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 Glen, NH
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Glen, New Hampshire provides access to multiple camping environments in the White Mountains region, from established facilities to rustic dispersed sites. Jellystone Park Glen Ellis and Green Meadow Camping Area are popular developed campgrounds offering a mix of tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin accommodations. Town Hall Road Dispersed camping provides free, more primitive options along the river for those seeking a natural experience without amenities. The area's campgrounds typically operate from late May through mid-October, with most facilities closing after Columbus Day.
Road conditions and access vary throughout the region, particularly for dispersed camping areas. "Take Town Hall rd off of 302 and go until it is no longer residential. You'll see the WMNF signs and the sites begin shortly after that," noted one visitor about finding dispersed camping locations. Many campgrounds require reservations during peak summer months when families visit nearby attractions like Story Land. Weather conditions can change rapidly in the White Mountains, with cooler temperatures at higher elevations even during summer. Cell service may be limited in remote areas, and campers should be prepared for wildlife encounters, including black bears, which necessitate proper food storage.
Waterfront access ranks as a significant highlight for many campers in the Glen area. Several campgrounds are positioned between the Saco and Ellis Rivers, providing swimming, tubing, and fishing opportunities. A visitor described one location as having "crystal clear, ice cold and refreshing" river water, perfect for cooling off during summer months. Family-friendly amenities feature prominently in developed campgrounds, with swimming pools, playgrounds, and organized activities available at locations like Jellystone Park. Noise levels vary considerably between sites – quiet, wooded tent areas contrast with more social, amenity-rich RV sections. Fall foliage season attracts numerous campers seeking colorful mountain views, while summer weekends often reach capacity, especially at campgrounds near water sources or family attractions.
Best Campgrounds near Glen (284)
1. Dry River Campground — Crawford Notch State Park
"Cool location right on the edge of the Dry River Wilderness. Great Basecamp for lots of hikes in the area. Some spots are right on the highway with not much tree cover in between so can be loud."
"This state park campground located between Rte 302 and the Dry River in Crawford Notch is a great location for exploring family friendly trails to (Sawyer Pond, Arethusa Falls, Willard Cliffs to name a"
from $35 - $40 / night
Check Availability2. Town Hall Road Dispersed
"Awesome boondocking in New Hampshire, what a treat in the east coast! Just beautiful scenery, with trees, rivers, creeks, hiking trails with a pond- we absolutely loved our time here. "
"There were plenty of sites to choose from and most (not all) had access to the river as well as a fire ring. Sites were on a dirt road, but it was quiet for the most part."
3. Crawford Notch Campground
"Our site was big and walking around the grounds the other sites appeared to all be pretty good sized as well. They are not lying when they call their sites secluded either!"
"Cabins and RV sites with hookups are closer yo the entrance, store and road. That latter feature is a bit if a bummer bc the noise from cars and trucks zipping by on route 302 is loud."
from $25 / night
Check Availability4. Jellystone Park™ Glen Ellis
"Located between the Ellis River and the Saco River, this campground offers so many fantastic amenities."
"Our three kids didn’t have a boring time at Jellystone Glen Ellis! They loved the Waterpark and the foam party! It was Christmas in July week, and they had so many events planned for the week."
5. Eastern Slope Camping Area
"A large wooden shelter stood over our picnic table, with a decent amount of space next to it for tents or a small camper."
"Great location with easy ride to all North Conway attractions. Nice hay ride and playground. The beach is sandy and lots of room to spread out. We visited Story Land and Mt."
6. Covered Bridge
"He absolutely loved it and there was plenty of space in the tent site for him to roam around."
"Our site was spacious and backed up to a little ravine so it was fairly private even though it was right next to the bathrooms (also convenient). We weren’t far from a hand pump water spigot, either."
from $30 / night
Check Availability7. Dolly Copp Campground
"This is a prime location for adventure in the mountains, with multiple routes up Mt Washington (trail, auto road, or cog railway)."
"PROs: Location! Away from the madness of North Conway and just 4 miles south of Gorham for quick breakfast in the a.m. Location!"
from $30 - $44 / night
Check Availability8. Jigger Johnson Campground
"Located on the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire, Jigger Johnson is one of those great sites that has close proximity to plenty of hiking, exploring, swimming and isn't too far from the hustle and bustle"
"earlier in the day, around 1 pm when new campers are welcomed."
from $24 / night
Check Availability9. Saco River Camping Area
"They have bike rentals, disc golf, ping pong table, outside big chess game, pool, outlet shopping was near by, near by historic sites, like kangamangus Highway, diana’s Bath, cathedral ledge, we went"
"People to our left and the ones behind us were annual vistors to this campground. We are new to Rving it was refreshing to be around such nice people."
