Maria A.
Guide
GuidePawtuckaway State Park Campground
Amazing park!
Beautiful park! Real contact with nature, super safe... get ready to walk.
Camping near Portsmouth, NH
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The New Hampshire seacoast surrounding Portsmouth features a diverse range of camping options within a 30-minute drive of the historic port city. Wakeda Campground in Hampton Falls offers nearly 400 sites under tall pine trees, accommodating everything from tents to RVs with full hookups. Pawtuckaway State Park Campground, located about 25 miles inland, provides a more natural setting with lakefront sites and multiple access options including boat-in camping. Coastal options extend into neighboring states with Salisbury Beach State Reservation in Massachusetts and Libby's Oceanside Camp in York Harbor, Maine, both providing oceanfront camping experiences. The region balances privately owned RV resorts with state park campgrounds, offering varying levels of amenities and natural settings.
Most campgrounds in the Portsmouth area operate seasonally from May through October, with peak season running from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Advance reservations are strongly recommended during summer months when waterfront sites fill quickly. As one camper noted, "Make your reservation well in advance if you're planning to visit during peak season or if you want a prime waterfront site." Cell phone coverage varies significantly between coastal and inland locations, with Verizon users reporting spotty service at Pawtuckaway State Park. Weather considerations include occasional summer thunderstorms and potential flooding in low-lying sites during heavy rain. Many campgrounds prohibit outside firewood due to invasive species concerns, instead selling approved wood bundles on-site.
Waterfront camping locations receive consistently high ratings from visitors to the Portsmouth region. At Pawtuckaway State Park, lakefront sites on Horse Island are particularly sought after, with one camper explaining, "The breeze from the lake and lack of standing water makes these sites ideal." Coastal campgrounds often feature more densely packed sites but provide easy beach access. Many campgrounds maintain a balance between seasonal and transient campers, creating what one reviewer described as a "neighborhood atmosphere." Family-friendly amenities are common, including dog parks, playgrounds, and camp stores. The proximity to Portsmouth's restaurants and cultural attractions serves as a major draw, allowing campers to enjoy both outdoor recreation and urban amenities within the same trip.
Best Campgrounds near Portsmouth (150)
1. Wakeda Campground, LLC
"They put me in the perfect site, near the dog park (they have a dog park!). When the forecast changed to thunderstorms, they let me switch my dates without any hassle. "
"We had bathrooms located near our site. They were four separate bathrooms that had a sink and toilet and were clean. They did offer showers in another area but I did not use them."
from $48 - $97 / night
Check Availability2. Sea Coast Camping and RV Resort
"The two sides are separated by a tree line where the tent sites are located. The park is in a good location and pretty close to the beach, restaurants, shopping and access to Route 1."
"So clean, friendly staff and plenty to do here or close by. Minutes away from some very nice beaches"
3. Pawtuckaway State Park Campground
"Driving around this past weekend I did notice that some of the sites had damp spots; site 71 was the worst with deep mud on the long approach."
"My first time experiencing a park in the New Hampshire Park system. We went down with a group. Pawtuckaway State Park offers a variety of landscapes, with something to do and see for everyone."
from $35 - $140 / night
Check Availability4. Salisbury Beach State Reservation
"We love that it is right on the water, and we can walk to the beach. We also appreciate that it is pet friendly, and our dogs love it too."
"The electrical post and water hookup were placed way behind our site and we could not reach even with our 40’ electrical cord."
from $28 - $38 / night
Check Availability5. Libbys Oceanside Camp
"You are steps away from the beach from the time you arrive to the time you departed the staff is always available and always willing to help, answer any questions and give recommendations where to go eat"
"Love the location & the town of York! The views are beautiful!"
from $50 - $125 / night
Check Availability6. Old Stage Campground
"Walking distance to rest rooms and showers. Great owners. 1st trip in a hurricane."
"Learning to get away from the bad campers."
from $43 - $47 / night
Check Availability7. Beach Rose RV Park
"Simple, clean, perfect pool set up, quiet and close to beaches and New Hampshire coastline."
"Beach Rose RV Park in Salisbury, Massachusetts is a small, friendly, family-owned campground near the beach."
