Pillsbury State Park Campground offers primitive camping with pit toilets and no showers. Sites are accessible by car, with space for one or two vehicles. Many campsites are situated on the lake, though none are very far from it. Remote sites unreachable by car are accessible by a short walk or boat. The park includes several ponds and wetlands, creating diverse habitats for wildlife including moose and loons.
What to Do
Paddle the lakes and ponds: Pillsbury State Park rents canoes and kayaks for exploring its small ponds. "Kayaking on May Pond and discovering little islands and coves was a highlight," notes Jessica N. about her stay at Pillsbury State Park Campground.
Hike connected trails: Access the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway directly from campsites at Mt. Ascutney. "There are great hikes that you can get to right from your campsite, connecting to the Monadnock-Sunapee greenway (a 48 mile trail connecting two of NHs beautiful mountains)," writes Matthew S. about Mount Ascutney State Park Campground.
Fish in stocked waters: Rand Pond at Tippicanoe Campground offers fishing opportunities. "Rand Pond is the body of water at the campground and is restricted to under 10 HP boats. It is stocked with rainbow trout by the State of NH and is a spring fed sandy bottom pond," explains David G. from his experience at Tippicanoe.
What Campers Like
Secluded waterfront sites: Riverside camping spots provide direct water access. "We spent one night at Site 11. Check in was simple and quick, Ranger was friendly and helpful. Our site was waterfront and shared a small beach/kayak launch with the neighboring site," says Jessica N. about her experience at Pillsbury State Park Campground.
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained bathrooms. "The bathroom is very clean. They offer showers that cost you a few quarters," notes Jan B. about her stay at Quechee State Park Campground. Another camper calls them "the nicest bathrooms I've seen in decades of camping."
Quiet atmosphere: Most campgrounds enforce noise regulations. "This campground was beautiful and very quiet even though it was full," reports Kaileigh K. about her experience at Wilgus State Park Campground, noting that "Wilgus state park has amazing campsites, very friendly staff, and great access to the Connecticut River."
What You Should Know
Payment requirements: Most campgrounds in this region require cash for onsite purchases. "Everything is cash here, no cards accepted except when reserving a site online," reports Brandon C. about Pillsbury State Park. Call ahead to confirm payment options.
Limited or no hookups: Many state parks have no electric, water, or sewer connections. "Pillsbury is called a 'primitive' campground which means no showers or electric hookups," explains Dog S. about Crow's Nest Campground, where sites along the river are available but "most sites do not have much privacy."
Highway noise: Some campgrounds experience traffic sounds from nearby roads. At Mt. Ascutney, "there is a bit of road noise from the campground, but it's pretty quiet at night," according to Tara S. Sites further from main roads generally offer more peace and quiet.
Tips for Camping with Families
Recreation options: Look for campgrounds with built-in activities. "Between the beach, the mini golf, playground, and an entire shed of recreation items available to use this place is amazing! Activities are scheduled throughout the season," writes J L. about Loon Lake Campground & Function Hall.
Swimming areas: Check water conditions before swimming. "There's nice little swimming area on the river for kids," notes Michele S. about Crow's Nest Campground. At Wilgus State Park, Kaileigh K. mentions "a great local pond for swimming that had dive docks, diving boards and lifeguards on duty that was less than 10 minutes away."
Pet considerations: Most campgrounds allow dogs but require leashes. "This whole entire excuse was ridiculous as one of my friends, who was coming back from the bathroom (which is about 50 feet), said that our music was barely noticeable and perfectly fine and reasonably within our site," reports Sedin H. about noise complaints at Northstar Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site sizing: Check site specifications before booking. "We had a spacious site w/water and electric next to the Sugar River. We enjoyed our time here and will definitely go back," shares Louise L. about Northstar Campground. Some areas have limitations - "They have no electricity so you have to be willing to rough it," notes Lisa P. about Pillsbury State Park.
Dump station locations: Plan for waste disposal needs. "Dump stations not in great locations though," mentions Camie S. about Northstar Campground, indicating potential maneuvering challenges.
Water and electric availability: Most state parks have limited hookups. Spacious Skies French Pond offers more amenities, though David S. reports, "We're on an extended trip and chose to stay here for the Memorial day weekend. The campground is advertised as having full hookups with Wi-fi and cable." Call ahead to confirm current services available at dog friendly campgrounds near New London.
