5 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Laconia, New Hampshire provide limited options for equestrian camping. Based on the available data, none of the reviewed campgrounds explicitly offer horse corrals or dedicated equestrian facilities. Gunstock Campground, located in Gilford about 4 miles from Laconia, accommodates tent, RV, and cabin campers but does not list horse-specific amenities among its features. The campground maintains 250 sites spread across wooded and open areas with standard amenities including drinking water, electric hookups, and sanitary facilities. Sites are consistently described as clean and well-maintained with varying levels of privacy depending on location.
Trail riders seeking horse-friendly accommodations may need to venture further from Laconia to find suitable facilities. The surrounding White Mountains region offers more extensive equestrian trail networks, though specific horse-friendly campgrounds are not identified in the immediate vicinity. Camping with horses typically requires dedicated space for horse containment, manure management, and trailer parking. None of the reviewed campgrounds near Laconia explicitly mention equestrian-specific features such as corral spaces, hitching posts, or access to bridle trails. Horse owners planning camping trips in this region should contact campgrounds directly to confirm current equestrian policies and available accommodations before arrival.
"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 Availabilityfrom $25 - $45 / night
Check Availability"This would be one of few places I find acceptable to camp, that are near other people. I usually don't like camping with 20+ other people in one looped area."
"Used the tent sides a quick hill walk down from the parking lot. River great for splashing around and nearby path to Lincoln Woods trail."
from $30 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $35 - $45 / night
Check Availability
GuideFairly extensive camp ground associated with Gunstock ski area on central New Hampshire. We arrived without a reservation a bit after the office closed, but Elena, the manager came out to let us in and allowed us to check in. She was great. Dogs must have proof of rabies vaccine. Very nice showers. Beautiful fall colors.
GuideI was lucky to receive a tranquil, secluded spot next to a brook - perfect. This campground has nothing to do, or plenty you can do - walking, hiking, biking, and close access to all Gunstock's adventures.
RangerThis would be one of few places I find acceptable to camp, that are near other people. I usually don't like camping with 20+ other people in one looped area. The sites here are pretty well spread out. Not ALL of them, but look around. We found what I would think is the best. The one we ended up at had stairs leading from the car down to our site. It was further away from the other sites and had the pretty much private stream running by it. The area we had for use was pretty huge, we had a giant tent 10-12 plus a pop up tent to put over the picnic table, and there was still a ton of room for the car, fire pit and general run around area for our dog. I never felt like we had to lock up everything we owned either. A short walk to the toilets from all sites. Bring a headlamp of course. TP is in the outhouses bring a spare hand sanitizer bottle to use after.
FYI there is a pretty awesome hike close by you can do. I mean you have to drive there but it wasn't far. It goes up to Mt Moosilauke. We ended up taking Beaver Brook Trail to the Cascades, checked out the shelter and headed to Moosilauke Summit. A crazy hike pretty much going up the side of a waterfall. The peak was 4,802ft. Worth it! I'd say an 8 mile trek from the car, up, and back. I included just a couple pictures to entice you since its not about the campsite! There are a TON of trails near this campsite, this would just be my favorite of the 6 or 7 we did.
TravelerMost amazing spot I’ve ever camped and not too many people. Used the tent sides a quick hill walk down from the parking lot. River great for splashing around and nearby path to Lincoln Woods trail.
LegendI haven't stayed here, but I checked it out on Columbus Day weekend because it's one of the few campgrounds open year-round (plowed, unlike Lafayette Place, which is walk-in) in the White Mountains. Most of the reviews talk about the walk-in tent sites, but there's more to this campground that is located along the Kancamagus Highway just before the Lincoln Woods Visitors' Center.
If you're a tent camper and don't mind carrying your gear downhill to a site, drive straight ahead to a parking lot. A few of the sites (3 & 4) are accessible from the far end of the parking lot, but for most of them you'll head down the steps in the middle with sites in two levels branching out on each side. Sites are large, but close together and although you're in the woods, there's not much to separate you from your neighbors. Even sites 10-20 are directly on the water.