10. Moose Brook State Park Campground
"This state park is located in the small town of Gorham, New Hampshire."
"This campground is just north bordering the White Mountain NF. Close to northern trailheads. NH take care in keeping their parks orderly. Nice site."
from $35 - $45 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 1 hr 34 min from Lewiston, ME
- 1 hr 45 min from Portland, ME
- 1 hr 57 min from Manchester, NH
- 2 hrs 30 min from Burlington, VT
Recent Camping Photos near Glen, NH
770 Photos of 284 Glen Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Recent Reviews near Glen, NH
1284 Reviews of 284 Glen Campgrounds
- 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.**
- KKrista R.
TravelerMoose Brook State Park Campground
Like Dispersed Camping... For $42
Pros: We have the p lube nearly to ourselves, thus it was very similar to dispersed camping. Nice little campground with two small ponds (One for fishing, the other for swimming). Nothing very remarkable, though.
Cons: As others have mentioned, if you want flush toilets and pay showers, you have to either stay at the more crowded, larger loop or walk across the highway to get to those amenities.
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!
Jen P.TravelerTwin Mountain Campground
Lovely and peaceful
It was everything we were looking for, right on the river, quiet and clean, the section we stayed in was all tent camping so we weren’t sandwiched in between a bunch of RVs blocking the view. There was no lights, generators or loud music. Alcohol wasn’t permitted so that really cuts down on a lot of unnecessary nonsense. Pets are permitted and our dog loved it. It was very pleasant and relaxing. Can’t wait to go back.
- JJose L.Traveler
Town Hall Road Dispersed
Dispersed it is!
Stayed 8 nights with complete solitude. Bugs weren't too bad. There were plenty of dead birch trees and beech trees for firewood. Not any evergreens though. Site 16 has two campsites. I took the further one with plenty of room. Good size fire pit, but people before me left some large pieces of wood not completely put out along with lit coals.
Nikki M.ScoutCherry Mountain Road Dispersed
Dispersed camping in white mountains
We stayed in site #5. It was grassy and had a little creek running next to it that was lovely to listen to.
- Amy D.Traveler
Ellacoya State Park Campground
Pretty ok!
No major complaints. 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.
- Amy D.Traveler
Jericho Mountain State Park Campground
Warning to RV drivers!
Honestly a wonderful place, gorgeous little lake and beach, incredibly helpful and friendly staff. Note though if you’re staying in one of the new RV sites, it is nowhere near the bathrooms or bathhouse - like a 10+ minute walk, and I wouldn’t want to do it at night. The RV section is clearly still very very new, and they’re working out the kinks, so only go here if you’ve got a self-sufficient RV and don’t need bathrooms. There are all 3 hookups, though the sewer hookup was so far back our short hose did not reach. But they do sell extensions at the visitors center, and there is a dump station, though we had to call to have them unlock it. Overall a great place, but be aware if you’re looking for a place with both full RV hookups and bathrooms, this is not it!
Guide to Glen
Dispersed camping options near Glen, New Hampshire range from free riverside sites to developed campgrounds with full amenities. Town Hall Road Dispersed camping area offers primitive sites without facilities along the river at elevations between 600-800 feet. The White Mountain National Forest surrounds Glen with numerous camping locations that typically experience temperature drops of 10-15°F at night, even during summer months.
What to do
River activities: At Jellystone Park™ Glen Ellis, campers enjoy direct access to both the Ellis and Saco Rivers. "Between two rivers. Pool, baseball diamond, arcade, kids movies, playground. Plenty of shopping and restaurants in Conway. Storyland and Mt Washington super close!" notes Jimmy M. The campground offers tubing opportunities with convenient put-in and take-out locations.
Hiking trails: The Covered Bridge Campground connects directly to hiking paths including Boulder Loop Trail. "There's a formal trail to the river from the back of the loop, near 16B (lean-to)," explains one visitor. Another camper adds, "Hiked the Arethusa Falls and Frankenstein Cliff Trail right from the campground!" showing how trails connect directly to camping areas.
Seasonal attractions: Fall foliage viewing becomes a primary activity from mid-September through October. "We had beautiful gal foliage and was close to some great hikes. Our spot near the river was also very cool," notes Ilana F. about her autumn stay. Many campgrounds remain open through mid-October specifically to accommodate leaf-peepers.
What campers like
Riverside sites: Town Hall Road Dispersed camping offers free waterfront access. "We loved this spot. There were plenty of sites to choose from and most (not all) had access to the river as well as a fire ring," reports Josie W. Sites along this road are situated at various distances from the water, with some directly adjacent to the river.
Privacy levels: Dry River Campground receives praise for site spacing. "Sites are spacious, level, and wooded, though some have no real demarcation between them," notes Jean C. A different camper confirms: "Very private sites, close to hiking and peaceful. Only campers almost every spring."
