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Pillsbury State Park Campground welcomes pets across its primitive campsites situated around May Pond, offering both drive-in and boat-in access for campers with dogs. Several pet-friendly campgrounds near Newbury provide accommodations ranging from basic tent sites to full-hookup RV spots at places like Crow's Nest Campground, where dogs are permitted in the riverside sites. Campers report sites are generally spacious enough to accommodate multiple tents and vehicles while still having room for pets to settle comfortably. Northstar Campground and Tippicanoe Campground also accept dogs, though campers should be aware that pet policies regarding quiet hours are strictly enforced. The campground area features numerous seasonal sites with long-term campers who return annually with their pets, creating established pet-friendly communities.
Dogs particularly enjoy the waterfront access at many campgrounds, with Pillsbury State Park offering excellent opportunities for pets to cool off during summer months. Leashed pets can accompany their owners on the network of hiking trails that connect to the 51-mile Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway, providing extensive exercise options for active dogs. The Sugar River Rail Trail near Crow's Nest Campground offers additional pet-friendly walking routes with level terrain suitable for all abilities. Owners should be prepared for primitive facilities at some locations, particularly Pillsbury where only pit toilets are available. Some campers note that swimming in certain lakes like Pillsbury's may not be advisable for dogs due to leeches, with streams offering safer alternatives. The campgrounds' wooded settings provide natural shade important for pets during hot weather, though owners should remain vigilant about wildlife encounters.
"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"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"Campground is nice, clean, has a pond, playground, pool, Canoeing, sites are decent size, entertainment on some nights offered in pavilion, friendly staff, pet friendly & quiet nights."
"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."
from $24 - $189 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $35 - $45 / night
Check Availability"Close to the Sugar River Rail trail for biking. Definitely not a wilderness experience, but pleasant."
from $32 - $115 / 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"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."
GuideAdorable little camp! In New Hampshire; Vermont is across the river on the north side of the property. Nice bathroom, showers, laundry room, library. Spacious lots with tables and fire rings. Some long time campers are set up.
RangerThis place is pretty awesome. They have an ice cream shop attached to their office/store, mini golf just outside of it too. There is an amphitheater for concerts and shows throughout the summer. RV Spots, tent camping spots, a dog park, badminton, basketball, horseshoe, shuffleboard, the works. The bathrooms are beautifully redone and clean. The laundry room is pretty good too. Its close to Brattleboro and Putney and just across the border to New Hampshire. I'd most definitely stay again when I'm in the area. The other guest were very nice and we could also have packages delivered.
ScoutPros- very clean, bathrooms kept up with regularly. Staff is very nice. They offer boat rentals, canoes, paddle boats and kayaks. Store on site and they do activities during the week. Definitely more kids friendly I think. They do have a pool, park, dog park, lake and food trucks visits at times. They have community fires and dances. Pet friendly. Wood available on site.
Cons- loud cars going all night, some lights in your face. Some people tend to fly down the road on golf carts. You can also hear the main road from the open style campsite. No privacy. People will walk threw your tent site. They will talk during the night while doing this, smoking seems to be allowed at pool. No fires between 9am-5pm.
Overall we had a good time.
GuideTucked away in what feels like the middle of nowhere New Hampshire is it's largest state park. Bear Brook is full of trails, ponds and a fairly large campground. This extremely family-friendly campground comes equip with trails, play structures, camp store, beach, and even a small baseball diamond. The sites are fairly large and if you need some privacy, reserve site 12. There is a great trail that is around Beaver Pond, roughly 2-3 miles with plenty of opportunities for dogs to swim, yeah for dog friendly! This campground is beautiful, quiet in places and has everything you need for a great weekend away!
LegendMy first time experiencing a park in the New Hampshire Park system. We went down with a group. Pawtuckaway State Park offers a variety of landscapes, with something to do and see for everyone. The park includes a large family beach on the lake. There are many opportunities for hiking, with trails leading to many special points of interest, including a mountaintop fire tower; an extensive marsh where beavers, deer, and great blue herons may be seen.