Sites 22-55 are suitable for RVs and tents. Those on the back side of the loop are close enough that you can hear the Pemi River running below. A few of the sites are pull-through. There are no hook-ups, but water available via spigots and flush toilets are available - except in winter. I'd recommend sites on the back side of the loop to provide some more distance from traffic noise. I chatted briefly with a host who remarked that sites on the western end of the loop have some cell phone coverage, unlike the rest of the campground.
If you stay here, you're only a few miles from Lincoln where you can pick up any necessary supplies. This end of the Kanc your nearest hiking options are Lincoln Woods and Greeley Pond for family friendly trails, or Lincoln Woods to head into the Pemi wilderness, including peaks in the Pemi loop and Owl's Head. The Hancocks are via a trail at the hairpin on the Kanc. Franconia Notch and its many hiking trails and the multi-use trail are a short drive away.
Bring cash or a check to pay your camping fee in the iron ranger. Fees cover the first vehicle; a second vehicle is an additional $5.
LegendHancock Campground is one of 6 national forest campgrounds along the Kancamagus Highway. Campsites can't be reserved and the campground does fill up on the weekends. We were lucky to score a walk-in tent site on a Saturday in August, and while it did feel a bit like a tent city, we loved that there were no cars at the campsites. It made the tenting area feel more like a community. This is a busy campground, but lovely all the same.
We got site #19, which was one of the last sites available. It had a picnic table, fire pit, and bear box. There were awesome waterfront sites nearby, but they were taken, of course. Cost was reasonable - $22 per night. Pit toilets were near the parking area, but there was a real bathroom with a sink and a flush toilet in the car camping area. There is also a fabulous swimming hole. Clear, cold and deep just off the car camping area.
Hancock Campground is a five-minute drive from Lincoln, NH, and very close to awesome hiking trails in the White Mountain National Forest and Franconia Notch State Park.
RangerPros: 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 the grounds, lots and lots of tent sites, platform on campsite, pool and playground available, camp store, bike & Segway trails, quick access to some of NH’s most beautiful mountains. Staff is friendly. Cons: So many roots all over the sites, the platform did not fit our tent for 12 on it. More of the sites have very little separation from the neighboring campers near you. We explored the grounds & noted some sites that were a smidge more secluded and plan to return again sometime!
ScoutI stayed at Hancock campground in mid April this year. Great clean accessible bathrooms, beautiful grounds and large campgrounds. Leashed dogs are allowed. There are both walk-in and drive up tent sites. The walk-in sites are directly next to the beautiful Pemi River. Great overall would return again.
RangerSome pros and lots of cons. We stayed at a walk-in site by the river.
I never fully appreciated just how much camp hosts do. There was no ranger and no host. We arrived early on a Thursday, hopeful we could get a spot by the water. There are only two spots that are truly private in any way. They were both taken- fine. However, one of the groups had not registered and stayed until 4 or 5pm until everyone else had already set up for the day…then they left! So uncool. The site went unused because at that point, no one was going to move all their stuff. Maybe a camp host would’ve noticed that?
The sites were FILTHY with trash, dog poop and food waste. Pretty crazy considering this was supposed to be a bear area. There was also a bad smell wafting around, hmm…maybe because of the trash and dog poop? Stepping in dog poop and trying to clean off your boots is a significant bummer. The site we were stuck at also had ashes and chunks of wood all over the picnic table. Cleaning up this much in order to feel comfortable really sucked.
There was no running water at any of the pumps and the pit toilets were quite full.
There is a bridge nearby but the river covered any vehicle noise very well. It was also nice to be right off the highway and five minutes from town, yet it felt like a proper national forest experience.
There’s an upper loop with drive in sites. They didn’t seem very private and you could see the road. I wouldn’t stay up there.
Being by the river was beautiful. I would stay here again, but with more preparation for the campground’s limitations.
Campers seeking equestrian accommodations near Laconia, New Hampshire must typically venture beyond the immediate vicinity to find suitable facilities for horses. Laconia sits at approximately 500 feet above sea level in the Lakes Region, characterized by rolling hills and numerous bodies of water including Lake Winnipesaukee. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing from December through March, while summer camping season brings daytime highs in the 70s-80s°F.
