257 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Farmington, New Hampshire include a mixture of state parks, family-oriented private campgrounds, and RV resorts that accommodate different camping preferences. Pawtuckaway State Park Campground, located about 15 miles southeast of Farmington, provides tent, RV, cabin and glamping options with waterfront sites along Pawtuckaway Lake. The camping landscape extends into neighboring Maine with options like Salmon Falls/Lebanon KOA offering tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, and yurts. Most established campgrounds in the region provide basic amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, drinking water, and restroom facilities, while private campgrounds typically offer additional amenities like electric hookups, showers, and camp stores.
Seasonal considerations heavily impact camping operations in the Farmington area, with most campgrounds operating from May through October. "Many of the sites had damp spots; site 71 was the worst with deep mud on the long approach," noted one camper about spring conditions at Pawtuckaway State Park. Winter closures are standard throughout the region due to snow and freezing temperatures. Reservation requirements vary by location, with state parks and private campgrounds generally accepting advance bookings, while some smaller facilities operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Cell phone coverage can be inconsistent throughout the area, with Pawtuckaway State Park reported to have poor coverage, particularly for Verizon customers. Roads within campgrounds can present challenges for larger RVs, with several reviews mentioning narrow approaches and limited turning space.
Waterfront access represents a highly valued feature at campgrounds in the region. At Pawtuckaway State Park, sites on Horse Island provide direct water access, though they come at a premium price. According to visitor feedback, "Sites on Horse Island will cost you $5 more than those on Big Island, but many of the sites are directly on the water, making it easy to slip your boat into the lake from your site." Family-friendly amenities are common at private campgrounds, with facilities like Danforth Bay Camping & RV Resort offering swimming pools, game rooms, and organized activities. The proximity to outdoor recreation is another highlight, with many campgrounds providing access to hiking trails, fishing spots, and water activities. Bear awareness is necessary when camping in the region, with several campgrounds requiring proper food storage in vehicles rather than at campsites.
"Driving around this past weekend I did notice that some of the sites had damp spots; site 71 was the worst with deep mud on the long approach."
"My first time experiencing a park in the New Hampshire Park system. We went down with a group. Pawtuckaway State Park offers a variety of landscapes, with something to do and see for everyone."
from $35 - $140 / night
Check Availability"Started with really expensive sites, and we had 4 of them next to one another. Rained the whole time we were there. Wouldnt even consider a discount, nothing."
"This is a glampground, keep this in mind, if your looking for a peacful Shangri-La seek another campground, if your looking to let loose and enjoy an amenity filled experience around other people, give"
from $64 / night
Check Availability"We were able to book last minute and got a great tenting site, next to a running river that was great to sleep to. Very buggy, but it's outside, what do you expect?"
"Staff was very friendly and extremely cautious about their surroundings. Plenty of things to do to stay busy during the rainy days."
"Fairly extensive camp ground associated with Gunstock ski area on central New Hampshire."
"I was lucky to receive a tranquil, secluded spot next to a brook - perfect."
from $35 - $80 / night
Check Availability"Tucked away in what feels like the middle of nowhere New Hampshire is it's largest state park. Bear Brook is full of trails, ponds and a fairly large campground."
"Site 91 is near the entrance, but large and set back from the camp road, so it offers some extra seclusion. It’s across the street from the playground."
from $35 - $45 / night
Check Availability"Tons of walking trails through the woods, and around the pond. A very relaxing place. The owner Tom is one of the nicest guys you’ll meet. Oh, and he provides firewood for free!"
"Owner was around and super nice! Amazing place. My family has stayed here many times and will again!"
from $40 - $85 / night
Check Availability"The facilities, which include bathhouses, a laundry room, and a beach situated along a tranquil river, contribute to a harmonious and enjoyable experience for all."
"Pros=rustic tent sites available on a River, very quiet nights, secluded campsites (however the 5 sites near us were empty so that likely has a little to do with noise level & space), playground available"
from $30 / night
Check Availability"Minutes away from scenic hiking, fruit orchards and more. Check them out and leave them some love."
from $44 - $68 / night
Check Availability
ScoutThis is our 2nd year as seasonal campers and it is wonderful. The seasons sites are very spacious and most have plenty of shade/sun. The transient site are not as spacious but have grassy areas and plenty of sun. There are no tent sites at this time
GuideBeautiful park! Real contact with nature, super safe... get ready to walk.
GuideThis is a nice campground with 90% permanent upscale sites. Don’t let that deter you, the nightly spots are concentrated have excellent natural surroundings. Decent size spaces and mostly level. Workers were nice and many things to do.
ScoutWent 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
TravelerA 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.).
Scout⭐**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.**
ScoutWe 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!
ScoutWonderful 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 :)
ScoutBeautiful campground. Private spaces. Staff is very friendly.
Camping sites near Farmington, New Hampshire offer diverse options within a 20-mile radius of town, providing access to lakes, mountains, and forested terrain. The region sits at elevations ranging from 500 to 1,200 feet, creating varied camping experiences with cooler temperatures at higher elevations. Most campgrounds in the area remain open from May through mid-October, with peak season running from late June through August.
Water activities: At Pawtuckaway State Park Campground, the lake offers excellent kayaking and canoeing opportunities. "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.
Hiking trails: Bear Brook State Park features over 40 miles of trails suitable for day hikes. "Loved this campground. Located in Bear Brook State Park, the campground is tucked away in the woods so you really feel like you're away from the cities in the area. We hiked the loop around Beaver Pond and it was an easy, kid-friendly hike," says Melissa B.
Mountain biking: The trail network at Bear Brook State Park is popular with mountain bikers throughout the season. "The mountain biking trails are busy even on late October afternoons; some trails allow horses," according to one visitor. Another camper adds, "Mountain biking is awesome here, can ride right off the campground and onto the trails!"
Waterfront sites: Access to water is highly valued at Beaver Dam Campground where pond-front sites are available. "Sites are narrow but wooded. The pond is tranquil and our site was right on the pond," mentions Pat. Another visitor notes, "We had a River side lot - so pretty."
Adult-only options: For campers seeking quieter environments, Potter's Place offers an adults-only camping experience. "This is a beautiful campground with easily accessible sites, meticulously maintained grounds and it's super quiet. Tons of walking trails through the woods, and around the pond," says Shannon G. Another camper adds, "No one under 21 is permitted, not even in the parking lot."
Off-season camping: Late spring and early fall camping provides more solitude at many campgrounds. "We went in early May, when it was still a bit cold at night (in the low 40s) and not many people were around. The campground, though we had neighbors in every adjoining site, was pretty quiet," reports Kris M. from Pawtuckaway State Park.
Site selection matters: At Gunstock Campground, location within the campground affects your experience. "Most of the sites are out in the open though, or very close together. Not so good if you're camping in trailers or RVs, but if tent camping you won't really have any privacy in those locations. I recommend the sites back in Breezy Knolls (K01-K17 I think?)," advises Melissa B.
Bathroom facilities: Facilities vary widely between campgrounds, with state parks typically offering more basic options. "The bathrooms were moderately clean. However, on Friday afternoon from about 1pm (when we first arrived) til 5 (when we last checked) the ranger station was closed, so we couldn't check in or get wood," notes one camper at Pawtuckaway State Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Farmington, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, Farmington, NH offers a wide range of camping options, with 257 campgrounds and RV parks near Farmington, NH and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Farmington, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Farmington, NH is Pawtuckaway State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 45 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Farmington, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Farmington, NH.
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