The park lines the shore of beautiful Pawtuckaway Lake. The 192 sites are wooded and many provide views of the lake. Each campsite has an open fire ring, picnic table, flat areas for a tent, and a parking space. The bathhouses are equipped with running water, flush toilets, and 24 hour showers. There are no hook-ups at any of the campsites. The park also has a camp store where canoe and kayaks are available, as well as a plublic canoe and kayak launch. Five cabins are available; each sleeps six people, has electricity, and includes a fire ring and picnic table. Pets are not allowed in the campground or beach area of the park.
TravelerLarge campsites, clean amenities, nice dog park, great store with everything you need and located near like Winni.
TravelerPillsbury is called a 'primitive' campground which means no showers or electric hookups.
Most of the campsites are accessable by car with space to park a car or two at the campsite. 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.
There is at least one handicap accessible site, which I have used, near the toilet facilities. It provides a good sized very level area to set up a tent and park your car. There may be other handicap sites. I have only used this one and never checked for others.
Note: Not all New Hampshire State Parks are dog friendly. If you have a dog check which parks are as part of your trip planning.
This web page says this about Pillsbury.
Pillsbury State Park is one of the more primitive and lesser known gems of the New Hampshire State Park system. Heavily wooded and sprinkled with several ponds and wetlands, its diversity of habitats makes it home to a great variety of wildlife, including moose and loons. Canoe and kayak rentals are available. Crossed by a network of hiking and mountain bike trails, the park is an important link in the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway, a 51-mile hiking trail that connects Mount Monadnock with Mount Sunapee to the north.
Pillsbury State Park
100 Pillsbury State Park Rd
Washington, Nh 03280
Phone: 603-863-2860
ScoutTully Lake Campground is located in Royalston, MA, which is a northern part of Central Massachusetts, near the New Hampshire border. It is a State managed campground, and reservations must be made through Massachusetts Trustees of Reservations. There are some prime camp sites with direct access to the lake, but suggest you be prepared to call early in the morning of the first day State Campground reservations can be made, if you want one of these!
This is a "Carry In" campground. You park at the entrance, register with Ranger. Large wooden wheelbarrows are provided to bring your gear to your camp site. (This means no noise or disturbances from cars entering your camp sites.) There are individual sites, and 2 group sites, if you are camping with a group. Canoes are available to rent to explore Tully Lake. Most parts of the lake are suitable for swimming, and some camp sites offer direct entry into the lake for swimming, canoeing, or kayaking. If you'd like to hike with children, there is an easy hike close to the entrance, along Doane's Falls, a series of 5 waterfalls along an ascending path through a wooded area. The views are beautiful, and it's not unusual to spot professional nature photographers at various points along the waterfalls. Bring your cameras or smart phones to capture some of these breathtaking views! And of course there are longer, more challenging trails for more experienced hikers. There are family oriented programs offered, and dogs are allowed, on leash only. Cell service is spotty to non-existent for some providers within the campground. But a short walk or drive away from the campground you can get connected again.
The bathrooms are located near the entrance to the Park, and include flush toilets as well as coin operated, hot showers, open 24/7. There are sinks beside the building, where campers are asked to wash their dishes, rather than at the camp site. A fire ring and picnic table are provided at each camp site. If you've forgotten any gear or need groceries, there's a Walmart just a 15 minute drive away, open until 12 midnight.
The staff are quite friendly, helpful and informative. If you enjoy "old fashioned" family tent camping, without the noise and presence of cars and RV's near your camp site, (or cell phones!) this is the place for you. Enjoy!
GuideFairly extensive camp ground associated with Gunstock ski area on central New Hampshire. We arrived without a reservation a bit after the office closed, but Elena, the manager came out to let us in and allowed us to check in. She was great. Dogs must have proof of rabies vaccine. Very nice showers. Beautiful fall colors.
Camping options near Newbury, New Hampshire sit at elevations ranging from 800 to 1,500 feet in the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee region. The area receives approximately 37 inches of rainfall annually, creating lush forested campsites during summer months when temperatures typically range from 60-85°F. Most campgrounds in this region operate from May through mid-October with varying levels of accessibility for pets.
Paddle the Connecticut River: Wilgus State Park Campground offers excellent kayaking opportunities just 30 minutes from Newbury. "Kayaking on the river is the big draw, which is a great place to be on a hot day," notes Susan E. The park provides canoe and kayak rentals, with a shuttle service available on select days to transport campers upstream for float trips back to the campground.
