Glamping near Newington, New Hampshire sits within the Seacoast Region, characterized by tidal rivers, salt marshes, and pine forests at elevations generally below 100 feet. The camping season typically runs from May through mid-October, with July and August temperatures averaging 70-85°F during the day. Weekend availability at premium locations requires booking 3-6 months in advance, especially for waterfront sites.
What to do
Pond activities: At Pawtuckaway State Park Campground, water-based recreation dominates the experience. "This a a fantastic little camp for if you want to go canoeing or kayaking or boating of any kind! It's set up of three islands and a large majority of the campsites are right on the water," explains Matt R. The pond offers fishing opportunities, with waterfront sites providing easy access. "The sites on the water book up quickly but they're perfect for fishing and boating. Also, the view!" notes J L.
Mountain biking: Bear Brook State Park offers extensive trail systems that connect directly to camping areas. "Mountain biking is awesome here, can ride right off the campground and onto the trails!" says Kimberly R. The park maintains numerous trails of varying difficulty levels, making it suitable for beginners and experienced riders alike. The trails wind through 10,000 acres of forested land with varied terrain.
Beach excursions: With the Atlantic coast just minutes away, many glampers combine forest accommodations with beach day trips. "It's a nice no frills campground... The location is great being 10 minutes or so from Hampton beach. Lots of little farms in the area too," shares Kris S. from Wakeda Campground. York Beach is another popular destination, where visitors can "walk down for sunset and sunrise each day," according to Katie R.
What campers like
Privacy options: Sea Coast Camping and RV Resort offers varying levels of seclusion depending on your needs. "This is one of the cleanest, most meticulously maintained campground we have been to. So quiet and peaceful as well. Wifi service was excellent," notes Rebecca S. Some sites offer more privacy than others, as Joe B. mentions: "Very nice campground. Smaller sites and they are not very private. Overall a very nice campground tho."
Waterfront sites: Many campers value the premium waterfront locations at various parks. At Bear Brook State Park Campground, "There are some spectacular views of the lake and mountains from many sites," according to Kris M. Site selection matters significantly for those seeking water views, with knowledgeable campers recommending research: "If you plan ahead and get a water front site it's amazing... but all the sites are roomy and lovely to camp at!" shares Erin W.
Camp store conveniences: The ability to purchase essentials on-site ranks highly in camper satisfaction. "The camp store is well stocked. You can rent kayaks here," Susan B. comments about Pawtuckaway State Park. Some stores offer more than basics, with Bear Brook featuring "a nice stretch of sandy beach at the campground as well as canoes and kayaks for rent. The convenience store at the campground had essentially everything you would need for a good camping trip," according to Anna C.
What you should know
Site variations: Tuxbury Pond RV Campground exemplifies the diverse site options in the region. "Our site (#124) was one of the new sites which they had just completed. It was a gravel back-in which was plenty long and level. They recently seeded the area so new grass was starting to grow," explains Nancy W. She adds, "The roads in the park are fairly narrow and we had to drive over the grass across from our site in order to back in."
Bathroom facilities: Expect variation in bathroom and shower quality across campgrounds. "The bathrooms were a little dirty, but not awful, and we didn't read well that the place doesn't have a grill for cooking, just the fire ring," reports Ana about Tuxbury Pond. At Dixons, "The grounds, bathrooms and showers are spotless. It's 50 cents for 5 minutes to take a shower (unheard of) with hot water," explains Katrina M.
Weather considerations: The Newington area can experience significant rain, especially in spring and fall. "We were hit with a an unexpected 36 hour downpour and there was only one suitable spot for our tent since the terrain is very rocky. After a few hours of constant rain I realized the water runoff from the road above and the driveway all ended up flowing right under our tent into the lake," recalls Ellen C. about Pawtuckaway State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Playground accessibility: Choose sites strategically based on proximity to play areas. "It's across the street from the playground. I'd avoid site 93 because it is so close to the playground and the fire ring placement makes it seem like families enjoying the playground will be tempted to walk through your site," advises Jean C. at Bear Brook State Park. She suggests, "If you want to be close to the play area, site 90 or the ones on the loop behind it are better options."
Activity variety: Salmon Falls / Lebanon KOA offers numerous options for different age groups. "This Campground is family friendly and has a lot to offer. Our camping group consisted of children from the ages of 8-17 yrs old. No one was bored," shares J B. The facilities include "tubing, cornhole, arcade, pools with slide and more," according to Ben M., who adds, "I would recommend this campground to my friends and family and will come back."
Weekend entertainment: Many campgrounds schedule activities on weekends only, contrary to some website claims. At Winding River Campground, "Planned activities were only scheduled for Friday and Saturday, when online mentions 'daily'," notes Cassie G. However, she adds that they had "great events like foam parties, DJ at the pool, pancake breakfast and live music to name a few. Staff were friendly and helpful."
Tips from RVers
Hookup reliability: Wakeda Campground receives consistently positive reviews for infrastructure. "Great employees, clean reliable power. No issues great spread out sites," Zachary W. confirms. Similarly, at Sea Coast Camping, "No issues with electric, sewer or water hookups. Some of the best clear, clean, drinking water at high pressure we have come across," reports Chuck H.
Site selection challenges: Larger rigs require careful planning in this region. Nancy W. explains about Tuxbury Pond: "The park recently added new 50-amp full hook-up sites (some of which are pull-thrus) so there are plenty of options for big-rigs. Half of the park is seasonal campers (which is a lot more cramped and more junked up) and the other half is for transients."
Seasonal considerations: Most luxury glamping options near Newington operate within specific date ranges. "This campground is top-notch. The wifi worked perfectly for steaming tv despite the campground being fully booked for Memorial Day weekend," notes Jeff P. about Sea Coast Camping. Most campgrounds in the area operate from May through mid-October, with peak rates during July and August.
