293 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping near North Conway, New Hampshire spans from developed campgrounds to free dispersed sites, all within a 30-minute drive. Campgrounds like Dry River in Crawford Notch State Park and Jigger Johnson along the Kancamagus Highway provide developed sites with amenities such as showers, picnic tables, and fire rings. For those seeking more rustic experiences, Town Hall Road offers free dispersed camping with minimal facilities but greater privacy. Family-friendly options include Eastern Slope Camping Area and Saco River Camping Area, both providing river access and proximity to town conveniences while maintaining a woodland setting.
Most campgrounds in the North Conway area operate seasonally from mid-May through mid-October, with a few extending into early December. Reservations are strongly recommended during summer weekends and fall foliage season when sites fill quickly. As one camper noted, "Jigger Johnson is one of those great sites that has close proximity to plenty of hiking, exploring, swimming and isn't too far from the hustle and bustle of North Conway." Weather conditions can change rapidly in the White Mountains, with afternoon thunderstorms common in summer months. Cell service varies significantly between campgrounds, with better coverage at sites closer to town and limited or no service along the Kancamagus Highway and in more remote areas.
Proximity to water features ranks high in camper satisfaction across the region. Sites along the Saco River are particularly popular for their swimming and tubing opportunities. "The Swift River and Lower Falls is great on a hot day," reports one regular visitor to Blackberry Crossing. Noise considerations vary by location, with campgrounds near highways occasionally experiencing traffic sounds. Several reviewers recommend requesting sites farther from main roads when possible. Bear activity is present throughout the region, requiring proper food storage at all campgrounds. The North Conway camping area provides ideal access to outdoor recreation opportunities, including hiking to nearby peaks like Mount Washington, visiting attractions such as Story Land, and exploring the scenic Kancamagus Highway, particularly beautiful during fall foliage.
"Awesome boondocking in New Hampshire, what a treat in the east coast! Just beautiful scenery, with trees, rivers, creeks, hiking trails with a pond- we absolutely loved our time here. "
"There were plenty of sites to choose from and most (not all) had access to the river as well as a fire ring. Sites were on a dirt road, but it was quiet for the most part."
"Cool location right on the edge of the Dry River Wilderness. Great Basecamp for lots of hikes in the area. Some spots are right on the highway with not much tree cover in between so can be loud."
"This state park campground located between Rte 302 and the Dry River in Crawford Notch is a great location for exploring family friendly trails to (Sawyer Pond, Arethusa Falls, Willard Cliffs to name a"
from $35 - $40 / night
Check Availability"Great location with easy ride to all North Conway attractions. Nice hay ride and playground. The beach is sandy and lots of room to spread out. We visited Story Land and Mt."
"A large wooden shelter stood over our picnic table, with a decent amount of space next to it for tents or a small camper."
"Located between the Ellis River and the Saco River, this campground offers so many fantastic amenities."
"Plenty to do at the campground and around the surrounding area for people
of all ages.
Remember you are in the mountains... you will see wildlife."
"He absolutely loved it and there was plenty of space in the tent site for him to roam around."
"Our site was spacious and backed up to a little ravine so it was fairly private even though it was right next to the bathrooms (also convenient). We weren’t far from a hand pump water spigot, either."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"White Lake has large sites, a gorgeous lake with a pair of resident loons, and proximity to the White Mountains National Forest (hiking galore, river, history), the Saco River (tubing, etc.), and Conway"
"Last weekend, our family stayed at White Lake State Park for four days."
from $35 - $105 / night
Check Availability"Our site was big and walking around the grounds the other sites appeared to all be pretty good sized as well. They are not lying when they call their sites secluded either!"
"Cabins and RV sites with hookups are closer yo the entrance, store and road. That latter feature is a bit if a bummer bc the noise from cars and trucks zipping by on route 302 is loud."
from $25 / night
Check Availability"They have bike rentals, disc golf, ping pong table, outside big chess game, pool, outlet shopping was near by, near by historic sites, like kangamangus Highway, diana’s Bath, cathedral ledge, we went"
"People to our left and the ones behind us were annual vistors to this campground. We are new to Rving it was refreshing to be around such nice people."
"Easy to find, close to the action of Conway/North Conway, hiking trails straight out of the campground, and spacious campsites all make this a great place to stay for a few days."
