Best Campgrounds near Laconia, NH

Laconia, New Hampshire serves as a hub for numerous developed campgrounds offering various accommodation types within the Lakes Region. Established facilities like Gunstock Campground in Gilford and Meredith Woods Four Season Camping Area provide tent, RV, and cabin options with amenities such as electric hookups, water, and sanitary facilities. Harbor Hill Camping Area offers yurt and glamping options in addition to traditional sites, while Paugus Bay Campground provides lakefront access with boat-in camping possibilities. Most campgrounds in this region maintain clean facilities with modern bathhouses, though site privacy varies considerably.

Camping availability in the Lakes Region typically runs from mid-May through mid-October, with several facilities closing after Columbus Day. Sites near water bodies tend to fill quickly, especially during summer weekends. "Location, location, location. Nice private beach, clean and well maintained. Friendly. Within walking distance to Weirs Beach," noted one camper about Paugus Bay Campground. Access roads within some campgrounds may present challenges for larger RVs or trailers, particularly at facilities with narrow internal roads. Several campgrounds maintain gated access requiring key cards for entry, enhancing security but requiring advance planning. Proximity to Lake Winnipesaukee influences both temperatures and camping patterns, with waterfront sites commanding premium rates.

The camping experience across Laconia-area facilities varies significantly depending on site selection. Wooded sites provide greater privacy and shade but are limited at some facilities. Several visitors highlighted the importance of site selection, with one noting: "We seriously lucked out with getting two sites next to each other overlooking the lake. If you do not get a site near the docks to enjoy the view, I could see this campground not being worth it." Many campgrounds feature a mix of seasonal and short-term sites, with seasonal occupants sometimes comprising the majority at certain facilities. Campers report high satisfaction with campgrounds offering recreational amenities like pools, playgrounds, and proximity to hiking trails. Sites along creeks or with water views consistently receive the highest ratings, though they typically require advance reservations during peak season.

Best Camping Sites Near Laconia, New Hampshire (278)

    1. Gunstock Campground

    13 Reviews
    Gilford, NH
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 737-4355

    $35 - $80 / night

    "I was lucky to receive a tranquil, secluded spot next to a brook - perfect."

    "Pros: Beautiful area, not a bad size campground, quiet nights (but this could be because 3 out of the 4 sites right near us were empty), free hot showers that are not dirty, lots of trails on edge of"

    2. Meredith Woods Four Season Camping

    8 Reviews
    New Hampton, NH
    6 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."

    3. Granite State Campground

    7 Reviews
    Belmont, NH
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 393-6003

    "New bath houses, New hook-ups on many sites Close drive to Lake Winnisquam and Winnipesaukee, Close drive to Gunstock Mountain, not far from Laconia, wooded sites, The camp has some seasonal full timers"

    "This campground is one of my favorites in the lakes region. Affordable prices, large wooded sites and great staff."

    4. Paugus Bay Campground

    6 Reviews
    Laconia, NH
    3 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."

    5. Harbor Hill Camping Area

    7 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."

    6. Clearwater Campground

    5 Reviews
    New Hampton, NH
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 279-7761

    $33 - $56 / night

    "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."

    7. Ames Brook Campground

    5 Reviews
    Ashland, NH
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 968-7998

    $42 - $49 / night

    "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."

    8. White Lake State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    West Ossipee, NH
    23 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."

    9. Long Island Bridge Campground

    3 Reviews
    Melvin Village, NH
    10 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!"

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Recent Reviews near Laconia, NH

1227 Reviews of 278 Laconia Campgrounds


  • Utshob A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Bear Brook State Park Campground

    Convenient and fun

    The park was easy to get to, only about half an hour from Manchester. It has kayak rentals and a very well stocked camp store, that was close to the camp sites. Our campsite was only about a hundred feet away from the camp store but still felt private.

    Our campsite also had a fire pit and a picnic table which were great.

    The size of the sites varies quite a bit though as well as their isolation, some were out in the open.

    For cell service: ATT seems to have pretty decent coverage but not Verizon.

  • 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?

  • S
    Aug. 23, 2025

    Cold Springs Camp Resort

    All Around Exceptional

    This place is just great! They have clean, flat sites, easy to navigate and get our fifth wheel in. The facilities are spotless. There are numerous pools and hot tubs, activities and the people that work there are just the nicest! Our kids were never scolded for being loud and neither were the adults. We have booked our return trip already and can't wait to go back!

  • 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.

  • W
    Aug. 20, 2025

    Quechee State Park Campground

    Good location

    The park is in a good location; it is right next to the road. We were at sight #3.  We were able to walk to the gorge as well as to the Antique mall.  The staff was very friendly and accommodating with us. My wife really enjoyed it and had a lot of fun. The ice cream was really close and really good. 

    The issue I had was the camp next to ours had the generator on all night long and I had a hard time getting back to sleep after going to the bathroom. Next time I will get a volunteer or park ranger to get it turned off.

