A
Amber G.
Scout
ScoutTripoli Road
So much fun!
Went on a weekend and it was still very peaceful! Lots to do on such a beautiful back road. We stayed at two different sites each night we were there and both were equally beautiful and peaceful
Camping near New London, NH
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
The New London area of New Hampshire features a diverse range of camping options within a short drive of town. Pillsbury State Park Campground, located about 15 miles southwest in Washington, offers both primitive and developed sites in a heavily wooded setting with multiple ponds and wetlands. This state park is known for its wildlife viewing opportunities, including moose and loons. Within 20 miles of New London, campers can find several private campgrounds like Crow's Nest and Northstar in Newport, which provide full hookups for RVs alongside tent sites. The camping season typically runs from mid-May through mid-October, with most facilities closing after Columbus Day weekend.
Advance reservations are strongly recommended during the peak summer months, particularly for waterfront sites which fill quickly. As one camper noted, "Pillsbury is called a primitive campground which means no showers or electric hookups. Most campsites are accessible by car with space to park a car or two. Many campsites are on the lake." The region experiences typical New England weather patterns with warm summers and cool nights, even in July and August. Cell phone coverage varies significantly throughout the area, with many campgrounds reporting limited service. Pet policies differ between facilities, with some state parks restricting dogs during peak season, making pre-trip research essential for those traveling with animals.
Waterfront camping represents a significant draw in the region, with ponds and lakes offering opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. Campers frequently mention the privacy of wooded sites as a key feature of the area's campgrounds. "The sites are super private, the rangers are friendly, and the mosquitoes are ferocious," reported one visitor to a nearby state park. Facilities range from basic (vault toilets and water spigots) to comprehensive (full hookups, camp stores, and recreation areas). Highway noise can be an issue at some locations closer to major roads, while more remote sites offer greater tranquility. Hiking trails connect many campgrounds to larger trail networks, making them good base camps for exploring the region's natural areas and mountains.
Best Campgrounds near New London (205)
1. Pillsbury State Park Campground
"Many campsites are on the lake. None are very far from the lake. There are also a few 'remote' campsites that are not accessable by car. They are accessable by a sort walk or boat. "
"Pillsbury resides in a very pretty spot nestled around a lake. There are campsites that are car accesable and remote campsites only accessable by boat. Canoe rentals are available at the park."
from $29 - $40 / night
Check Availability2. Crow's Nest Campground
"Crow’s Nest was a really convenient stop for us while traveling through New Hampshire. Getting our RV situated was easy and we had everything we needed for a comfortable stay."
"There are lots of trees and having the Sugar River running alongside the campground gives the whole place a nice New Hampshire feel."
from $32 - $115 / night
Check Availability3. Northstar Campground
"We had a spacious site w/water and electric next to the Sugar River. We enjoyed our time here and will definitely go back."
from $32 - $37 / night
Check Availability4. Crows Nest
from $32 - $115 / night
Check Availability5. Loon Lake Campground & Function Hall
6. Quechee State Park Campground
"Got there close to the time the rangers left for the night, Nick was really kind to make sure I got situated before he left."
"There is a “campers only” access trail to Quechee Gorge that we took advantage of, which then gave us access to the Dewey Pond trail."
from $38 / night
Check Availability7. Tippicanoe Campground
from $35 - $45 / night
Check Availability8. Wilgus State Park Campground
"Wilgus state park has amazing campsites, very friendly staff, and great access to the Connecticut River. This campground was beautiful and very quiet even though it was full."
"A walking path runs in front of all the sites. Most sites have an obstructed water view of the Connecticut river. There is a vegitation barrier between the sites and the river."
from $20 - $30 / night
Check Availability9. Spacious Skies French Pond
"I had a view of the beautiful pond, which is really a lake, and wished I had more time to rent a kayak. The bathrooms were clean and easy to access, since I do not have sewer in my small pop-up."
"Restroom closed to covid, some campgrounds kept them open and just cleaned more. Well no complaint here we’re self contained. Some areas could use some tidying up."
from $24 - $199 / night
Check Availability10. Mount Ascutney State Park Campground
"The state park had everything we were looking for: close proximity to mountain bike trails, beautiful hiking trails, available leantos, and less than two hours from our home."
"Whether it’s a hike or a drive, I highly recommend it! Just note, the road closes after dusk and a barrier goes down."
Drive Time
- 40 min from Manchester, NH
- 1 hr 41 min from Worcester, MA
- 1 hr 57 min from Amherst Center, MA
- 2 hrs 22 min from Glens Falls, NY
Recent Camping Photos near New London, NH
561 Photos of 205 New London Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Recent Reviews near New London, NH
906 Reviews of 205 New London Campgrounds
Henry M.ScoutCrow's Nest Campground
Spent Several Days
We spent several days here during the summer and had a really good experience. Some days we stayed busy swimming and exploring, while other days we barely left our campsite. That was probably what we enjoyed most.
