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 Gilmanton, NH
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Campgrounds near Gilmanton, New Hampshire range from established facilities with full amenities to more rustic options in natural settings. The area includes several family-friendly campgrounds like Gunstock Campground in nearby Gilford, which offers 250 sites with access to drinking water, electric hookups, and shower facilities. Within a 20-mile radius, campers can find accommodations for tents, RVs, and cabins at places such as Granite State Campground in Belmont and Bear Brook State Park Campground in Deerfield, providing options for various camping preferences and needs.
Seasonal considerations play a significant role in camping experiences throughout the region. Most campgrounds operate from early May through October, with peak season running from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Winter camping is limited, though some year-round options exist like Paugus Bay Campground. Facilities vary widely across campgrounds, with many offering electric hookups, water access, and shower facilities. The terrain ranges from lakeside settings to wooded areas, providing diverse environments for outdoor recreation. As one camper noted about a nearby state park, "The sites are fairly large and if you need some privacy, reserve site 12. There is a great trail that is around Beaver Pond, roughly 2-3 miles with plenty of opportunities for dogs to swim."
Water access represents a highly valued feature among campers in the Gilmanton area. Several campgrounds provide direct access to lakes and rivers, including Gunstock Campground and Silver Lakes Park Campground in Belmont. These waterfront locations offer opportunities for swimming, fishing, and boating during the warmer months. Campers frequently mention the peaceful settings and natural beauty as highlights of their stays. Family-friendly amenities such as playgrounds, recreational fields, and hiking trails enhance the camping experience at many locations. Reviews indicate that sites with water and electric hookups tend to fill quickly during summer weekends, especially at popular destinations like Pawtuckaway State Park, where one visitor described it as having "a variety of landscapes, with something to do and see for everyone" including "a large family beach on the lake" and "many opportunities for hiking."
Best Campgrounds near Gilmanton (274)
1. Gunstock Campground
"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 Availability2. Granite State Campground
"New bath houses, New hook-ups on many sites Close drive to Lake Winnisquam and Winnipesaukee, Close drive to Gunstock Mountain, not far from Laconia, wooded sites, The camp has some seasonal full timers"
"This campground is one of my favorites in the lakes region. Affordable prices, large wooded sites and great staff."
3. Bear Brook State Park Campground
"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 Availability4. Lazy River Family Campground
"Saturday rolled around and some noisier guests came in for the night, they were several sites away and sounded like they were having a great time, didn't bother us."
"The family will definitely be making a few return trips, especially with the reasonable drive from the boston area to the grounds."
from $26 - $30 / night
5. Epsom Valley Campground
"I enjoyed the hiking trails in the back and a pretty good amount of things to do near by. Being able to walk to a store and restaurant is great."
"We only wanted to stay for one and when we arrived, the older women drove me around in the golf cart to see which site would best suit us and I just thought it was the sweetest thing!"
from $35 - $165 / night
Check Availability6. Pawtuckaway State Park Campground
"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 Availability7. Hunter’s Run RV Park
"They also have a nice game room for them kids or grown ups that struggle to leave technology behind."
from $44 - $135 / night
Check Availability8. Paugus Bay Campground
"We seriously lucked out with getting two sites next to eachother over looking the lake though. Pros: -Owners were very friendly and helpful. -Lots of lake activities to do."
"Campground is primarily seasonal sites, however the nightly rentals sites are nicely located near the water."
9. Sun River Campground
"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 Availability10. Ellacoya State Park Campground
"Beautiful location, easy to get to, convenient RV hookups. Goose poop everywhere so watch your step. Showers are relatively expensive. Sites are very very close together."
"PROs: Small and typically quiet (always depends on the neighbors you get) Right on the lake with great views of the mountains Easy access to the adjoining state park beach Always a nice breeze Full hookups"
from $60 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 37 min from Manchester, NH
- 1 hr 24 min from Boston, MA
- 1 hr 48 min from Portland, ME
- 1 hr 56 min from Lewiston, ME
Recent Camping Photos near Gilmanton, NH
624 Photos of 274 Gilmanton Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Recent Reviews near Gilmanton, NH
1169 Reviews of 274 Gilmanton Campgrounds
Henry M.ScoutCrow's Nest Campground
Spent Several Days
We spent several days here during the summer and had a really good experience. Some days we stayed busy swimming and exploring, while other days we barely left our campsite. That was probably what we enjoyed most.
- 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.).
Harley J.ScoutCrow's Nest Campground
Really Enjoyed
Really enjoyed the setting at Crow’s Nest. There are lots of trees and having the Sugar River running alongside the campground gives the whole place a nice New Hampshire feel. We were mostly looking for somewhere to disconnect for a couple of days, cook outside, fish a little, and enjoy being away from home. Crow’s Nest was a great fit for that.
David B.ScoutCrow's Nest Campground
Always Nice Coming Back
What we liked most about Crow’s Nest was being able to choose between doing absolutely nothing or heading out and exploring. One day we stayed around the campground, went swimming and relaxed by the river. The next day we got out and explored more of the Lake Sunapee area. It made a really good home base and it was always nice coming back to our campsite at the end of the day.
- 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.**
Noah P.ScoutCrow's Nest Campground
Comfortable Stay
Crow’s Nest was a really convenient stop for us while traveling through New Hampshire. Getting our RV situated was easy and we had everything we needed for a comfortable stay.
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 :)
Guide to Gilmanton
Camping options near Gilmanton, New Hampshire range across diverse terrain from 500 to 1,000 feet elevation, with proximity to both Lake Winnipesaukee and the Suncook River creating unique microclimates. Most campgrounds in this area sit within a 20-mile radius, creating opportunities for day trips between camping destinations. Winter camping conditions can be challenging with temperatures frequently dropping below freezing from November through March.
