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Best Campgrounds near Jefferson, NH

1,192 Reviews

Jefferson, New Hampshire serves as a central base for accessing several established campgrounds in the White Mountains region. The area includes a range of accommodation options from full-hookup RV sites to tent camping and cabin rentals. Jefferson Campground offers 84 sites with electric, water, and sewer hookups, while nearby Lantern Resort Motel & Campground provides family-friendly camping within walking distance of Santa's Village. Mountain Lake Camping Resort and Rogers Campground round out the major developed camping facilities in the immediate area, all rated 4 stars or higher by campers on The Dyrt.

Most campgrounds in the Jefferson area operate seasonally from mid-May through mid-October, with the prime camping season running from June through September. Road access is generally good throughout the region, with most campgrounds situated near major routes like US-2 and NH-115. "The location is wonderful, especially if you have kids," notes one visitor about Lantern Resort. "It's near many hiking trails and walking distance to Santa's Village." Facilities vary widely between campgrounds, with some offering extensive amenities like swimming pools, laundry facilities, and camp stores, while others provide more basic services. Campers should verify specific amenities when booking, as several reviews mention facility maintenance issues at some locations.

The White Mountains setting provides a scenic backdrop for camping experiences, with many sites offering views of the Presidential Range. Several visitors highlight the family-friendly atmosphere at Jefferson area campgrounds. One camper noted, "We had a great time in and around the park. Staff was friendly and the park was clean. Lots of activities for the family." Proximity to attractions is frequently mentioned as a benefit, with Santa's Village, hiking trails, and Mount Washington all within reasonable driving distance. Full-service RV sites are abundant in the area, though tent campers will find dedicated areas at most campgrounds as well. Winter camping is generally not available, as most facilities close after the fall foliage season concludes in mid-October.

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Best Camping Sites Near Jefferson, New Hampshire (253)

    1. Moose Brook State Park Campground

    29 Reviews
    Gorham, NH
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 466-3860

    $35 - $45 / night

    "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."

    2. Dolly Copp Campground

    20 Reviews
    Randolph, NH
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 466-2713

    $30 - $44 / night

    "PROs: Location! Away from the madness of North Conway and just 4 miles south of Gorham for quick breakfast in the a.m.

    Location!"

    "Very dog freindly, many hiking trails in the the area. Next to zero cell phone service."

    3. Dry River Campground — Crawford Notch State Park

    31 Reviews
    Bartlett, NH
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 374-2272

    $35 - $40 / night

    "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"

    4. Twin Mountain-Mt. Washington KOA

    10 Reviews
    Twin Mountain, NH
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 846-5559

    "There are tons of hiking trails in and close by the site. And other activities close by for family or adult fun like Story Land? Santa's Village, and more."

    "The trail is right outside the lip of the campsite. Totally had a fun time."

    5. Jefferson Campground

    7 Reviews
    Jefferson, NH
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 586-4510

    $34 - $67 / night

    "Jefferson Campground is located near the intersection of Routes 2 and 115 in the White Mountains. The new owners have made major improvements since the spring of 2019 when they took ownership."

    "Nice campground in a beautiful location. This place is a bit off the beaten path of White Mountain tourist areas but is still within easy drive to all the major attractions."

    6. Sugarloaf 1 Campground

    11 Reviews
    Twin Mountain, NH
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 536-6100

    $24 / night

    "This campground is a perfect basecamp for the Jefferson area. There are many different types of site."

    "Definitely a step above primitive campsites (there’s a flushing toilet and water), but this site doesn’t have some of the other features you find at some larger campgrounds (no sinks, washbasins, or showers"

    7. Crawford Notch Campground

    24 Reviews
    Bartlett, NH
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 374-2272

    $25 / night

    "-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."

    8. Lantern Resort Motel & Campground

    6 Reviews
    Jefferson, NH
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (603) 586-7151

    "The staff is helpful and the location is wonderful, especially if you have kids. It's near many hiking trails and walking distance to Santa's Village."

    "kiddie pool for the kids, hot tub for the adults, free hot showers they even have a bath tub for the young kiddos or handicapped. within walking distance to Santa's village for the littles!"

