A
Amber G.
Scout
ScoutTripoli Road
So much fun!
Went on a weekend and it was still very peaceful! Lots to do on such a beautiful back road. We stayed at two different sites each night we were there and both were equally beautiful and peaceful
Camping near Effingham, NH
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Campgrounds near Effingham, New Hampshire provide access to both lakeside and forest settings throughout the White Mountains region. White Lake State Park Campground in nearby Tamworth offers tent, RV, and glamping accommodations with lakefront views, while Danforth Bay Camping & RV Resort in Freedom features cabin options alongside traditional camping areas. The region includes several KOA locations and family-oriented campgrounds with varying levels of amenities, from primitive sites to full-hookup RV pads. Most camping areas sit within 10-15 miles of Effingham proper, with concentrations around nearby lakes and along the Saco River.
Seasonal operations significantly impact camping availability in the Effingham area, with most campgrounds open from May through October. White Lake State Park operates from May 26 to October 8, while Chocorua KOA welcomes campers from May 1 to October 12. Winter camping options are limited, though Beaver Hollow Campground remains open year-round. Reservations are strongly recommended during summer months, particularly for waterfront sites which fill quickly. Cell service varies throughout the region, with coverage generally better near larger towns and limited in more remote camping areas. A visitor noted, "The campground is huge with over 300 sites set on nearly 200 acres and along a beautiful lake! It is in a great location between the Lakes Region and the White Mountains in New Hampshire with lots to do in and outside of the campground."
Campers report high satisfaction with water-adjacent sites, particularly those at Danforth Bay which earned a 4.6/5 rating. Mixed-use campgrounds offering both tent and RV sites provide flexibility for different camping styles, with several locations also featuring cabin rentals for those seeking more comfort. The proximity to both the Lakes Region and White Mountains creates diverse recreation opportunities, from swimming and boating to hiking. Several visitors mentioned clean facilities as a highlight, though some noted road noise can be an issue at certain campgrounds. According to feedback on The Dyrt, "The park was very clean and well-cared for with no trash laying around. Campsites were tidy and people didn't have lots of junk laying around." Family-friendly amenities like playgrounds, camp stores, and organized activities are common at the larger established campgrounds, while smaller sites offer more privacy and natural settings.
Best Campgrounds near Effingham (325)
1. White Lake State Park Campground
"Last weekend, our family stayed at White Lake State Park for four days."
"I’ve stayed here a few times and love the location and access to White Lake."
from $35 - $105 / night
Check Availability2. Danforth Bay Camping & RV Resort
"This campground is huge with over 300 sites set on nearly 200 acres and along a beautiful lake!"
"We love the golf carts and sandy beaches as well as the proximity to North Conway and Lake Ossipee. Staff are nice, quiet time is a bit over enforced."
from $40 - $85 / night
Check Availability3. Chocorua KOA
"There were some rules in place in order to ensure social distancing and reduce risk to ourselves and to the staff."
"They were wooded and in a central location close to the playgrounds, pavilion, beach and nature trails."
from $45 - $110 / night
Check Availability4. Eastern Slope Camping Area
"A large wooden shelter stood over our picnic table, with a decent amount of space next to it for tents or a small camper."
"Great location with easy ride to all North Conway attractions. Nice hay ride and playground. The beach is sandy and lots of room to spread out. We visited Story Land and Mt."
5. Whits End Campground
"You can tube down the river , it’s peaceful and clean with great views and location is great ❤️ We even went horse back riding as it’s close to castle in the clouds"
6. On the Saco Family Campground
"It is also in a great area with amazing hiking nearby. Make sure to head not far down the road and climb up to the peak of Pleasant Mountain to get an incredible view of the entire area."
"The river was perfect, sandy bottom, refreshing current, we anchored ourselves for a bit then pulled it up and just floated down river for awhile before walking back along the sandbars right in the river"
from $32 - $36 / night
Check Availability7. White Ledge Campground
"White Ledge Campground is in the White Mountain National Forest and should not be confused with nearby White Lake State Park."
"Water spigot and vault toilets, dumpsters all within easy walking distance of all sites. Great spot to start Carter Ledge Trail to hike Three Sisters and Mount Chocorua."
from $30 / night
Check Availability8. Beaver Hollow Campground
from $45 - $50 / night
Check Availability9. Westward Shores Camping Area and Marina
"Westward Shores is an expansive resort located on Ossipee Lake. It caters primarily to seasonal campers and those with RVs, but can accommodate tenters as well."
"They have regular security driving around."
10. Bearcamp River Campground
"Located along the river, most spots are waterfront and private. pets are welcome!"
"While u can float down the river and take out u can also go to ossippe lake and take out there as well."
