A
Amber G.
Scout
ScoutTripoli Road
So much fun!
Went 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
Camping near Pike, NH
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
The White Mountains region surrounding Pike, New Hampshire features a range of established campgrounds with varied accommodations. Moose Hillock Camping Resort in nearby Warren offers tent, RV, cabin, and glamping options with spacious, wooded sites and a popular swimming pool. Lost River Valley Campground provides 155 campsites with hookups for RVs and tent camping areas. Several state park and national forest camping areas are within a 30-minute drive, including Lafayette Place Campground in Franconia Notch State Park and Hancock Campground in the White Mountain National Forest.
Seasonal considerations heavily influence camping availability in the area, with most developed campgrounds operating from mid-May through mid-October. Hancock Campground remains open year-round for winter camping enthusiasts. Many sites require advance reservations, particularly during summer weekends and fall foliage season when visitation peaks. The terrain throughout the region is mountainous, with many campgrounds situated on hilly terrain that can challenge some campers. Cell service is limited or non-existent at most camping areas, with several campgrounds only offering WiFi in central locations. A camper noted, "There is absolutely no cellular service anywhere within 20 minutes of this campground, while this is nice to unplug, the seriously lousy Wi-Fi only offered at the pool area made booking/finding activities difficult."
Family-friendly amenities feature prominently in reviews of established campgrounds near Pike. Campers consistently praise the large, private sites and natural surroundings at Moose Hillock, which one reviewer described as "one of the prettiest campgrounds I've ever seen." Swimming facilities, especially the elaborate pool with water slides at Moose Hillock, receive frequent mention in positive reviews. Several campgrounds provide riverside locations with fishing and paddling opportunities. River Meadow Campground, situated on the Connecticut River, offers canoe rentals and fishing access that families appreciate. While the developed campgrounds typically provide modern amenities including showers, bathrooms, and hookups, visitors should be prepared for varying levels of maintenance and cleanliness, particularly during busy periods.
Best Campgrounds near Pike (287)
1. Lost River Valley Campground
"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."
from $62 - $209 / night
Check Availability2. Moose Hillock Camping Resort
"Both times were very different experiences, but overall very positive. Just because there are a few, I will mention the cons first."
"Plenty of walking for dogs with a natural pool for them to swim in and the large pool with pirate ship is perfect for little kids with the beach entry. easy location to get to with a travel trailer too"
from $49 - $129 / night
Check Availability3. Lafayette Place Campground — Franconia Notch State Park
"My first time in camping in New Hampshire, the whole area is spectacular and I felt lucky to find a spot in this campground next to the stream."
"The White Mountains stretch quite some distance. While the Presidential peaks are often considered the jewel of this range, I find the Franconia Ridge just as beautiful and stunning."
from $35 / night
Check Availability4. White Mountain National Forest Wildwood Campground
"This is a great spot away from crowds. Good location for hiking, and short drive to Lincoln, NH. Sites are nicely wooded and not on top of you neighbor. Camp hosts are very friendly."
"Positive vibe. Showers of any kind would earn it five stars."
from $24 / night
Check Availability5. Hancock Campground
"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."
"Used the tent sides a quick hill walk down from the parking lot. River great for splashing around and nearby path to Lincoln Woods trail."
from $30 / night
Check Availability6. Russell Pond Campground
"Walk in sites at Russel Pond are nice. spacious sites with fire pits and a picnic table. Potable water is close by along with a bear box. Bathrooms are clean and the showers are $2.50 for 5 minutes."
"Other sites are situated on knolls that require parking below and walking a few steps up to the site. So be prepared to possibly hike your gear a short distance."
from $30 / night
Check Availability7. Country Bumpkins Campground and Cabins
"Great little campground spots for both campers and tents right along the river
ample parking with great surrounding sights of New Hampshire as well as being next door to Clark’s trading post, a New Hampshire"
"We also were in the spot right next to the walkway to the bathhouse, so had steady traffic going by. Our site #60 was gravel, back in, 30 amp, full hookup."
