Newbury sits at 866 feet elevation in the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee region, with camping options along the 9-mile Baker River providing prime access to water activities. Summer temperatures average 70-85°F during peak camping season from May through October. Winter temperatures drop below freezing, making most campgrounds seasonal operations except for specialized yurt accommodations.
What to do
**Water activities at Loon Lake: Access to a beach area with opportunities for swimming, fishing, and boating. Loon Lake Campground has a well-maintained swimming area. "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," reports J L.
**Hiking on rail trails: Explore the Sugar River Rail Trail located near Newport. Campers at Crow's Nest Campground find this nearby trail perfect for biking adventures. "Close to the Sugar River Rail trail for biking. Definitely not a wilderness experience, but pleasant," mentions Michele S.
**Visit Quechee Gorge: Located approximately 30 minutes from Newbury, this natural attraction features hiking trails leading to the bottom of the gorge. "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," notes Chris A.
What campers like
**Private riverside sites: Campsites with direct river access for swimming and relaxation. At Crows Nest Campground, "This campground has nice, quiet, shaded riverside sites and other sites options as well. Pallets of firewood are delivered to your site and reasonably priced. Nice pool," according to Brenda H.
**Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathroom facilities are consistently mentioned as a highlight. "The bathhouses are probably the best maintained of any campground I've stayed at. They're cleaned multiple time a day," writes Daniel J. about Autumn Hills Campground.
**Multiple swimming options: Many campgrounds offer both pool and natural water access. "There is a nice little swimming area on the river for kids," reports Michele S. about the river access at Crow's Nest Campground, complementing the pool facilities.
What you should know
**Site privacy varies significantly: Some campsites offer seclusion while others place you close to neighbors. At Autumn Hills Campground, "Situated primarily on a hillside, some of the sites are tricky to navigate with a camper, but it also minimizes the amount of neighbors you have if you are looking to have some quiet time," explains Rebecca N.
**Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds in the Newbury area operate from May through October. Quechee State Park Campground specifically notes their season runs "May 19 to October 16."
**Yurt camping options: Yurt accommodations near Newbury, New Hampshire provide solid shelter with more amenities than tent camping. Several campgrounds like Crow's Nest offer yurt options that provide additional comfort during shoulder seasons.
Tips for camping with families
**Look for organized activities: Campgrounds with scheduled events keep children engaged. "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)," shares Jen B. about Quechee State Park Campground.
**Consider multiple pool options: Facilities with dedicated children's swimming areas provide safer experiences. "They have 3 outdoor pools(sports,toddler,regular) plus an indoor pool for rainy or chilly days. They also have crafts, hayrides and games,playground and other events," describes Kate C. about Friendly Beaver Campground.
**Look for animal interactions: Some campgrounds offer small petting zoos or animal viewing areas. Friendly Beaver Campground includes "a few goats and a horse" that campers report enjoying, especially those with children.
Tips from RVers
**Check site dimensions carefully: Many campgrounds have tight sites that challenge larger rigs. "Sites are very small, and extremely close together. My 28 foot travel trailer barely fit into the site," warns Taylor H. about some accommodations.
**Full hookup availability: Several campgrounds offer complete RV hookups including 50-amp service. Cold Springs Camp Resort provides "clean, flat sites, easy to navigate and get our fifth wheel in," according to Sheila C., who adds "the facilities are spotless."
**Check dump station locations: Some campgrounds without sewer hookups provide central dump stations. "There are plenty of fresh water spigots and a spacious dump site if needed," notes Chris A. about Quechee State Park Campground, which doesn't offer full hookups at individual sites.
