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.
What to do
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."
What campers like
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.
What you should know
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.
Tips for camping with families
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."
Tips from RVers
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."