"White Ledge Campground is in the White Mountain National Forest and should not be confused with nearby White Lake State Park."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"Located on the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire, Jigger Johnson is one of those great sites that has close proximity to plenty of hiking, exploring, swimming and isn't too far from the hustle and bustle"
"Jigger Johnson is a first-come, first serve campground on the Conway (eastern) end of the Kancamagus highway, not far from Passaconaway Campground to the west and Bear Notch Rd to the east."
from $24 / night
Check Availability
TravelerNo toilet, no showers, no Wi-Fi, no electricity Love it I’ve been primitive camping since before I could walk and def glad this app exist
First use of the app and found the perfect spot away from my friends Airbnb and still close enough to go hangout with them. The site is the perfect size for a single or couple and it gives off the right kind of privacy
Thanks Dyrt
ScoutWent on a weekend and it was still very peaceful! Lots to do on such a beautiful back road. We stayed at two different sites each night we were there and both were equally beautiful and peaceful
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.**
TravelerPros: We have the p lube nearly to ourselves, thus it was very similar to dispersed camping. Nice little campground with two small ponds (One for fishing, the other for swimming). Nothing very remarkable, though.
Cons: As others have mentioned, if you want flush toilets and pay showers, you have to either stay at the more crowded, larger loop or walk across the highway to get to those amenities.
ScoutWe just came back from a big family weekend there. We had 5 sites with 19 people(including children). This is by far the most rundown campground I've stayed! Only 1 bathroom facility was functioning. Of the 3 times I tried taking a shower, I only succeeded 1 time. The other 2 times(once at night and once the following morning at 6am) I only got drops coming out of the hot and cold faucets. I tried the only 2 stalls. Speaking of bathrooms...these have not been updated since the 60s-early 70s when I was camping with the same style bathroom facilities. The children's playground should be condemned!!! At least 25% of the wood is rotted. Some steps are missing from ladders. My granddaughter was swinging in the childs swing, the bottom unlatched and she fell through the bottom. If she wasn't monkey like in holding on she would have done a face plant to the ground. After looking at the swing, I found the plastic latch broken! 2 positives: the campsites are very nice! and the beach is great! Bottom line, these owners are not putting any money back into the campground and it's facilities. They are running it into the ground. I won't be coming back again!
TravelerIt was everything we were looking for, right on the river, quiet and clean, the section we stayed in was all tent camping so we weren’t sandwiched in between a bunch of RVs blocking the view. There was no lights, generators or loud music. Alcohol wasn’t permitted so that really cuts down on a lot of unnecessary nonsense. Pets are permitted and our dog loved it. It was very pleasant and relaxing. Can’t wait to go back.
TravelerStayed 8 nights with complete solitude. Bugs weren't too bad. There were plenty of dead birch trees and beech trees for firewood. Not any evergreens though. Site 16 has two campsites. I took the further one with plenty of room. Good size fire pit, but people before me left some large pieces of wood not completely put out along with lit coals.
ScoutWe stayed in site #5. It was grassy and had a little creek running next to it that was lovely to listen to.
TravelerNo major complaints. Beautiful location, easy to get to, convenient RV hookups. Goose poop everywhere so watch your step. Showers are relatively expensive. Sites are very very close together.
The White Mountains National Forest surrounds North Conway, with elevations ranging from 750 feet in the valleys to over 6,000 feet at the highest peaks. Seasonal temperature variations in the camping areas are significant, with summer daytime highs typically reaching 70-85°F but dropping into the 40s at night. Most campgrounds in this region maintain specific quiet hours from 10pm to 6am, with enforcement varying by location.
Hiking to waterfalls: From White Ledge Campground, access the Carter Ledge Trail for a moderate 4.1-mile loop with mountain views. "We hiked the White Ledge Loop which was 4.1 miles and got amazing views. The brooks running through are beautiful," reports Sarah J.
Tubing on the Saco River: Bring your own tube or rent one at the beach area at Eastern Slope Camping Area, which offers river access with shuttle services. "They have tubes to rent right there which was very handy. The campground also boasts a swimming pool, beach area along the Saco River, free mini golf, playground, golf cart rentals," explains Joseph N.
Mountain biking: Trails are available about 2 miles from Jigger Johnson Campground off Bear Notch Road. This area offers varied terrain suitable for intermediate riders. As Rita M. notes, "There are mountain bike trails 2 miles from the campground up off of Bear Notch Road as well."
River access: The Swift River at Jigger Johnson Campground offers swimming holes and rope swings. "The Swift River is BEAUTIFUL--on a warm day, you could spend the entire time exploring it and hanging out," according to Rita M., who adds, "There is even a rope swing that we all enjoyed."
