28 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Tent campsites near Lempster, New Hampshire range from established campgrounds to backcountry shelters along the Appalachian Trail. Mount Sunapee State Park Campground offers tent sites with drinking water and fire rings, while Lost Boys Hideout provides more secluded walk-in tent camping experiences. Several backcountry tent camping options exist along the Appalachian Trail corridor, including Velvet Rocks Shelter and Moose Mountain Backcountry Shelter, both requiring significant hiking to access.
Most tent campgrounds in the region feature basic amenities with varying levels of accessibility. Walk-in tent sites are common, with many campgrounds providing wooden wheelbarrows to transport gear from parking areas to campsites. Tully Lake Recreation Area, though slightly farther away in Massachusetts, exemplifies this setup with tent platforms, fire rings, and picnic tables at each site. Water sources at backcountry tent sites are unreliable, particularly during summer drought conditions, making water planning essential. Primitive tent camping areas along the AT typically include three-sided wooden shelters with adjacent tent platforms or designated tent camping areas.
The terrain throughout the region provides tent campers with forested settings and occasional water views. Sites near water bodies like Tully Lake offer swimming and paddling opportunities directly from tent sites. Backcountry tent camping areas along the AT provide varying levels of seclusion and tent space. A visitor commented that "the tent camping here was ok, with some slightly slanted spots around the main shelter area," referring to Velvet Rocks Shelter. For those seeking more established tent campgrounds, Sunapee State Park provides reliable facilities with reservable tent sites. Tent campers should note that cell service is limited or non-existent at most backcountry camping locations, though service improves at established tent campgrounds closer to towns.
from $29 - $40 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $49 - $149 / night
Check Availability"Tully Lake Campground is located in Royalston, MA, which is a northern part of Central Massachusetts, near the New Hampshire border."
"Two tents allowed per site, no alcohol although no one checked. No water or electricity at the sites. You park & walk in but they provide carts. You have to buy firewood from them."
from $40 / night
from $75 - $175 / night
"Note this is a back country shelter along the Appalachian Trail, so it is 100% long hike in with no guaranteed water and a basic privvy."
"Note: This is a back country shelter site that is hike-in only on the Appalachian Trail. There can be seasonal water sources but water is not guaranteed."
"Note: This is a back country shelter on the Appalachian trail that doesn't have consistent water. I stopped here on a section hike of the Appalachian trail."
"Note this is a back country campsite that is 100% hike in, with no guaranteed water. I tent camped here in August while doing a section hike of the Appalachian Trail. "
GuideAdorable little camp! In New Hampshire; Vermont is across the river on the north side of the property. Nice bathroom, showers, laundry room, library. Spacious lots with tables and fire rings. Some long time campers are set up.
ScoutTully Lake Campground is located in Royalston, MA, which is a northern part of Central Massachusetts, near the New Hampshire border. It is a State managed campground, and reservations must be made through Massachusetts Trustees of Reservations. There are some prime camp sites with direct access to the lake, but suggest you be prepared to call early in the morning of the first day State Campground reservations can be made, if you want one of these!
This is a "Carry In" campground. You park at the entrance, register with Ranger. Large wooden wheelbarrows are provided to bring your gear to your camp site. (This means no noise or disturbances from cars entering your camp sites.) There are individual sites, and 2 group sites, if you are camping with a group. Canoes are available to rent to explore Tully Lake. Most parts of the lake are suitable for swimming, and some camp sites offer direct entry into the lake for swimming, canoeing, or kayaking. If you'd like to hike with children, there is an easy hike close to the entrance, along Doane's Falls, a series of 5 waterfalls along an ascending path through a wooded area. The views are beautiful, and it's not unusual to spot professional nature photographers at various points along the waterfalls. Bring your cameras or smart phones to capture some of these breathtaking views! And of course there are longer, more challenging trails for more experienced hikers. There are family oriented programs offered, and dogs are allowed, on leash only. Cell service is spotty to non-existent for some providers within the campground. But a short walk or drive away from the campground you can get connected again.
The bathrooms are located near the entrance to the Park, and include flush toilets as well as coin operated, hot showers, open 24/7. There are sinks beside the building, where campers are asked to wash their dishes, rather than at the camp site. A fire ring and picnic table are provided at each camp site. If you've forgotten any gear or need groceries, there's a Walmart just a 15 minute drive away, open until 12 midnight.
The staff are quite friendly, helpful and informative. If you enjoy "old fashioned" family tent camping, without the noise and presence of cars and RV's near your camp site, (or cell phones!) this is the place for you. Enjoy!
