White Mountain National Forest surrounds Moultonborough camping sites with pine-filled terrain and elevations ranging from 504 to 1,200 feet. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F during the day, dropping to 50-60°F at night, creating ideal tent and RV camping conditions. Most campgrounds in the Moultonborough area face significant booking pressure during summer holiday weekends when sites often sell out 2-3 months in advance.
What to do
Watersports on multiple lakes: Lake Winnipesaukee provides swimming, kayaking, and boating options. At Long Island Bridge Campground, campers can rent kayaks for exploring the lake. According to Madison K., "The spot looked like a post card. They had perfect kayaks that we could rent for a Sunday on the water."
Mountain activities: Moultonborough camping locations offer access to several mountain activities. The Gunstock Campground features an aerial obstacle course, mountain coaster, and hiking trails. Kasey H. notes, "They have an aerial obstacle course and a mountain coaster, places to swim, music festivals, hiking, etc."
Swift River exploration: The Swift River offers swimming, tubing, and fishing opportunities. Tamworth Camping Area provides direct river access with designated swimming areas. Betty F. reports, "The lots are huge with fire pits. Our site was right on the river! You can swim right in the river."
Nature trails: Several campgrounds maintain walking paths through woodland areas. Chocorua KOA offers a boardwalk through marsh areas connecting to nature trails. According to a camper, "There is a beautiful board walk that leads through the marsh to a system of short nature trails."
What campers like
Wooded privacy: Many campers appreciate the secluded tent sites available near Moultonborough. At White Lake State Park Campground, the sites feel removed from neighboring campers. Jean C. describes, "Sites are close together. There are some sites offering water views. Most of them can accommodate smaller RVs as well as tents. All sites are wooded with plenty of trees to get a good tarp, and lots of options for hammock placement."
Clean facilities: Campgrounds receive consistent praise for well-maintained bathrooms and shower houses. Sara D. from Gunstock Mountain Resort stated, "Free hot showers that are not dirty, lots of trails on edge of the grounds, lots and lots of tent sites."
Wildlife viewing: Dawn and dusk wildlife sightings enhance the camping experience. At White Lake State Park, Amanda shares, "We were able to hear the loons calling on the lake at night too. We'll definitely be back, both for camping and day trips."
Dog-friendly options: Many Moultonborough area campgrounds accommodate pets with specialized amenities. One visitor to Chocorua KOA noted, "This is an incredibly dog-friendly campground with a fun dog park, a special swimming pond just for dogs and doggie day care available."
What you should know
Campsite spacing varies significantly: Some campgrounds have closely spaced sites, while others offer more privacy. Sable W. at White Lake State Park reported, "Our site was in very close proximity to all of the neighboring sites. We had children on several sides, and a rowdy group of adult men on another side."
Bear activity in the region: Wildlife is common in camping areas around Moultonborough. At Waterville Campground, one camper experienced, "The first day I got there at around 5:30 I was sitting in my hammock reading when a black bear cub strolled through my campsite. We scared the poop out of each other."
Quiet hours enforcement varies: Rules about noise after hours differ between campgrounds. Jeremy P. at Danforth Bay noted, "The campground has a rule that fires have to be out at 11:30. The security people have been extremely aggressive to us."
Water supply quality varies: Not all campgrounds provide equally clear drinking water. One visitor to Waterville Campground mentioned, "The water is very brown/rusty. We didn't feel comfortable drinking it."
Tips for camping with families
Seek campgrounds with kid-specific amenities: Families report better experiences at locations with dedicated children's facilities. Danforth Bay Camping & RV Resort offers "2 big beautiful pools and a smaller one with a kids slide. Large campsites and well maintained," according to Shawn D.
Reserve waterfront sites early: Lake access sites book 3-4 months ahead for summer weekends. A camper at Long Island Bridge Campground shared, "Love this campground. Great views of the lake. Nice neighbors. Lots of space for my kids to run around."
Verify bathroom facilities: Restroom types vary from vault toilets to full facilities. Desiree M. at Waterville Campground reported, "There are no sinks. There are signs to wash your hand but not a single sink. The bathrooms are outhouses. No flush and not pleasant smelling."
Choose activities based on ages: Different campgrounds specialize in age-specific recreation. At White Lake State Park, Stephanie C. shares, "This is a VERY LARGE campground, it will be a trek to get to the bathrooms or showers or swimming. You do NOT get to park at the lake if you are a camper."
Tips from RVers
Check hookup locations: Water and electric connections may not align with RV layout. Zachary W. at Paugus Bay Campground noted, "Water hook up was on the opposite side of the site of where the camper needed to be, no sewer hook ups. The owners were very helpful by lending us a hose to help us reach the spigot."
Verify site dimensions before booking: Many campsites near Moultonborough have size restrictions. Chase B. observed at Paugus Bay, "Sites are EXTREMELY tight. If you have a pull behind, you definitely need to be comfortable backing it up in tight, dicey situations."
Look for leveling challenges: Some waterfront sites require significant leveling. A visitor to Danforth Bay explained, "The only level part of the site is away from the deck and water. My wife wanted to get the camper up close to the deck so our area under the awning was close to that, which meant I had a lot more leveling to do."
Seasonal RV options available: Several campgrounds offer seasonal RV arrangements. Abby at Harbor Hill Camping Area stated, "This is an amazing campground to be a Seasonal Camper! The seasonals are friendly. The campground is beautiful & well maintained."