Drive Time
- 1 hr 12 min from Lewiston, ME
- 1 hr 20 min from Portland, ME
- 1 hr 26 min from Manchester, NH
- 1 hr 56 min from Boston, MA
Recent Camping Photos near Effingham, NH
847 Photos of 325 Effingham Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Beaver Hollow Campground
Danforth Bay Camping & RV Resort
Bearcamp River Campground
Whits End Campground
Terrace Pines Camping AreaW
Tail-TuckawayJ
Tentrr Signature Site - The Knoll at Red Tractor Farm
Foothills Family CampgroundL
White Lake State Park Campground
Tamworth Camping AreaA
Frost Mountain YurtsS
River Run Campground
Recent Reviews near Effingham, NH
1632 Reviews of 325 Effingham Campgrounds
- SSean D.
TravelerWellington Camping Park
Very nice campground
A mix of seasonal and short term campers. Here for 3 nights I did not feel out of place at all - quite the opposite. Staff are very nice, campground is quiet, clean and has lots of amenities(laundry, games- pool, table tennis, badminton, small kids playground, kayak rental for the placid river, swimming area at the river"beach"). All sites have water and hookup. Couple of excellent tent spots right on the river. I had a small space down by the river for my tent trailer and found it quite spacious. Sites overall are somewhat close together but not overly and it remains peaceful. About 30 minute easy drive to the coast (Portsmouth, Hampton Beach etc.).
- MMarie S.Scout
Gunstock Campground
Apparently Your Reserved Site Is More of a Suggestion
⭐**Gunstock Campground: Apparently Your Reserved Site Is More of a Suggestion**
I don't believe I have**ever** left a negative Google review. I generally think that when something goes wrong, you contact the business, give them an opportunity to make it right, and most businesses are genuinely interested in doing exactly that.
Gunstock Campground has cured me of that quaint notion.
I reserved a full-hookup campsite for two nights. I was unable to make it there the first night, but arrived shortly after 7:00 a.m. the next morning. The camp store, where registration takes place, wasn't open yet, so I headed out for my planned hike— about six miles through the Belknaps, including summiting Rowe twice and Gunstock.
By the time I returned, I was utterly exhausted, starving, and actually feeling weak. My ambitions for the afternoon were modest:**eat something, take a shower, and collapse at the campsite I had paid for.**
The staff at the camp store greeted me warmly, checked me in, and sent me on my way.
I drove to my site. There was already a camper in it. Not merely*parked* there, mind you. They had apparently moved right in. They were hooked up to**my site's water and electric**, with water spraying from their ill-fitting hose connection and forming a rather impressive puddle underneath the camper.
I returned to the camp store to report that someone had apparently activated Gunstock's new**"Choose Any Site You Like"** camping plan. A staff member went down to speak with them and came back to tell me they were "packing up." Excellent! My mistake was assuming" packing up" meant**leaving**. It did not.
Apparently these campers had actually reserved a site**two rows away** that had**no water or electric**. Yet somehow, sometime after arriving the previous night, they had accidentally found themselves two rows over, in my clearly different site, connected to utilities their reservation didn't include.
We've all made mistakes. I've occasionally parked one space away from where I intended. I've never accidentally parked**two rows away, hooked myself up to someone else's electricity and water, and spent the night.**
But perhaps I lack imagination.
After they had now consumed about an hour of my afternoon— which, incidentally, is an hour I normally bill at attorney rates— I went back toward my site expecting to find it finally vacated.
And it was! Because Gunstock had moved these folks to another site**two spaces away from me**, apparently allowing them to pay for the upgrade they had already been test-driving. So the people who knowingly or unknowingly occupied my reserved full-hookup site, used the utilities, and delayed me from getting into the site I paid for were rewarded with...a nearby full-hookup site.
They never walked over to apologize. At that point, I no longer felt comfortable staying. It's difficult to relax at a campground when you've just discovered that site assignments appear to operate somewhat on the honor system— and that when someone helps themselves to your reserved site and utilities, management's solution is apparently to make sure *they* remain comfortably accommodated nearby. So I left. On my way home, I called Gunstock and asked for a refund. Surely, I thought, this would be the easy part. After all, I had paid for two nights, hadn't used the first, couldn't get into my site when I arrived for the second, waited while unauthorized occupants vacated it, and ultimately left because the entire experience had become so unpleasant.
Nope. Instead, the staff member **defended the other campers**. I was told they arrived late and "mistakenly" took my site. I was even told they supposedly **hadn't used the utilities**. This was particularly fascinating information for me to receive because **I PERSONALLY SAW THEM HOOKED UP TO THE WATER AND ELECTRIC.** I also took photographs. Including the enormous puddle underneath their camper from the leaking water connection. But apparently my eyewitness account and photographs were no match for the alternative version of events.
