Equestrian camping options near Franklin, New Hampshire are limited, as none of the campgrounds in the immediate area offer dedicated horse corrals or equine facilities. Despite the absence of purpose-built horse accommodations, several campgrounds provide suitable alternatives for riders traveling with horses. Gunstock Campground in Gilford features 250 sites across wooded and open areas, with spacious sites that could potentially accommodate horse trailers in certain sections. The campground maintains large campsites and clean amenities, though equestrians should contact management regarding specific horse policies and trailer parking requirements before arrival.
Trails accessible from area campgrounds connect to broader regional riding networks, though none specifically advertise as equestrian-friendly. Ramblewood Cabins and Campground offers spacious sites with views that might work for small horse trailers, subject to advance arrangements. For dedicated equestrian camping, travelers may need to venture further from Franklin to state parks and national forests with designated horse camping areas. Most campgrounds require advance reservations, particularly during peak summer and fall seasons when sites fill quickly. Campers report exceptionally clean facilities at these locations, making them suitable base camps for riders who trailer their horses to nearby public riding areas.
$35 - $80 / night
"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."
$25 - $45 / night
$30 / night
"This would be one of few places I find acceptable to camp, that are near other people. I usually don't like camping with 20+ other people in one looped area."
"Used the tent sides a quick hill walk down from the parking lot. River great for splashing around and nearby path to Lincoln Woods trail."
GuideFairly extensive camp ground associated with Gunstock ski area on central New Hampshire. We arrived without a reservation a bit after the office closed, but Elena, the manager came out to let us in and allowed us to check in. She was great. Dogs must have proof of rabies vaccine. Very nice showers. Beautiful fall colors.
RangerThis would be one of few places I find acceptable to camp, that are near other people. I usually don't like camping with 20+ other people in one looped area. The sites here are pretty well spread out. Not ALL of them, but look around. We found what I would think is the best. The one we ended up at had stairs leading from the car down to our site. It was further away from the other sites and had the pretty much private stream running by it. The area we had for use was pretty huge, we had a giant tent 10-12 plus a pop up tent to put over the picnic table, and there was still a ton of room for the car, fire pit and general run around area for our dog. I never felt like we had to lock up everything we owned either. A short walk to the toilets from all sites. Bring a headlamp of course. TP is in the outhouses bring a spare hand sanitizer bottle to use after.
FYI there is a pretty awesome hike close by you can do. I mean you have to drive there but it wasn't far. It goes up to Mt Moosilauke. We ended up taking Beaver Brook Trail to the Cascades, checked out the shelter and headed to Moosilauke Summit. A crazy hike pretty much going up the side of a waterfall. The peak was 4,802ft. Worth it! I'd say an 8 mile trek from the car, up, and back. I included just a couple pictures to entice you since its not about the campsite! There are a TON of trails near this campsite, this would just be my favorite of the 6 or 7 we did.
GuideI was lucky to receive a tranquil, secluded spot next to a brook - perfect. This campground has nothing to do, or plenty you can do - walking, hiking, biking, and close access to all Gunstock's adventures.
TravelerMost amazing spot I’ve ever camped and not too many people. Used the tent sides a quick hill walk down from the parking lot. River great for splashing around and nearby path to Lincoln Woods trail.
LegendI haven't stayed here, but I checked it out on Columbus Day weekend because it's one of the few campgrounds open year-round (plowed, unlike Lafayette Place, which is walk-in) in the White Mountains. Most of the reviews talk about the walk-in tent sites, but there's more to this campground that is located along the Kancamagus Highway just before the Lincoln Woods Visitors' Center.
If you're a tent camper and don't mind carrying your gear downhill to a site, drive straight ahead to a parking lot. A few of the sites (3 & 4) are accessible from the far end of the parking lot, but for most of them you'll head down the steps in the middle with sites in two levels branching out on each side. Sites are large, but close together and although you're in the woods, there's not much to separate you from your neighbors. Even sites 10-20 are directly on the water.
