Best Campgrounds near North Sandwich, NH

The White Mountains region surrounding North Sandwich, New Hampshire features a mix of established campgrounds and primitive sites within a short drive of Mount Chocorua and other hiking destinations. White Lake State Park Campground offers tent, RV, and glamping options with full amenities including showers and electric hookups, while smaller facilities like Waterville Campground provide more rustic accommodations in wooded settings. Several campgrounds in the area feature water access, with locations like Danforth Bay Camping & RV Resort and Tamworth Camping Area positioned near lakes and rivers for recreational activities.

Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally from May through October, with limited winter access due to weather conditions and facility closures. Advance reservations are recommended during summer weekends and holiday periods when sites fill quickly. According to one visitor at Waterville Campground, "Sites are large with space in between. Located super close to Waterville valley ski area, hiking, golf, etc." Road conditions vary considerably, with some campgrounds accessible via paved highways while others require travel on forest service roads. Many facilities provide basic amenities like vault toilets and water pumps, though several larger campgrounds offer full-service hookups for RVs, hot showers, and dump stations.

Campers consistently mention water features as highlights of their experiences near North Sandwich. White Lake State Park Campground receives particular attention for its swimming opportunities. A camper noted: "There's a great beach with lots of room and a big sandy swimming area. You can rent canoes, hike around the lake, and the kids could safely ride their bikes around the campground." Wildlife viewing opportunities are common, with several review mentions of duck families and occasional bear sightings at more remote locations. Campgrounds near North Sandwich vary in their proximity to town amenities, with some offering on-site camp stores while others require bringing all necessary supplies. Sites range from heavily wooded with natural pine needle flooring to more open areas suitable for larger camping groups or RVs requiring increased clearance.

Best Camping Sites Near North Sandwich, New Hampshire (282)

    1. White Lake State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    West Ossipee, NH
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 323-7350

    $35 - $105 / night

    "Last weekend, our family stayed at White Lake State Park for four days."

    "I’ve stayed here a few times and love the location and access to White Lake."

    2. Waterville Campground

    11 Reviews
    Waterville Valley, NH
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 536-6100

    $24 / night

    "Located super close to Waterville valley ski area, hiking, golf, etc."

    "A path leads straight down to the river, which we can hear running from the tents at night. The caretaker is one of the friendliest I’ve met, and he keeps the sites and bathrooms very clean."

    3. Hancock Campground

    28 Reviews
    Lincoln, NH
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 536-6100

    $30 / night

    "Luckily -- we were only about ten minutes from one of our favorite campgrounds in New Hampshire. Let me tell you why we like it so much."

    "This would be one of few places I find acceptable to camp, that are near other people. I usually don't like camping with 20+ other people in one looped area."

    4. Jigger Johnson Campground

    11 Reviews
    Bartlett, NH
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 536-6100

    $24 / night

    "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"

    "earlier in the day, around 1 pm when new campers are welcomed."

    5. Danforth Bay Camping & RV Resort

    15 Reviews
    Freedom, NH
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 539-2069

    $40 - $85 / night

    "This campground is huge with over 300 sites set on nearly 200 acres and along a beautiful lake!"

    "We love the golf carts and sandy beaches as well as the proximity to North Conway and Lake Ossipee.  Staff are nice, quiet time is a bit over enforced."

    6. Covered Bridge

    13 Reviews
    Albany, NH
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 447-2166

    $30 / night

    "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."

    7. Chocorua KOA

    8 Reviews
    Chocorua, NH
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 323-8536

    $45 - $110 / night

    "There were some rules in place in order to ensure social distancing and reduce risk to ourselves and to the staff."

    "They were wooded and in a central location close to the playgrounds, pavilion, beach and nature trails."

    8. Lost River Valley Campground

    32 Reviews
    North Woodstock, NH
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 745-8321

    $62 - $209 / night

    "The last few years, they’ve added a light display near the entrance at night, which make that last trip to the bathroom before bedtime fun!"

    "Nice campground located in the valley of mountains. Wooded sites but close to your neighbors."

