Camping spots near Hampton Beach, New Hampshire provide convenient access to both shoreline and inland recreation. The coastal area has sandy terrain with mostly level campsites, making setup easier for most camping equipment. Summer temperatures typically range from 60-85°F with higher humidity levels near the coast, while inland camping areas often run 5-10 degrees cooler with drier air.
What to do
Beach access from camp: Sea Coast Camping and RV Resort puts you about 5 miles from Hampton Beach and other shoreline areas. "About 5 miles to the east is Hampton Beach and a little farther is the town of Rye which are worth the drive. There we discovered Ray's Seafood and Petey's Summertime Seafood where you can get a great meal right next to the water," notes one camper.
Whale watching excursions: Campers staying at Hampton Beach State Park Campground can easily access whale watching tours. "This location puts you near the beach, a few miles from the boardwalk and all of its activities as well as and Wed evening fireworks & concerts, and across the street from daily fishing and whale watching tours."
Paddle sports: The waterfront sites at Pawtuckaway State Park Campground offer immediate water access. "This a a fantastic little camp for if you want to go canoeing or kayaking or boating of any kind! It's set up of three islands and a large majority of the campsites are right on the water."
What campers like
Spacious sites: Wakeda Campground receives consistent praise for site layout. "We were overwhelmed by the beautiful massive forest. The campground was splendid with old tall, pine trees everywhere," writes one reviewer. Another notes, "Great employees, clean reliable power. No issues great spread out sites."
Ocean breeze camping: Many campers appreciate the natural cooling at oceanfront sites. A Hampton Beach State Park Campground visitor explains: "The ocean breezes are fantastic. One side of the campground is bordered by an inlet that fishing boats use to head out from the harbor. Another side is sand dunes, that are the south end of Hampton beach."
Clean facilities: Tidewater Campground maintains high standards according to visitors. "It's hard to believe that this has been in business as long as it has... Tidewater is almost immaculate: Clean bathrooms, very well maintained grounds, nice pool and more. There's always someone working to keep things in great condition."
What you should know
Reservation timing: Many campgrounds fill quickly during summer. At Salisbury Beach State Reservation, expect competition for sites. "We can image it being quite different in the summer. As there are a lot of campsites and with this being a popular beach area, the campground is probably full in the summer."
Gate access requirements: Some campgrounds have specific entry protocols. At Tidewater Campground, "You must have $10 in cash only to get a gate key" and "Nowhere does it say but you must have $10 in cash only to get a gate key."
Site preferences: Several campgrounds offer dramatically different site types. At Pawtuckaway, "You should book ahead during July and August when these places fill up fast" and "The sites on the water book up quickly but they're perfect for fishing and boating."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Sea Coast Camping provides facilities specifically for children. "There are not too many amenities in the park which was fine for us since we really don't use them. There was a very large playground, horseshoe pits, shuffleboard, basketball, and camp store."
Dog-friendly options: Pet policies vary significantly between campgrounds. At Salisbury Beach State Reservation, "Great place for kids and dogs. So we went with our two dogs. There were plenty of other people there with dogs as well. There were a lot of children on bikes and playing. The restrooms were clean."
Swimming options: Some campgrounds offer alternatives to ocean swimming. At Tidewater, visitors appreciate that "the short version of this review is that it is a very, very nice campground" with a "nice pool" available for families who want controlled swimming environments.
Tips from RVers
Site backing challenges: Access to some sites requires careful maneuvering. At Sea Coast, "The roads in the park are fairly narrow and we had to drive over the grass across from our site in order to back in. Lucky for us nobody was parked in that site. We hate driving over grass as our coach can really make some ruts."
Hookup placement: Be prepared for potential hookup issues. At Salisbury Beach, "The electrical post and water hookup were placed way behind our site and we could not reach even with our 40' electrical cord. Park staff told us we could back onto the grass in order to reach the electric."
Satellite reception: Tree coverage affects connectivity at various campgrounds. At Sea Coast, "The park does not have cable and we were not able to get reception on our satellite because of the trees and could not get any over-the-air channels."