  • J
    Aug. 20, 2025

    Plymouth Sands Camping Area

    Nice campground with amenities and friendly owners

    The campground is in a convenient location near lots of hiking trails and attractions. The sites are decently spacious and have various configurations for utilities. There is a nice beach on the river with a rope swing and ability to swim. We were there while the water was fairly low, so it was great for kids. Firewood is available on site. There is a bathroom with a few stalls and sinks that is well kept and clean. The showers are quarter operated with a coin heat lamp as well for the colder seasons. The office has a lending library of games available. The couple that owns the campground are very friendly and have owned it for 3 seasons now and they have done a great job making sure that amenities are kept up and upgrades are being made.

  • R
    Aug. 15, 2025

    Sun Outdoors Wells Beach

    Zero wifi or cell signal

    Stayed back in 2023 with travel trailer and experienced almost zero wifi signal as well as verizon cell signal. Returned this past week and found no improvement whatsoever. This on back half of property. Manager stated they are awar and working on it. (For 2 years?). Could not plan anything, check weather unless you walked or drive up front. Light globes at various sites next to campers lit all night and were annoying so covered with bag. Some sites are just bad..huge pine tree at 428 caused camper to park his angled. Fire wood being sold is all pine & burns up immediately.

  • Cassie G.
    Aug. 12, 2025

    Winding River Campground

    Fun laid back place. This campground has a lot of potential. Some info on their website and Facebook isn’t accurate.

    I would like to share my experience this past weekend at Winding River in Exeter NH. My family of 3 Stayed at tent site 523 in the Oak area. We also had family at 553 and 554 and Cabin 2.

    About site 523: I clearly had one of the largest and most private tent sites. It was set back with a long driveway tucked between 522 and 524. It’s a very steep drop into the river making most sites a little nerve wracking with a little one. Online it said water available nearby. Most sites had a hookup but there wasn’t a one on my site. It looked like there may have been one to share on the road, but I didn’t end up needing to figure that out.

    Tent sites 522 and 524: Along with most of the tent sites these sites were very close to each other, much smaller and closer to the road. I wished my family members had gotten 552 and 553 as they blended together nicely if you are tenting in side by side spaces. The ground was very rocky making staking tents down difficult. They were right next to the bathroom which was convenient but loud. Ventilation in the bathroom was not good so the doors were propped open much of the time and loud hand dryers.

    Shower:

    • This is the smaller of the two bathrooms in the campground. There are 2 showers there. Each with a single insufficient curtain and no hooks on the wall or bench to place things down. Water was hot enough, pressure was ok if you set it to the high power massage-like setting.
    • The showers in other bathroom (near the town center area) had a door and two curtains. Some had hooks (some of which were broken). I almost tripped going in and out of these bathroom stalls because they are raised up but there is no marking on the ground to indicate that.

    Cabin 2: Ac worked well. There was a good sized bed downstairs, smaller beds in two lofts. I was surprised the couch didn’t pull out. Fridge and all dishes were nice and clean. All the cabins seem to have different back porch setups. This porch was smaller than C1. There was a propane grill that smelled rancid with sooo much caked on The burners. The location of the ceiling fan under the other lights in the ceiling gave them a flashing effect that really bothered me.

    Pros:

    • Lower price compared to other campgrounds (but I don’t feel like I got everything advertised on the website)
    • Two playgrounds, both were nice.
    • Water slide was fun
    • We arrived Thursday at the gate and were told how to get to our site, to set up and then come over to the office which was nice.

    Cons:

    • The river is very low and yucky so none of the boating or fishing advertised was possible. likely causing the massive amount of mosquitos.
    • The whole arcade building was was “out of order”
    • The laundry room had two washers (one was broken) and two dryers 2.50 each per load. Not sufficient for a campground this size (especially when people leave their clothes in the machine for 30 mins after they’re done!)
    • Camp store was poorly stocked (multiple empty coolers).
    • Ice $3 per SMALL bag.
    • Wood $10 per bundle and rules say you can’t bring from off-site. I saw people with huge metal bins of wood but was never offered that option when I payed for multiple bundles.
    • Camp store closes at 3 on Sunday and doesn’t open until 11 am during the week (which is also checkout). This made it a little confusing when I wanted to return the golf cart. They have a small area with icecream that is scooped and maybe a kitchen. I never saw it open but I think the sign said open morning to 12 and then again in the evening.
    • The pool was green and cloudy on day 3. I called the office and was told they had just shocked it and that was a result of the copper. I am not informed enough on pool safety so I opted out of swimming on the hottest day of our stay. My son was bummed.
    • Planned activities were only scheduled for Friday and Saturday, when online mentions “daily”. During adult kareoke there were plenty of kids and really poor wifi (wasting so much time between songs).

