Best Campgrounds near New Durham, NH

Camping areas around New Durham, New Hampshire span several developed campgrounds and natural settings within the Lakes Region. Pawtuckaway State Park Campground in nearby Nottingham offers tent sites, RV spots, cabins, and glamping options with lake access. Gunstock Campground in Gilford provides 250 sites with various accommodation types including cabins. Several campgrounds in the area feature amenities like electric hookups, showers, and picnic tables, while others maintain a more rustic atmosphere. The region includes both family-oriented resorts such as Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Milton and adult-focused campgrounds, creating a diverse mix of camping experiences within a 30-minute drive of New Durham.

Seasonal considerations significantly impact camping in the New Hampshire Lakes Region, with most campgrounds operating from May through October. Summer months bring warm days ideal for swimming and water activities, while fall offers spectacular foliage viewing opportunities. Many sites require advance reservations, particularly for weekend stays and waterfront locations. Campgrounds like Sun River in Center Barnstead operate from mid-May to mid-October, while others like Pawtuckaway State Park remain open until October 31st. Cell service varies throughout the region, with several visitors noting spotty coverage in more remote areas. A visitor commented that "phone coverage is poor (Verizon); can usually get texts out. If you want to geocache, download the info for offline use!"

Waterfront camping receives consistently high ratings from visitors to the New Durham area, with lakes and rivers serving as focal points for many campgrounds. Campers report high satisfaction with sites that offer water access for swimming, fishing, and boating. Pawtuckaway State Park earns praise for its lake setting, with one camper noting that "the park lines the shore of beautiful Pawtuckaway Lake. The 192 sites are wooded and many provide views of the lake." Family-friendly amenities like playgrounds, swimming pools, and organized activities are common at larger campgrounds, while smaller sites offer more seclusion and natural surroundings. Several visitors mentioned the region's proximity to hiking trails in the White Mountains as an added benefit, allowing campers to enjoy both water recreation and mountain exploration during their stay.

Best Camping Sites Near New Durham, New Hampshire (269)

    1. Gunstock Campground

    14 Reviews
    Gilford, NH
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 737-4355

    $35 - $80 / night

    "Fairly extensive camp ground associated with Gunstock ski area on central New Hampshire."

    "I was lucky to receive a tranquil, secluded spot next to a brook - perfect."

    2. Pawtuckaway State Park Campground

    44 Reviews
    Raymond, NH
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 895-3031

    $35 - $140 / night

    "Driving around this past weekend I did notice that some of the sites had damp spots; site 71 was the worst with deep mud on the long approach."

    "My first time experiencing a park in the New Hampshire Park system. We went down with a group. Pawtuckaway State Park offers a variety of landscapes, with something to do and see for everyone."

    3. Jellystone Park™ Lakes Region

    7 Reviews
    Milton, NH
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 652-9022

    $64 / night

    "Started with really expensive sites, and we had 4 of them next to one another. Rained the whole time we were there. Wouldnt even consider a discount, nothing."

    "This is a glampground, keep this in mind, if your looking for a peacful Shangri-La seek another campground, if your looking to let loose and enjoy an amenity filled experience around other people, give"

    4. Salmon Falls / Lebanon KOA

    7 Reviews
    Rochester, NH
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (207) 339-9465

    "We were able to book last minute and got a great tenting site, next to a running river that was great to sleep to. Very buggy, but it's outside, what do you expect?"

    "Staff was very friendly and extremely cautious about their surroundings. Plenty of things to do to stay busy during the rainy days."

    5. Sun River Campground

    4 Reviews
    Pittsfield, NH
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 269-3333

    $30 / night

    "The facilities, which include bathhouses, a laundry room, and a beach situated along a tranquil river, contribute to a harmonious and enjoyable experience for all."

    "Pros=rustic tent sites available on a River, very quiet nights, secluded campsites (however the 5 sites near us were empty so that likely has a little to do with noise level & space), playground available"

    6. Bear Brook State Park Campground

    28 Reviews
    Candia, NH
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 485-9869

    $35 - $45 / night

    "Tucked away in what feels like the middle of nowhere New Hampshire is it's largest state park. Bear Brook is full of trails, ponds and a fairly large campground."