    9. Passaconaway Campground

    9 Reviews
    Wonalancet, NH
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 536-6100

    $25 / night

    "The campground borders the Kancamangus Highway on one side, and the tranquil Swift River on the other."

    "I only gave the campground 4 stars because the campground is so close to the Kancamagus Highway that you can hear cars and bikes through most of the night."

    10. Dry River Campground — Crawford Notch State Park

    31 Reviews
    Bartlett, NH
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 374-2272

    $35 - $40 / night

    "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"

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Recent Reviews near North Sandwich, NH

1218 Reviews of 282 North Sandwich Campgrounds


  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 21, 2025

    Spacious Skies French Pond

    Helpful staff

    The staff was friendly. Don't forget the flashlight. There is very little lighting to find your way around the winding roads of the campground which adds to the charm.

  • Marc D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 16, 2025

    Crawford Notch Campground

    Beautiful area

    Beautiful campground. Large secluded sites. Forested. Beautiful fall colors. Coin operated showers. Access to nearby trails.

  • Marc D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 16, 2025

    Gunstock Campground

    Great Spot

    Fairly 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.

  • Panvira T.
    Oct. 14, 2025

    Fransted Family Campground

    Good location

    The place so nice and cleaned,quite also close to you must see and things to do. The price reasonable too. Highly recommended

  • Lin C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 10, 2025

    Spacious Skies French Pond

    Best Camp in the area

    I am enjoying this camp still, even after 6 months. Management is wonderful and attentive. They take great care of the whole camp and us campers. Fun events are scheduled on the regular!

  • R
    Oct. 10, 2025

    Riverside Camping & RV Resort

    Impeccibly Maintained

    Easily one of the most well maintained sites we have visited. The host was attentive and gracious. Beautiful nature trails behind the campground. I found one that lead to a beach by the river, perfect for reading and relaxing.

  • Oksana S.
    Oct. 8, 2025

    Jellystone Park™ Glen Ellis

    Read before booking

    PLEASE READ BEFORE GOING We went to Jellystone Park at in Glen NH. We originally booked from Sunday to thursday. We left on Tuesday due to several issues with the cabin that the office staff refused to fix. Issues we had was 1. Cabin was filthy and had bugs inside. 2. Stove top wasnt working. 3. Fridge smelled so bad I had to wash it with warm water and dish soap. 4. Our cabin reeked like cigarettes to the point I couldn't bath my kids because when the bathroom got steamy the smell got sooo bad. I tried to adress the issues and was told they had a no smoke policy so its not their issue if it smelled because they did their part in putting a policy down. For it being filthy I was told they trust their cleaner so it qas me that made it filthy..(attached is one picture that I have this is just the bathroom on our first day their. Everything was covered in dirt, sand and soo dusty and bugs everywhere). I first spoke to James who yelled and was saying ridiculous excuses as to why its ok. Then the manager(dont remember name but she was older and blonde hair) screamed at me while I had my 2 year old with me. I was telling her calmly and very nice my concerns to which she was yelling to get out of the office. Then I was threatened to have the cops called if I complained again. I lost alot of money I cant afford to loose. But most important I was want to make people aware. I told them the website should state these things to be fair cause if I knew this i wouldn't have paid since they said its normal for stoves not to work and its out of their controll if someone smokes in the cabin. They said no one would stay if they posted those things. I left litterally shaking and crying because I couldn't believe it. They are nice if you dont complain. Discusting customer service horrendous management. Will be reporting everywhere already let my friends know so they dont go next year.


Guide to North Sandwich

Camping sites near North Sandwich, New Hampshire range from lakeside facilities to mountain-adjacent forest campgrounds. Located in the foothills of the White Mountains at approximately 650 feet elevation, the area experiences warm summer days with cool evenings and frequent afternoon thunderstorms in July and August. Most campgrounds in the region maintain pine needle floors that naturally repel insects and provide soft tent platforms.

What to Do

Swimming and water recreation: White Lake State Park Campground offers clear water swimming with gradually sloping sandy bottoms. "The lake itself is unreal, with the mountains in the background it just feels incredibly peaceful and serene," notes Angela T., who visited in early season when it wasn't crowded.