ScoutFirst time staying there. Two tents allowed per site, no alcohol although no one checked. No water or electricity at the sites. You park & walk in but they provide carts. You have to buy firewood from them. Canoe, kayak & padddleboard rental available. Showers & bathrooms by the parking area. Lots of islands & places to explore on the lake. Buggy in June so bring your repellent. Dogs allowed...that’s all I got for now :)
LegendI tent camped here while doing some fishing in the area.
Baker Rocks had a host of different camping options onsite including tent platforms, yurts, and cabins. I booked one of the tent platforms.
The site had a large tent platform they could fit multiple tents, a brand new picnic table, a fire ring (with a free bundle of firewood), two chairs by the fire ring, and even a few strings of solar lights around the camp area.
The tent sites are within the wooded area around the property and felt very secluded. There was a bit of road noise overnight.
The facilities here were great. There is a full bathhouse with individual rooms for showers and sink/toilets, with running water.
Around the campground there was a little beach along the Baker river. I only caught a few minnows when fishing but that may have been more to do with the angler. Along another bend of the river were two chairs for taking in the scenery.
Check-in was super easy with the camp hosts who were very flexible with timing and wanted to make sure I had a great stay. The property and individual sites are deliberately designed with guests in mind.
I would definitely stay here again if I’m in the area and might try some of the glamping options as well.
GuideThe night before hiking Mount Monadnock, my husband and I camped here. Monadnock State Park is about a 25 minute drive from the campground, and provides a beautiful hike. The RV sites at Greenfield State Park were relatively secluded, as it is a very wooded area. We visited very early in the season, so the main tent camping loops were blocked off for maintenance. Our site had a picnic table and a fire ring. We drove by a shower facility and a building with restrooms. The restrooms were still locked for the winter, so there were a few port-a-potties right outside- these were absolutely disgusting. It looked as though they had not been cleaned out all winter. Otherwise, the campground seemed nice! Just don’t forget to bring some bug-spray for those New Hampshire mosquitos!
LegendSimple, but gorgeous. The association maintains about a dozen campsites in the Squam Lake area -- some hike-in and others boat-in only. There are some with tent platforms and all have fire rings (camping fee includes 1 bundle of firewood). There is a composting toilet in each camping area, but no picnic table or drinking water. Come prepared with your own water...or a filter.
We did not camp here, as we came across these campsites while hiking and canoeing with some friends who have a cabin in the area. The sites are pricey and fill up quickly when reservations open for the year on Feb 15, but the money supports the conservation of the area via the Squam Lakes Association.
The area offers water sports of all kinds, amazing views, spectacular hiking and backpacking in the White Mountains and some cute little villages along the local highways. Nearest town is Meredith, about 10 minutes away, and has all that you need for your camping trip.
TravelerPillsbury is called a 'primitive' campground which means no showers or electric hookups.
Most of the campsites are accessable by car with space to park a car or two at the campsite. Many campsites are on the lake. None are very far from the lake.
There are also a few 'remote' campsites that are not accessable by car. They are accessable by a sort walk or boat.
There is at least one handicap accessible site, which I have used, near the toilet facilities. It provides a good sized very level area to set up a tent and park your car. There may be other handicap sites. I have only used this one and never checked for others.
Note: Not all New Hampshire State Parks are dog friendly. If you have a dog check which parks are as part of your trip planning.
This web page says this about Pillsbury.
Pillsbury State Park is one of the more primitive and lesser known gems of the New Hampshire State Park system. Heavily wooded and sprinkled with several ponds and wetlands, its diversity of habitats makes it home to a great variety of wildlife, including moose and loons. Canoe and kayak rentals are available. Crossed by a network of hiking and mountain bike trails, the park is an important link in the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway, a 51-mile hiking trail that connects Mount Monadnock with Mount Sunapee to the north.
Pillsbury State Park
100 Pillsbury State Park Rd
Washington, Nh 03280
Phone: 603-863-2860
LegendWe stayed here for a night in mid October, as they were getting ready to close for the season, so more than half of the campground was closed off. But the part that we did see was awesome. Each site was huge, separated from its neighbor, private, mostly flat, and beautiful. No hookups in the campground, and sites are hit or miss with tree coverage, some sites may have enough opening for solar or starlink, but I wouldn’t count on it.
There are hiking trails throughout the campground, but our dog got covered in ticks so watch for that. There are water spigots throughout the campground and a dump station. Showers were free and nice and clean, and you can control the temperature and let the water run (no button to push).
The dump truck driver was there picking up garbage and I asked him about recycling and he said they have their own transfer station where the waste is sorted, so all recycling and garbage goes into the dumpster.
We paid $23 for a site because it was primitive season, but I think normally it’s $25. No other taxes or fees were charged. There’s a little store in the ranger office with basic supplies and gifts, ice cream, fire starters, ice, etc. There’s also a little free library exchange behind the office. And to top it off, we had cell service here. Great stay, highly recommend! Beware of ticks!
