Best Tent Camping near Nelson, NH
Tent campgrounds in the greater Nelson area offer tent campers a mix of walk-in sites, lakefront locations, and forested settings. Within driving distance, campers can find Tully Lake Recreation Area in Royalston, Massachusetts, which provides tent-only walk-in sites along a scenic lake. Several New Hampshire options include the HQ Campground at Monadnock State Park in Jaffrey and Sunapee State Park Campground in Newbury, both offering traditional tent sites.
Many tent sites require campers to park in designated areas and carry gear to their campsite. Tully Lake exemplifies this setup, providing wooden wheelbarrows for hauling equipment from the parking area to individual tent locations. Facilities vary widely across the region's campgrounds - some offer flush toilets, showers and drinking water while others maintain more primitive conditions with vault toilets and no potable water sources. Fire regulations differ by location, with some areas requiring campers to purchase firewood on-site to prevent the spread of invasive species. A visitor commented, "The bathrooms are located near the entrance to the Park, and include flush toilets as well as coin operated, hot showers, open 24/7."
Walk-in tent sites create unique experiences not found at drive-up campgrounds. At locations like Tully Lake, the absence of vehicles creates a quieter, more natural camping environment. Tent platforms are common at sites throughout the region, providing level surfaces for setting up camp while minimizing environmental impact. Water access is a highlight at several locations, with some walk-in tent sites offering direct lake or pond access for swimming and paddling. During peak summer weekends, the more popular tent campgrounds fill quickly, particularly those with waterfront locations. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, "There are some prime camp sites with direct access to the lake, but suggest you be prepared to call early in the morning of the first day State Campground reservations can be made, if you want one of these!"