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Newport, New Hampshire provides a range of campground options along the Sugar River and surrounding woodlands. Crows Nest Campground and Northstar Campground offer developed facilities within close proximity to town, while Pillsbury State Park Campground provides more primitive experiences approximately 15 miles east. The camping landscape includes accommodations for tent camping, RV sites with hookups, and limited cabin rentals. Several campgrounds feature riverfront sites, particularly along the Sugar River, which serves as a focal point for recreation and scenic camping locations.
Camping season in the Newport region typically runs from mid-May through mid-October, with most campgrounds closing after Columbus Day weekend. Many sites require advance reservations during peak summer months, particularly for waterfront locations. Access to most developed campgrounds involves paved roads suitable for passenger vehicles and RVs, while Pillsbury State Park features more rustic conditions. One visitor noted, "Pillsbury is called a 'primitive' campground which means no showers or electric hookups," highlighting the park's more basic amenities. Cell phone coverage can be limited at more remote locations, especially at Pillsbury State Park where only certain campsites might receive minimal service.
Waterfront camping represents a significant draw throughout the region, with several campgrounds offering direct access to rivers, ponds, and lakes. The Sugar River provides swimming and fishing opportunities at both Crows Nest and Northstar campgrounds. A camper wrote, "We had a spacious site with water and electric next to the Sugar River," indicating the popularity of these riverside locations. Pillsbury State Park features multiple ponds ideal for paddling, with boat-in campsites available on small islands. Privacy between campsites varies considerably across the region's campgrounds, with more separation typically found at state park locations compared to privately-operated RV parks. Sites in wooded areas provide shade during summer months, while open areas may offer better views but less protection from sun and rain.
"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"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 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 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."
"Got there close to the time the rangers left for the night, Nick was really kind to make sure I got situated before he left."
"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."
from $38 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $32 - $115 / night
Check Availability"We are a family of five with a pop up pull behind and the Glamping lifestyle is a little bit easier on us these days ."
"There are a few trails around the campground and it is close to Mt Ascutney which if you are feeling a bit lazy there is an auto rd that goes about 3/4 of the way up. 3 mi."
from $26 - $36 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $35 - $45 / night
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TravelerThis is a good spot if you don’t mind being social. The main camping area is a large grassy opening where multiple people park and camp together, and there is a bathroom, but there isn’t much privacy between sites. If you continue farther down the forest road, there are several smaller pull-offs with much more private dispersed camping spots. I’d recommend checking those out if you’re looking for a quieter experience.
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.**
TravelerGreat little dispersed camping area off Forest Road 71 in West Dover, Vermont. Once you get onto the forest service road, everything is gravel/dirt, with several small pull-offs and primitive campsites scattered along the road. Some sites are only a few feet from the road, while others are tucked back around 100 feet and offer a little more privacy.
The individual pull-offs can be a little more challenging to reach. Most involve some combination of hills, rocks, ruts, and mud, although nothing was too crazy. Some spots are definitely easier to get into than others, so having a vehicle with decent ground clearance is helpful.
There was a decent amount of traffic passing through the area while we were there, but nothing too crazy or disruptive. The campsite we stayed at had a fire pit, but there was no running water at our site, and I don’t believe the other dispersed sites have running water either.
Overall, a pretty good option if you’re looking for a primitive, low-key camping spot with multiple sites to choose from. Just don’t expect complete solitude, especially during busier times.
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.
Camping near Newport, New Hampshire takes advantage of the region's diverse terrain at 800-900 feet above sea level. The area features multiple ponds and waterways for paddling and fishing, with camping season extending from early May through mid-October. Overnight temperatures can drop significantly even in summer, with typical lows in the 50s requiring adequate sleeping gear.
Paddling opportunities: Pillsbury State Park offers excellent kayaking and canoeing on multiple small ponds. "Kayaking on May Pond and discovering little islands and coves was a highlight," notes Jessica N. from Pillsbury State Park Campground. Canoe and kayak rentals are available on-site.
River activities: The Connecticut River provides additional water recreation from Wilgus State Park in nearby Springfield, Vermont. Visitors can "rent kayaks and fish from the boat launch," according to Kaileigh K. The campground offers a trail along the river with "beautiful vista views" suitable for families with young children.
Hiking connections: The Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway passes through the region, connecting to major hiking networks. "There are great hikes that you can get to right from your campsite, connecting to the Monadnock-Sunapee greenway (a 48 mile trail connecting two of NH's beautiful mountains)," shares Matthew S. from Pillsbury State Park.
Mountain exploration: Mount Ascutney offers both hiking challenges and driving options about 30 minutes from Newport. A visitor to Mount Ascutney State Park Campground mentions, "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."