8. Seacoast Camping and RV Resort
"The two sides are separated by a tree line where the tent sites are located. The park is in a good location and pretty close to the beach, restaurants, shopping and access to Route 1."
"Our site had big beautiful trees behind us lots of shade. Fire pit is sat on a slab of concrete or something it was amazing!"
from $38 - $48 / night
Check Availability9. Hampton Beach State Park Campground
"One side of the campground is bordered by an inlet that fishing boats use to head out from the harbor. Another side is sand dunes, that are the south end of Hampton beach."
"Hampton Beach SP is a small beachside campground for self-contained RVs only; if you’re in a tent, you may want to look south to Salisbury SP just a few miles across the border into MA."
from $70 / night
Check Availability10. Dixons Coastal Maine Campground
"There is even hot water to wash your dishes next to the bathrooms. They sell ice, wood ($7) and many "I forgots" in the store (bacon, milk, etc...). "
"Our plan was to spend two nights for a rest from driving. The day spent here was to wander along the coast and bask in the sea air. So this was a pretty good campground for that purpose."
Drive Time
- 36 min from Manchester, NH
- 55 min from Boston, MA
- 59 min from Portland, ME
- 1 hr 13 min from Worcester, MA
Recent Camping Photos near Portsmouth, NH
299 Photos of 150 Portsmouth Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Recent Reviews near Portsmouth, NH
738 Reviews of 150 Portsmouth Campgrounds
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Tim Z.GuideWakeda Campground, LLC
Large, clean and quiet
This is a nice campground with 90% permanent upscale sites. Don’t let that deter you, the nightly spots are concentrated have excellent natural surroundings. Decent size spaces and mostly level. Workers were nice and many things to do.
Oscar W.
ScoutBerry's Grove Campground
Made The Trip Worth
Coffee by the water before anyone else in our camper woke up. That alone made the trip worth it.
Dylan B.ScoutBerry's Grove Campground
A Great Arrangement
We have family around Nashua but wanted to bring the RV rather than stay at someone’s house for several days. This turned out to be a great arrangement. We could spend the day visiting everyone and then come back to our own space at night. It also meant nobody had to rearrange their house for us, which I’m sure they appreciated as much as we did.
Simon H.ScoutBerry's Grove Campground
Location Worked Really Well
We had plans on both sides of the state line, so the location worked really well for our trip. We spent one day around Massachusetts and another up toward New Hampshire without having to relocate the RV. Nice option if your trip isn’t centered around just one destination.
Dylan J.ScoutBerry's Grove Campground
Travel In A Larger RV
We travel in a larger RV and always check campground access before deciding where to stay. We were able to get situated without turning arrival day into an ordeal, which anyone with a big rig knows is a win.
Nicole S.
TravelerLorraine Park Campground — Harold Parker State Forest
Amazing camping time
I recently spent 5 days here camping with my dog and my family and we enjoyed it immensely! The staff was all extremely kind, helpful, and they worked hard to keep the campground clean. The bathrooms especially wete always clean. Its nice to be able to be comfortably in the woods while also having other amenities within 15-20 minute driving to pick up things we forgot or a little adventure. The sites were huge and had plenty of space for all our stuff and were all extremely well maintained.
Addison P.ScoutBerry's Grove Campground
Loved How Peaceful It Was
Really nice little campground. We loved how peaceful it was, especially in the mornings when the lake was quiet. We made coffee, sat outside by the camper, and watched the water before starting our day. The campground was clean and our hookups worked perfectly. Nothing complicated or overdone, just a comfortable place to camp and enjoy being outside. We would definitely return.
- SSean D.Traveler
Wellington Camping Park
Very nice campground
A mix of seasonal and short term campers. Here for 3 nights I did not feel out of place at all - quite the opposite. Staff are very nice, campground is quiet, clean and has lots of amenities(laundry, games- pool, table tennis, badminton, small kids playground, kayak rental for the placid river, swimming area at the river"beach"). All sites have water and hookup. Couple of excellent tent spots right on the river. I had a small space down by the river for my tent trailer and found it quite spacious. Sites overall are somewhat close together but not overly and it remains peaceful. About 30 minute easy drive to the coast (Portsmouth, Hampton Beach etc.).
