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TravelerPawtuckaway State Park Campground
Great spot with all types of different campsites.
Tent Camping near Manchester, NH
1 campground with availability this weekend
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Several tent campgrounds are located within a 30-mile radius of Manchester, New Hampshire, providing options for campers seeking outdoor experiences in the region. The New Boston Recreation Area offers tent sites in a military park setting with limited amenities but scenic surroundings. Lost Boys Hideout provides another tent camping option with more amenities including drinking water, showers, toilets, and trash disposal, though requires a short hike or walk to access the sites.
Most tent sites near Manchester feature basic amenities, with availability varying by location. Lost Boys Hideout provides fire rings and allows campfires, while also offering picnic tables and permitting pets. The New Boston Recreation Area is more restrictive, prohibiting fires, pets, and alcohol. Campers should verify seasonal availability, as some campgrounds operate year-round while others have limited seasons. Tent campers should note that reservations are required at most established sites in the area, with walk-in accessibility being limited to specific campgrounds like Lost Boys Hideout.
Tent camping experiences vary significantly between locations near Manchester. Sites with drinking water, showers and toilet facilities like Lost Boys Hideout provide more comfort for extended stays, while more primitive options offer greater seclusion. Recent improvements have enhanced the camping experience at some locations. According to one visitor at 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!" However, experiences can vary widely, as another camper noted issues with odors that affected their sleep quality. Weather conditions and seasonal timing can significantly impact the tent camping experience in the New Hampshire region.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Manchester (14)
1. Military Park New Boston Air Force Station New Boston Recreation Area
2. Country Barn Motel & Campground
3. Lost Boys Hideout
Check AvailabilityAvailable this weekend
from $49 - $149 / night
4. Cape Ann Camp Site
"Beautiful rural setting w/ open & tree shaded sites. Full, partial & no hook-up sites for rv’s & tent camping."
"Location works well. Very narrow road coming in after 128. More for smaller RVs and tent camping. Picnic tables could be replaced."
Check Availabilityfrom $36 - $44 / night
5. Sweetwater
from $75 - $175 / night
6. Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake
"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
7. Salmon Falls River RV Resort and Family Campground
"Multiple pools, a water slide, high ropes, a jump pad, mini golf and more!!! My niece had so much fun! Sites are close together and they are short staffed but other than that a great place!"
8. Camp Nihan Education Center
"The group site is super close to parking and yet the terrain is rugged enough that it always felt like we were really in the woods."
9. Crown Point Campground
10. Shady Point Beach & Campgrounds
Drive Time
- 46 min from Boston, MA
- 1 hr 1 min from Worcester, MA
- 1 hr 34 min from Portland, ME
- 1 hr 49 min from Amherst Center, MA
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Manchester, NH
10 Photos of 14 Manchester Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Manchester, NH
792 Reviews of 14 Manchester Campgrounds
- k
kevinTravelerSpacious Skies Minute Man
Beautiful place about an hour from Salem Boston and Plymouth. Be careful getting in Sharp Hill coming up and down lots of scrapes on the ground tight navigation through sites lots of beautiful trees.
Nancy W.
LegendWinter Island Park
Basically a parking lot but with great views!
I’m not going to lie this was a little tricky for big rigs to get to, but with lots of patience and skillful driving, it is doable. Salem is an old New England town so there are many narrow streets and some low clearances. Follow the directions on the parks website as they are designed for RVs– don’t use Google Maps unless you are a small camper. Even getting into the park is kind of challenging because of the way the entrance is laid out with the entrance booth and some low hanging trees. This campground is in a municipal park with a marina, beach, a short walking trail, and picnic areas. The campground has different sections and totally different feels to them. We arrived on a weekend and section we were in the section which is in the parking lot of a busy marina. The parking lot was half full which made for navigating our 45’ bus into our site pretty hard.
No sites have fire pits but you can have a fire if you bring your own above ground pit. Tent sites have picnic tables but nothing else. Some sites you can drive to and have a car onsite and others are non-vehicle access sites (11, 17, 18, 25, 26, 27& 38) in which you have to park in a parking lot. Some RV sites have great water views and others are in a back gravel lot. In my opinion, the best RV sites are 12-16(A-D) because they have a water view. Sites 16B-D are a little tricky for big-rigs to get into because of the tight space. Our site (#13) had a slight downhill slope. We pulled in forward so we could have a view of the harbor which meant the utilities (water electric only) were in the front of our site but we were able to reach without an extension cord. We loved watching the action in the harbor. There is a gazebo by the water which we enjoyed siting under and watching boats go in and out of the harbor while it rained.