    And just to add:

    • Staff I encountered was friendly enough, but It would be nice if they wore shirts to identify themselves.
    • Golf cart was great, but cost more than the site per night.
    • Pedal go-carts were available for rent (I didn’t ask a price).

Guide to Laconia

Camping near Laconia, New Hampshire, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Kayaking and Canoeing: Many campgrounds, like Pawtuckaway State Park Campground, provide easy access to lakes for kayaking. One reviewer mentioned, "Lots of great spots on the water, easy to put a kayak in from."
  • Hiking: Explore the trails at Franconia Notch State Park. A visitor noted, "There are many opportunities for hiking, with trails leading to many special points of interest."
  • Fishing: Campgrounds like Moose Brook State Park Campground are great for fishing. One happy camper shared, "Pulled an 8” brook trout out of a 10’ wide stream onsite."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A reviewer at Bear Brook State Park Campground said, "The bathrooms were very clean!"
  • Friendly Staff: Many campgrounds have helpful staff. A visitor at Lafayette Place Campground mentioned, "Helpful staff and good facilities."
  • Scenic Views: Campers love the beautiful surroundings. One reviewer at Dry River Campground said, "Cool location right on the edge of the Dry River Wilderness."

What you should know:

  • Site Privacy: Some campgrounds have sites that are close together. A camper at Crawford Notch Campground noted, "The sites are packed together, close to the highway."
  • Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds have full amenities. A visitor at Hancock Campground mentioned, "There was no running water at any of the pumps and the pit toilets were quite full."
  • Reservation System: Some popular sites can be hard to book. A camper at Lost River Valley Campground expressed frustration, saying, "The nicest sites were reserved the entire time we were there and they were total no-shows."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places with amenities like playgrounds. One reviewer at Bear Brook State Park Campground said, "The campground has a beach, a playground, a ball field, and a store."
  • Plan Activities: Make sure to have a list of activities to keep kids entertained. A camper at White Lake State Park Campground mentioned, "The lake was beautiful—warm and crystal clear, soft sand, with a trail around it."
  • Pack for Weather: Be prepared for changing weather conditions. A visitor at Moose Brook State Park Campground noted, "This is a no electric hookup and no dump station park, but it's still worth your time."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Size: Make sure your RV fits the site. A reviewer at Dry River Campground said, "Some of the sites have a view of the road, which isn’t too pleasant."
  • Look for Amenities: Choose campgrounds with electric hookups if needed. A camper at Lost River Valley Campground mentioned, "The hookups look new."
  • Be Mindful of Noise: Some campgrounds can be noisy. A visitor at Crawford Notch Campground warned, "There is literally no one in charge on site at any time and there is no maintenance."

Camping around Laconia, New Hampshire, offers a variety of experiences, from serene lakes to bustling campgrounds. Whether you're in a tent, RV, or cabin, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best campgrounds in Laconia, NH?

The Laconia area offers several excellent camping options. Granite State Campground stands out with its new bath houses and updated hook-ups, making it a popular choice for families. It's conveniently located near Lake Winnisquam and Lake Winnipesaukee, with easy access to Gunstock Mountain. For those seeking a more natural setting, Gunstock Campground provides a beautiful wooded environment with various access options including drive-in and hike-in sites. The campground features reservable spots with water and toilet facilities, and is accommodating for larger RVs.

Can I rent an RV in Laconia, New Hampshire for camping?

Yes, you can rent an RV in the Laconia area for camping adventures. While specific rental services aren't mentioned in the reviews, Laconia's popularity as a tourist destination, especially during Motorcycle Week, means several RV rental companies operate in the region. Once you've secured a rental, Harbor Hill Camping Area in nearby Meredith is an excellent big-rig-friendly option with drive-in access, water, and toilet facilities. For your rental search, check local listings, national rental chains with New Hampshire locations, or peer-to-peer rental platforms that connect RV owners with renters.

How close are campgrounds to Weirs Beach in Laconia, NH?

Paugus Bay Campground is one of the closest options to Weirs Beach, offering convenient access to this popular Laconia attraction. This campground provides multiple access points including boat-in and drive-in options, with reservable sites featuring water and toilet facilities. It's also big-rig friendly for RV campers. Another nearby option is Meredith Woods Four Season Camping, located a short drive from Weirs Beach in neighboring Meredith. This year-round facility offers drive-in access with similar amenities and is suitable for larger recreational vehicles.

Are there tent camping sites near Laconia, NH?

Yes, there are several tent-friendly campgrounds near Laconia. Bear Brook State Park Campground offers an excellent tent camping experience in New Hampshire's largest state park. This family-friendly destination features numerous trails, ponds, play structures, a camp store, and a beach. For a more intimate tent camping experience, Country Bumpkins Campground and Cabins provides scenic spots right along the river. The campground features ample parking and beautiful surroundings typical of New Hampshire's natural landscape.