Luxury camping accommodations around Meriden, New Hampshire provide access to the natural surroundings of the Connecticut River Valley at an elevation of approximately 1,250 feet. The region offers four-season glamping options with upscale accommodations that extend beyond traditional camping, providing comfort without sacrificing outdoor immersion. The area's mix of mountain and river terrain creates diverse glamping settings across both New Hampshire and Vermont sides of the state border.
What to Do
Hike the Appalachian Trail sections: Gifford Woods State Park Campground provides direct access to the Appalachian Trail. "The Appalachian Trail runs right through the park and you can hike up to Deer Leep, around Kent Pond, or to Thundering Falls right from the campground," explains one visitor who appreciated the hiking variety.
Swimming at natural river spots: Baker River Campground offers riverside glamping with swimming access. "The site we had was an open grassy area though we tucked the tent off to the side. On the other side of the roped banking was a beautiful view of the river... There is also a beach with great fishing!" notes a camper who enjoyed cooling off during summer months.
Explore nearby towns: The luxury camping locations provide easy access to charming New England villages. "It's very close to Quechee village and Woodstock so there are plenty of other activities, shopping, and dining options near by," explains a visitor to Quechee State Park Campground who appreciated combining outdoor accommodations with village exploration.
Hot air balloon viewing: Some glamping sites offer special seasonal activities. A visitor to Quechee/Pine Valley KOA noted, "The hot air balloon festival is amazing! This is a safe, quiet family friendly campground. They have wonderful activities and the staff are so courteous and helpful."
What Campers Like
Private, wooded glamping sites: The luxury camping options maintain a natural feel despite upgraded amenities. At Gifford Woods State Park Campground, "The sites are large, private, and wooded, and there are clean restrooms with hot showers. The highlight is the hiking, both in the park and just outside of it."
Well-maintained facilities: Upscale campgrounds focus on cleanliness. One visitor to Quechee State Park Campground noted, "One of our most favorite St. Parks! Cleanliness & friendliness! Look forward to a yearly visit," while another mentioned, "Might be the nicest bathrooms I've seen in decades of camping."
Seasonal activities: Luxury camping near Meriden includes programmed events. A Quechee State Park visitor explained, "Rangers also run fun programs for children - my children churned butter and made popcorn over the campfire one night, and made tie dyed T-shirts the next (for no fee)."
Delivery services: Premium glamping experiences include conveniences not found at standard campgrounds. A visitor to Baker River Campground appreciated that "They had a playground area for kids, horseshoe area and a net for volleyball next to the bathroom/showers. There were tubes and a picnic table at the top of the beach area, we ended tubing down the river one day."
What You Should Know
Reservation timing: Luxury accommodations book quickly, especially premium glamping structures. At Moose Hillock Camping Resort, "The sites are large. If you stay in the back it's quieter. The bathroom is very clean. They offer showers that cost you a few quarters. There are no hookups but they do have a dump station if you are in a RV."
Cell service limitations: Many upscale glamping sites have limited connectivity. A visitor to Pine Haven noted, "We didn't have much cell service at the campground, which didn't bother us. The bathhouse was clean for a busy weekend."
Road noise considerations: When selecting a glamping site, consider proximity to roads. A camper at Quechee State Park Campground observed, "Camping was fairly quiet, except for the noise from the road, which is very close to the park. I think the best part was waking up early to explore the gorge without the crowds."
Weekend crowds: Luxury sites experience different crowd levels throughout the week. According to one visitor's experience, "During the week, the campground was quiet, but it got crowded on the weekends with seasonal campers and tent setups closer to the river."
Tips for Camping with Families
Kid-friendly accommodations: Families seeking luxury camping options near Meriden have various choices. A visitor to Crow's Nest Campground mentioned, "The sites near the river were nice and quiet. Campground was ok a little run down but new owners said they were working on fixing up."
Water recreation for children: Several glamping locations offer water features. At Moose Hillock Camping Resort, one family noted, "What we loved about this campground was that they had a huge pool and water slides. Our site (camper trailer) was one of the largest sites we've stayed in."
Age-appropriate hiking: Consider trail difficulty when glamping with children. A visitor to Gifford Woods State Park Campground mentioned, "This campground is a hiker's campground for sure... nearby hikes include the Bucklin Trail to the top of Killington, Sherburne Pass to Pico Peak, and Canty Trail to Blue Ridge Mountain. So many choices!"
Program participation: Take advantage of scheduled activities. A parent staying at Quechee State Park Campground shared, "Clean and quiet, good for kids and pets are welcome. There are 2 bathrooms with coin operated showers. There are sites for campers, tents, and a handful of lean tos."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: RVers seeking luxury camping experiences should consider site dimensions. At Caton Place Campground, an RVer advised, "Camped here Labor Day Weekend in our 40 ft 5th wheel. We had a pull thru site. Easy to drive into the campground and into the site. We had no issues at all."
Level assessment: Some luxury camping areas have terrain challenges. One RVer noted, "The pull through site is not level and is barely long enough to fit my 43' rig (with my motorcycle lift). The owner was very unfriendly. Driving out of the site was just as bad."
Hook-up availability: Luxury camping options vary in utility connections. A camper at Quechee/Pine Valley KOA reported, "We stayed in a cabin with our pup. This place was very clean and loaded with amenities: pool, dog park, events, open fields, deer, store, etc. This was glamping with a fire pit. There were plenty of sites for all size RV's with hook-ups."
Amenities worth the premium: RVers noted certain features justify higher costs. At Quechee/Pine Valley KOA, a visitor explained, "The park is a large park that is terraced since it is in a pretty hilly area. There is the range of sites from pull-thrus, pull-ins and back-in sites and can accommodate RVs of any size."