    "Site 91 is near the entrance, but large and set back from the camp road, so it offers some extra seclusion. It’s across the street from the playground."

    7. Granite State Campground

    7 Reviews
    Belmont, NH
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 393-6003

    "New bath houses, New hook-ups on many sites Close drive to Lake Winnisquam and Winnipesaukee, Close drive to Gunstock Mountain, not far from Laconia, wooded sites, The camp has some seasonal full timers"

    "This campground is one of my favorites in the lakes region. Affordable prices, large wooded sites and great staff."

    8. Turtle Kraal RV Park

    1 Review
    Alton, NH
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 855-2377

    "Turtle Kraal RV campground is a gated RV campground just outside Alton Bay NH.  Lots of great restaurants, ice cream shops and water activities are nearby!  "

    9. Epsom Valley Campground

    8 Reviews
    Epsom, NH
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 736-9758

    $35 - $165 / night

    "I enjoyed the hiking trails in the back and a pretty good amount of things to do near by. Being able to walk to a store and restaurant is great."

    "We only wanted to stay for one and when we arrived, the older women drove me around in the golf cart to see which site would best suit us and I just thought it was the sweetest thing!"

    10. Roots and wings homestead

    1 Review
    Farmington, NH
    7 miles
    +1 (228) 547-5880

    $70 - $200 / night

    "The Roots & Wings Homestead is new to the Dyrt and offers a great spot to relax in rural New Hampshire.  Check them out and make sure to post some pictures of your stay!"

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Recent Reviews near New Durham, NH

1230 Reviews of 269 New Durham Campgrounds


  • M
    Feb. 17, 2026

    Forest Glen

    Forest Glenn campground

    Forest Glenn campground is a very nice campground on Wheelwright pond in Lee New Hampshire! Not well kept up but makes you feel like you’re still camping and not glamping ( glamorous camping ) besides some of the very nice campers here with 2 stories on them! Anyway cutting to the chase, just to let any new comers know that are looking for camping in the Lee area if you so choose to camp at forest Glenn depending who you are or how you approach this place dictates if you will have to feel like your stepping on eggshells your entire stay… the owner is a angry Drunk who is sometimes very nice to others or very nasty, and I personally mostly see him being nasty. A couple years back I wanted to look at the campground to see if this would be a place I wanted to stay at so I walked into the office and asked them if we could look around and the lady was in the process of writing us a pass to drive through. This man comes in and said whats going on so I politely told him that we were interested in his campground and we wanted to look around. He completely flipped out said he doesn't understand, said his campground is his back yard, we can't allow this how would you like if I just walked around your back yard etc etc.... yelling at us the whole time and spitting while screaming and then told us to get out of his sight…. This place mind you is overrun by golf carts and I have heard of incidents where people get hit by them because who cares about the posted 5mph speed limitations if your in a golf carts right? Right! And CLEARLY this place is a Double standard place so you will not be treated equal… and as far as I know this place has secret people who camp supposedly working at camp like the manager and security and the plumber or electrician who look like their helping but while helping they gather information about you to spread it around to others or to cause problems with you and the owner!! Oh how thoughtful… one Morning I was in the office and the owner pulled me into the rec room to have a talk with me about my string lights suggesting I shut them off at night and I’m not allowed to use them anymore. I said “sir why would I do that there are 50 other sites with spot lights and string lights Who are these lights bothering that I need to take them down for? “ he said use them inside the trailer I don’t want to see them on again! “ now tell me how that makes any sense… so I shut them off and it became like a minefield on my site at night with no lights while the campers down a different street get to have theirs on. There is no privacy at this place, things keep going missing, and the sites are packed like sardines with no room for Jesus. There are also people staying here over winter and it’s a seasonal campground tell me how that makes any sense. Anyway definitely an experience to be at where drama hits too close to home and the golf cart parking spots are rolling a little to close to my feet. “ oh sorry my foot slipped “ #welp time to search for another place. Seems to be a trend with almost every campground. Angry owners who automatically cause problems or can’t run their own business place without drug addicts for help ( to say the least me and my wife WILL NOT BE COMING BACK )

  • Sandra P.
    Feb. 16, 2026

    Harbor Hill Camping Area

    Best Seasonal Campground in the Lakes Region!

