Mont Vernon, New Hampshire sits at approximately 820 feet above sea level in the southern part of the state, surrounded by forests and small bodies of water. The camping season typically runs May through October with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during daytime hours. Winter camping isn't available at most area campgrounds due to the seasonal operation of facilities and water systems that are winterized to prevent freezing damage.
What to Do
Hiking trails and geocaching: Bear Brook State Park Campground offers extensive trails for hiking and mountain biking. As one reviewer noted, "We camped here to check out the mountain bike trails in the park and we're not disappointed on either count. The campground is nice and spacious, well kept and the staff is friendly. The biking trails were a blast."
Fishing in natural settings: Pawtuckaway State Park Campground provides excellent fishing opportunities with wheelchair-accessible docks. "This a a fantastic little camp for if you want to go canoeing or kayaking or boating of any kind! It's set up of three islands and a large majority of the campsites are right on the water," shares a visitor.
Seasonal activities: Keyser Pond Campground organizes themed weekends throughout their operating season. "Halloween themed weekend was so incredibly fun. The seasonal sights go all out!" mentions one camper who enjoys the special events.
Water recreation options: At Autumn Hills Campground, water activities are a highlight. "They offer boat rentals, canoes, paddle boats and kayaks. Store on site and they do activities during the week," reports a reviewer who appreciated the options.
What Campers Like
Multiple swimming options: Cold Springs Camp Resort offers varied aquatic experiences beyond the single pool mentioned in other descriptions. According to one visitor, "Great campground. The pools are amazing. Kid pools. Adult pools! Adult hot tub."
Clean, updated facilities: Campers consistently mention bathroom cleanliness as a priority. One reviewer at Cold Springs notes, "Beautiful, extremely clean bathrooms, reasonably priced little cafe, big camp store, very friendly staff, 4 outdoor pools & pretty big campground that has a gated entry/exit that needs a key card pass you get upon registering."
Family-friendly amenities: Friendly Beaver Campground receives high marks from families. A camper shares, "We've been back her a few times because my girls love it. They have 3 outdoor pools(sports,toddler,regular) plus an indoor pool for rainy or chilly days. They have a few animals the kids can feed."
Natural soundscapes: Several campgrounds offer sites near water features. At The Pine Campground, "Some shots have nice sound of river right behind the sites. No pond or pool for swimming," notes a visitor who appreciated the background sounds of flowing water.
What You Should Know
Site privacy varies significantly: Many campgrounds in the area have a mix of site types with varying degrees of privacy. At Autumn Hills, a reviewer notes, "Situated primarily on a hillside, some of the sites are tricky to navigate with a camper, but it also minimizes the amount of neighbors you have if you are looking to have some quiet time."
Seasonal camper concentration: Certain campgrounds have high numbers of seasonal residents. A Keyser Pond camper observed, "It seems like the majority of the sites are seasonals. The tent sites are wicked small, packed together and so close to the highway you don't get an ounce of quiet."
Weather contingency plans: The region experiences occasional heavy rain, requiring preparation. One camper at Pawtuckaway shared, "In 2013 site 25 was a little challenging since it was on a downgrade and we were hit with an unexpected 36 hour downpour and there was only one suitable spot for our tent since the terrain is very rocky."
Pet restrictions vary by season: Some state parks have seasonal pet policies. A reviewer at Bear Brook State Park Campground mentioned, "Tried to plan ahead this year and get a prime site to learn they don't allow dogs anywhere in the campground during summer months."
Tips for Camping with Families
Playground proximity considerations: At campgrounds with playgrounds, site location matters. One camper at The Pine Campground advised, "We picked a site down the road from the playground, if you have kids you may want to be closer."
Wildlife interactions: Some campgrounds offer animal encounters. At Friendly Beaver, a visitor reports, "They also have crafts, hayrides and games, playground and other events. Separate and Clean bathrooms with showers. Store has all you need."
Multiple bathroom locations: Large campgrounds may have several facilities. At Oxbow Campground, "Plenty of bathrooms throughout campground and sites are not expensive to reserve. Clean & up-to-date bathrooms with hot showers."
Indoor alternatives: Rainy day options are important for family trips. One reviewer appreciated that at Oxbow, they found a "recreational hall with a pool table & video games, laundromat. They have lots of fun family activities!"
Tips from RVers
Hookup access: Site layout can affect hookup convenience. An Autumn Hills Campground visitor noted, "We went here for our first time stay with our RV. The sites were on the small side, but it worked just fine. We stayed at site 14 needed a very long sewer hose."
Level sites: Terrain varies across campgrounds in the Mont Vernon region. At Willard Brook State Forest Campground, "Sites are largely level, around a small, bisected loop with towering pines. Most of the sites are best suited to tents and small trailers (think teardrops and pop-ups)."
Narrow access roads: Some campgrounds present navigation challenges. A Cold Springs Camp Resort visitor warned, "Nicely landscaped although the roads are very narrow. Made it hard to back in our spot."
Security features: Several campgrounds offer enhanced security. At Keyser Pond, "Camp takes security seriously, with gated entry and wristbands for guests to wear."