Clean facilities: Bathhouses rank high on camper priority lists. "The bathroom facilities are so clean! There are great hiking trails right on the campsite. Chipmunks surround you at all times, which was pretty epic and magical!" reports Michelle K. Several campgrounds offer coin-operated showers, with rates typically $0.25 per minute.
What you should know
Weather preparedness: The White Mountain region experiences rapid weather changes. "We went during a pouring rain storm and our site remained relatively dry. We even enjoyed a small fire the next day," explains Rowan E. Temperature drops of 20°F between day and night occur regularly, even in summer.
Bear safety: Multiple campgrounds report active bear populations. "There were 2 active bears while we were there. They circled our camper at night. It was incredible to watch. Of course we never left any food out!" writes Liz S. Most campgrounds require food storage in vehicles or bear-proof containers.
Cell coverage limitations: Service is extremely limited throughout the region. One camper at Crawford Notch Campground notes: "Cell service is poor to absent throughout Crawford Notch. If you need to connect, drive south toward Bartlett or North to Bretton Woods." Some dispersed camping areas have no service whatsoever.
Tips for camping with families
Theme park proximity: Green Meadow Camping Area sits adjacent to Story Land. "We picked Green Meadow due to its proximity to Story Land. Didn't realize it's literally right next door... We could have walked if we weren't lazy," shares Michael. The location allows families to easily return to camp for meals or rest periods.
Kid-friendly amenities: Playgrounds, pools and organized activities keep children entertained. "There were TONS of kids which was great for us, but may not be everyone's cup of tea. The band on Saturday night was so fun and the kids loved it," reports Kate S. Evening hayrides appear at multiple campgrounds during peak season.
Water play options: Rivers provide natural swimming areas for children. "The beach is sandy and lots of room to spread out," notes Katelyn D. Depth varies significantly by location and season, with late summer typically having lower, slower water levels more suitable for younger children.
Tips from RVers
Site accessibility: Large RVs face challenges at some campgrounds. "The road was not as bad as I anticipated. There was room for my Jeep Grand Cherokee towing a squaredrop camper to pass the very few oncoming vehicles we encountered," explains Bob G. about Town Hall Road. Entry road conditions vary significantly between campgrounds.
Hookup availability: Electric and water connections are limited. Some campers note, "If you need solar or starlink, there's only 1 or 2 viable spots." Most developed campgrounds offer some hookup sites, but they fill quickly during peak season from June through August.
Generator restrictions: Noise regulations limit generator use at most locations. "This P.O.S went as far as to posture towards us in a threatening manner," reports one frustrated camper about a disagreement over campground policies. Check specific rules before arrival, as they vary between public and private campgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any RV-friendly camping options near Glen, NH?
Are there any RV-friendly camping options near Glen, NH?
Several RV-friendly camping options exist near Glen, NH. The Pastures Campground offers spacious lots that accommodate RVs, complete with tables and fire rings. The campground provides essential RV amenities including bathrooms, showers, and a laundry room. Big Rock Campground, situated just off the Kancamagus Highway, offers wooded sites for RVs and is only an 8-minute drive from Lincoln where you can easily restock supplies. For larger rigs, Green Meadow Camping Area in Glen is specifically designated as big-rig-friendly with full hookups. Most RV campgrounds in the area are open from May through October, with reservations recommended during peak summer months.
What are the best campgrounds in Glen, NH for families?
What are the best campgrounds in Glen, NH for families?
For families camping in Glen, NH, Lafayette Place Campground — Franconia Notch State Park offers excellent access to family-friendly hiking trails and the beautiful Franconia Ridge. The campground is nestled in a stunning location with sites near streams, providing a perfect natural playground for children. Another great option is Country Bumpkins Campground and Cabins, which features spacious spots along the river and is conveniently located next to Clark's Trading Post, a beloved New Hampshire attraction that kids love. Both campgrounds provide the essential amenities families need while offering easy access to the natural beauty and recreational opportunities that make the White Mountains region so popular with families.
What is the best season for camping in Glen, New Hampshire?
What is the best season for camping in Glen, New Hampshire?
Summer (June-August) is the prime camping season in Glen, New Hampshire, with warm days perfect for hiking and exploring the region's natural beauty. However, early fall (September-early October) offers a spectacular alternative when Dolly Copp Campground and surrounding areas showcase breathtaking foliage against the backdrop of the Presidential Mountain Range. Jigger Johnson Campground along the Kancamagus Highway is particularly beautiful in autumn. Spring camping (May-early June) can be enjoyable but prepare for cooler nights and potential mud from snowmelt. Winter camping is limited to experienced campers with proper equipment as most campgrounds close seasonally. For the best balance of pleasant weather and fewer crowds, consider late August to mid-September.
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