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The Newbury, New Hampshire region features several established campgrounds offering diverse experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. Pillsbury State Park Campground stands out as a more primitive option with tent and RV sites accessible by boat, drive-in, or walk-in methods. Approximately 15 miles west of Newbury, Newport hosts multiple developed campgrounds including Crow's Nest and Northstar Campground, which provide amenities ranging from basic tent sites to full-service RV hookups. Several campgrounds in the area also offer cabin rentals and glamping options for those seeking more comfortable accommodations.
Most campgrounds in the Newbury area operate seasonally from May through mid-October, with specific opening and closing dates varying by location. "Pillsbury is called a 'primitive' campground which means no showers or electric hookups. Most of the campsites are accessible by car with space to park a car or two at the campsite. Many campsites are on the lake," noted one visitor. Cell service can be limited at more remote locations like Pillsbury State Park, where Verizon users report spotty coverage. Campgrounds closer to Newport tend to offer more amenities including showers, flush toilets, and camp stores, while state park facilities typically provide more basic services with pit toilets and water spigots. Advance reservations are recommended, especially for weekend stays during peak summer months.
Waterfront access represents a significant draw for campers in the region. Pillsbury State Park features sites positioned around a scenic lake ideal for paddling, with canoe and kayak rentals available on-site. One camper described it as "a jewel! Quiet, beautiful small lake/pond great for paddling." Riverside sites at Crow's Nest and Northstar campgrounds offer another water-oriented experience, though several reviews mention these waterfront sites tend to have less privacy than wooded areas. Family-friendly amenities vary significantly between campgrounds, with more developed private campgrounds offering swimming pools, organized activities, and camp stores, while state park locations emphasize natural experiences with hiking trails, fishing opportunities, and connections to regional trail networks like the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway, a 51-mile trail linking Mount Monadnock with Mount Sunapee.
"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 Availability"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 Availability"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 Availabilityfrom $32 - $115 / night
Check Availability"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 Availabilityfrom $35 - $45 / night
Check Availability"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 Availability"We stayed with our parents in their camper for a couple nights and had such a positive experience there!"
"We stayed right next to a cute pond on site 69. There was a family with several smaller children who were fishing g the pond. It was so cute to hear them squeal with glee when they caught a fish."
from $30 - $45 / night
Check Availability
ScoutWe 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.
ScoutReally 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.
ScoutWhat 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.
ScoutWhere 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!
ScoutVery 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.
Scout⭐**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.**
GuideThe first time we stayed here, we were in a different site. It was fine, but not near the water. This time, we chose a site near the water, but it's literally surrounded by three other sites. It's not shown like that on the map. We had to drive through someone else's setup to get to our site. There's no privacy as there was in our previous site. This is one of the few state parks in Massachusetts with a dump station
ScoutCrow’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.
ScoutWe 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.
Camping near Newbury, New Hampshire often includes navigating forested sites and varying terrain around the Lake Sunapee region. The area sits at elevations ranging from 700-1,000 feet, contributing to temperature variations where summer nights can dip into the 50s even when days reach the 80s. Several campgrounds offer both waterfront access and inland wooded sites, with notable differences in price, privacy, and amenities.
Kayaking on quiet waterways: At Mount Ascutney State Park Campground, paddlers can access the Connecticut River. "The campground is lovely. Forest Ed and beautiful fall colors in October... There is a 3.7 mile road that is extremely steep but paved, and goes to the summit of the mountain," notes one visitor.
Trout fishing: Tippicanoe Campground provides direct access to a fish-stocked pond. "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 a camper.
Mountain biking: Several trail networks connect to camping areas. At Wilgus State Park Campground, "We loved walking the trail behind the campsites along the river to the beautiful vista views with a group with young kids, rented kayaks and fished from the boat launch."
Hiking to lookout points: Many camping areas connect to trail systems. One visitor to Mount Ascutney noted, "We hiked the Weathersfield Trail (2.9 miles from trailhead to summit). It was a challenge, but well worth it. There were several lookout points with spectacular views."
