground so not many people crowding the pool. Many nice fishing spots and lots of play areas and outdoor recreation," reports Samantha N. about Cole's Mine RV Resort.
Golf: On-site course: Some campgrounds integrate recreational activities beyond traditional camping. Hidden Valley RV and Golf Park combines camping with a golf course. "This campground is 1300 acres owned and operated by the Simonsen family in Derry, NH. The main attraction of this campground is the golf course of 9 or 18 holes," explains Christy C.
Coastal towns: 20-30 minute drives: Many campers use the area as a base for exploring coastal communities. "The park is in a good location and pretty close to the beach, restaurants, shopping and access to Route 1. You are also just twenty minutes or so to Portsmouth and Newburyport which are some of our favorite New England coastal towns," shares Nancy W.
What campers like
Heated pools: Extended swimming season: Sun Outdoors Saco Old Orchard Beach offers heated pool facilities that extend the swimming season. "The bathrooms and grounds were very clean, activities were fun, the playground/pool was nice and the Maine blueberry pancakes were amazing!" reports Erin M.
Trolley service: Car-free beach access: Multiple campgrounds offer trolley services to nearby beaches. "Great location trolley will pick you up from the campground and take you to Old Orchard Beach. Very friendly staff. Kid activities were done regularly," notes Jill P.
Themed environments: Mining motif: Some campgrounds feature creative themes. "This place is well payed out and very well taken care of. The pool is heated and has an amazing water slide and themed. We had a blast and plan on visiting again next year!!" shares Andrew G. about Cole's Mine RV Resort.
Secure facilities: Gated entry: Tuxbury Pond RV Campground provides enhanced security features. "Friendly staff, clean bathrooms, clean grounds, gated campground with card key access in/out of the grounds, 2 pools (closed for the season during our stay), pavilion, activities/entertainment, fairly quiet during quiet hours, laundromat, playground, dog park, boating pond," lists Sara D.
What you should know
Site spacing: Varies significantly: Campground density varies substantially throughout the region. "The 30 amp sites are very close together. The campground layout is quite unusual, with campers parked lengthwise along the road. This means that you share the space where you sit outside with the camper behind you, resulting in very little privacy," explains Arno W. about Thousand Trails Moody Beach.
Seasonal residents: Mixed atmosphere: Many campgrounds balance permanent seasonal sites with transient spots. "Nice RV campground with alot of seasonal residents. Plenty of tent sites. On site general store with grill. Fishing and swimming on property along with a club house," describes Shawn C.
GPS navigation: Potential issues: Some campgrounds may not register correctly on navigation systems. "A little tip about GPS: if you're using Apple Maps, it will likely take you to a turn that is not the campground entrance, there's even a hand-written sign on someone's lawn that has directions to the entrance (seems to happen frequently, I guess)," warns Sara D.
Weekend noise levels: Busier periods: Many campgrounds experience significant changes in atmosphere between weekdays and weekends. "Very big complex and sites are close together. If you like privacy and more of a camping experience, this is not the place. However, it has walkable beach access, and the kids loved the heated pool. We stayed a weekday night and over the weekend and the weekend was crazy busy," shares Daria.
Tips for camping with families
Entertainment options: Adult and kid zones: Campgrounds typically provide specialized activities for different age groups. "This was a nicely shaded and quiet park, even with kids running around. There was a nice pool for the kiddos, as well as kayaks and water toys for the pond, which looks like a lake. Great sized dog parks - 2 connected to each other," notes Sarah A. at Wild Acres.
Playgrounds: Multiple options: Beach Rose RV Park and other area campgrounds often feature playground equipment. "Cute little campground about a mile from the beach. Clean and friendly staff. Kid friendly," mentions Corrie G.
Evening activities: Family movies: Some campgrounds organize special evening entertainment. "The live band was cool but we had golf carts & parked vehicles pretty much surrounding us & some right on our campsite... A staff member came to our site and let us know that there is an 18+ comedy show but there was a children's movie being played on a big screen on the other side of the campground," explains Sara D.
Beach proximity: Walk vs. drive: Proximity to beaches varies significantly between campgrounds. "It's a 50 site campground and built 20 years ago, so it's cozy small sites in some spots. But for the money of your from out of state it's cheaper then the state park down the street and it has full hook-ups with laundry, showers and a heated pool when the ocean is colder then you want," explains 69seacoast.
Tips from RVers
Site accessibility: Variable conditions: Sandy Beach Campground and other facilities may present challenges for larger units. "Small but well organized campground. TT members will find all the comforts of home. Staff is pleasant and helpful. Quiet during the weekdays, picks up over weekends but not to overbearing. Mostly a 5th wheelers park but you can see a 34 foot class A here and there so don't fret, there is room," advises Robert M.
Placement challenges: Consider hookup locations: Some sites have unusual utility placement. "The water and electric were between our site and the next on one side and sewer between our site and the one on the other side. This made it difficult to place our trailer on the slanted site and reach all services," warns Carry M.
Surface types: Variable leveling: Site surfaces vary across campgrounds, affecting setup ease. "Our site was a gravel back-in which was plenty long and level. They recently seeded the area so new grass was starting to grow. The roads in the park are fairly narrow and we had to drive over the grass across from our site in order to back in," explains Nancy W.
Membership considerations: Discount options: Some campgrounds offer significant savings through membership programs. "Consider the Thousand Trails membership when booking this site. Our annual membership fees basically covered what it would cost to camp here for two weeks," advises Paulina B.