What to do
Mountain biking at Bear Brook State Park: Bear Brook State Park Campground offers extensive trail networks for mountain biking enthusiasts. The trails accommodate various skill levels with well-marked routes. One camper noted, "We camped here to check out the mountain bike trails in the park and we're not disappointed on either count. The biking trails were a blast."
Tubing at Lazy River Family Campground: Located on the Suncook River, this campground provides river access for tubing with shuttle service back to your campsite. A visitor mentioned, "Let me just start by saying I come here every year and I absolutely love the friendliness of the staff, the other campers and or people who tent. I bring my kids here every year the first camping trip kids always ask can we go to Lazy River Campground!"
Explore historical sites: The region contains multiple historical attractions including the CCC museum at Bear Brook State Park. "For history, check out the antique snowmobile museum and the Civilian Conservation Corp(CCC) museum. The CCC built much of the infrastructure here and elsewhere in the country," shared one Bear Brook State Park Campground visitor.
Try disc golf and outdoor games: Several campgrounds offer recreational activities beyond hiking and swimming. One camper at Silver Lake Park Campground commented, "There is a playground, rentable kayaks and canoes, a basketball goal, frisbee golf, corn hole, horseshoes, yard darts etc."
What campers like
Spacious, wooded sites: Many campgrounds offer sites with natural barriers for privacy. At Gunstock Campground, a camper observed, "This campground overall is very nice... 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."
Affordable overnight options: Camping remains a budget-friendly accommodation choice in the region. As one visitor noted about Epsom Valley Campground, "Me and my boyfriend camped here after trying to find a spot up in the white mountains without any success. The owner was amazing, friendly and super accommodating! It was just what we were looking for and will definitely return."
Off-season quietude: Several campgrounds operate into the fall with fewer crowds. A Pawtuckaway State Park visitor shared, "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."
Year-round facilities: Unlike most seasonal operations, some campgrounds remain open through winter. One winter camper at Meredith Woods commented, "Snow ploughing happens regularly and reliably. Indoor pool and hot tub are amazing on a snowy frigid winter day. Utility sink for dishes available in heated bathhouse."
What you should know
Proximity to roadways: Some waterfront campgrounds experience traffic noise from nearby roads. A camper at Lazy River Family Campground observed, "Our site was right along the river. Be aware that the sites along the river, while waterfront and nice, do suffer from road noise coming from NH28. Obviously not the campgrounds fault by any means."
Varying bathroom conditions: Bathhouse quality fluctuates between campgrounds and seasons. At Epsom Valley Campground, a visitor noted, "We only wanted to stay for one and when we arrived, the older women drove me around in the golf cart to see which site would best suit us and I just thought it was the sweetest thing! They really do care about making sure everyone is accommodated/happy. The site was perfect and it was right next to the bathrooms which were SO clean!"
Site selection matters: Site privacy varies significantly within each campground. A visitor to Gunstock Campground advised, "Most of the sites are out in the open though, or very close together. Not so bad if you're camping in trailers or RVs, but if tent camping you won't really have any privacy in those locations."
Pet restrictions: Policies regarding pets differ between locations. One camper at Pawtuckaway State Park mentioned, "Tried to plan ahead this year and get a prime site to learn they don't allow dogs anywhere in the campground during summer months. I would of hoped for one loop but NH state parks are anti-dog I guess."
Tips for camping with families
Indoor alternatives for rainy days: Some campgrounds offer indoor recreation options when weather turns unpleasant. A visitor to Meredith Woods Four Season Camping shared, "The staff was extremely kind. The site was clean and efficient. Indoor pool was a plus in cold/rainy days."
Choose campgrounds with beach access: Waterfront options provide built-in entertainment for children. A camper reviewing Silver Lake Park Campground noted, "This is a very clean, quiet, gated campground, with easy beach access for the kids (and launching space for pontoon or bass boats)."
Check playground equipment: Not all playgrounds suit younger children. A Meredith Woods visitor cautioned, "Family with kids the only down, wish the playground was bigger, and height smaller. Not a structure for small children."
Consider cabin options: For families new to camping, cabins provide a transitional experience. At Granite State Campground, a visitor commented, "Really enjoyed my time here and was impressed with many of the new updates they have done here. Looking forward to staying here again."
Tips from RVers
Tight navigation: Some campgrounds present challenges for larger rigs. A visitor to Paugus Bay Campground observed, "My biggest complaint is the narrow roads in the campground. The location is great, and the campground does seem to have quite a bit to offer."
Waterfront site reservations: Lakeside sites book quickly, especially for holiday weekends. One RVer at Paugus Bay Campground advised, "Sites are EXTREMELY tight. If you have a pull behind, you definitely need to be comfortable backing it up in tight, dicey situations. If you do not get a site near the docks to enjoy the view, I could see this camp ground not being worth it."
Hookup availability: Electrical and water connections vary by site. A camper at Granite State Campground mentioned, "We pulled in and went right to the office. The man was very nice and gave us a map to our tent site. We bought some wood from the campground. The tent site has water, electric, and a fire pit."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Gilmanton, NH?
What camping is available near Gilmanton, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, Gilmanton, NH offers a wide range of camping options, with 274 campgrounds and RV parks near Gilmanton, NH and 2 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Gilmanton, NH?
Which is the most popular campground near Gilmanton, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Gilmanton, NH is Gunstock Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 17 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Gilmanton, NH?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Gilmanton, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Gilmanton, NH.
What parks are near Gilmanton, NH?
What parks are near Gilmanton, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 13 parks near Gilmanton, NH that allow camping, notably Hopkinton-Everett Lake and Edward MacDowell Lake.
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