Best Campgrounds near Hales Location, NH

The White Mountains region surrounding Hales Location, New Hampshire features numerous established campgrounds accommodating various camping styles. White Lake State Park Campground in Tamworth provides tent, RV, and glamping options with lakefront access, while nearby Danforth Bay Camping & RV Resort in Freedom offers cabin rentals alongside traditional camping sites. Several facilities in the area, including Tamworth Camping Area and Whits End Campground, maintain family-friendly environments with amenities such as showers, picnic tables, and fire rings. Chocorua KOA and Long Island Bridge Campground expand the options with glamping accommodations for those seeking enhanced comfort.

Seasonal considerations dictate camping availability throughout the region, with most campgrounds operating from May through early October. White Lake State Park remains open from May 26 to October 8, while Harbor Hill Camping Area operates from May 22 to October 12. Winter conditions typically close most facilities, though Paugus Bay Campground offers year-round accessibility. Advance reservations are strongly recommended during summer months when tourism peaks. The area experiences typical New England weather patterns with potential for rapid changes, particularly in higher elevations. A visitor noted, "My site was in the row closest to the road where there was truck noise for much of the night. I recommend getting a site as far away from the road as possible."

Campers consistently highlight water access as a primary attraction in the region. Properties situated along lakes or rivers tend to receive higher ratings, with Long Island Bridge Campground earning perfect 5-star reviews. Privacy varies significantly between locations, with some offering secluded wooded sites while others provide more communal camping experiences. Proximity to hiking trails and natural attractions represents another key consideration, as many campgrounds serve as gateways to White Mountain recreation areas. One camper described their experience: "The White Mountains stretch quite some distance. While the Presidential peaks are often considered the jewel of this range, I find the Franconia Ridge just as beautiful and stunning." Noise levels differ between locations, with roadside campgrounds experiencing more traffic sounds than those situated deeper in forested areas.

Best Camping Sites Near Hales Location, New Hampshire (326)

    1. White Lake State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    West Ossipee, NH
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 323-7350

    $35 - $105 / night

    "Last weekend, our family stayed at White Lake State Park for four days."

    "I’ve stayed here a few times and love the location and access to White Lake."

    2. Gunstock Campground

    14 Reviews
    Gilford, NH
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 737-4355

    $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."

    3. Danforth Bay Camping & RV Resort

    15 Reviews
    Freedom, NH
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 539-2069

    $40 - $85 / night

    "This campground is huge with over 300 sites set on nearly 200 acres and along a beautiful lake!"

    "We love the golf carts and sandy beaches as well as the proximity to North Conway and Lake Ossipee.  Staff are nice, quiet time is a bit over enforced."

    4. Harbor Hill Camping Area

    8 Reviews
    Meredith, NH
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 279-6910

    $3500 - $4500 / night

    "Free DVD and book lending library, so if you aren't enjoying the great outdoors or walking on their nature trails, you can just read or watch.  Easy access to the lake or hiking trails in the area. "

    "Sinks are located outside and there is a bIgger sink for washing dishes. We were on an electric/water site but they also have a few primitive sites. We loved it here and will definitely be back."

    5. Chocorua KOA

    8 Reviews
    Chocorua, NH
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 323-8536

    $45 - $110 / night

    "There were some rules in place in order to ensure social distancing and reduce risk to ourselves and to the staff."

    "They were wooded and in a central location close to the playgrounds, pavilion, beach and nature trails."

    6. Long Island Bridge Campground

    3 Reviews
    Melvin Village, NH
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 253-6053

    $37 - $55 / night

    "Love this campground. great views of the lake. Nice neighbors. Lots of space for my kids to run around. And the family who runs it is very friendly."

    "Campground is right on the lake, very clean, pet friendly, employees are great, overall just a nice place to relax and enjoy yourself! People are awesome here!"

    7. Paugus Bay Campground

    6 Reviews
    Laconia, NH
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 366-4757

    "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."

    8. Hunter’s Run RV Park

    9 Reviews
    New Hampton, NH
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 279-5449

    $44 - $135 / night

    "They also have a nice game room for them kids or grown ups that struggle to leave technology behind."

    9. Whits End Campground

    5 Reviews
    West Ossipee, NH
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 539-6060

    "You can tube down the river , it’s peaceful and clean with great views and location is great ❤️ We even went horse back riding as it’s close to castle in the clouds"

    10. Tamworth Camping Area

    4 Reviews
    Tamworth, NH
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 323-8031

    $31 - $55 / night

    "Large sites River front Well worth the drive"

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Recent Reviews near Hales Location, NH

1490 Reviews of 326 Hales Location Campgrounds


  • Jacob S.
    Feb. 22, 2026

    Pemi Cabins NH LLC

    Great view on the river from the cabin

    My family and I stayed in cabin 1 and had a direct view on top of the Pemi river. On site managers were very helpful. Will be back!