Remote campsites: Pillsbury State Park offers remote sites accessible only by walking or paddling. Richard M. describes his experience: "Site 1A features a 200ft (60yd) hike in on a rustic trail. At the end of the trail you are greeted with a nice private site, and an equally spectacular view of the Vickery Pond."
Riverside locations: Campgrounds along the Sugar River and Connecticut River are popular for their water access. At Northstar Campground, Louise L. enjoyed "a spacious site w/water and electric next to the Sugar River," noting that she "will definitely go back."
Wooded seclusion: Tree Farm Campground near Springfield offers sites with natural separation. A camper reports, "Spacious, wooded sites, super clean...friendly, helpful owners and gorgeous setting!" The campground also features trails with "a pond, waterfalls, and streams."
Clean facilities: Vermont state parks are known for their maintenance standards. At Quechee State Park Campground, one camper called it "might be the nicest bathrooms I've seen in decades of camping," while another noted that "bathrooms are immaculate with coin (quarters) operated showers."
Primitive conditions: Pillsbury State Park lacks modern amenities. Lisa P. explains, "They have no electricity so you have to be willing to rough it. It is a great campground to get away from the city. Be prepared to not have much cell phone service either."
Cell coverage limitations: Service varies widely by location and carrier. Brandon C. reports, "Cell reception for Verizon isn't great" at Pillsbury, while another camper specifies, "If you have Verizon and you're at campsite 34 you can get a little service."
Seasonal considerations: Most campgrounds close by mid-October, with Wilgus State Park being notable for opening earlier than others, "well before Memorial Day each year." Wilgus offers cabins for those wanting to camp in early May "while it's still pretty cold."
Cash requirements: Some campgrounds have limited payment options. Brandon C. notes, "Everything is cash here, no cards accepted except when reserving a site online."
Swimming options: While some ponds have water quality issues, alternatives exist. J.L. warns about Pillsbury: "Swimming in the stream is safe but the lake is loaded with leeches!" Families staying at Tree Farm Campground recommend "finding the awesome swimming hole at Buttermere falls next to Okemo."
Ranger programs: Some campgrounds offer organized activities for children. At Quechee State Park, "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)."
Recreation amenities: Campgrounds vary widely in their offerings. Loon Lake Campground provides extensive recreation options with "the beach, the mini golf, playground, and an entire shed of recreation items available to use," according to J.L., who adds that "activities are scheduled throughout the season."
Noise considerations: Road noise affects some campgrounds more than others. A camper at Mount Ascutney notes, "We were in site 27 and it was a beautiful site but the road noise from interstate 91 was extremely loud," recommending the tent-only loop (sites 19-24) where "the road noise is considerably less."
Site selection: Seasonal campers often claim the most desirable sites. A visitor to Tree Farm Campground notes, "Nicest sites are taken by seasonal. Sewer and water hookups. Safari field isn't nice, they crowd you in."
Dump station locations: Consider the placement of facilities when selecting a site. A camper at Northstar Campground mentioned, "Dump stations not in great locations," suggesting this could affect convenience during your stay.
Hookup availability: State parks generally lack electrical and sewer connections. At Mount Ascutney, a review specifies, "No Electric or hookups," while advising site 11 or the Birch lean-to as "the 2 most spacious and/or secluded sites."
Campground capacity: Small campgrounds fill quickly in peak season. Quechee State Park can "accommodate big rigs rather well" despite being compact, with a camper observing, "We have seen all shapes and sizes come and go."
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find campsites near Newport?
The Newport area offers several excellent camping options. The Pastures Campground is an adorable little camp situated right on the Vermont-New Hampshire border with spacious lots featuring tables and fire rings. It offers amenities like bathrooms, showers, and laundry facilities. For those seeking a more primitive experience, Pillsbury State Park Campground provides lakeside sites without showers or electric hookups. Most campsites are accessible by car with parking space, and many are situated right on the lake.
What is the best time of year to go camping in Newport?
The best time to camp near Newport is typically summer through early fall (June to October). Bear Brook State Park Campground, New Hampshire's largest state park, offers an excellent summer experience with trails, ponds, play structures, and a beach. For early season camping, Greenfield State Park Campground provides relatively secluded RV sites in a wooded area, though facilities may be limited early in the season. Fall brings spectacular foliage colors, while spring can be muddy with unpredictable weather. Winter camping is available at some locations but requires proper cold-weather gear.
What are the most popular campgrounds in Newport?
Among the most popular campgrounds near Newport is Kampfires, which features an ice cream shop, mini golf, and an amphitheater for summer concerts. It offers both RV and tent camping along with numerous activities including badminton, basketball, horseshoe, and shuffleboard. Woodmore Family Campground and RV Park is another favorite, known for its friendly owners, clean facilities, and abundant activities. The campground has clear rules but maintains a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere that keeps campers coming back.
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