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 Holderness, NH
284 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Camping near Holderness, NH ranges from RV campgrounds with full electric hookups to primitive boat-in and hike-in sites on Squam Lake, offering options for nearly every preference and skill level. Campgrounds like Harbor Hill Camping Area and Meredith Woods Four Season Camping accommodate diverse needs, from tent sites to cabin rentals. The region features a mix of privately-owned campgrounds with full amenities and more remote sites managed by the Squam Lakes Association. Most campgrounds in the area support RV camping with electric hookups, while others cater to those seeking a more primitive outdoor experience with boat-in or hike-in access options.
Seasonal operation defines most campgrounds in the Holderness region, with the majority open from May through mid-October. Many campsites require advance reservations, particularly during summer months when lakeside locations fill quickly. Winter camping opportunities are limited, though some year-round facilities exist. The terrain varies from level, developed sites to more rugged options in the nearby White Mountain National Forest. Campers should prepare for variable New England weather patterns, especially in spring and fall when temperatures can fluctuate significantly. According to one visitor at Squam Lakes Association, "Simple, but gorgeous. The association maintains about a dozen campsites in the Squam Lake area—some hike-in and others boat-in only."
Waterfront access represents a significant draw for campers in the Holderness area, with several campgrounds offering beach access or lake views. Campground amenities typically include clean bathrooms, free hot showers, and swimming pools, with many sites featuring fire rings and picnic tables. Families appreciate the recreational facilities at locations like Harbor Hill Camping Area, which one reviewer described as having "a recreation room with arcade games, pool, ping-pong and other games." Many campgrounds maintain nature trails, providing opportunities for wildlife viewing and hiking without leaving the property. While most sites cater to families seeking convenience, the region also supports more secluded camping for those desiring privacy and a closer connection to nature, particularly at the boat-in sites on Squam Lake.
Best Campgrounds near Holderness (284)
1. 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 Availability2. Harbor Hill Camping Area
"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."
from $3500 - $4500 / night
Check Availability3. Lost River Valley Campground
"The last few years, they’ve added a light display near the entrance at night, which make that last trip to the bathroom before bedtime fun!"
"Nice campground located in the valley of mountains. Wooded sites but close to your neighbors."
from $62 - $209 / night
Check Availability4. Baker River Campground
"This place was a great option for staying close to Rumney for climbing. They have a group campsite specifically for climbers, which was $10 a person when we stayed there."
"Some sites are more private than others but overall quiet, and in a beautiful spot right next to the river. It's in a great location being near the main roads but far enough away that it seems remote."
from $35 - $42 / night
Check Availability5. Campton Campground
"The sites are clean and well kept but are close in proximity of each other. None are private. This would be great for multiple families wanting to camp together."
"Really great for access to Tripoli road, Waterville Valley. Bathrooms clean. Showers clean. Host was excellent and knowledgeable. Loved advising campers where to go, what trails to checkout."
from $30 / night
Check Availability6. 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 Availability7. White Lake State Park Campground
"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."
from $35 - $105 / night
Check Availability8. Ames Brook Campground
"Not all sites are overly spacious, some are in close proximity and there are many seasonal campers but the grounds are very well maintained and the bathrooms and showers are exceptionally clean (and free"
"Easy to get to off Rt. 93, in Ashland, quick ride to many area attractions like hiking, lakes, etc. Site 27 is very large, near a cute babbling brook."
from $42 - $49 / night
Check Availability9. Branch Brook Campground
"Dump station is located smartly away from most campsites, but on site. Cammy at the office was lovely and helpful."
"The beat part is the location to the river. It wraps around the campground making it a great place to go tubing. They also have 3 great fields for rent"
from $37 - $55 / night
Check Availability10. Clearwater Campground
"The lake beach was fantastic, very nicely maintained. Kayak rental was super cheap and easy to do!
The campground is relatively near Meredith town center, and not far from Weirs beach."
from $33 - $56 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 53 min from Manchester, NH
- 1 hr 57 min from Lewiston, ME
- 2 hrs 4 min from Portland, ME
- 2 hrs 14 min from Burlington, VT
Recent Camping Photos near Holderness, NH
774 Photos of 284 Holderness Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Recent Reviews near Holderness, NH
1302 Reviews of 284 Holderness 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.
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.
- 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.
Guide to Holderness
Campgrounds near Holderness, New Hampshire occupy diverse terrain ranging from lake shores to mountain foothills at elevations between 500-1,000 feet. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing from December through February, while summer highs typically reach 75-85°F. Most campsites require advanced planning during July and August when weekend occupancy reaches 90% at popular locations.
What to do
Tubing on local rivers: Branch Brook Campground offers excellent river access for summer tubing adventures. According to a camper, "We ended tubing down the river one day. The staff was very nice. Close to a beautiful hiking spot and some stores, restaurants and gas stations." The river wraps around the campground creating perfect conditions for water activities.