  • M
    Feb. 17, 2026

    Forest Glen

    Forest Glenn campground

    Forest Glenn campground is a very nice campground on Wheelwright pond in Lee New Hampshire! Not well kept up but makes you feel like you’re still camping and not glamping ( glamorous camping ) besides some of the very nice campers here with 2 stories on them! Anyway cutting to the chase, just to let any new comers know that are looking for camping in the Lee area if you so choose to camp at forest Glenn depending who you are or how you approach this place dictates if you will have to feel like your stepping on eggshells your entire stay… the owner is a angry Drunk who is sometimes very nice to others or very nasty, and I personally mostly see him being nasty. A couple years back I wanted to look at the campground to see if this would be a place I wanted to stay at so I walked into the office and asked them if we could look around and the lady was in the process of writing us a pass to drive through. This man comes in and said whats going on so I politely told him that we were interested in his campground and we wanted to look around. He completely flipped out said he doesn't understand, said his campground is his back yard, we can't allow this how would you like if I just walked around your back yard etc etc.... yelling at us the whole time and spitting while screaming and then told us to get out of his sight…. This place mind you is overrun by golf carts and I have heard of incidents where people get hit by them because who cares about the posted 5mph speed limitations if your in a golf carts right? Right! And CLEARLY this place is a Double standard place so you will not be treated equal… and as far as I know this place has secret people who camp supposedly working at camp like the manager and security and the plumber or electrician who look like their helping but while helping they gather information about you to spread it around to others or to cause problems with you and the owner!! Oh how thoughtful… one Morning I was in the office and the owner pulled me into the rec room to have a talk with me about my string lights suggesting I shut them off at night and I’m not allowed to use them anymore. I said “sir why would I do that there are 50 other sites with spot lights and string lights Who are these lights bothering that I need to take them down for? “ he said use them inside the trailer I don’t want to see them on again! “ now tell me how that makes any sense… so I shut them off and it became like a minefield on my site at night with no lights while the campers down a different street get to have theirs on. There is no privacy at this place, things keep going missing, and the sites are packed like sardines with no room for Jesus. There are also people staying here over winter and it’s a seasonal campground tell me how that makes any sense. Anyway definitely an experience to be at where drama hits too close to home and the golf cart parking spots are rolling a little to close to my feet. “ oh sorry my foot slipped “ #welp time to search for another place. Seems to be a trend with almost every campground. Angry owners who automatically cause problems or can’t run their own business place without drug addicts for help ( to say the least me and my wife WILL NOT BE COMING BACK )

  • Sandra P.
    Feb. 16, 2026

    Harbor Hill Camping Area

    Best Seasonal Campground in the Lakes Region!

    This is a great campground to be a seasonal at! 1 mile from a beautiful beach on Lake Winnipesaukee. 1 mile from town with cute shops and nice restaurants. Friendly staff. Seasonals are very friendly and welcome new seasonals. Campground is taken care of. It is family owned and they really care. I love the fact it is all seasonal- it has a wonderful community feel.

  • Will S.
    Dec. 9, 2025

    Barn Door Hostel & Campground

    Incredible comforting vibe

    Have been here twice, both end of season and beginning of season. The owners/operators are attentive, caring and engaged. Facilities are above par, the location is about the best you can get, highly maintained and they have Goose, probably one of the best dogs ever. Do yourself a favor and stay here... nights around the fire up in the whites in a safe and welcoming place are beyond description.

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 26, 2025

    Little Ossipee Lake Campground

    Great location

    This cpground is full of seasonal sp no transient sites. Has good owners who keep the park clean and well maintained. Very friendly campground.

  • M
    Oct. 31, 2025

    Crawford Notch Campground

    Wanted to love it

    Pros: Cleanliness, spacious sites, location,

    Cons: will change your site for no reason, I booked site 43 and 44 they ended up giving my site 43 to someone else when they could have accommodated them at another site (mind you 3 more sites were available that day) - I actually paid for my site, I just feel like it’s a total crooked way of charging people and upon arrival your desperate to set up and they just threw this info at me stating that they changed my site. So disrespectful and rude and they don’t refund!

    They charge extra for “lock in” site, not worth the money or the headache, they need better management. Showers are near the entrance (very long walk) or you’ll have to drive to the bathroom

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 21, 2025

    Spacious Skies French Pond

    Helpful staff

    The staff was friendly. Don't forget the flashlight. There is very little lighting to find your way around the winding roads of the campground which adds to the charm.


Guide to Hales Location

Camping options near Hales Location, New Hampshire span across multiple lakes and terrain types within the White Mountains region. Most camping areas sit at elevations between 500-1000 feet, with temperature swings of 30°F possible between day and night during peak summer months. Several campgrounds feature waterfront access to smaller lakes and ponds, creating distinct microclimates that can affect wind conditions and morning fog patterns during the camping season.