Harley J.ScoutCrow's Nest Campground
Really Enjoyed
Really enjoyed the setting at Crow’s Nest. There are lots of trees and having the Sugar River running alongside the campground gives the whole place a nice New Hampshire feel. We were mostly looking for somewhere to disconnect for a couple of days, cook outside, fish a little, and enjoy being away from home. Crow’s Nest was a great fit for that.
David B.ScoutCrow's Nest Campground
Always Nice Coming Back
What we liked most about Crow’s Nest was being able to choose between doing absolutely nothing or heading out and exploring. One day we stayed around the campground, went swimming and relaxed by the river. The next day we got out and explored more of the Lake Sunapee area. It made a really good home base and it was always nice coming back to our campsite at the end of the day.
Alison S.ScoutShir-Roy Camping Area
Great spot
Where does one even begin to explain how great this campground is?! There’s truly a little bit of something for everyone here!
We absolutely loved our campsite. It had plenty of room, a good amount of privacy, and great tree coverage. Even when it rained, our fire pit somehow stayed pretty dang dry, which was a huge plus!
The rec hall was awesome and had so many cool arcade games to check out. They also offer kayak and canoe rentals for the pond, which has surprisingly clear, beautiful water.
One thing that REALLY stood out to us was how incredibly clean the bathrooms and showers were. They were well maintained and practically bug-free, which is almost unheard of at a campground!
On top of all that, everyone we came across—from the staff to the other campers—was super friendly, welcoming, and down-to-earth. It just had an all-around great atmosphere.
Seriously, don’t skip over this campground. If you’re on the fence, just book it. You won’t regret it! We’ll definitely be back!
- KKaSondra S.Scout
Crown Point Camping Area
Disappointed
Very Disappointed With the Changes
Crown Point Campground used to be a wonderful place to camp. Unfortunately, since Happy Grounds purchased the campground, we have seen a significant decline in the overall experience.
I do want to make one thing very clear: the woman managing the campground is absolutely wonderful. She genuinely cares about the campers, is kind, helpful, and does her best to make people feel welcome. Our frustrations are not directed toward her. She deserves recognition for the effort she puts in, especially given the circumstances.
Unfortunately, there are serious concerns with the direction the campground has taken. There is no reliable Wi-Fi or cell service, which is especially concerning because there is no dependable way to call out in the event of an emergency. We have also seen a significant change in the atmosphere and clientele. Drugs have been found on the premises, including needles, which is extremely concerning for the safety of campers, especially families with children.
The campground has also become increasingly overcrowded. Tent sites have had upwards of 10 people on a single site, creating a very different camping experience from what many long-time campers originally signed up for.
Seasonal campers were told that there would be a gradual increase over two years to bring rates up to the new “going rate.” However, when the new contracts came out for next year, the price had increased by approximately $900. That is a substantial increase for a campground that, in our opinion, has continued to decline rather than improve.
What was perhaps most disappointing was how campers' concerns were handled. When people questioned the increase and expressed their frustrations, the response from the corporation was, and I quote:
“Get out and leave. I’ve heard enough complaints. Just leave if you don’t like it.”
That is an incredibly disappointing way to speak to people who have supported this campground for years.
It is heartbreaking to see what Crown Point Campground has become. There are good people here, and the campground itself has so much potential. Most importantly, the manager genuinely cares about the campers, and she deserves credit for that.
Our hope is that Happy Grounds will listen to the people who have invested years of their time and money here, address the safety and overcrowding concerns, and bring back the sense of community that once made Crown Point such a wonderful place to camp.
- MMarie S.Scout
Gunstock Campground
Apparently Your Reserved Site Is More of a Suggestion
⭐**Gunstock Campground: Apparently Your Reserved Site Is More of a Suggestion**
I don't believe I have**ever** left a negative Google review. I generally think that when something goes wrong, you contact the business, give them an opportunity to make it right, and most businesses are genuinely interested in doing exactly that.
Gunstock Campground has cured me of that quaint notion.
I reserved a full-hookup campsite for two nights. I was unable to make it there the first night, but arrived shortly after 7:00 a.m. the next morning. The camp store, where registration takes place, wasn't open yet, so I headed out for my planned hike— about six miles through the Belknaps, including summiting Rowe twice and Gunstock.
By the time I returned, I was utterly exhausted, starving, and actually feeling weak. My ambitions for the afternoon were modest:**eat something, take a shower, and collapse at the campsite I had paid for.**
The staff at the camp store greeted me warmly, checked me in, and sent me on my way.
