Cabin accommodations near Grantham, New Hampshire range from remote shelters to modern rental cabins. Located in the foothills of New Hampshire's White Mountains, the region sits at elevations between 800-1,200 feet with pine and hardwood forests dominating the landscape. Summer nights often drop below 60°F even when daytime temperatures reach the 80s, making cabin camping comfortable without air conditioning.
What to do
Hiking nearby trails: Several backcountry shelters offer primitive cabin-like structures for hikers on the Appalachian Trail. Winturri Backcountry Shelter provides a shelter that "could fit maybe 6-8 folks" with "lots of tent camping spots as you worked up the hill perpendicular to the shelter," according to a hiker. Water comes from a spring close to the shelter that was running in mid-August.
Enjoying river access: Many cabin locations offer water features for recreation. Sites at Pine Haven include riverside cabins where "the view was amazing" and the river is "about thigh deep and you can easily walk in it/swim at portions." One camper noted it's "a great place to bring a dog, especially if they enjoy running/playing in a river."
Rail trail biking: Cabins at Crow's Nest Campground provide access to the Sugar River Rail trail for biking. While primarily serving RVs, they offer cabin rentals near the river. A visitor mentioned that "there's nice little swimming area on the river for kids" and it's "close to the Sugar River Rail trail for biking."
What campers like
Private wooded settings: Cabins at some locations provide separation from other campers. Sites at Moose Hillock Camping Resort offer "private and wooded" settings. A repeat visitor emphasized, "I'll mention the privacy of sites again because it truly is worth mentioning" and described the grounds as "absolutely GORGEOUS... Stunning. The sites are private and wooded."
Clean facilities: Cabin campers appreciate well-maintained grounds and facilities. Quechee State Park Campground receives consistent praise for cleanliness. One visitor noted, "Bathroom were clean and the grounds were quite at night" while another mentioned, "The bathroom is very clean. They offer showers that cost you a few quarters."
Hiking directly from cabins: Some cabin locations offer immediate trail access. A visitor to Winturri Backcountry Shelter found "decent privacy" at the tent sites surrounding the shelter. The backcountry cabin provides a true wilderness experience with only basic facilities including "a decent privvy onsite."
What you should know
Varied comfort levels: Cabin amenities differ dramatically between locations. At some campgrounds like Caton Place Campground, the experience depends on your expectations. One camper noted the "bathroom is outdated. Only one shower towards the end of the bathroom, a bit dark and dirty" while another mentioned "Bath House is currently being updated. It is very clean."
Noise considerations: Some cabins may experience noise from nearby attractions or activities. Pine Haven campers noted that "when we came back to our campsite on Saturday afternoon, there was an ongoing loud motor noise of ATVs racing, as there is a race track nearby."
Water availability: Not all backcountry cabins have reliable water sources. At Moose Mountain Backcountry Shelter, a hiker explained that "This is a back country shelter site that is hike-in only on the Appalachian Trail. There can be seasonal water sources but water is not guaranteed."
Tips for camping with families
Look for organized activities: Some campgrounds offer structured programs for children. At Quechee State Park Campground, a parent shared that "Rangers also run fun programs for children - my children churned butter and made popcorn over the campfire one night, and made tie dyed T-shirts the next (for no fee)."
Consider cabin location and terrain: The layout of the campground can affect family comfort. At Moose Hillock Camping Resort, a parent advised, "If you have never been before, book a sight as close as possible to the pool and office, because the further you get, the higher the altitude."
Pool access: Swimming facilities can be an important amenity for families with children. A Moose Hillock visitor described their "awesome pool with a pirate ship that has 2 slides, night swimming, entertainment on some nights" and noted it was "family oriented" with "lots to do."
Tips from RVers
Site accessibility: When bringing an RV to a cabin-focused campground, access can be challenging. A Caton Place Campground visitor warned that "The roads aren't wide enough to take a motorhome into. The pull through site is not level and is barely long enough to fit my 43' rig."
Utility services: Cabin and RV sites often have different hookup options. At Quechee State Park Campground, a camper explained, "There are no hookups but they do have a dump station if you are in a RV."
Communication limitations: Cell service can be unreliable at cabin locations. Moose Hillock visitors reported "No WiFi or cell service except by the pool which can be hard if you need to be contacted" while Pine Haven campers noted, "We didn't have much cell service at the campground, which didn't bother us."
