Best Campgrounds near Exeter, NH

Camping spots near Exeter, New Hampshire concentrate around the southern New Hampshire seacoast region, where elevations rarely exceed 200 feet above sea level. The area lies within the Merrimack River watershed, with coastal salt marshes contributing to distinctive camping environments. Humidity levels typically reach 70-80% during summer camping seasons, creating conditions where moisture management becomes important for tent campers.

What to do

Kayaking at Pawtuckaway State Park: Only 20 minutes from Exeter, the park offers excellent paddling opportunities around its three-island layout. "This a a fantastic little camp for if you want to go canoeing or kayaking or boating of any kind! It's set up of three islands and a large majority of the campsites are right on the water," notes Matt R. about Pawtuckaway State Park Campground.

Fishing at Hampton Beach: Cast your line from the jetty at sunrise when fish are most active. "There's a jetty to sit on and fish from or watch the sunrise. I enjoyed the morning deep sea fishing trips from companies across the street," reports Jean C. about Hampton Beach State Park Campground.

Mountain biking at Bear Brook: The extensive trail system accommodates riders of all levels, with direct access from the campground. "Mountain biking is awesome here, can ride right off the campground and onto the trails!" says Kimberly R. about Bear Brook State Park Campground.

Geocaching adventures: Bear Brook State Park features numerous geocaches hidden throughout its 10,000 acres. "Numerous trails call out of exploration, around ponds and up and down hills, with geocaches to be found," explains Jean C.

What campers like

Waterfront sites: Prime lakeside spots offer direct water access and scenic views. "The sites on the water book up quickly but they're perfect for fishing and boating. Also, the view!" says J L. from Pawtuckaway State Park.

Wooded privacy at Wakeda: The mature forest setting creates natural separation between campsites. "We were overwhelmed by the beautiful massive forest. The campground was splendid with old tall, pine trees everywhere," shares Pawsfuradventure T. about Wakeda Campground.

Wildlife encounters: Many campgrounds feature regular animal visitors. "I forgot the daily visits from the ducks, like clockwork morning and dusk a family of ducks visited looking for grub," recalls Ellen C. at Pawtuckaway State Park.

Clean facilities: Campers frequently mention well-maintained bathhouses. "The bathroom was clean. The walk to the beach was along a public parking lot. The beach was clean. The small store is well stocked," notes Susan B.

What you should know

Reservation timing matters: Many waterfront sites book up months in advance, especially at Pawtuckaway and Hampton Beach. "This location puts you near the beach, a few miles from the boardwalk and all of its activities as well as and Wed evening fireworks & concerts," explains Jean C. about Hampton Beach.

Site privacy varies greatly: Research site numbers before booking. "Definitely do your research on the different site numbers because some sites are much more private and scenic than others," advises Anna C.

Cell service limitations: Signal strength fluctuates throughout the region. "Cell phone coverage varies from 1-2 bars, not always 4G, on Verizon," notes Jean C. at Bear Brook, while at Tuxbury Pond RV Campground, Ana reports "Forget about cellphone signal, it was 0."

Shower arrangements: Some parks charge for showers, with different systems in place. "Bathhouses offer coin-operated showers; I noticed a price difference between the two of them, so went with the less expensive option!" advises Jean C.

Tips for camping with families

Playground proximity: Sites near play areas offer convenience but can be noisy. "Site 93 is so close to the playground and the fire ring placement makes it seem like families enjoying the playground will be tempted to walk through your site," warns Jean C. about Bear Brook.

Comedy shows at Tuxbury: The campground offers family-friendly entertainment. "The stand up comedy was awesome. For the most part, the comedians kept it fairly clean & our 9 yr old did not get any of the jokes that were a little sassy," shares Sara D. about Tuxbury Pond RV Campground.

Beach options beyond Hampton: For less crowded swimming, try alternate beaches. "After lunch pop over to Wallis Sand Beach for an afternoon relaxing by the sea," recommends Nancy W. from Sea Coast Camping.

Baseball field access: Some campsites back up to sports fields. "I was in site 38 and found that the little loop to my campsite was tight to exit... This site backed onto an open field with a backstop for baseball/softball," notes Jean C. about Bear Brook.

Tips from RVers

Extended hookup cords: Some sites have utilities positioned unusually far from parking areas. "The electrical post and water hookup were placed way behind our site and we could not reach even with our 40' electrical cord," cautions Nancy W. about Salisbury Beach State Reservation.

Site access challenges: Narrow campground roads can make large rigs difficult to maneuver. "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. about Sea Coast Camping.

Weather preparations: Coastal locations experience significant wind. "Be careful of your awning as it is very windy," warns David V. about Hampton Beach State Park.

Alternative parking options: When site limitations arise, ask about solutions. "Park staff told us we could back onto the grass in order to reach the electric and since the ground was hard packed sand we were able to do that," notes Nancy W.