    This is a great campground to be a seasonal at! 1 mile from a beautiful beach on Lake Winnipesaukee. 1 mile from town with cute shops and nice restaurants. Friendly staff. Seasonals are very friendly and welcome new seasonals. Campground is taken care of. It is family owned and they really care. I love the fact it is all seasonal- it has a wonderful community feel.

  • L
    Feb. 5, 2026

    Tuxbury Pond RV Campground

    This camping trip truly exceeded my expectations

     The campground was clean, peaceful, and surrounded by wide open views. During the day, the natural landscape felt refreshing and expansive, and at night, the sky was filled with stars, creating a calm and almost magical atmosphere. The layout of the campsite was well planned, making it easy and comfortable for both beginners and experienced campers to enjoy their stay. One fun thing I did after the trip was use Idea To Image to recreate some of the moments that stood out to me—sunrise over the tents, the warmth of the campfire, and the quiet starry night. It helped me turn those memories into beautiful visuals that really captured the peaceful vibe of the experience. Looking back at them now feels like being transported right back to the campsite. Highly recommend this place if you’re looking to slow down and reconnect with nature.

    One fun thing I did after the trip was use Idea To Image to recreate some of the moments that stood out to me—sunrise over the tents, the warmth of the campfire, and the quiet starry night. It helped me turn those memories into beautiful visuals that really captured the peaceful vibe of the experience. Looking back at them now feels like being transported right back to the campsite. Highly recommend this place if you’re looking to slow down and reconnect with nature.

  • Will S.
    Dec. 9, 2025

    Barn Door Hostel & Campground

    Incredible comforting vibe

    Have been here twice, both end of season and beginning of season. The owners/operators are attentive, caring and engaged. Facilities are above par, the location is about the best you can get, highly maintained and they have Goose, probably one of the best dogs ever. Do yourself a favor and stay here... nights around the fire up in the whites in a safe and welcoming place are beyond description.

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 26, 2025

    Little Ossipee Lake Campground

    Great location

    This cpground is full of seasonal sp no transient sites. Has good owners who keep the park clean and well maintained. Very friendly campground.

  • cThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 17, 2025

    Cape Neddick Oceanside Campground

    Two week stay

    Read reviews on google. That’s the experience we had. The signs no everything. Cash only. The management is very weird acting and riding around on a bicycle. I feel so weird making this review because this place is odd . The tenants are fun and the scenery is great. But but but you’ve been warned. Turn your blue tooth off and your WiFi so that your cellphone privacy is protected.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 21, 2025

    Spacious Skies French Pond

    Helpful staff

    The staff was friendly. Don't forget the flashlight. There is very little lighting to find your way around the winding roads of the campground which adds to the charm.

  • Marc D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 16, 2025

    Gunstock Campground

    Great Spot

    Fairly extensive camp ground associated with Gunstock ski area on central New Hampshire. We arrived without a reservation a bit after the office closed, but Elena, the manager came out to let us in and allowed us to check in. She was great. Dogs must have proof of rabies vaccine. Very nice showers. Beautiful fall colors.


Guide to New Durham

Camping sites near New Durham, New Hampshire range from state parks to private campgrounds across the Lakes Region. Most campgrounds sit at elevations between 500-700 feet, contributing to cooler evening temperatures even in summer months. Cell service can be inconsistent throughout the region, with Verizon showing better coverage than AT&T at most locations.

What to do

Hiking from camp: Gunstock Campground connects directly to mountain hiking trails. "Got to walk to hike Gunstock. Wished there was a restaurant within walking distance. But not a show stopper," notes Christine M., highlighting the convenience of trail access.