Mountain hiking access: Campton Campground provides an ideal base for hiking the nearby White Mountains. A visitor noted, "Great 'base camp' for hiking Osceola & East Osceola. Easy access from I-93. Really great for access to Tripoli road, Waterville Valley." This campground puts you within 15-20 minutes of popular trailheads.
Swimming in White Lake: White Lake State Park Campground offers a natural swimming experience in crystal clear water. One camper shared, "The beach area is very nice and has lots of tables and grills. We were able to hear the loons calling on the lake at night too." The swimming area remains shallow for quite a distance, making it safer for families with children.
Kayaking and fishing: Clearwater Campground provides excellent lake access for water activities. A reviewer mentioned, "Easy access to the lake, beautiful water, and my husband could not put a hook in without catching something." Kayak rentals are available directly at the campground for a reasonable fee.
What campers like
Clean bathroom facilities: Meredith Woods Four Season Camping maintains exceptional cleanliness even in challenging conditions. As one winter visitor observed, "Squeaky clean - and that's not always easy especially in the winter when everyone drags snow, slush and mud into the bathroom. Thank you for sticking to such high standards."
Indoor amenities for weather flexibility: Clearwater Campground offers indoor options when weather doesn't cooperate. A camper appreciated this feature: "The indoor pool on the other side of the road at the sister campground Meredith Woods was splendid. I love the idea of being able to go swimming even if the weather is a bit crummy."
Privacy between sites: Waterville Campground offers more secluded camping experiences. According to a visitor, "Big wooded sites with some privacy. 1 mile hike into Waterville Town Square. It's bear country so plan accordingly." The natural setting creates separation between campsites.
River proximity: Lost River Valley Campground features sites directly adjacent to flowing water. One camper recommended, "You cannot go wrong. Right on kangamangus highway basically in the mountains. Recommend the sites by the river!" The sound of moving water adds to the camping experience.
What you should know
Bear activity in certain areas: Waterville Campground has documented bear encounters. One camper reported a concerning experience: "The first day I got there at around 5:30 I was sitting in my hammock reading when a black bear cub strolled through my campsite. We scared the poop out of each other. Local police came and said they have been having problems with the bears."
Road noise at some campgrounds: Baker River Campground has some sites affected by traffic sounds. A visitor noted both positives and negatives: "The campground is perfect for those who prefer a traditional camping experience without additional frills... Only downsides are it's a bit off the beaten path (over an hour to Conway); there is some road noise."
Winter camping challenges: Several campgrounds remain open in winter but with varying service levels. At Branch Brook Campground, one winter camper warned: "I DO NOT recommend this campground in the winter. I feel that the owners/managers are very neglectful. They do a bad job plowing (my rig bottomed out twice on snow banks) and I fishtailed on the access road."
Water quality concerns: Some campgrounds have water issues. One visitor to Waterville Campground mentioned: "The water is very brown / rusty. We didn't feel comfortable drinking it." Bringing additional water supplies may be necessary at certain locations.
Tips for camping with families
Recreation facilities: Harbor Hill Camping Area offers numerous family-friendly amenities beyond standard playground equipment. A visitor highlighted these features: "Has a pool and a couple playgrounds for the kids AND a recreation room with arcade games, pool, ping-pong and other games. Free DVD and book lending library."
Bike-friendly campgrounds: White Lake State Park Campground provides safe cycling opportunities for children. One camper advised: "You may want to bring bicycles or plan to walk a lot to get to and from the beach." Another added: "The kids could safely ride their bikes around the campground."
Seasonal activities: Branch Brook Campground schedules special events for families throughout the camping season. A reviewer mentioned, "Excellent river access, a pool, small camp store tons of activities for the kids, and many different 'types' of camping options!" Programming varies by season but typically includes weekend-focused events.
Tips from RVers
Winter RV considerations: Meredith Woods Four Season Camping accommodates year-round RV camping with specific limitations. One winter camper explained: "We stayed for a winter weekend, they have a few transient sites that can accommodate RV's year round. There are a ton of full time seasonal RV's as many people use this campground as a base for snow machining."
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds require additional preparation for RVs. At Clearwater Campground, a visitor noted: "Lot was not level. Lot was roomy." Bringing leveling blocks is recommended for most campgrounds in the Holderness region.
Hookup availability: Harbor Hill Camping Area offers comprehensive connections for RVs. As one camper described: "Has all the hook-ups you need with free wifi and cable TV." Most RV sites include water, electric, and sewer connections, though availability varies seasonally.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Holderness, NH?
What camping is available near Holderness, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, Holderness, NH offers a wide range of camping options, with 284 campgrounds and RV parks near Holderness, NH and 8 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Holderness, NH?
Which is the most popular campground near Holderness, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Holderness, NH is Hunter’s Run RV Park with a 4.4-star rating from 9 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Holderness, NH?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Holderness, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 8 free dispersed camping spots near Holderness, NH.
What parks are near Holderness, NH?
What parks are near Holderness, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 12 parks near Holderness, NH that allow camping, notably White Mountain National Forest and Union Village Dam.
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