Guide to Portsmouth
Portsmouth seacoast camping offers sites from full-service RV resorts to forested tent camping areas within a 30-mile radius of the city. Campsites in the region feature a mix of oceanfront, lakefront, and wooded options with varied pricing from $43-70 per night. Most campgrounds operate from May through early October, with many requiring reservations up to a year in advance for waterfront sites during summer months.
What to do
Whale watching tours: Hampton Beach State Park Campground provides convenient access to daily whale watching excursions. "There are daily deep sea fishing trips from companies across the street," notes Jean C., who appreciates the location's proximity to these maritime adventures.
Beach activities: Sea Coast Camping and RV Resort serves as an excellent base for exploring multiple beaches. "About 5 miles to the east is Hampton Beach and a little farther is the town of Rye which are worth the drive. After lunch pop over to Wallis Sand Beach for an afternoon relaxing by the sea," advises Nancy W.
Lighthouse visits: Cape Neddick offers access to Nubble Lighthouse. Bob W. from Dixons Coastal Maine Campground suggests, "Don't miss Nubble Light House and Fox's Lobster house. Around the corner is a great Ice Cream shop."
Paddleboarding: Waterfront camping enables direct water access for paddling. Nancy W. describes her experience near Salisbury Beach: "We loved paddle boarding in the river where seals were plentiful and fun to watch. There is also another winding river that goes through a marshy area that was great for bird watching."
What campers like
Waterfront sites: Libbys Oceanside Camp offers prime ocean views. "This campsite has a great view over the ocean towards the lighthouse. The site is very tidy and toilets clean! Everything you would need available," shares Olaf, while Alexander H. adds, "Awesome views. Ocean front sites."
Meticulously maintained grounds: Cleanliness stands out as a major positive for many campsites. "This is one of the cleanest, most meticulously maintained campground we have been to. So quiet and peaceful as well. Wifi service was excellent," notes Rebecca S. about Sea Coast Camping.
Wildlife viewing: Campers appreciate natural encounters throughout the region. One Pawsfuradventure T. at Wakeda Campground reports, "Walking around we saw wild turkeys, bunnies, and a hummingbird."
Convenient beach access: Proximity to beaches remains a top priority. Meg T. at Salisbury Beach State Reservation notes: "Beautiful ocean access and great facilities. We stayed in a site right next to a large bathhouse with showers, plentiful stalls, and water bottle fill-up and rinse off station."
What you should know
Insect concerns: Low-lying campgrounds can have mosquito issues. At Old Stage Campground, one reviewer warns, "The lower portion of the campground is located in a swamp. The mosquitos were relentless."
Site placement matters: Pawtuckaway State Park Campground offers varying site quality. Ellen C. shares from experience: "In 2013 - site 25 was a little challenging since it was on a downgrade and we were hit with a an unexpected 36 hour downpour and there was only one suitable spot for our tent since the terrain is very rocky."
Weather considerations: Coastal conditions can be windy and change rapidly. David V. advises about Hampton Beach, "Be careful of your awning as it is very windy."
Site proximity: Many coastal campgrounds place sites close together. At Dixons, katrina M. observes, "This is an extremely large campground. It seems that most of them on the coast of Maine are. All of the sights seem to have rocky ground, so I recommend a sleep pad and a footprint for your tent so you don't rip the bottom."
Tips for camping with families
Children's activities: Playgrounds and pools provide entertainment for kids. "This is a kid friendly. Kid infested. Safe. Scenic. Perfect," describes Lyndzie O. about Old Stage Campground.
Secure environments: Beach Rose RV Park offers a controlled setting. Jac notes, "Arrived at dark and they were friendly and accommodating. Took a walk around in the morning and everyone was so nice. You could definitely bike to the beach."
Educational opportunities: Birdwatching and tide pool exploration appeal to curious children. At Salisbury Beach, Sara D. mentions, "Clean facilities, super quick access to the beach, friendly staff. Our family loves both the ocean & camping so it is a win-win!"
