Campground options near Freedom, New Hampshire range from primitive forest sites to full-service private resorts across the White Mountains region. The area sits at the southern edge of the mountains with elevations around 400-500 feet, creating milder conditions than higher elevation camping. Most sites in this area are open May through mid-October with frequent afternoon thunderstorms during summer months.
What to do
River access activities: Eastern Slope Camping Area in Conway provides excellent Saco River recreation opportunities. "This is a nice little campground if you're doing the Saco, has a nice bath house, has a bunch of campsites, a good store that has everything that you might have forgotten! The river is right there and you can splash around in it," notes one camper. Canoe and tube rentals plus shuttle services are available directly from the campground.
Hiking trails: Covered Bridge Campground connects directly to several trail systems. "The campground itself is very pretty and the sites are large and level... the campground location is great - close to towns and many trails. Make sure to hike Boulder Loop - we hopped on straight through the woods from our campsite," shares one visitor. The Boulder Loop Trail offers several vista points with only moderate difficulty.
Swimming spots: Multiple swimming areas exist at campgrounds in the region. At White Lake State Park, "The lake is clear, the swimming area is shallow for quite a distance so you can feel comfortable with kids, and there is a separate boat launch area. If you don't have your own boats, they offer rentals of kayaks and paddle boats."
What campers like
Spacious wooded sites: Danforth Bay Camping & RV Resort receives high marks for site size and privacy. "Its 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. I always appreciate the onsite kayak rentals for exploring the river that runs along the campground," according to a recent review.
Clean facilities: Most campgrounds maintain high standards for restrooms and common areas. At Foothills Family Campground, "The new owners are working diligently on updating the facilities and working very hard doing it. While we were there they were working on one of the roads that got a bit washed out, and also working on updating the dog park. Campground is very clean."
Waterfront access: Many campsites near Freedom offer direct water access. At On the Saco Family Campground, "We stayed down in the sandier sites on the river lots of shade and privacy- took a shuttle up with some kayaks- reasonably priced- and drifted back down 10 miles right to our site!" This campground sits just across the Maine border, about 25 minutes from Freedom.
What you should know
Reservation timing: Book early for summer weekends as sites fill quickly. At White Ledge Campground, "The sites are well spaced, well maintained and provide you with a picnic table and fire pit. The host here is very friendly and offers the sale of firewood for $8 a bundle." About half the sites are reservable, while others remain first-come, first-served.
Road noise: Some campgrounds experience traffic noise due to proximity to main roads. At Chocorua KOA, "Although depending on your site it is fairly close to RT 16 so you will most likely here a good amount of traffic all day and some of the night, the 'lake' to me is more of an over grown pond which can be a little unpleasant to swim in."
Firewood regulations: Campgrounds enforce fire rules strictly. At Saco River Camping Area, staff are "Strict with camp fire hours. Clean sites and bathrooms." New Hampshire law prohibits bringing firewood from out of state to prevent the spread of invasive species, so plan to purchase locally.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer dedicated children's areas. At White Lake State Park Campground, "There is a nice beach and a trail that goes around the entire small lake. It's close to hiking trails and fishing spots and is clean and well run. There are flush toilets and hot showers available. We took the kids there for years and we all loved it."
Kid-friendly beaches: Sandy shorelines provide safe swimming. "Every summer, we would take the kids camping for a week at White Lake State Park and we all loved it. There's a great beach with lots of room and a big Sandy swimming area. You can rent canoes, hike around the lake, and the kids could safely ride their bikes around the campground."
Organized activities: Some campgrounds schedule regular family events. At Danforth Bay, "They have volleyball courts as well as a swim area with a dock, that I spent so much time on." Another camper notes they have "waterslides for little kids and 2 dandy Beaches" making it suitable for children of various ages.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Look for level sites with adequate hookups. At Saco River Camping Area, "We had a large site in the back corner, and stayed with our friends in a tent on just one site! The river is really great, you can take a short walk to the pavilion and put a tube in and float the river back around to the beach area."
Width restrictions: Some access roads have size limitations. At Covered Bridge Campground, "The road in for RVs is not terrific. There is about a 1/2 mile that is mostly one lane (with a drop off on one side) and if someone is coming decisions have to be made." Additionally, the covered bridge has a 7.9' height restriction, requiring larger rigs to use alternative access routes.
Leveling requirements: Be prepared with adequate 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. My wife wanted to get the camper up close to the deck so our area under the awning was close to that, which meant 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."