LegendNote this is a back country shelter along the Appalachian Trail, so it is 100% long hike in with no guaranteed water and a basic privvy.
I tented along here for a night during a section hike of the AT from Lyme into Vermont.
The shelter was the basic AT 3-sided wood structure and was generally in good shape.
The water source here was dry during my trip which was expected during the drought (August 2022).
The tent camping here was ok, with some slightly slanted spots around the main shelter area.
There was no real view from the shelter. There was also a basic privvy available.
This was a decent shelter to stop at along the AT, but I would not consider it a weekend destination.
There was no bear box onsite.
Tent campsites near Lempster, New Hampshire sit within the foothills of the White Mountains, with elevations ranging from 800 to 1,500 feet. Summer temperatures typically reach 75-85°F during the day and drop to 50-60°F at night. Seasonal considerations affect camping conditions significantly, with spring often bringing mud and autumn delivering spectacular foliage colors.
Water recreation: Tully Lake Recreation Area offers multiple paddling routes around small islands. "We take our canoe and spend the whole day at the lake. You can find lots of private areas to swim, pick blueberries and relax," notes Ben P. Canoe and kayak rentals are available directly at the campground.
Hiking trails: Mount Cardigan offers accessible summit hiking from Cardigan Campsites. "Great spot to spend the night before a climb of Mt. Cardigan! The climb is challenging but shouldn't take too long. Great fire tower views at the top too!" says Madison G. The 3.1-mile West Ridge Trail is the most popular route.
Waterfall exploration: Near Tully Lake Recreation Area, Doane's Falls features a series of five cascading waterfalls. The short trail runs along ascending falls through wooded terrain. Photographers frequently capture these scenic spots during morning light when crowds are minimal.
Privacy levels: Sites at Tully Lake Recreation Area vary significantly in seclusion. "We stayed at site 1, which was HUGE and extremely private. Sites closer to the water that we saw were less private, but still very peaceful and spread out," reports Megan G.
Cart-in camping: The no-vehicle policy at campsites creates a quieter experience. "No cars at all at the campsites, which was great for peace of mind as our toddler roamed around. It also made for a super quiet stay," explains Megan G. Wooden wheelbarrows are provided for transporting gear from parking areas.
Tent platforms: Many sites include elevated wooden platforms keeping tents dry during wet conditions. "The sites here are great, if you aren't bringing too much with you," says Kris M. about Lost Boys Hideout. "Nice new tents provided at Sleepy Hollow site. Improvements to the firepit, area all mulched, even some games and water are provided!" adds Steve K.
Water reliability: Backcountry water sources along the Appalachian Trail can be inconsistent. At Moose Mountain Backcountry Shelter, Justin P. noted: "There can be seasonal water sources but water is not guaranteed." Pack extra water during summer months when springs often run dry.
Facility limitations: Bathroom facilities vary widely across campgrounds. Many backcountry sites offer only basic privies. Justin P. reports that Moose Mountain's "privvy was also new and very spacious," while other primitive sites may have no facilities.
Reservation timing: Securing prime sites requires advance planning. For waterfront spots at Tully Lake: "The sites fill up weeks out (and can completely fill the day registration opens, which is date-dependent each year)," warns Kris M.
Site selection: Choose campsites with terrain suitable for children. At Tully Lake, Lauren A. cautions: "Our site was fairly far from services, long run with small kids in the middle of the night. Not our favorite place, but to be fair mostly based on our site and neighboring campers."
Gear transport: Plan for cart hauling at walk-in campgrounds. Miguel B. from Happy Hill Backcountry Shelter advises: "Keeping gear to a minimum is a good idea" since "though they provide carts the trails can make hauling them tough."
Entertainment options: Some campgrounds offer on-site activities beyond hiking. Nancy R. mentions: "Volleyball and horseshoes are near the entrance" at Tully Lake, and "There are family oriented programs offered, and dogs are allowed, on leash only."
Limited RV options: Most tent campsites near Lempster accommodate small recreational vehicles or vans but lack hookups. New Boston Recreation Area allows tent camping but offers no water, electric, or sewer connections. Shuang W. simply notes: "Great Outdoor Place! Nice scenery with fresh air and freedom sunshine!"
Alternative lodging: For those seeking more comfort without an RV, several campgrounds offer cabin alternatives. Sweetwater provides glamping options alongside traditional tent sites, while backcountry shelters along the Appalachian Trail offer basic three-sided structures for overnight stays during inclement weather.
Access limitations: Vehicle size restrictions apply at most campgrounds. Many access roads are narrow with tight turns unsuitable for larger RVs. Walk-in sites at Tully Lake prohibit vehicles entirely, making them impractical for typical RV camping.
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