There is a nice sandy beach onsite which attracts a lot of day use vistors. The grounds are interesting to walk around as the water views are nice and there is an old fort to explore. Nearby town of Salem Willows is(about½ mile away) is a cute old seaside town with restaurants and arcades. They have a Bluebike rental station which is an easy way to get downtown and explore the area if you don’t have a car.
- Nancy W.Legend
Sea-Vu West Premier RV Resort
Pleasantly surprised.
This campground is mostly seasonal, privately owned park models, but has 45 spaces for RV’s. I was a little skeptical about staying at this campground with so many park models and seasonals but was pleasantly surprised at how nice, clean, and tidy all the sites were. They obviously take pride in how things look because the grounds and campsites were very well-kept.
All campsites are 50/30-amp full hook-up with level gravel pads with grassy patios, a picnic table, and fire pit. We stayed in site#702 which was long enough for our 45’ motorhome and tow car. All the utilities were easy to reach and the electric worked well. The only problem was that we were parked under a large oak tree that was profusely shedding large acorns. There are some sites that are in the open which I would definitely choose, if I came back in the fall. The campground is gated which is a nice feature. It is located a mile or so off Route 1 which means you don’t get the road noise and traffic, but still conveniently located near shops and restaurants.
One nice feature are the shaded walking trails in the park. While they are not super long, it is a nice change from walking the roads (which are paved). Other amenities include a decent size swimming pool (closed while we were there), a basketball court, playground, laundry, and camp store. I thought it was a little expensive at $75/night (for full hook-up) at the end of the season, especially since the pool was closed.
- Nancy W.Legend
Sun Outdoors Wells Beach
Tight sites and expensive, busy area along the Maine coast
We stopped here in the summer to check out the coastal towns in southern Maine. There are many campgrounds in the area and we chose this one because they had a 25% off coupon (on a 7-night stay) which gave us the best nightly price in the area. However, the nightly rate was still$74/night, one reason being they charge a “resort fee” of$15/day which is ridiculous. This is a typical resort-style campground with lots of amenities (most of which we never use). But, for some people, this is a destination campground because of all the amenities- a large heated swimming pool, basketball courts, sand volleyball, bocce, fitness center, two playgrounds, 18-hole minigolf (that you pay extra for), and more.
The campsites in the front of the park are sandwiched between the swimming pool and Route 1 which is very busy and noisy. Campsites in the far back portion of the campground are shaded and a much quieter section. Camping pads and patios are a mix of gravel and sand. Many sites have shade and some have an astroturf patio (I think those are “premium” sites). Our campsite was in the middle section which was fairly quiet but the sites are close together with no privacy. The site was a long and level pull thru with a gravel pad and gravel/sand patio. All sites have a picnic table and fire pit.
There is a tent-only section and they have renal cabins. There is lots to do for families in the area including the beach and amusement and water parks. Restaurants of all sorts are nearby. You can easily walk to Congdon’s Donuts which is a Maine classic.
- Nancy W.Legend
Seacoast Camping and RV Resort
Nice Campground, Love the area!
This is a nice, clean, well-maintained campground for RV and tenting. The campground is located on Route 1 which means you are convenient to a lot of things but there is lots of traffic. Half the campground is seasonal/long term campers and the other side is mostly transients. The roads and campsites are fine crushed gravel with nice grassy patios. The campground is very well maintained (the best part being that the mower collects they cut the grass so no clippings get tracked in your camper). There are some mature trees that provide shade but don’t impede navigating in and out of sites or impacting slide outs.
Campsites range from tent with water/electric to RV water/electric and RV full hook-up 50-amp and full hook-up 30-amp. There are three bathhouses on the property (one of which has a dishwashing sink) and laundry. Tent sites 50-55 are in an are set away from RV sites and more private. They are also close to a large bathhouse with multiple toilets and showers. Tent sites 90-100 are across from a large playground which can be quite chaotic, but if you have kids, this is a great spot.
Our site (#147) was a long pull-thru with a descent amount of space between our neighbors. We got about half a dozen over-the-air channels (one being a major network station) and were able to connect with eastern arc satellites with our Dish Satellite. The 50A electric was good as was the water pressure.
The campground does not have much in the way of amenities except for a game room, basketball court, and playground. The game room is pretty cool with lots of arcade-style games, a pool table, foosball, and table tennis. While we were there, they just finished putting in all new playground equipment and enlarged the size making it really big and a hit with the kids in the park. Once convenience is that maintenance picks up garbage at your site (between 8am– 3pm). Unfortunately, people leave them out after hours and animals got into them and scattered garbage everywhere. We've stayed here before and always enjoy being in the area as it is close to the fun cities of Portsmouth and Newburyport.
Devon B.