Sites 22-55 are suitable for RVs and tents. Those on the back side of the loop are close enough that you can hear the Pemi River running below. A few of the sites are pull-through. There are no hook-ups, but water available via spigots and flush toilets are available - except in winter. I'd recommend sites on the back side of the loop to provide some more distance from traffic noise. I chatted briefly with a host who remarked that sites on the western end of the loop have some cell phone coverage, unlike the rest of the campground.
If you stay here, you're only a few miles from Lincoln where you can pick up any necessary supplies. This end of the Kanc your nearest hiking options are Lincoln Woods and Greeley Pond for family friendly trails, or Lincoln Woods to head into the Pemi wilderness, including peaks in the Pemi loop and Owl's Head. The Hancocks are via a trail at the hairpin on the Kanc. Franconia Notch and its many hiking trails and the multi-use trail are a short drive away.
Bring cash or a check to pay your camping fee in the iron ranger. Fees cover the first vehicle; a second vehicle is an additional $5.
LegendHancock Campground is one of 6 national forest campgrounds along the Kancamagus Highway. Campsites can't be reserved and the campground does fill up on the weekends. We were lucky to score a walk-in tent site on a Saturday in August, and while it did feel a bit like a tent city, we loved that there were no cars at the campsites. It made the tenting area feel more like a community. This is a busy campground, but lovely all the same.
We got site #19, which was one of the last sites available. It had a picnic table, fire pit, and bear box. There were awesome waterfront sites nearby, but they were taken, of course. Cost was reasonable - $22 per night. Pit toilets were near the parking area, but there was a real bathroom with a sink and a flush toilet in the car camping area. There is also a fabulous swimming hole. Clear, cold and deep just off the car camping area.
Hancock Campground is a five-minute drive from Lincoln, NH, and very close to awesome hiking trails in the White Mountain National Forest and Franconia Notch State Park.
RangerPros: Beautiful area, not a bad size campground, quiet nights (but this could be because 3 out of the 4 sites right near us were empty), free hot showers that are not dirty, lots of trails on edge of the grounds, lots and lots of tent sites, platform on campsite, pool and playground available, camp store, bike & Segway trails, quick access to some of NH’s most beautiful mountains. Staff is friendly. Cons: So many roots all over the sites, the platform did not fit our tent for 12 on it. More of the sites have very little separation from the neighboring campers near you. We explored the grounds & noted some sites that were a smidge more secluded and plan to return again sometime!
ScoutI stayed at Hancock campground in mid April this year. Great clean accessible bathrooms, beautiful grounds and large campgrounds. Leashed dogs are allowed. There are both walk-in and drive up tent sites. The walk-in sites are directly next to the beautiful Pemi River. Great overall would return again.
RangerSome pros and lots of cons. We stayed at a walk-in site by the river.
I never fully appreciated just how much camp hosts do. There was no ranger and no host. We arrived early on a Thursday, hopeful we could get a spot by the water. There are only two spots that are truly private in any way. They were both taken- fine. However, one of the groups had not registered and stayed until 4 or 5pm until everyone else had already set up for the day…then they left! So uncool. The site went unused because at that point, no one was going to move all their stuff. Maybe a camp host would’ve noticed that?
The sites were FILTHY with trash, dog poop and food waste. Pretty crazy considering this was supposed to be a bear area. There was also a bad smell wafting around, hmm…maybe because of the trash and dog poop? Stepping in dog poop and trying to clean off your boots is a significant bummer. The site we were stuck at also had ashes and chunks of wood all over the picnic table. Cleaning up this much in order to feel comfortable really sucked.
There was no running water at any of the pumps and the pit toilets were quite full.
There is a bridge nearby but the river covered any vehicle noise very well. It was also nice to be right off the highway and five minutes from town, yet it felt like a proper national forest experience.
There’s an upper loop with drive in sites. They didn’t seem very private and you could see the road. I wouldn’t stay up there.
Being by the river was beautiful. I would stay here again, but with more preparation for the campground’s limitations.
Equestrian camping opportunities near Franklin, New Hampshire require some planning as dedicated horse facilities are limited within a 30-mile radius. The region sits at the foothills of New Hampshire's Lakes Region with elevations ranging from 400 to 1,200 feet, creating varied terrain for trail riding. Most campgrounds in the area can accommodate horse trailers with advance notice, though specialized horse camping amenities aren't common.