I drove to my site. There was already a camper in it. Not merely*parked* there, mind you. They had apparently moved right in. They were hooked up to**my site's water and electric**, with water spraying from their ill-fitting hose connection and forming a rather impressive puddle underneath the camper.
I returned to the camp store to report that someone had apparently activated Gunstock's new**"Choose Any Site You Like"** camping plan. A staff member went down to speak with them and came back to tell me they were "packing up." Excellent! My mistake was assuming" packing up" meant**leaving**. It did not.
Apparently these campers had actually reserved a site**two rows away** that had**no water or electric**. Yet somehow, sometime after arriving the previous night, they had accidentally found themselves two rows over, in my clearly different site, connected to utilities their reservation didn't include.
We've all made mistakes. I've occasionally parked one space away from where I intended. I've never accidentally parked**two rows away, hooked myself up to someone else's electricity and water, and spent the night.**
But perhaps I lack imagination.
After they had now consumed about an hour of my afternoon— which, incidentally, is an hour I normally bill at attorney rates— I went back toward my site expecting to find it finally vacated.
And it was! Because Gunstock had moved these folks to another site**two spaces away from me**, apparently allowing them to pay for the upgrade they had already been test-driving. So the people who knowingly or unknowingly occupied my reserved full-hookup site, used the utilities, and delayed me from getting into the site I paid for were rewarded with...a nearby full-hookup site.
They never walked over to apologize. At that point, I no longer felt comfortable staying. It's difficult to relax at a campground when you've just discovered that site assignments appear to operate somewhat on the honor system— and that when someone helps themselves to your reserved site and utilities, management's solution is apparently to make sure *they* remain comfortably accommodated nearby. So I left. On my way home, I called Gunstock and asked for a refund. Surely, I thought, this would be the easy part. After all, I had paid for two nights, hadn't used the first, couldn't get into my site when I arrived for the second, waited while unauthorized occupants vacated it, and ultimately left because the entire experience had become so unpleasant.
Nope. Instead, the staff member **defended the other campers**. I was told they arrived late and "mistakenly" took my site. I was even told they supposedly **hadn't used the utilities**. This was particularly fascinating information for me to receive because **I PERSONALLY SAW THEM HOOKED UP TO THE WATER AND ELECTRIC.** I also took photographs. Including the enormous puddle underneath their camper from the leaking water connection. But apparently my eyewitness account and photographs were no match for the alternative version of events.
For my inconvenience, however, Gunstock did give me a coupon for a **free Bavarian pretzel**. So there is that.
I paid for a full-hookup campsite. Someone else occupied it and used the hookups. I lost roughly an hour waiting to access what I had reserved. The other campers were accommodated with an upgraded site nearby. I left because I no longer felt comfortable staying. And when I asked Gunstock to make the situation right, they refused to refund me and instead argued with me about things **I had personally witnessed and photographed**. The most disappointing part isn't that another camper took my site. Campers can behave badly. Businesses can't control everything their customers do. **What a business CAN control is how it responds when that happens. ** Gunstock had every opportunity to turn this into a mildly annoying story about a camping mix-up. Instead, they turned it into my first negative Google review.
But hey... **I do have that free pretzel coupon.**
Noah P.ScoutCrow's Nest Campground
Comfortable Stay
Crow’s Nest was a really convenient stop for us while traveling through New Hampshire. Getting our RV situated was easy and we had everything we needed for a comfortable stay.
Isaiah D.ScoutCrow's Nest Campground
Kids Stayed Entertained
We brought the kids here for a few days and they had a blast. Between swimming, exploring around the campground, and just riding around and making friends, they always had something to do. For us, it was nice being able to actually relax while the kids stayed entertained. We cooked at the campsite most nights and spent the evenings around the fire. Great family trip.
Guide to New London
Camping spots near New London, New Hampshire range from primitive sites to campgrounds with modern amenities across elevations from 900-1500 feet. The region experiences wide temperature swings even in summer, with nighttime temperatures dropping into the 50s during July and August. Most camping facilities in the area sit within a 25-mile radius of town, with several positioned near ponds and the Sugar River watershed.
What to Do
Paddle exploration: At Pillsbury State Park Campground, multiple ponds provide excellent kayaking opportunities. "Kayaking on May Pond and discovering little islands and coves was a highlight," noted one visitor who appreciated the non-motorized waterways.
Mountain biking: Several local trails connect to larger networks within a 30-minute drive of New London. Trails range from beginner-friendly loops to technical terrain. One experienced rider mentioned the 3-mile beginner loop at Mt. Ascutney: "The state park maintains its own mountain biking trail loop, which is accessible directly from the campground."