    9. Sugarloaf 2 Campground

    9 Reviews
    Twin Mountain, NH
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 536-6100

    $24 / night

    "Access to some of the best hiking in New Hampshire!"

    "Feels like you are away from other campers even when full. Easy access to beautiful Zeacliff trails and sugarloaf mountains as well as easy access to what the white mountains have to offer."

    10. Mountain Lake Camping Resort

    6 Reviews
    Lancaster, NH
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 788-4509

    "Lake, hiking, canoeing, paddle boarding, bike riding, all of it is right here! Nice, shaded spots with a lovely Mountain View."

    "Store on site and close to Santa's Village"

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Recent Camping Photos near Jefferson, NH

934 Photos of 253 Jefferson Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Jefferson, NH

1192 Reviews of 253 Jefferson Campgrounds

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Jefferson Campground

    Great Mountain Campground

    Nice campground in a beautiful location. This place is a bit off the beaten path of White Mountain tourist areas but is still within easy drive to all the major attractions. We picked this spot for that exact reason. Open field camping in the middle with wooded sites on the edges of the park. I originally chose a site that was a bit too small to properly unhook the trailer but staff helped me get a better location. Site 17 was too tight for 44 ft total length. Switched to site 5 pull through. Some sites face each other for camping with friends. Follow their map to pull in correctly. Staff is excellent and very helpful. Small store on site with necessities and fire wood. FYI Amenities: pool, playground, laundry (affordable) hot showers. Off season so the place was not busy, very quiet. This is on our short list for when we return next year.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Grafton Notch Campground

    Amazing place!

    We stayed here 2 nights in late September. The campground is very neat and tidy with lots of nice touches like flowers and seasonal decorations. The sites are gravel & the paths are covered in wood chips - both make walking cleaner because you are out of the dirt and mud. There is a path to the river and 2 picnic tables by the river. The bathhouse is clean and has a large shower with plenty of places to put your soap, shampoo, etc. There are also lots of hooks in the shower and bathroom for your stuff and the shower has a large bench to sit on as you get dressed. There are 2 dishwashing stations outside the bathhouse. Horseshoes and corn hole are on site and there is a well stocked camp store. Lots of information and brochures on the area. The owner is very kind and personable - I am looking forward to coming back!

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 21, 2025

    Town Hall Road Dispersed

    Few Solar/Starlink Options

    If all we needed was a campsite with no solar or starlink, this would be 5 star review. Lots of options, great hiking in the area. But if you need solar or starlink, there’s only 1 or 2 viable spots. We were lucky to snag on one a Monday afternoon (last site before turnaround on FR38) and stayed all week.

  • Joshua M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Dolly Copp Campground

    Calm and clean gem

    Went here in mid Fall of '25 and couldnt have been greated by nicer people, had a great private site with water and 30amp hookups. Very dog freindly, many hiking trails in the the area. Next to zero cell phone service.

  • Erin D.
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Lost River Valley Campground

    Dirty and Disappointing

    Here’s the revised version of your review with the laundry issue added in seamlessly:⸻ I came to this campground after seeing it advertised in a New Hampshire magazine, noting that it had once been recommended by Yankee Magazine. Unfortunately, it seems that recommendation must have been from many years ago, because what we experienced was nothing like what was promised. From the moment we arrived, it was clear the property was extremely rundown. The entrance and camp store were full of broken wood, broken signs, and musty smells. The bathrooms were absolutely atrocious—filthy, smelly, and clearly not maintained. They may not have been updated in years, but they could at least be kept clean, and they were not. The playgrounds—despite this being advertised as a family-friendly campground—were unsafe and neglected. Structures were practically falling down, weeds were everywhere, and one so-called playground was nothing more than a tarp on the ground with a tiny jungle gym. The game room was equally disappointing: dirty, moldy, and unusable. We had also looked forward to using the laundry facilities, but they were completely out of order and appeared to have been that way for quite some time. This was extremely disappointing and added to the sense that the entire campground is neglected. The swimming area was also a major letdown. The water was murky and uninviting—I wouldn’t even consider kayaking or putting my feet in it. Calling it a“beach” is misleading; it was unkempt and unpleasant. Overall, this campground was an extreme disappointment. It felt neglected, unsafe, and unhygienic in every way. I will not be returning, and I would strongly caution others to look elsewhere for a true family-friendly New Hampshire camping experience.⸻ Would you like me to shorten this into a punchier version(since some review sites have word limits), or keep it as a full detailed account for maximum impact?

