Most campgrounds near East Merrimack are located within a 20-mile radius, giving campers access to both New Hampshire's lakes and the Atlantic coast. The area's terrain ranges from wooded inland sites to coastal settings, with elevations from sea level to 500 feet. Summer temperatures typically reach 80-85°F during day and drop to 55-65°F at night, creating comfortable camping conditions from May through October.
What to do
Golf during your stay: Hidden Valley RV and Golf Park in Derry offers a 9 or 18-hole course with cart rentals and a pro shop on their 1300-acre property. A reviewer notes, "The main attraction of this campground is the golf course of 9 or 18 holes. There is a pro shop, golf cart rentals, etc." The facilities include clean restrooms, a grocery store, and two swimming beaches.
Water recreation options: Tuxbury Pond RV Campground provides boating access on their pond, though one camper cautions, "pond unusable, loud, dusty, golf cart speedway for seasonal campers, smelly (sewer)." Despite this concern, the campground offers two pools (typically closed during off-season), a pavilion, and various recreational facilities.
Beach access: Sandy Beach Campground in Contoocook has a sandy waterfront area with boat launch facilities. According to one camper, "Sandy beach by the water has plenty of room to relax out in the sun as well as launch areas to set out in a paddle boat, canoe or row boat, all available on site." The beach area includes a playground, making it convenient for families with children.
What campers like
Entertainment options: Tuxbury Pond RV Campground offers scheduled activities for all ages. One camper shared, "The live band was cool... the stand up comedy was awesome. For the most part, the comedians kept it fairly clean & our 9 yr old did not get any of the jokes that were a little sassy." Events typically occur near the pavilion area and may include both daytime and evening programming.
Clean facilities: Beach Rose RV Park in Salisbury Beach maintains well-kept grounds and amenities. "Lovely clean site. Felt so welcomed by the hosts," reports one visitor. Another adds, "Campground is very clean and well kept. Pool is very nice to hangout and cool off. Showers are not free, but for the money you get plenty of time to shower off."
Helpful management: Woodmore Family Campground staff receive consistent praise for their service. A guest mentioned, "Everyone is very friendly the owners are wonderful people and super friendly very helpful it's clean they offer a lot of stuff to do right on a lake in the bottom of the beautiful mountain in New Hampshire." This campground has a perfect 5-star rating from reviewers.
What you should know
Seasonal camper concentrations: Seacoast Camping and RV Resort has distinct areas for seasonal and transient campers. As one visitor explains, "Half of the park is seasonal campers(which is a lot more cramped and more junked up) and the other half is for transients. The two sides are separated by a tree line where the tent sites are located." This setup affects the overall atmosphere and site availability.
GPS navigation issues: Some campgrounds have entrance locations that confuse GPS systems. At Tuxbury Pond, "if you're using Apple Maps, it will likely take you to a turn that is not the campground entrance, there's even a hand-written sign on someone's lawn that has directions to the entrance." Call ahead for accurate directions.
Site privacy varies: Tent sites often lack separation at several rv parks near East Merrimack, New Hampshire. A camper at Tuxbury Pond observed, "no separation between some tent sites," while another noted at Beach Rose RV Park, "Fairly small sites, but very well maintained." Site maps are available at most park offices to help select the best location for your needs.
Tips for camping with families
Playground locations: Silver Lakes Park Campground offers a family-friendly environment with beach access. A visitor describes it as "a very clean, quiet, gated campground, with easy beach access for the kids (and launching space for pontoon or bass boats). There is a playground, rentable kayaks and canoes, a basketball goal, frisbee golf, corn hole, horseshoes, yard darts etc."
Activity planning: Schedule around evening events at campgrounds, as they can affect your experience. At Sandy Beach Campground, one camper mentioned, "We enjoyed our stay... Playground is on the beach. They don't allow sparklers so that was a bummer on the 4th, but still got to see fireworks." Check activity schedules upon arrival.
Water activities: Many campgrounds near East Merrimack provide water recreation for children. At Sandy Beach, one reviewer noted, "Really loved the weekend we spent there lots to do clean bathrooms and the store on site was so convenient." Rental equipment is available at most waterfront campgrounds, with costs around $10-15 per hour.
Tips from RVers
Site access considerations: At some rv parks in the East Merrimack area, maneuvering can be challenging. One RVer at Field and Stream RV Park stated, "They offer all year round camping. Great site right next to the water. Sites are clean and well equipped." Year-round availability makes this park unique in the region.
Leveling and hookups: Site conditions vary across campgrounds. A reviewer at Hidden Valley RV Park cautioned, "The water and electric were between our site and the next on one side and sewer between our site and the one on the other side. This made it difficult to place our trailer on the slanted site and reach all services." Bring leveling blocks and extension hoses/cords to ensure proper connections.
Site selection strategy: When possible, request specific sites. At Pine Acres Resort, some sites have better locations than others, while Seacoast Camping offers newer sites with advantages: "Our site (#124) was one of the new sites which they had just completed. It was a gravel back-in which was plenty long and level."