8. River Meadow Campground RV Park
from $45 - $58 / night
Check Availability9. Jacobs Brook Campground
"Only one of the sites is located along the brook (45), but there's an easy path down a hill. "
"Off the beaten path so its peaceful. Sites are a little small but great if you're camping with a group so your close together. Plenty of sites/types to choose from."
from $30 - $50 / night
Check Availability10. Ricker Pond State Park Campground
"There ishiking close by as well."
"It’s located along with several other state parks in the Groton State Forest so there’s so much to do! Clear mountain lake? Check! Miles of stunning hiking trails? Check! Rail trails? Check!"
from $19 - $110 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 1 hr 29 min from Manchester, NH
- 1 hr 33 min from Burlington, VT
- 2 hrs 37 min from Glens Falls, NY
- 2 hrs 41 min from Lewiston, ME
Recent Camping Photos near Pike, NH
769 Photos of 287 Pike Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Moose Hillock Camping Resort
Scenic View Campground
Jacobs Brook Campground
White Mountain National Forest Wildwood Campground
Pleasant Valley CampgroundM
Elbow Pond Road Dispersed SiteD
Lost River Valley CampgroundJ
Cookville CampgroundJ
Pine Haven
Maple Haven CampgroundJ
Country Bumpkins Campground and Cabins
Streeter Mountain Farm
Recent Reviews near Pike, NH
1302 Reviews of 287 Pike Campgrounds
Henry M.ScoutCrow's Nest Campground
Spent Several Days
We spent several days here during the summer and had a really good experience. Some days we stayed busy swimming and exploring, while other days we barely left our campsite. That was probably what we enjoyed most.
Harley J.ScoutCrow's Nest Campground
Really Enjoyed
Really 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.
David B.ScoutCrow's Nest Campground
Always Nice Coming Back
What 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.
- MMarie S.Scout
Gunstock Campground
Apparently Your Reserved Site Is More of a Suggestion
⭐**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.**
Noah P.ScoutCrow's Nest Campground
Comfortable Stay
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.
- KKrista R.
TravelerMoose Brook State Park Campground
Like Dispersed Camping... For $42
Pros: 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.
Jen P.TravelerTwin Mountain Campground
Lovely and peaceful
It 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.
Isaiah D.ScoutCrow's Nest Campground
Kids Stayed Entertained
We brought the kids here for a few days and they had a blast. Between swimming, exploring around the campground, and just riding around and making friends, they always had something to do. For us, it was nice being able to actually relax while the kids stayed entertained. We cooked at the campsite most nights and spent the evenings around the fire. Great family trip.
Guide to Pike
White Mountain National Forest provides the backdrop for camping spots near Pike, New Hampshire, with elevations ranging from 600 to 3,000 feet throughout the region. Camping options span a 30-mile radius around Pike, encompassing both the forested highlands and river valleys of western New Hampshire. Winter temperatures can drop below zero while summer days average 70-80°F with cooler nights.
What to do
River activities: Lost River Valley Campground offers direct stream access where kids can enjoy shallow water play. "My family has stayed here twice. You can't really swim much in the river, but the kids had a blast playing in it and fishing for little trout," reports Michele S.
Winter camping: Hancock Campground remains accessible year-round for cold-weather enthusiasts. "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... Water would have earned it five stars," shares Heather B.
Hiking trail access: Multiple trail networks connect directly to campgrounds in the region. At Lafayette Place Campground, "The Lonesome Lake Trail runs right through the campground which is good news/bad news. Easy access to the trail but there are a number of sites that directly border the trail, which could impede privacy," notes Lee D.
Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds provide river or pond fishing access. "We stayed in a basic cabin. It was clean, but did smell very musty. It was still comfortable. The sites on the river look amazing," writes Rebecca L. about Lost River Valley.
What campers like
Spacious, wooded sites: Moose Hillock Camping Resort receives consistent praise for site privacy and size. "It is absolutely GORGEOUS up here. Stunning. The sites are private and wooded, the grounds are beautiful, the natural pond is a great morning excursion. It's one of the prettiest campgrounds I've ever seen," explains Jessica W.