Trail riding access: Hancock Campground provides a strategic base for riders who trailer their horses to nearby White Mountain National Forest trails. "Very close to awesome hiking trails in the White Mountain National Forest and Franconia Notch State Park," notes Tara S., who appreciates the campground's location just "five minutes from Lincoln, NH."
Golf while camping: Hidden Valley RV and Golf Park combines camping with a full 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., adding "There is a pro shop, golf cart rentals, etc."
Water activities: The Pemigewasset River runs alongside several campgrounds, creating opportunities for fishing and swimming. "There is a fabulous swimming hole. Clear, cold and deep just off the car camping area," reports Tara S. about Hancock Campground, while Shawn C. mentions "Fishing and swimming on property" at Hidden Valley RV Park.
River proximity: Hancock Campground earns praise for its waterfront sites. "We picked the site right next to the rambling river. It was amazing," writes Molly G., who recommends visiting "off season" when it's less crowded. Another camper suggests to "Set up a hammock on the shoreline and have a tasty beverage before bed."
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention exceptional cleanliness at campgrounds near Franklin. David G. describes Tippicanoe Campground as "immaculate from the bathrooms, shower, clubhouse, store and grounds so you can relax and know that the kids are safe." Ryan P. similarly praises Gunstock Campground for its "clean amenities, nice dog park, great store with everything you need."
Spacious sites: Several campgrounds offer generous site dimensions suitable for horse trailers. Anne G. notes that Ramblewood Cabins and Campground provides "Spacious [sites] with views," mentioning they've "stayed here a few times and really enjoyed sites and hospitality!"
Equestrian-specific considerations: Traditional horse campgrounds near Franklin, New Hampshire are scarce. None of the reviewed campgrounds list dedicated horse corrals among their amenities, though several can accommodate trailers with advance notice.
Seasonal availability: Winter camping options exist but are limited. Heather B. shares her experience at Gunstock Campground: "Stayed here for two nights in late December. Site #40 along the river was close to the bathroom yet had plenty of privacy from other sites." Kim O. notes Hancock Campground is "Open year round!! I have stayed here many times, three times in the winter."
Reservation systems: Campgrounds operate with different booking policies. Hancock Campground operates first-come, first-served, with Tara S. noting, "Campsites can't be reserved and the campground does fill up on the weekends." Most other campgrounds near Franklin allow reservations, which becomes essential during peak seasons.
Activity options: Campgrounds with diverse recreation appeal to families with children. Marc D. recommends Gunstock for its seasonal attractions: "Fairly extensive camp ground associated with Gunstock ski area on central New Hampshire," while Melissa B. mentions, "Campground has a fenced in dog park, playground, showers, clean bathrooms, and laundry facilities."
Site selection for privacy: Ramblewood Cabins and Campground offers sites with better separation for families seeking quiet. At Gunstock, Melissa B. advises: "I recommend the sites back in Breezy Knolls (K01-K17 I think?) and then I believe sites 203 and 205 were nice and tucked away in the trees as well."
Bear awareness: Some campgrounds provide bear boxes for food storage. Lindsey M. appreciated that at Hancock Campground, "We had a bear box on our site, especially since we couldn't keep anything in our car. It was big enough to fit our grill, cooler, trash, and bag of groceries."
Hookup configurations: Site layouts vary significantly between campgrounds. At Hidden Valley, Carry M. found: "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."
Large rig access: Tippicanoe Campground offers full-service sites for larger rigs. David G. notes, "the sites all have water, 50amp and sewer hookups," making it suitable for larger RVs that might struggle at some of the more rustic campgrounds near Franklin.
Seasonal options: Many RVers opt for seasonal arrangements in the Franklin area. David G. observes that at Tippicanoe, "Many seasonal campers have been here for years and keep coming back for the friends and activities," while Christy C. found at Hidden Valley that "A lot of the campers are seasonal which is May - October each year."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Franklin, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Franklin, NH is Gunstock Campground with a 4.9-star rating from 14 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Franklin, NH?
TheDyrt.com has all 5 equestrian camping locations near Franklin, NH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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