Riverside camping experiences: Crows Nest Campground offers sites along the water. A reviewer notes, "Mostly seasonals and RVs but there are some nice spots by the river. Most sites do not have much privacy, but the campground itself is very quiet and clean. Sites 66 & 55 seemed to be the most private."
Remote water access: Some campers appreciate more secluded water experiences. At Northstar Campground, one camper mentioned, "My husband and I spent Memorial Day weekend here. It was our first time camping here. We had a spacious site w/water and electric next to the Sugar River. We enjoyed our time here and will definitely go back."
Fall foliage viewing: The region transforms during autumn months. One visitor to Mount Ascutney State Park Campground recommended, "Go in early-mid October to enjoy the fall colors and to find more peace and quiet. A number of sites have lean-tos, as is northeast tradition."
Private sites in less developed areas: For those seeking seclusion, certain campgrounds offer better separation. "Due to the spacing between sites, and all the trees, it was quiet and peaceful. The campground couldn't have been more than a third full, but I bet it would still be quiet if it were more populated," noted one visitor at Mount Ascutney.
Varying bathroom facilities: Comfort stations range from rustic to modern. At Loon Lake Campground, visitors enjoy "the beach, the mini golf, playground, and an entire shed of recreation items available to use." Activities are scheduled throughout the season.
Road noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience traffic sounds. A Mount Ascutney visitor explained, "Like many of the other reviews, I cannot give this a 5 star rating solely for the fact of road noise. We were in site 27 and it was a beautiful site but the road noise from interstate 91 was extremely loud."
Seasonality affects availability: Most campgrounds in the region operate from May through mid-October. One camper at Wilgus State Park noted, "This campground was beautiful and very quiet even though it was full. Campsites are all large and flat, lean to's also have ample space for tents and the cabin sites are perfect."
Variable cell coverage: Connectivity depends on location and carrier. At Spacious Skies French Pond, a visitor mentioned, "What a wonderful time at sandys, would definitely stay again," suggesting the experience outweighs connectivity concerns.
Swimming options vary by location: Some ponds have limitations. As one Pillsbury camper noted, "Pit toilets, sites are spacious, cell reception for Verizon isn't great. There's boat rentals, fishing, remote sites. Swimming in the stream is safe but the lake is loaded with leeches!"
Consider alternative swimming areas: Local swimming holes provide better options. A Wilgus State Park visitor shared, "There is a great local pond for swimming that had dive docks, diving boards and lifeguards on duty that was less than 10 minutes away."
Pack for temperature fluctuations: Evening temperatures can drop significantly. A Spacious Skies French Pond visitor recommended, "I only stayed a few nights, but enjoyed it thoroughly. I had a view of the beautiful pond, which is really a lake, and wished I had more time to rent a kayak."
Book remote sites for more privacy: Choose campsites away from main areas. One camper at Pillsbury State Park commented, "I recently stayed at site 1A over the Memorial day weekend. After a very quick checkin at the Park office, I headed out to my site. The site features a 200ft(60yd) hike in on a rustic trail. At the end of the trail you are greeted with a nice private site."
Site selection is critical: Some campgrounds have limited large rig access. At Sandy Beach Campground, one RVer observed, "The campground is very friendly... a lot of seasonal folks. We had a nice corner site which fit our 34' rig just fine. The sandy beach is nice but the swimming area is quite weedy."
Reservation timing affects availability: Book early for premium sites. One RVer at Crows Nest Campground mentioned, "The site delivery of buckets and pallets of wood are a nice service. Owners are quite nice, I talked to them briefly."
Utility access varies widely: Not all campgrounds offer full hookups. A visitor to Spacious Skies French Pond explained, "Small but well organized campground. TT members will find all the comforts of home. Staff is pleasant and helpful. Quiet during the weekdays, picks up over weekends but not to overbearing."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Newbury, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, Newbury, NH offers a wide range of camping options, with 187 campgrounds and RV parks near Newbury, NH and 4 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Newbury, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Newbury, NH is Pillsbury State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 14 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Newbury, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 free dispersed camping spots near Newbury, NH.
What parks are near Newbury, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 parks near Newbury, NH that allow camping, notably Hopkinton-Everett Lake and North Hartland Lake.
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