Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Edward MacDowell Lake, NH is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Edward MacDowell Lake camping trip.
$35 - $105 / night
"Easy access to a bathroom (which was very clean). Quiet neighbors, everyone around us observed the quiet hours (10p-7a) and even during the day no one was super loud."
"Nice views of the lake, swimming, wide open sites, not too over crowded! I'd definitely go back!"
$29 - $45 / night
"Gilson Pond Campground is small— just 37 sites nestled into the woods near a swampy, but beautiful pond in Jaffrey, New Hampshire."
"This was my first time to New Hampshire so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the state parks there. I was not disappointed."
$54 - $999 / night
"The shower worked well and it was nice not to have to walk to the restrooms, though they were close by. Our stay was during the week so it wasn’t very crowded."
"We loved being next to the large field and basketball court where we watched the kids play without having to worry where they disappeared to."
$47 - $70 / night
"We had easy access to trails that went along the river behind some of the sites with a few paths down to the river.
Everyone we encountered was friendly and respectful."
"Large, open campground surrounded by the Ashuelot River. Friendly owners who go around delivering wood and ice to guests given the pandemic right now."
$42 - $65 / night
"the rules but everybody does and it's a good experience, everyone is very friendly the owners are wonderful people and super friendly very helpful it's clean they offer a lot of stuff to do right on a lake"
$60 - $130 / night
"The views outside our camper window is amazing. We’re surrounding be trees and it’s breathtaking when surrounded by freshly fallen snow."
"I prefer trees, but this wont keep us away from trying out RV sites this year."
$17 - $35 / night
"The loop closer to the entrance has a lot of private sites. Although if you have one closer to the main road, it is quite noisy with road sounds. But many of the sites in the middle are more quiet."
"As a caveat, waterfront in this instance was more of a water view as the lake was on the other side of the campground road and a large open area with trees."
$17 - $55 / night
"The camp ground is clean nice with lots of trails for hiking and biking. The bathrooms were clean and water was easy close to the camp ground. "
"Swimming in a pond or a short drive to a bigger lake (camping pass covers both). One of my favorites. It's kind of a hidden gem in north central Massachusetts."
"Small river/ brook rind behind the campground. Some shots have nice sound of river right behind the sites. No pond or pool for swimming."
$30 - $45 / night
"We stayed with our parents in their camper for a couple nights and had such a positive experience there!"
"We stayed right next to a cute pond on site 69. There was a family with several smaller children who were fishing g the pond. It was so cute to hear them squeal with glee when they caught a fish."
GuideCamping Grout Pond Loop is truly nice after Labor Day (Sept 5-7). Campsites 15 & 16 offer pull-out space to turn around truck campers --we lucked out w/ 4 wheel camper pop-up). Over hanging trees would make it difficult for larger equipment, plus saw posting that excludes trailers from certain roads. We reserved well in advance; however many fellow campers were trying to find first come sites and ended up hiking in to camp around pond sites. Sites are in eye-site of each other but you don't feel crowded. Temps during day around 65-70 F. Nights dipped to 45-55F.
We saw deer & turkeys driving the surrounding woods after short hikes.
We love chatting w locals and learned of a special shrine that was faithfully built from stone to resemble original in modern day Turkey. What a special & serene place.
TravelerThe park was easy to get to, only about half an hour from Manchester. It has kayak rentals and a very well stocked camp store, that was close to the camp sites. Our campsite was only about a hundred feet away from the camp store but still felt private.
Our campsite also had a fire pit and a picnic table which were great.
The size of the sites varies quite a bit though as well as their isolation, some were out in the open.
For cell service: ATT seems to have pretty decent coverage but not Verizon.
ScoutWe spent one night at site #20 and enjoyed our stay. It was rather peaceful other than the hum of I-91. The staff was friendly and helpful. The sites were generally wooded, pretty level, and fairly spread apart from one another. I saw no signs of the problems identified in the June 2025 review. Yes, I must agree that the restrooms are old, but they were clean. The other problems might happen anywhere and were obviously brought under control. Clearly, the writer of the June 2025 post knew way more than any weekend camper would be aware of and this shows that is more to their story that should have been revealed in their post.
GuideNice quiet place for all the sites showers could be better bathrooms were clean but out dated
ScoutThis place is just great! They have clean, flat sites, easy to navigate and get our fifth wheel in. The facilities are spotless. There are numerous pools and hot tubs, activities and the people that work there are just the nicest! Our kids were never scolded for being loud and neither were the adults. We have booked our return trip already and can't wait to go back!
TravelerThis campground is pretty and offers many private site options. We didn't use the bathrooms so can't speak on that. But overall it's a clean campground.
There are two loops. The loop closer to the entrance has a lot of private sites. Although if you have one closer to the main road, it is quite noisy with road sounds. But many of the sites in the middle are more quiet. The sites by the lake are really pretty, but there's not much privacy. All of the sites are good size and the fire pits are placed well.
The other loop farther away from the entrance has a lot more lakeside sites. But there's very little privacy. The sites with higher numbers by the lake are all on top of each other with little to no trees or shrubs between sites, and you can't really decipher where one site ends and the next begins. We would not stay on that loop if we visited again. Unless it was site 101 which seemed more private for that loop.
Sites 1 through 5 on the first loop are pretty quiet and peaceful. We stayed at site 4 and we think that it was one of the best sites in the campground. We didn't have neighbors on either side of us. We only had neighbors across from us. The site was spacious , peaceful and pretty. There was a little trail from our site that went down to a marsh. That was absolutely beautiful.
We will definitely stay here again.
ScoutWe camped here one night on a pit stop and it exceeded our expectations! We camped on the north shore; sites were big and offered immediate access to and view of the lake. However, there is limited privacy between sites so hope for good neighbors :) also cell service was fine with AT&T.
ScoutI made everyone stay in the trailer every night , we just didn’t feel comfortable with our girls being out after dark. There was def a lot of questionable rif raf that were definitely on something and it was obvious that there were a few girls there that were working. Always men working on vehicles. Family will not go back. Don’t want my daughter around that
GuideDon't expect to go swimming in the so called pond its all weeds and muck dear flies are killer but a little smokey fire takes care of them showers and bathrooms were always super clean id go back
Camping near Edward MacDowell Lake, New Hampshire, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, this area has something for everyone.
Camping near Edward MacDowell Lake, New Hampshire, offers a variety of experiences for everyone. Whether you're hiking, swimming, or just relaxing, there's something for every camper to enjoy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Edward MacDowell Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, Edward MacDowell Lake offers a wide range of camping options, with 126 campgrounds and RV parks near Edward MacDowell Lake and 2 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Edward MacDowell Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Edward MacDowell Lake is Greenfield State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 21 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Edward MacDowell Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Edward MacDowell Lake.
What parks are near Edward MacDowell Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 parks near Edward MacDowell Lake that allow camping, notably Tully Lake and Hopkinton-Everett Lake.
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