For my inconvenience, however, Gunstock did give me a coupon for a **free Bavarian pretzel**. So there is that.
I paid for a full-hookup campsite. Someone else occupied it and used the hookups. I lost roughly an hour waiting to access what I had reserved. The other campers were accommodated with an upgraded site nearby. I left because I no longer felt comfortable staying. And when I asked Gunstock to make the situation right, they refused to refund me and instead argued with me about things **I had personally witnessed and photographed**. The most disappointing part isn't that another camper took my site. Campers can behave badly. Businesses can't control everything their customers do. **What a business CAN control is how it responds when that happens. ** Gunstock had every opportunity to turn this into a mildly annoying story about a camping mix-up. Instead, they turned it into my first negative Google review.
But hey... **I do have that free pretzel coupon.**
- KKrista R.Traveler
Moose Brook State Park Campground
Like Dispersed Camping... For $42
Pros: We have the p lube nearly to ourselves, thus it was very similar to dispersed camping. Nice little campground with two small ponds (One for fishing, the other for swimming). Nothing very remarkable, though.
Cons: As others have mentioned, if you want flush toilets and pay showers, you have to either stay at the more crowded, larger loop or walk across the highway to get to those amenities.
- GGeorge F.Scout
Cedar Haven Campground
Quiet
We stayed midweek and the park was 1/2 empty. Lots of kids activities. Wonderful bathrooms and showers. Great laundry. Close to Freeport but not the water
Richard P.ScoutSebago Lake Family Campground
Find a better place!
We just came back from a big family weekend there. We had 5 sites with 19 people(including children). This is by far the most rundown campground I've stayed! Only 1 bathroom facility was functioning. Of the 3 times I tried taking a shower, I only succeeded 1 time. The other 2 times(once at night and once the following morning at 6am) I only got drops coming out of the hot and cold faucets. I tried the only 2 stalls. Speaking of bathrooms...these have not been updated since the 60s-early 70s when I was camping with the same style bathroom facilities. The children's playground should be condemned!!! At least 25% of the wood is rotted. Some steps are missing from ladders. My granddaughter was swinging in the childs swing, the bottom unlatched and she fell through the bottom. If she wasn't monkey like in holding on she would have done a face plant to the ground. After looking at the swing, I found the plastic latch broken! 2 positives: the campsites are very nice! and the beach is great! Bottom line, these owners are not putting any money back into the campground and it's facilities. They are running it into the ground. I won't be coming back again!
- ccarolyn H.Scout
Hemlock Grove Campground
Great stay! :)
Wonderful stay! Clean bathrooms/showers. Woodsy and quiet. Clean campsites with water and electric. The people were super helpful and friendly! Wonderful stay, would easy stay here again :)
Jen P.TravelerTwin Mountain Campground
Lovely and peaceful
It was everything we were looking for, right on the river, quiet and clean, the section we stayed in was all tent camping so we weren’t sandwiched in between a bunch of RVs blocking the view. There was no lights, generators or loud music. Alcohol wasn’t permitted so that really cuts down on a lot of unnecessary nonsense. Pets are permitted and our dog loved it. It was very pleasant and relaxing. Can’t wait to go back.
- JJose L.Traveler
Town Hall Road Dispersed
Dispersed it is!
Stayed 8 nights with complete solitude. Bugs weren't too bad. There were plenty of dead birch trees and beech trees for firewood. Not any evergreens though. Site 16 has two campsites. I took the further one with plenty of room. Good size fire pit, but people before me left some large pieces of wood not completely put out along with lit coals.
Guide to Effingham
Camping spots near Effingham, New Hampshire provide both seasonal and year-round options across the White Mountains and Lakes Region. The area sits at approximately 600 feet elevation with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak camping season. Winter camping remains limited to specialized campgrounds like Beaver Hollow, which stays open throughout the colder months when temperatures frequently drop below freezing.
What to do
Water activities at White Lake: The sandy lake bottom provides safe swimming with mountain views. "The lake itself is unreal, with the mountains in the background it just feels incredibly peaceful and serene, keeping in mind I mostly visited around dawn and dusk and the Memorial Day clouds and rain kept it pretty low-key," notes a camper at White Lake State Park Campground.
Hiking direct from campsites: Several campgrounds offer trail access without driving. At Covered Bridge, campers appreciate the Boulder Loop Trail connection: "The campground itself is very pretty and the sites are large and level... Make sure to hike Boulder Loop - we hopped on straight through the woods from our campsite."