River activities: Sun River Campground offers paddling opportunities right from camp. "There are trails you can hike and explore. Just a really fun place to stay," shares Robert M. The campground provides free canoe use along its peaceful stretch of river.

Mountain biking: The extensive trail network at Bear Brook State Park Campground draws cycling enthusiasts. "We camped here to check out the mountain bike trails in the park and we're not disappointed on either count," writes Eammon C. The trails remain busy even into October, with many accessible directly from the campground.

What campers like

Waterfront camping options: Campers consistently praise lakeside sites at Pawtuckaway State Park Campground. "The sites on the water book up quickly but they're perfect for fishing and boating. Also, the view!" reports J L. The park features three distinct island areas with numerous waterfront sites.

Privacy between sites: Despite being family-friendly, many campgrounds offer secluded spots. "Most of the sites are secluded but still had full hookups," notes Molly G. about Epsom Valley Campground. At Gunstock, Melissa B. recommends specific areas: "I recommend the sites back in Breezy Knolls (K01-K17 I think?) and then I believe sites 203 and 205 were nice and tucked away in the trees as well."

Family amenities: Salmon Falls / Lebanon KOA provides extensive recreation options. "This campground is family friendly and has a lot to offer. Our camping group consisted of children from the ages of 8-17 yrs old. No one was bored," writes J B. The campground includes a water park, tubing, an arcade, and swimming pools with slides.

What you should know

Seasonal schedules: Most campgrounds operate from May through October. Epsom Valley Campground runs "May 15 to Columbus Day," while Turtle Kraal RV Park operates "May 1 - Nov 1." Bear Brook remains open "early May-late Oct," making it one of the later options for fall camping.

Site selection matters: At Epsom Valley Campground, tent campers should consider the wilderness area. "My FAVORITE part was what was called the 'wilderness area'. AMAZING little tent sites! They were secluded but still had full hookups," recommends Molly G. Research specific site numbers before booking.

Firewood restrictions: Some campgrounds have strict policies about outside wood. One visitor to Jellystone Park noted: "They confiscate your kiln dried firewood even if you're from in state. But proceeded to tell us it was okay to level the camper with the wood but not burn it."

Tips for camping with families

Budget-friendly activities: Several campgrounds offer no-cost recreation. "There is a nice stretch of sandy beach at the campground as well as canoes and kayaks for rent," shares Anna C. about Bear Brook State Park. Many sites also include playgrounds and hiking trails at no additional cost.

Site selection for kids: At Gunstock Campground, Sara D. recommends: "We explored the grounds & noted some sites that were a smidge more secluded and plan to return again sometime!" She adds that certain areas have "very little separation from the neighboring campers near you," making site research important for family privacy.

Weather preparation: Temperatures in the New Hampshire Lakes Region can drop significantly at night, even in summer. "We went in early May, when it was still a bit cold at night (in the low 40s)," reports Kris M. about Bear Brook State Park. Pack additional layers for evening comfort, especially in spring and fall.

Tips from RVers

RV hookup variations: Granite State Campground has upgraded its infrastructure. "New bath houses, New hook-ups on many sites," reports Andrew P. The 30 sites include electric, water, and sewer options, with recently updated connections.

Gate access considerations: Several campgrounds use security gates. Kirsten J. notes about Turtle Kraal RV Park: "This campground is gated... make sure you keep your key card with you whenever leaving in order to get back in." This security feature provides peace of mind but requires planning for multiple vehicle arrivals.

Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds feature uneven terrain. At Gunstock Campground, Sara D. observed "so many roots all over the sites," while at Sun River, Sara noted sites were "a little uneven with minimal roots here & there." Bring extra leveling blocks for RV stabilization.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near New Durham, NH?

According to TheDyrt.com, New Durham, NH offers a wide range of camping options, with 269 campgrounds and RV parks near New Durham, NH and 2 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near New Durham, NH?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near New Durham, NH is Gunstock Campground with a 4.9-star rating from 14 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near New Durham, NH?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near New Durham, NH.