River activities: The Connecticut River forms a recreational corridor east of New London. "The best part about camping here is getting out on the water. You can rent kayaks and canoes, and the river moves slowly enough to paddle upstream," according to a visitor at Wilgus State Park Campground.
What Campers Like
Remote, quiet settings: Many campers value the sense of disconnection. "I have been to this campground three years in a row now and I am very happy I found it. They have no electricity so you have to be willing to rough it. It is a great campground to get away from the city," wrote a reviewer about Pillsbury State Park.
Hiking connections: The extensive trail network links multiple camping areas. At Mount Ascutney State Park Campground, trails offer varying difficulty levels. "There are four different trails up the mountain of varying levels of difficulty. You can also drive right to the top and hike around on the summit trails," reported one hiker.
Beach access: Sandy shorelines provide swimming spots at several campgrounds. A family at Sandy Beach Campground noted, "The sandy beach is nice but the swimming area is quite weedy," indicating the mixed quality of swimming options in the region.
What You Should Know
Cell service limitations: Coverage varies widely across camping areas. At Pillsbury State Park, one camper advised: "If you have Verizon and you're at campsite 34 you can get a little service," while others reported complete lack of coverage at many sites.
Bathroom facilities: Most state parks offer basic amenities. "Pit toilets, sites are spacious, cell reception for Verizon isn't great," reported a Pillsbury visitor, while at Quechee State Park Campground, a camper praised the "immaculate bathrooms with coin-operated showers."
Road noise: Several campgrounds experience highway sounds. "The road nearby is noisy. Because of its location, you can hear both the local highway and I91," warned a Mount Ascutney visitor, suggesting campers select sites deeper in the woods for quieter conditions.
Tips for Camping with Families
Water recreation options: Many campgrounds offer alternatives to swimming. At Northstar Campground, one family enjoyed the river access: "We had a spacious site with water and electric next to the Sugar River. We enjoyed our time here and will definitely go back."
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play equipment. "Playground is on the beach," noted a Sandy Beach visitor, while others mentioned field space for games at various locations.
Organized activities: Seasonal programming runs at most state parks. "Rangers also run fun programs for children—my children churned butter and made popcorn over the campfire one night, and made tie-dyed T-shirts the next (for no fee)," reported a parent staying at Quechee State Park.
Tips from RVers
Site accessibility: Many campgrounds accommodate various RV sizes despite New England's typically tight spaces. At Crow's Nest Campground, a camper noted: "90% of the campers are RVs here. They have sites along the river and a more wooden tent area as well."
Hookup availability: Full-service sites remain limited. "The sites are super private, the rangers are friendly," mentioned one visitor about a state park, while another noted that Sandy Beach has "all the comforts of home" for Thousand Trails members.
Dump station locations: Position and access vary by campground. "Dump stations not in great locations," warned one RVer at Northstar Campground, suggesting campers should inquire about dump station access before arrival.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find campgrounds near New London?
Where can I find campgrounds near New London?
Several excellent campgrounds are located in the New London area. The Pastures Campground offers spacious lots with tables and fire rings in a charming setting with Vermont just across the river. Ayers Lake Farm Campground and Cottages provides beautiful views of a New Hampshire pond in a small, family-owned setting. Other nearby options include Northstar Campground near Newport and Crow's Nest Campground, which is big-rig friendly. Many campgrounds in the region are conveniently located near local attractions, making them ideal base camps for exploring New Hampshire's natural beauty.
What are the best times of year to camp in New London?
What are the best times of year to camp in New London?
The prime camping season in New London runs from late spring through early fall, with summer offering the warmest temperatures and full access to water activities. Bear Brook State Park Campground, New Hampshire's largest state park, is particularly popular during summer months when families can enjoy its trails, ponds, play structures, and beach areas. Greenfield State Park Campground is typically open from early spring but may have limited facilities early in the season. Fall brings spectacular foliage, cooler temperatures, and fewer crowds, making it ideal for hikers and those who prefer a quieter experience. Always check with specific campgrounds for their seasonal opening dates, as they vary.
What amenities are available at New London campgrounds?
What amenities are available at New London campgrounds?
New London area campgrounds offer a range of amenities to enhance your camping experience. Kampfires features an ice cream shop, mini golf, an amphitheater for summer concerts, dog park, and recreational activities including badminton, basketball, horseshoes, and shuffleboard. Woodmore Family Campground and RV Park is known for its cleanliness and friendly owners, with plenty of on-site activities. Many campgrounds in the region provide basic amenities like fire rings, picnic tables, and clean bathrooms, while others offer additional facilities such as laundry rooms, camp stores, showers, and access to swimming areas.
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