Golfing activities: Hidden Valley RV and Golf Park offers a 9 or 18-hole course with cart rentals and pro shop facilities. One visitor noted, "The main attraction of this campground is the golf course of 9 or 18 holes. There is a pro shop, golf cart rentals, etc."
Hiking access: Located along the Kancamagus Highway, Hancock Campground serves as a strategic base for mountain trails. A camper reported, "Great place to set up camp to get some 4Ks in the whites. Some lovely spots by the water. Open year round!!"
Winter recreation: Several campgrounds in the region remain open year-round, allowing access to winter sports. One winter visitor to Hancock Campground shared, "Stayed here for two nights in late December. Site #40 along the river was close to the bathroom yet had plenty of privacy from other sites."
Waterfront sites: Riverside camping spots provide natural sound barriers and recreational opportunities. A Hancock visitor commented, "Great for primitive camping. Beautiful area adjacent to the river. Set up a hammock on the shoreline and have a tasty beverage before bed."
Adventure activities: Gunstock Campground offers more than just camping with on-site recreation options. As one reviewer described, "They have an aerial obstacle course and a mountain coaster, places to swim, music festivals, hiking, etc."
Swimming opportunities: Natural water features allow for cooling off during summer months. At Hidden Valley, campers appreciate "2 swimming beaches" while Gunstock visitors mentioned that there are "places to swim" among the numerous activities available.
Limited equestrian facilities: Horse owners planning camping trips near Laconia should contact facilities directly as most campgrounds do not advertise dedicated equestrian amenities or trail access specifically for horses.
Off-season advantages: Visiting during shoulder seasons can provide a more secluded experience. A camper at Hancock noted, "We came at the end of October to try to hike Franconia Ridge... we were the only ones in it and we picked the site right next to the rambling river."
Variable site conditions: Tippicanoe Campground offers full hookups for RVs but limited tent options. A visitor observed, "The sites all have water, 50amp and sewer hookups. Very few tenting, mostly RVs on the well laid out grounds."
Wildlife considerations: Bear-proof storage is provided at some locations. At Hancock, a camper mentioned, "We appreciated having a bear box on our site, especially since we couldn't keep anything in our car."
Recreational options: Family-friendly activities are abundant at certain campgrounds. A visitor to Tippicanoe shared, "You can relax and know that the kids are safe and you will be stress-free for your stay. Many seasonal campers have been here for years and keep coming back for the friends and activities."
Playground facilities: Dedicated play areas keep children entertained. A Hidden Valley reviewer mentioned the campground includes a "playground & 2 swimming beaches" among its amenities.
Internet access: Ramblewood Cabins and Campground provides comfortable accommodations with necessary amenities. A repeat visitor commented, "We have stayed here a few times and really enjoyed sites and hospitality!"
Pool availability: Some campgrounds offer swimming pools in addition to natural water features. At Gunstock, a visitor noted, "pool and playground available, camp store, bike & Segway trails, quick access to some of NH's most beautiful mountains."
Hookup placement: Site layout can affect RV positioning. At Hidden Valley, one RVer cautioned, "The water and electric were between our site and the next on one side and sewer between our site and the one on the other side. This made it difficult to place our trailer on the slanted site and reach all services."
Security measures: Gated entry systems provide added security at some facilities. A Gunstock camper mentioned, "The campground is gated so you have to make sure you keep your key card with you whenever leaving in order to get back in."
Site selection strategy: For RVers seeking privacy, specific site recommendations are valuable. At Gunstock, a camper advised, "I recommend the sites back in Breezy Knolls (K01-K17 I think?) and then I believe sites 203 and 205 were nice and tucked away in the trees as well."
Seasonal residency options: Many campgrounds accommodate long-term stays. As noted at Hidden Valley, there are "300 camping sites with full hookups... A lot of the campers are seasonal which is May - October each year."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Laconia, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Laconia, NH is Gunstock Campground with a 4.9-star rating from 14 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Laconia, NH?
TheDyrt.com has all 5 equestrian camping locations near Laconia, NH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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