  • Josh S.
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Mountain Lake Camping Resort

    Great campground for families!

    If you're looking for a safe, family friendly, quiet campground this is it.

    Pool with water slides for kids, Kayaks, paddle boats, canoes, playground with slides and a pirate ship.

    Strict quiet hours at 1030 make it very quiet in the evening with no worry of loud parties keeping you up.

    Super clean restrooms and sites and a camp store with about everything in it.

    10 minute drive to the cute town of Lancaster which has coffee shops, brewery, restaurants, bakery and groceries.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 28, 2025

    White Mountains Camping on Little Larry Road

    Chill spots with nearby creek and river

    Highwater trail with bridge close by. Great stars. Creek runs through road near sites good for getting water to filter or washing. Trailhead at end of road.

  • Dale S.
    Aug. 23, 2025

    Nauman Tentsite

    Perfect Camping Adventure in White Mountains

    This campsite sounds like a perfect spot for nature lovers who enjoy rugged terrain and peaceful surroundings. The mix of wooden platforms, nearby water sources, and bear protection measures shows how well-prepared it is for group camping. Exploring trails like the Appalachian or enjoying the views from Mount Washington would make the trip even more memorable— almost like the adventure and excitement you find in an android game.

Guide to Jefferson

Camping near Jefferson, New Hampshire provides access to the White Mountain National Forest's diverse terrain, with elevations ranging from 1,200 to over 4,000 feet. The camping season typically runs from mid-May through mid-October, with daytime summer temperatures averaging 70-80°F and nighttime temperatures dropping to 50-60°F. Primitive camping options require proper food storage due to black bears that are active throughout the region.

What to do

Hiking to mountain summits: The trail to Middle Sugarloaf Mountain is accessible from Sugarloaf 1 Campground and offers panoramic views. "For anyone curious they open 5/9/2025 for reservations and ACTUAL camping," notes one visitor about seasonal planning. Another camper mentions, "Sites are large, level, and wooded, though some have no real demarcation between them."

Swimming in natural waters: At Crawford Notch Campground, campers can access the Saco River directly. "The river is great for exploring! But it's extremely cold, swift, shallow, so it's not ideal for swimming," warns one visitor. Another camper describes, "You don't feel like you're at a campground here, and that's what I love about this place."

Mountain biking on local trails: Moose Brook State Park Campground features extensive biking trails maintained by local cycling clubs. A reviewer notes, "There are also many hiking trails in the park and a ton of great mountain biking terrain in the park and accessible from the park. The local Coos Cycling Club maintains the trails and is constantly improving and creating more terrain."

What campers like

Secluded wooded sites: Sugarloaf 2 Campground offers privacy among tall trees. "Secluded, quiet, decent sized sites. Feels like you are away from other campers even when full," writes one reviewer. Another mentions, "There is a nice field for kids to run around in or to star gaze."

Clean bathroom facilities: At Dry River Campground, campers appreciate the well-maintained facilities. "The ranger at this campground was so helpful. The spots are nice and secluded. The showers are great and they have a full bathroom," notes one visitor. Another camper adds, "They have outhouses, bathrooms, showers, laundry, potable water and a dishwashing station all included for the nightly rate of $25 + $6.50 reservation fee."

Stargazing opportunities: Several campgrounds in the area offer clear night skies when weather permits. "We had enough privacy to open the shade on our big picture window on our tiny teardrop and fall asleep looking at the stars," reports a camper at Sugarloaf 1. The higher elevation and distance from large cities reduces light pollution throughout the region.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Jefferson, NH?

According to TheDyrt.com, Jefferson, NH offers a wide range of camping options, with 253 campgrounds and RV parks near Jefferson, NH and 13 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Jefferson, NH?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Jefferson, NH is Moose Brook State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 29 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Jefferson, NH?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 13 free dispersed camping spots near Jefferson, NH.

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