What to do

Lakeside activities at White Lake: The clear waters at White Lake State Park Campground provide excellent swimming and paddling opportunities. "The lake itself is unreal, with the mountains in the background it just feels incredibly peaceful and serene, keeping in mind I mostly visited around dawn and dusk and the Memorial Day clouds and rain kept it pretty low-key," notes Angela T. The park offers kayak and paddle boat rentals for those without their own watercraft.

Winter camping options: Unlike most seasonal campgrounds, Meredith Woods Four Season Camping remains open year-round with maintained sites. "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," shares Mara S. The campground serves as a winter base for snow machine enthusiasts.

River tubing and swimming: Swift River access at Tamworth Camping Area provides natural water recreation without large crowds. "Nice little beach on the Swift River. Nicely wooded sites," reports Amy V. The river depth varies seasonally, with summer water levels typically allowing for comfortable swimming and tubing even during drier periods.

What campers like

Private wooded sites: Many campers prioritize separation between sites when staying in the region. At Whits End Campground, "the sites were spacious and felt semi private," according to Stephanie C. Wooded campsites throughout the region provide natural screening between neighbors, though availability varies significantly by campground.

Waterfront access: Sites with direct lake or river frontage receive consistent praise. "We had a site next to the bathroom, which was very helpful and I felt confident letting my children go to the bathroom alone," mentions Stephanie C. about White Lake. At Long Island Bridge Campground, Madison K. describes the experience as "postcard perfect" with direct lake access.

Clean facilities: Bathroom and shower cleanliness stands out in many reviews. "Bathrooms were nice and clean. We rented both a canoe and kayaks and it was such a nice experience," shares Amanda about her stay at White Lake. Most campgrounds offer coin-operated showers (typically $0.25 for 2-5 minutes) with varying water pressure and temperature consistency.

What you should know

Noise considerations: Road traffic can affect certain campgrounds and specific sites. At White Lake, Sable W. notes, "Our site was in very close proximity to all of the neighboring sites. We had children on several sides, and a rowdy group of adult men on another side." Site selection within campgrounds significantly impacts noise exposure.

Security policies: Some campgrounds enforce strict rules about quiet hours and fire safety. At Danforth Bay Camping & RV Resort, Jeremy P. mentions, "The campground has a rule that fires have to be out at 11:30. The security people have been extremely aggressive to us." Check specific campground rules before booking.

Reservation timing: Summer weekends fill quickly at popular locations. Harbor Hill Camping Area maintains a 150-site capacity with limited availability for last-minute bookings. Chris H. reports, "I called last minute to get a spot and they could accommodate us that day for the 3 nights we were looking for. Can't say that would happen every time but thankfully it did."

Tips for camping with families

Playgrounds and activities: Gunstock Campground offers structured recreation for children. "They have an aerial obstacle course and a mountain coaster, places to swim, music festivals, hiking, etc.," notes Kasey H. The campground maintains two separate playground areas designed for different age groups.

Beach access considerations: Swimming areas vary significantly in depth and supervision. Douglas L. shares that at White Lake, "The beach was clean and had lots of ducks swimming nearby. The kids enjoyed ice cream tacos from the snack shack." Many lake beaches feature gradual entry points suitable for younger swimmers.

Biking opportunities: Several campgrounds offer safe roads for children to ride bikes. Carolyn M. recommends White Lake, noting "Every summer, we would take the kids camping for a week at White Lake State Park and we all loved it. You can rent canoes, hike around the lake, and the kids could safely ride their bikes around the campground."

Tips from RVers

Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds in the White Mountain region require significant leveling for RVs. Michael K. warns about Chocorua KOA: "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." Bring additional leveling equipment when camping in this region.

Water and electric hookup locations: Hookup placement varies between campgrounds and can require extra equipment. At Paugus Bay Campground, Zachary W. notes, "Water hook up was on the opposite side of the site of where the camper needed to be, no sewer hookups. The owners were very helpful by lending us a hose to help us reach the spigot."

Generator restrictions: Most established campgrounds near Hales Location prohibit generator use or strictly limit operating hours. White Lake enforces quiet periods, with Jean C. reporting, "Our neighbor ran his generator ALL.NIGHT.LONG. the first night, but a ranger spoke with him the next day and he shut it off. He ran it during the 5-8pm time slot after that."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Hales Location, NH?

According to TheDyrt.com, Hales Location, NH offers a wide range of camping options, with 326 campgrounds and RV parks near Hales Location, NH and 10 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Hales Location, NH?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Hales Location, NH is White Lake State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 24 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Hales Location, NH?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 10 free dispersed camping spots near Hales Location, NH.

What parks are near Hales Location, NH?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 12 parks near Hales Location, NH that allow camping, notably White Mountain National Forest and Hopkinton-Everett Lake.