Hiking nearby mountains: Waterville Campground provides direct access to several 4,000-foot peaks. As Michael L. mentions, there are "5 - 4000 foot mountains to hike" accessible from this location, making it an ideal base camp for serious hikers.

Winter camping options: Unlike most seasonal facilities, certain campgrounds remain accessible during winter months. At Hancock Campground, Heather B. notes, "Stayed here for two nights in late December. Site #40 along the river was close to the bathroom yet had plenty of privacy from other sites." Winter camping requires additional preparation but offers solitude rarely found during peak seasons.

What Campers Like

Secluded river access: Many campgrounds feature private paths to water. At Hancock Campground, Molly G. reports, "We were the only ones in it and we picked the site right next to the rambling river. It was amazing. Only a pit toilet- but it's worth it for the beauty and seclusion."

Spacious campsites: Covered Bridge Campground receives consistent praise for site dimensions. According to Norma S., "This site was very large. With our 20 foot trailer we could still fit our Ford 150 and Subaru Forrester in front of it and still had room for another car."

Wildlife viewing: Morning and evening wildlife sightings enhance camping experiences. Heather B. at Waterville Campground notes, "The caretaker is one of the friendliest I've met... It's early July and there's been hardly anyone staying here! Only downsides are it's a bit off the beaten path; there is some road noise; and the water is very brown/rusty."

What You Should Know

Bear safety requirements: Bears are active throughout the region. At Waterville Campground, Kitty reports a concerning encounter: "The first day I got there at around 5:30 I was sitting in my hammock reading when a black bear cub strolled through my campsite. We scared the poop out of each other. Local police came and said they have been having problems with the bears."

Campsite availability patterns: First-come campgrounds fill predictably. J.W. advises at Passaconaway Campground: "Be sure to get there early in the day because it fills up quickly, we arrived at 1030 on a Saturday morning during the summer and found a spot but by noon they had put up the full sign out front."

Water quality variations: Water quality differs significantly between campgrounds. At Covered Bridge Campground, Jae H. notes, "Water access is via a hand pump in the middle of the campground loop. No car access and can't hook up any hoses." Several campgrounds report iron-rich water that stains clothing.

Tips for Camping with Families

Child-friendly swimming areas: White Lake State Park Campground features graduated swimming depths. According to STephanie C., "This is a VERY LARGE campground, it will be a trek to get to the bathrooms or showers or swimming. You do NOT get to park at the lake if you are a camper. So that will be a long walk."

Noise consideration: Some campgrounds enforce strict quiet hours. At White Lake State Park, Sable W. shares, "Quiet hours are supposed to start at 10:00pm, but our rowdy male neighbors were up, playing music, talking loudly, and singing, until midnight."

Biking opportunities: Several campgrounds feature internal road systems appropriate for children learning to ride. At Jigger Johnson Campground, Rita M. comments: "The road through the campground is paved and mostly flat, making it ideal for kids to ride their bikes."

Tips from RVers

Site leveling challenges: Chocorua KOA requires careful planning for RVs at waterfront sites. According to Michael K., "Most of the waterfront sites are back in, and the only level part of the site is away from the deck and water. My wife wanted to get the camper up close to the deck so our area under the awning was close to that, which meant I had a lot more leveling to do."

Height restrictions: Covered bridge access points limit larger rigs. Jae H. notes, "Covered bridge has 7.9' height restriction from the main scenic highway. We had to go out to Conway and drive back in."

RV site selection for privacy: At Danforth Bay Camping & RV Resort, Michael M. recommends specific locations: "Really liked this campground, large sites with full hookups. Beach and boat ramp with some cabins on the water. We stayed at site M-9 and M-10."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near North Sandwich, NH?

According to TheDyrt.com, North Sandwich, NH offers a wide range of camping options, with 282 campgrounds and RV parks near North Sandwich, NH and 10 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near North Sandwich, NH?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near North Sandwich, NH is White Lake State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 24 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near North Sandwich, NH?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 10 free dispersed camping spots near North Sandwich, NH.

What parks are near North Sandwich, NH?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 12 parks near North Sandwich, NH that allow camping, notably White Mountain National Forest and Union Village Dam.