Camping near Lempster offers a mix of state parks and private grounds across the New Hampshire-Vermont border. The region features several accessible water bodies including Rand Pond, small mountain streams, and the Connecticut River with varied terrain at elevations ranging from 800-1200 feet. Weather conditions from May through October typically feature warm days with cool nights, particularly in September and October when overnight temperatures can dip into the 40s.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Both stocked and natural fishing spots exist near Lempster. Tippicanoe Campground sits on Rand Pond, which offers trout fishing. "It is stocked with rainbow trout by the State of NH and is a spring fed sandy bottom pond," notes a camper at Tippicanoe.
Mountain biking trails: Mount Ascutney State Park maintains dedicated biking paths. "The state park maintains its own mountain biking trail loop, which accessible directly from the campground. It is a 3 mile beginner friendly loop, with some nice rollers and moderate terrain," shares a visitor.
Hiking with views: Multiple trail options exist on and around Mount Ascutney. A hiker reported, "We hiked the Weathersfield Trail (2.9 miles from trailhead to summit). It was a challenge, but well worth it. There were several lookout points with spectacular views."
Water activities: The Connecticut River provides calm paddling waters at Wilgus State Park Campground. "Set on the banks of CT River Wilgus has tent sites, lean to's and 4 newly built cabins. There is also a boat launch for drift boats as well," mentions a reviewer.
What campers like
Rustic pond setting: Campers at Pillsbury State Park Campground appreciate the natural lake environment. "Pillsbury State Park is a great place to get away from it all. There are great hikes that you can get to right from your campsite, connecting to the Monadnock-Sunapee greenway(a 48 mile trail connecting two of NHs beautiful mountains)," notes one visitor.
Well-maintained facilities: Campgrounds like Tree Farm Campground receive praise for cleanliness. A camper states, "We needed some serious forest bathing and spontaneously decided to head to the green mountains... This was a very simple basic campground but the best part was that it was very quiet and cool despite the highest temps VT had seen and a long time. It had well-maintained grounds and some cute activities for the younger kids."
Private sites: Many campgrounds in the area provide separation between sites. At Mount Ascutney State Park, a camper noted, "One aspect of this campground that I loved was the privacy. Due to the spacing between sites, and all the trees, it was quiet and peaceful."
Swimming options: Several campgrounds offer swimming in natural settings. A camper at Greenfield State Park mentioned, "Swimming pond and beach is clean but can get crowded on a busy weekend. Frog pond is fun to explore."
What you should know
Bathroom facilities vary: Some campgrounds have limited facilities. At Crow's Nest Campground, a camper warned, "The biggest reason for 3 stars not 5 the outhouse was awful and non-functional. If they do nothing else they need to address this."
Road noise can affect some sites: Mount Ascutney campers note traffic sounds. "The road nearby is noisy. Because of its location, you can hear both the local highway and I91. If being in the quiet wilderness is important to you, than this campground might not work out."
Seasonal differences: Most campgrounds operate May through mid-October. One camper noted about Wilgus State Park, "Wilgus State Park is the first Vermont state park to open each spring, well before Memorial Day each year."
Payment requirements: Some parks have specific payment rules. A visitor to Pillsbury State Park shared, "Everything is cash here, no cards accepted except when reserving a site online."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Seven Maples Campground offers extensive play facilities. "The pool is amazing for kids of all ages with water slides and a splash area. There's no life guard or staff monitoring the pool area so it did get a little too crazy at times for my little ones. The playground is really big with plenty to do," writes a family camper.
Short hiking trails: Several campgrounds feature kid-friendly paths. At Wilgus State Park, a family noted, "We loved walking the trail behind the campsites along the river to the beautiful vista views with a group with young kids, rented kayaks and fished from the boat launch."
Field activities: Open spaces provide room for children to play. A Seven Maples visitor shared, "We loved being next to the large field and basketball court where we watched the kids play without having to worry where they disappeared to."
Quiet time considerations: Be aware of noise restrictions that may affect family camping. One Northstar Campground visitor noted, "During our stay, an individual who identified himself as Chad approached us and asked us to be quiet, despite it being approximately an hour and a half before the official quiet hours, which begin at 11:00 PM."
Tips for RVers
Site selection for larger units: Consider terrain when booking. At Tree Farm Campground, "Spacious, wooded sites, super clean...friendly, helpful owners and gorgeous setting!" reported an RVer, though another noted, "Sewer and water hookups. Safari field isn't nice, they crowd you in."
Hook-up reliability: Some electrical connections may have limitations. A Seven Maples camper mentioned, "Had issues with 30 amp service at site was not providing enough power, could not run all my campers amenities While my 20 amp designated outlet at home runs my entire camper with no issue."
Dump station access: Greenfield State Park Campground provides sanitary services. The campground features "Heavily wooded and spacious" sites that accommodate modest-sized RVs, though the best sites for RVs tend to book quickly during peak season.
