Camping within an hour's drive of Manchester, New Hampshire offers access to both the Merrimack Valley and foothills of the White Mountains. Most campgrounds near Manchester sit at elevations between 300-600 feet, creating moderate temperature variations between day and night, particularly in spring and fall. Manchester's location makes it an ideal base camp with many sites open from May through October when average temperatures range from 45°F-80°F.
What to do
Hiking diverse trails: Bear Brook State Park Campground offers extensive hiking opportunities across its 10,000-acre forest preserve. "Lots of biking/hiking/walking trails, a nice small pond/beach, boat access, a few basketball courts, a volleyball court and a common huge fire pit added to the fun," reports one camper at Bear Brook State Park Campground.
Water activities: Swimming and paddling options abound at several lakes. "Kayaking, swimming area and hiking were all 5 stars!" notes a visitor to Pawtuckaway State Park Campground. The park features multiple water access points with rentals available at some locations.
Historical exploration: Use campgrounds as a base for exploring New England history. Minute Man Campground provides "easy to get into Boston by train. Level sites, quiet, and very clean restrooms make this a perfect spot for touring historic Boston, Concord, & Lexington," according to one reviewer.
Beach swimming: Many campgrounds maintain dedicated swimming areas with sandy beaches. "They have a little beach area, too," notes a camper at Cold Springs Camp Resort, making it ideal for hot summer days.
Fall foliage viewing: The Manchester area transforms during autumn months. As one visitor to Minute Man Campground observed, the area is "beautiful in the fall" with "very pretty and historical trails to walk on."
What campers like
Multiple pool options: Cold Springs Camp Resort stands out for its extensive water features. "Great campground. The pools are amazing. Kid pools. Adult pools! Adult hot tub," mentions one happy camper. Another adds, "4 outdoor pools & pretty big campground that has a gated entry/exit that needs a key card pass you get upon registering."
Waterfront sites: Lake access directly from campsites ranks high with visitors. At Pawtuckaway State Park, "The sites on the water book up quickly but they're perfect for fishing and boating. Also, the view!" Many campgrounds offer premium waterfront locations that should be reserved well in advance.
Clean bathroom facilities: Campground cleanliness consistently earns positive reviews. At Epsom Valley Campground, campers note "Campground and bathrooms were amazingly clean," while another mentions, "we did walk into the bathrooms and they were spotless."
Wooded privacy: The natural forest setting provides separation between sites at many campgrounds. Harold Parker State Forest offers "nice large campsites. The sites' privacy is very diverse. You could be tucked away from everyone or closer together depending on the site you choose but they are all pretty decent in size."
Organized activities: Scheduled events enhance the camping experience. Autumn Hills Campground "does activities during the week. Definitely more kids friendly I think. They do have a pool, park, dog park, lake and food trucks visits at times. They have community fires and dances."
What you should know
Weather considerations: Spring and fall camping requires preparation for temperature swings. One Greenfield State Park visitor shared: "We visited very early in the season, so the main tent camping loops were blocked off for maintenance." Early and late season camping may have limited facilities.
Site variations: Campground layouts vary significantly across the region. "Sites are very small, and extremely close together. My 28 foot travel trailer barely fit into the site, and our friends in the tent sites were basically on top of each other," reports one Autumn Hills Campground visitor.
Reservation requirements: Most popular sites book quickly, especially waterfront locations. "If you plan ahead and get a water front site it's amazing... but all the sites are roomy and lovely to camp at!" notes a Pawtuckaway visitor.
Seasonal restrictions: Some facilities have limited operations. For example, at Greenfield State Park, "when we went (July 2025) the water was closed due to Cyanobacteria Blooms." Always check for current conditions before your visit.
Road access challenges: Some campgrounds have narrow internal roads. At Cold Springs Camp Resort, the "roads are very narrow. Made it hard to back in our spot," according to one reviewer.
Tips for camping with families
Multiple swimming options: Friendly Beaver Campground offers exceptional water recreation for children. "This campground was amazing. We went for a weekend and they let us stay later on sunday since it rained all weekend. They have 3 outdoor pools and 1 indoor pool," reports one family. Having an indoor pool option extends swimming regardless of weather.
Educational programming: Some campgrounds offer learning experiences. At Bear Brook State Park, "A ranger ran a program to teach about the area fauna which was pretty interesting for kids and adults alike."
Animal interactions: Several campgrounds feature small petting areas. Friendly Beaver has "a few animals the kids can feed," while another visitor notes, "We enjoyed their small but nice petting zoo of a few goats and a horse."
Playground access: Recreation areas designed specifically for children exist at several locations. One Calef Lake Camping Area visitor mentioned, "Beautiful campground lake front spots...the playground is absolutely perfect for kids and adults alike."
Family-friendly layout: Some campgrounds are designed with family groups in mind. Bear Brook State Park offers sites that "near the ball field and thought they would make a nice place for a large group of friends to pitch their tents (Sites 31, 32, 33, 34)."
Tips from RVers
Site sizing considerations: Autumn Hills Campground requires careful site selection for larger rigs. "We stayed at site 14 needed a very long sewer hose," reports one RVer, emphasizing the importance of checking hookup locations.
Seasonal site options: Many campgrounds offer extended stays. At Epsom Valley Campground, "I stayed here from July to September last year in my RV, great spot right by the river."
Leveling challenges: The region's hilly terrain affects site conditions. At Greenfield State Park, "Site seems level for the most part, made of gravel," notes one RV camper, but terrain varies significantly across campgrounds.
Hookup variations: Electrical service differs between locations. At Minute Man Campground, one RVer noted "electric box a little far from parking site had to use an extension cord," highlighting the need to bring additional equipment.
Dump station access: Not all campgrounds offer full hookups. Harold Parker State Forest provides "no hookups, but there is running water and a dump station is available," requiring planning for longer stays.