ScoutCrow's Nest Campground
Play Games
The recreation hall was a nice surprise. We had some rainy weather one afternoon and the kids were able to play games while we relaxed for a bit. Saved the day honestly😂
Riley B.ScoutCrow's Nest Campground
Spend A Few Days
We came up looking for a campground where we could actually spend a few days without constantly driving somewhere. Ended up fishing, swimming, walking along the river and exploring the area. The campground gave us plenty to do, but it was also nice having the option to just sit at the campsite and do nothing. Would definitley come back.
- RRachel J.Scout
Crow's Nest Campground
A Longer Stay
We have a big RV and had no trouble getting settled in. Having the full hookups made things super easy, especially for a longer stay.
Guide to Manchester
Tent campsites near Manchester, New Hampshire offer access to both rugged wilderness settings and more developed facilities within a 30-mile drive. The region sits at elevations between 200-500 feet with typical summer temperatures reaching 80-85°F during peak camping season. Winter camping options remain limited, with most sites closing between mid-October and mid-May due to New England's harsh winter conditions.
What to do
Water activities at Tully Lake: Recreation area features multiple paddle options with canoe and kayak rentals available onsite. The lake allows swimming from designated campsites but has no formal swimming beach. "We rented kayaks right at the campground for a paddle around Tully Lake. Great trip!" shared Megan G. from Tully Lake Recreation Area.
Hiking trails: Doane's Falls near Tully Lake provides an easy family-friendly 1-mile loop with waterfall views. "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," notes a Camp Nihan visitor who appreciated the terrain's rugged feel while remaining accessible.
Wildlife viewing: Early mornings offer the best opportunity to spot local wildlife including wild turkeys and deer. "Very nice folks, great sites with A LOT of space between them. Spectacular views and wild turkeys, deer, etc.." reports John S. from Cape Ann Camp Site.
What campers like
Rustic experience: Walk-in tent sites provide a more secluded experience without vehicle noise or traffic. "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," writes a Tully Lake camper.
Water access: Waterfront sites at Cape Ann Camp Site provide direct beach access within a short drive. "Cape Anne is beautiful. Perfect location with access to Rockport - a beautiful place to visit, shop, eat & a great little trail with great views. Beach down the street was big, beautiful and low tide was unexpected as you could walk for ever," notes Ron C.
Kid-friendly amenities: Some campgrounds feature specialized recreation facilities for families. "If you have young kids this place is so fun! Multiple pools, a water slide, high ropes, a jump pad, mini golf and more!!!" reports Samantha N. from Salmon Falls River RV Resort.
What you should know
Site accessibility varies: Many tent sites require significant walking from parking areas. "The sites near the water or on bluffs are further away, and though they provide carts the trails can make hauling them tough. Keeping gear to a minimum is a good idea," advises Miguel B. from Tully Lake Recreation Area.
Shower facilities: Most campgrounds charge for showers, typically requiring quarters. "Showers require payment with quarters. I don't know how many quarters it takes because I don't carry change. So I washed my hair in the sink," notes Ben E. from Cape Ann Camp Site.
Reservation timing: Prime sites book quickly during summer months, especially waterfront locations. "The sites fill up weeks out (and can completely fill the day registration opens, which is date-dependent each year...Booking for Memorial Day meant I booked in April), so you have to be on your game," explains a Tully Lake visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Environmental education options: Family programs at some sites provide structured learning activities. "The staff is friendly and know the locale, they were able to give us tips on good hikes," mentions a camper at Tully Lake, which offers ranger-led activities throughout summer.
Proximity to civilization: Some campgrounds provide wilderness experiences while remaining close to towns. "All of this right in Saugus MA, less than 30 minutes from Boston," notes Michael V. from Camp Nihan Education Center, highlighting its convenient location despite feeling remote.
Cell service limitations: Prepare for minimal connectivity at most sites. "Cell coverage is pretty close to absent or poor in most of the area, so download any maps you might want (driving, trail, geocaching) before you arrive," advises a Tully Lake camper about the technological limitations.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Electric and water hookups vary significantly between campgrounds near Manchester. "We paid $60 a night for a 30 amp spot with water," reports a Cape Ann Camp Site visitor about current pricing for RV sites with partial hookups.
Site surfacing: Many RV sites in the region lack concrete pads. "The sites are all dirt. There is no concrete pads," notes a Cape Ann Camp Site reviewer about the natural terrain at most sites in the area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Manchester, NH?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Manchester, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Manchester, NH is Military Park New Boston Air Force Station New Boston Recreation Area with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
What is the best site to find
tent camping near
Manchester, NH?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Manchester, NH?
TheDyrt.com has all 14 tent camping locations near Manchester, NH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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