Mountain biking: The Mount Ascutney State Park Campground maintains a 3-mile beginner-friendly trail loop accessible directly from the campground. Additional trails at the nearby Mount Ascutney Outdoor Center offer more challenging terrain. One visitor shared: "The mountain biking trails are awesome and the hiking is fantastic! We stayed for 3 nights but next time we will stay longer as there is much to do in the area."
Fishing: Campsites near stocked fishing waters provide opportunities for anglers. "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," explains a visitor to Tippicanoe Campground. Many campers bring their own gear, though some campgrounds offer equipment rentals or bait sales at camp stores.
Privacy between sites: The layout at many campgrounds allows for secluded camping experiences. At Pillsbury State Park Campground, "Sites are a little bit close, but feel much more private thanks to the trees," according to Jessica N. This natural screening creates peaceful camping environments even when facilities are at capacity.
Boat-in campsites: Unique camping options include remote water-access sites at several parks. "There are also a few 'remote' campsites that are not accessible by car. They are accessible by a short walk or boat," describes one Pillsbury State Park visitor. These sites typically require additional planning but offer increased seclusion and direct water access.
Clean facilities: Despite rustic settings, campers frequently note well-maintained amenities. "The grounds and facilities are immaculate," writes Susan E. about Wilgus State Park. Similarly, at Crow's Nest Campground, visitors appreciate "nice, quiet, shaded riverside sites" with regular maintenance, though some note certain facilities need updating.
Limited cell coverage: Service varies significantly between campgrounds. At Northstar Campground, visitors report reasonable connectivity, while at Pillsbury State Park, "cell reception for Verizon isn't great," though some sites provide limited service. Brandon C. notes, "Campsites have cell service," but coverage may be carrier-specific and spotty.
Primitive facilities: Many campgrounds feature basic amenities. "Pillsbury State Park is called a 'primitive' campground which means no showers or electric hookups," explains one reviewer. Some locations offer only pit toilets rather than flush facilities, and shower availability varies widely—ranging from coin-operated ($0.25-$1.00 for 8-10 minutes) to none at all.
Quiet hours enforcement: Campground rules about noise levels are taken seriously. At Northstar Campground, one camper reported staff approached them about noise "despite it being approximately an hour and a half before the official quiet hours, which begin at 11:00 PM." Families with energetic children should be mindful of other campers, especially at locations with many seasonal residents.
Playground access: Sandy Beach Campground provides recreation facilities for children. "Playground is on the beach," notes a visitor, making it convenient for parents to supervise children while enjoying the waterfront. The campground also offers various scheduled activities during peak season.
Swimming options: Water quality varies between locations. At Pillsbury State Park, one camper advises: "Swimming in the stream is safe but the lake is loaded with leeches!" Families may prefer locations with monitored swimming areas or clear stream access points away from weedy shorelines.
Book sharing: Some campgrounds maintain lending libraries. Mount Ascutney offers "a little library book case with books for campers to borrow," a thoughtful touch for rainy days or quiet evening activities. Families can bring along books to contribute to these collections for other campers to enjoy.
Site sizing: Many campgrounds have limitations for larger rigs. At Spacious Skies French Pond, one camper noted: "We were at the end of a lane, backing in was fine we are small, 21 feet including tongue, we fit fine." Always verify maximum length accommodations when booking, as many older New England campgrounds have narrow access roads and smaller sites.
Utility reliability: Water and electric services can experience interruptions. One long-term camper at Spacious Skies French Pond reported: "In the 4 months of staying here...there have been numerous problems with the sewer issues as well as a water issue that took days to fix with almost 0 info coming from the office." RVers should arrive with tanks filled and batteries charged as a precaution.
Seasonal site options: Many campgrounds in the region have established seasonal camping communities. Sites with full hookups are often occupied by long-term guests who return annually, limiting availability for short-term visitors, especially during peak periods and holiday weekends. Reservations 6-12 months in advance are recommended for prime summer dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Newbury, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Newbury, NH is Pillsbury State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 14 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Newbury, NH?
TheDyrt.com has all 142 dog-friendly camping locations near Newbury, NH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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