Free dispersed camping: Town Hall Road offers primitive sites along the water with no facilities or fees. "We drove down the road a bit, past a few tent sites just off the road. About the fifth one or so, you pull in and the fire pit is right there. Down toward the river there was plenty of open space," describes Erin H., who found it "very peaceful, beautiful and quiet."
Wildlife viewing: Moose sightings are common near certain campgrounds, particularly at dusk. As Rita M. recounts from her stay at Jigger Johnson, "We got to see a moose! There was a pair of moose that were hanging around while we were there which was quite fun."
Cell service limitations: Reception varies dramatically throughout the region. At Crawford Notch Campground, there is virtually no signal. According to Jean C. at White Ledge Campground, "Closest cell service is 6-7 miles away, at the high point on Bear Notch Road."
Reservation systems: Many campgrounds use different booking methods. Dry River Campground requires registration even during self-check-in periods. Skyler explains, "This campground was operating under a serve-yourself basis when I camped in October, 2021. I reserved my spot, #10, online less than a week before."
Bear activity: Proper food storage is essential at all campgrounds. At Glen Ellis Family Campground, staff provide specific warnings. As Joseph N. recounts, "After checking in, one of the camp staff came by because they had forgotten to remind us to take care of our food and gear at night as there are black bears in the area."
Best swimming spots: White Lake State Park offers a gradual-depth swimming area ideal for children. "The lake is clear, the swimming area is shallow for quite a distance so you can feel comfortable with kids," notes Jean C., who adds that "If you don't have your own boats, they offer rentals of kayaks and paddle boats."
Bike-friendly campgrounds: Look for campgrounds with paved, flat roads for kids to ride bicycles. According to Rita M., Jigger Johnson Campground's "road through the campground is paved and mostly flat, making it ideal for kids to ride their bikes."
Activities beyond hiking: Jellystone Park Glen Ellis provides organized family entertainment. "They loved the Waterpark and the foam party! It was Christmas in July week, and they had so many events planned for the week. Included in your stay is Mini golf, shuffle board, the Waterpark, hayrides, movie night, magicians and more," shares Iris A.
Site leveling challenges: At Town Hall Road Dispersed, RV sites vary significantly in levelness. Bob G. advises, "The road was not as bad as I anticipated. There was room for my Jeep Grand Cherokee towing a squaredrop camper to pass the very few oncoming vehicles we encountered. There is a good mix of tent and small/medium camper sites."
Height restrictions: Be aware of covered bridges limiting RV access. At Covered Bridge Campground, there's a strict limitation. Jean C. warns, "If your rig is >7'9" you'll need to enter via Passaconaway Rd via West Side Rd in Conway."
Water and power availability: Eastern Slope Camping Area offers water and electric hookups but sites fill quickly. Allura B. recounts, "I originally booked the wrong size site for our camper, I called and they were very nice and changed to a site that would accommodate. It is so close to the outlets and really anything that you need."
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best campgrounds near North Conway, NH for tent camping?
White Ledge Campground is a gem for tent campers near North Conway, offering spacious sites and hiking trails directly from the campground. It stands out among the area's more RV-focused options. Another excellent choice is Jigger Johnson Campground on the Kancamagus Highway, providing great proximity to hiking, swimming, and exploration opportunities while still being accessible to North Conway's amenities. Both campgrounds offer a more natural experience with good access to outdoor activities, making them ideal for tent campers looking to enjoy New Hampshire's scenic beauty.
When is the best season for camping in North Conway, NH?
Late spring through early fall offers the best camping conditions in North Conway. Summer (June-August) provides warm days perfect for swimming and hiking, though it's the busiest season. Fall is spectacular, with Passaconaway Campground offering excellent access to the Kancamagus Highway's famous foliage displays. Some campgrounds like Moose Brook State Park Campground provide a quieter alternative to North Conway's tourist crowds. Spring camping (May-early June) offers beautiful wildflowers and fewer crowds, though be prepared for occasional cool nights and variable weather conditions.
What amenities do North Conway campgrounds typically offer?
Green Meadow Camping Area exemplifies the amenities available in the region, featuring water/electric hookups, a swimming pool, playground, basketball court, volleyball net, and various yard games. Its proximity to attractions like Story Land is a bonus for families. Similarly, Eastern Slope Camping Area offers covered picnic tables, a playground, organized activities like hayrides, and a sandy beach area. Many North Conway campgrounds provide clean facilities, fire rings, picnic tables, and access to water. Private campgrounds typically offer more amenities like pools and organized activities, while public campgrounds focus on basic facilities in natural settings.
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