River proximity: Several campgrounds feature sites directly on waterways. "You cannot go wrong. Right on kangamangus highway basically in the mountains. Recommend the sites by the river!" says David M. about Lost River Valley Campground.
Quiet atmosphere: Less-traveled campgrounds offer peaceful stays. At White Mountain National Forest Wildwood Campground, "While not too far off the road, it was very quiet. Sites were all cleaned, even though we arrived on Labor Day and it appeared most sites had just been vacated," reports Jamie D.
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept bathrooms and common areas. "The bathrooms are always clean, the staff in the office and store has been friendly," notes Jennie C. about Lost River Valley Campground.
What you should know
Cellular connectivity: Most campgrounds have limited or no cell service. "There is no cell service on the south side of campground," reports Dawn D. about Lost River Valley. Similarly, at Moose Hillock, a camper notes "No WiFi or cell service except by the pool which can be hard if you need to be contacted."
Site variability: Terrain and site layout differ significantly between and within campgrounds. At Russell Pond Campground, "Some sites are flat, others tiered and divided making your site not always a drive up," explains Monica S.
Road noise: Some campgrounds experience traffic noise. Lafayette Place Campground has "the noise from Highway 93 is intolerable! 18-wheelers blowing by at all hours of the day and night, making it very difficult to enjoy a restful sleep," warns Lee D.
Seasonal limitations: Most facilities operate from mid-May through October with reduced services in shoulder seasons. However, as Heather B. notes about Hancock Campground, winter camping is possible at select locations with "nice looking tent only sites we plan to experience come springtime."
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options: Country Bumpkins Campground and Cabins offers water access for kids. "I stayed by the river and the brook, which was amazing. The campground was very clean and is very family friendly. There is a small arcade game room, WiFi at each site and an outdoor play area for kids," says Sawyer G.
Activities beyond hiking: River Meadow Campground provides water-based recreation. "It's right on the CT river and they have canoes to rent. My friend and I took my son fishing and we landed some nice size fish big enough it scared my 7 year old son and he made me real it in," shares Chris H.
Kid-friendly amenities: Look for campgrounds with playground facilities. At Country Bumpkins, "The playground is amazing," and at Moose Hillock, "There is a small arcade in the camp store with decent prices, poolside cafe (a little on the pricey side), big campground, playground, lots of nature & wildlife," notes Sara D.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Multiple campgrounds offer chances to see local fauna. At Moose Hillock, families appreciate the "lots of nature & wildlife, good space in between campsites," which provides natural discovery opportunities for children.
Tips for RVers
Site leveling: Many campgrounds have uneven terrain requiring equipment for proper leveling. "It was slightly uphill, so we had to pull the RV all the way to the front of the site to be able to level," notes a Country Bumpkins camper.
Size restrictions: Most campgrounds have limitations on larger rigs. At Russell Pond, "The camp sites are first come first serve, including the best ones by the pond which are also walk-up only," notes Andrew M.
Hookup availability: Full-service sites are limited at many locations. "Primarily for RVs. Combo of seasonal and transient. Excellent services. On CT river w kayaks and canoes," explains Terry C. about River Meadow Campground.
Navigation challenges: Some campgrounds have complex layouts that can be difficult for larger vehicles. One camper at Country Bumpkins mentioned, "The check-in was a MESS... We had to detach the toad and back our RV up to get in a position to turn around. It was not fun."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Pike, NH?
What camping is available near Pike, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, Pike, NH offers a wide range of camping options, with 287 campgrounds and RV parks near Pike, NH and 25 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Pike, NH?
Which is the most popular campground near Pike, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Pike, NH is Lost River Valley Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 34 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Pike, NH?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Pike, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 25 free dispersed camping spots near Pike, NH.
What parks are near Pike, NH?
What parks are near Pike, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 12 parks near Pike, NH that allow camping, notably Union Village Dam and White Mountain National Forest.
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