Seasonal timing: School vacation weeks bring more children. Madison G. cautions about Pawtuckaway, "This campground is beautiful and in a nice location in the state park but is really crowded in the summer months with large groups of loud children."
Tips from RVers
Leveling considerations: Gravel pads may require additional leveling blocks. Nancy W. shares about Sea Coast: "Our site (#124) was one of the new sites which they had just completed. It was a gravel back-in which was plenty long and level."
Hookup placement: Be prepared for unusual utility configurations. Chuck H. at Sea Coast RV Park notes, "Some of the best clear, clean, drinking water at high pressure we have come across."
Entertainment options: WiFi quality varies between parks. "The wifi worked perfectly for streaming tv despite the campground being fully booked for Memorial Day weekend," reports Jeff P.
RV length restrictions: Salisbury Beach State Reservation can accommodate larger rigs but has limitations. Nancy W. notes, "Many of the sites are short but since you can park on the grass that turns out not to be a problem."
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does camping in Portsmouth, New Hampshire typically cost?
How much does camping in Portsmouth, New Hampshire typically cost?
Camping costs around Portsmouth vary based on campground type and amenities. At Bear Brook State Park Campground, expect to pay standard state park rates, typically $25-35 per night for basic sites. Private campgrounds like Old Stage Campground offer spacious wooded sites near a small river, with rates ranging from $35-60 per night depending on hookups and seasonality. RV parks and resorts with full amenities generally cost $45-75 nightly. Many campgrounds offer discounted weekly and monthly rates, which can be economical for longer stays. Membership programs like Thousand Trails can significantly reduce costs at participating campgrounds. For the best value, consider camping during shoulder seasons (late spring or early fall) when rates are often lower but weather remains pleasant.
What are the best campgrounds near Portsmouth, NH?
What are the best campgrounds near Portsmouth, NH?
Portsmouth offers excellent camping options within a short drive. Pawtuckaway State Park Campground stands out with its diverse landscapes, swimming beach, hiking trails, and water activities like kayaking and canoeing. For a more intimate experience, Ayers Lake Farm Campground and Cottages provides stunning views of a serene New Hampshire pond in a small, family-owned setting. Other highly-rated options include Bear Brook State Park (New Hampshire's largest state park) and Wakeda Campground, both offering wooded sites and recreational activities. Most campgrounds near Portsmouth require reservations well in advance, especially during peak summer season when the area's combination of forest, lakes, and proximity to coastal attractions makes it a popular destination.
What amenities are available at Portsmouth area campgrounds?
What amenities are available at Portsmouth area campgrounds?
Portsmouth area campgrounds offer a range of amenities to enhance your stay. Wakeda Campground, LLC stands out with its dog park and accommodating staff. Many campgrounds like Wellington Camping Park provide good-sized lots, friendly atmosphere, and basic amenities, though Wi-Fi can be unreliable. State parks such as Salisbury Beach and Bear Brook offer picnic tables, fire rings, and access to recreational activities including swimming beaches, hiking trails, and fishing spots. Private campgrounds typically add amenities like camp stores, shower facilities, laundry services, and organized activities. Several campgrounds feature water access with boating and swimming opportunities. RV-specific amenities include electric hookups (30/50 amp), water connections, dump stations, and in premium locations, full sewer hookups and cable TV.
Are there any RV-friendly campgrounds near Portsmouth's seacoast?
Are there any RV-friendly campgrounds near Portsmouth's seacoast?
Beach Rose RV Park offers a simple, clean environment with pool facilities and convenient access to beaches along New Hampshire's coastline. It's particularly suitable for RVs seeking a quiet atmosphere near the seacoast. Salisbury Beach State Reservation accommodates RVs with electrical posts and water hookups, though placement can sometimes require creative parking to reach utilities. The hard-packed sand makes site access manageable for most rigs. Additional options include Hampton Beach State Park Campground, which features big-rig-friendly sites, and Seacoast Camping and RV Resort, designed specifically for recreational vehicles. Most seacoast campgrounds require reservations well in advance, especially during summer months when spaces fill quickly. Larger RVs should confirm site dimensions before booking.
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