Plaistow camping area sites operate primarily from early May through mid-October, with many facilities closing after Columbus Day weekend. Located in southeastern New Hampshire, the region sits just 12 miles from the Atlantic coast at 125 feet elevation, creating a mix of forested inland and coastal camping opportunities. Summer temperatures typically range 70-85°F during peak camping months, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms in July and August.
What to do
Paddling and fishing spots: At Pawtuckaway State Park Campground, the lake setup provides excellent water-based recreation. "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," notes camper Matt R. Morning and evening wildlife viewing opportunities exist from waterfront sites.
Mountain biking trails: Bear Brook State Park Campground offers extensive trail systems within its 10,000-acre forest preserve. "We camped here to check out the mountain bike trails in the park and we're not disappointed on either count. The campground is nice and spacious, well kept and the staff is friendly. The biking trails were a blast," reports Eammon C. Trails range from beginner to advanced, with many accessible directly from campsites.
Golf and fishing combo: For those seeking land-based activities, Hidden Valley RV and Golf Park combines outdoor recreation options in one location. As Shawn C. explains, "Nice RV campground with a lot of seasonal residents. Plenty of tent sites. On site general store with grill. Fishing and swimming on property along with a club house." The property spans 1,300 acres with a 9/18-hole golf course.
What campers like
Water access sites: The most praised feature at Pawtuckaway State Park is the water proximity. "The sites on the water book up quickly but they're perfect for fishing and boating. Also, the view!" mentions J L. For a unique experience, request site R1, a raised tent site overlooking the pond.
Private woodland settings: Campers regularly highlight the forest environment at Lorraine Park Campground in nearby Massachusetts. "Large sites. Clean bathroom. Good for families or couples," comments Rebecca D., while Kelly F. adds, "The site are huge with space in between. They keep the bathrooms very clean. There are lots of trails and ponds." Sites vary significantly in privacy levels.
Convenience to coastal towns: The location advantage of Sea Coast Camping and RV Resort receives consistent praise. "Great location, Very Clean... The park is in a good location and pretty close to the beach, restaurants, shopping and access to Route 1. You are also just twenty minutes or so to Portsmouth and Newburyport which are some of our favorite New England coastal towns," explains Nancy W.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds in the Plaistow region require advance booking during summer weekends. Bear Brook State Park posts specific check-in procedures. One camper noted: "On Friday afternoon from about 1pm (when we first arrived) til 5 (when we last checked) the ranger station was closed, so we couldn't check in or get wood." Have backup plans for late arrivals.
Site privacy varies significantly: Salisbury Beach State Reservation demonstrates the common spacing challenges in coastal campgrounds. "Many of the sites are short but since you can park on the grass that turns out not to be a problem... The sites are wide open so getting satellite is possible," explains Nancy W. Sites often lack privacy barriers between neighbors.
GPS challenges: Many Plaistow area campgrounds report navigation difficulties. At Tuxbury Pond RV Campground, Sara D. cautions: "A little tip about GPS: if you're using Apple Maps, it will likely take you to a turn that is not the campground entrance, there's even a hand-written sign on someone's lawn that has directions to the entrance (seems to happen frequently, I guess)." Consider downloading offline maps before arrival.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: When selecting sites at Bear Brook State Park, consider proximity to recreational areas. "Site 91 is near the entrance, but large and set back from the camp road, so it offers some extra seclusion. 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."
Entertainment options: Wakeda Campground offers family-friendly amenities just 20 minutes from Plaistow. "Nice wooded lots, small store, miniature golf(fee).close to Hampton beach," notes Annette T. The campground provides structured activities like "Aduly bingo ever Friday DJ for kids every saturday," according to Alicia M.
Wildlife encounters: Bring supplies for possible animal visitors at waterfront sites. Ellen C. recounts at Pawtuckaway: "I forgot the daily visits from the ducks, like clockwork morning and dusk a family of ducks visited looking for grub... The next day I bought uncooked Quaker Oats and some grapes that I cut in quarters for them, after that visit I realized that they would never leave so we became less generous."
Tips from RVers
Utility placement challenges: At many campgrounds near Plaistow, hookup locations can create parking difficulties. One RVer at Beach Rose RV Park noted: "The electrical post and water hookup were placed way behind our site and we could not reach even with our 40' electrical cord. Park staff told us we could back onto the grass in order to reach the electric and since the ground was hard packed sand we were able to do that."
Seasonal considerations: Most RV facilities near Plaistow close between mid-October and early May. When operating during shoulder seasons, amenity availability changes. At Tuxbury Pond, campers reported: "We chose this campground because we got a booking discount on the Dyrt app... 2 pools (closed for the season during our stay), pavilion, activities/entertainment, fairly quiet during quiet hours, laundromat, playground, dog park, boating pond."
Site selection strategy: Request specific sites when possible, as quality varies within each campground. At Hidden Valley RV Park, Carry M. advises: "The water and electric were between our site and the next on one side and sewer between our site and the one on the other side. This made it difficult to place our trailer on the slanted site and reach all services." Call ahead for detailed site maps and hookup locations.
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