River floating excursions: The Saco River provides tubing opportunities with campground-based services. At Eastern Slope Camping Area, "you can tube down the river... it's peaceful and clean with great views and location is great." Many campgrounds offer boat rentals or shuttle services for water activities.
What campers like
Waterfront site options: Lakeside camping spots remain highly sought after. At Danforth Bay Camping & RV Resort, "It's rare to find a campground with so many spacious wooded sites overlooking the water. They seem to always have events & family friendly activities to keep kids entertained."
Clean facilities: Many reviewers specifically note campground cleanliness. At White Lake State Park, "The park was very clean and well-cared for... Showers were hot, good pressure and about as clean as you could expect during mud season."
Four-season accessibility: For camping near Effingham outside summer months, options exist. "Beaver Hollow has been the staple campground for my family through the years," mentions one camper about year-round availability when other campgrounds close seasonally.
What you should know
Reservation timing: Most campgrounds in the region fill quickly from late June through August. A White Ledge Campground visitor advises: "If you head up on a holiday weekend, get an early start or be ready for traffic. The loop for sites 14-28 parallels NH16; you WILL hear and even see road traffic and Rte 16 is busy."
Site privacy considerations: Campground layouts vary significantly. "Sites were fairly standard- dirt floor with gravel packed in around the circle fire rings. We grilled right on the grate provided. Big picnic tables are provided on each site. All sites are wooded with plenty of trees to get a good tarp," notes a White Lake camper.
Road noise realities: Several campgrounds sit near major roads. A White Ledge Campground visitor shared: "The sites are generally large and wooded. Designated tent sites are not suitable for RVs/trailers because the site may require a short walk or steps... If you head up on a holiday weekend, get an early start or be ready for traffic."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly water features: Shallow swimming areas work well for children. At Chocorua KOA, "The pool is freezing cold so the kids didn't swim much. The beach area is small and not deep enough to swim but the kids enjoyed playing in the sand and water."
Activity planning: Many campgrounds offer organized events for different age groups. "There are a lot of options for boat rentals- paddle boats, kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, and row boats. There is a beautiful board walk that leads through the marsh to a system of short nature trails," reports a Chocorua KOA visitor.
Site selection for families: Consider proximity to facilities. "This is a VERY LARGE campground, it will be a trek to get to the bathrooms or showers or swimming. You do NOT get to park at the lake if you are a camper. So that will be a long walk," advises a White Lake State Park camper about logistics with children.
Tips from RVers
Size limitations: Many wooded sites have overhead restrictions. "If your rig is >7'9" you'll need to enter via Passaconaway Rd via West Side Rd in Conway," advises a Covered Bridge camper regarding height constraints at the covered bridge entrance.
Leveling challenges: Waterfront sites often require extra leveling equipment. At Chocorua KOA, "Most of the waterfront sites are back in, and the only level part of the site is away from the deck and water... I had a lot more leveling to do. And when I say a lot, I mean my 5" drive on leveling blocks weren't enough and I had to put them on top of a 2x8 to level the camper out."
Hookup variations: Campgrounds offer different utility options. "Our site was labeled as a 50 amp connection, but it wasn't, it was 30 amp. So double check that," recommends an RVer who stayed at Chocorua KOA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best campgrounds in Effingham, Illinois?
Where are the best campgrounds in Effingham, Illinois?
The Effingham area offers several quality camping options. White Lake State Park Campground provides beautiful wooded sites with access to swimming and hiking trails. For families seeking more amenities, Chocorua KOA offers full-service camping with activities for all ages. Both locations provide easy access to Effingham's attractions while offering distinctly different camping experiences—one focused on natural surroundings and the other on convenience and family facilities.
Do I need reservations for camping in Effingham?
Do I need reservations for camping in Effingham?
Reservations are highly recommended for camping in Effingham, especially during peak season (May through October). On the Saco Family Campground requires reservations to secure a spot, particularly for weekend stays. Beaver Hollow Campground also operates on a reservation system for their drive-in sites. While some campgrounds may offer first-come, first-served options during off-peak times, securing your spot in advance ensures you won't be disappointed upon arrival, as popular campgrounds in the area often fill up quickly during summer weekends and holidays.
What amenities are available at Effingham campgrounds?
What amenities are available at Effingham campgrounds?
Effingham campgrounds offer various amenities to enhance your camping experience. Eastern Slope Camping Area provides water, toilets, and is big-rig friendly with drive-in access. For a more rustic experience, Bearcamp River Campground offers boat-in and drive-in access with toilet facilities. Most campgrounds in the area provide fire rings, picnic tables, and access to potable water. Some locations offer additional amenities like camp stores, playgrounds, and shower facilities depending on whether they're privately operated or public facilities.
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