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TravelerPawtuckaway State Park Campground
Great spot with all types of different campsites.
Camping near Rochester, NH
3 campgrounds with availability next weekend
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Rochester, New Hampshire and surrounding areas offer a mix of established campgrounds for tent, RV, and cabin camping. Pawtuckaway State Park Campground, located about 15 miles west of Rochester, features water access and accommodates various camping styles including tent, RV, and cabin options. Other notable facilities include Old Stage Campground in nearby Dover and Ayers Lake Farm Campground in Barrington, which provide developed sites with amenities like electric hookups, water access, and shower facilities. Most established campgrounds in the region accommodate both tent and RV camping, with several offering cabin rentals for those seeking additional comfort.
Camping season in the Rochester area typically runs from May through October, with most campgrounds closing during winter months. Pawtuckaway State Park operates from May 1 to October 31, while many private campgrounds like Old Stage and Barrington Shores maintain similar seasonal schedules. Reservations are strongly recommended during summer weekends and holidays when facilities often reach capacity. Several campgrounds provide amenities including electric hookups, water access, sanitary dump stations, and shower facilities, particularly at the privately operated sites. A camper familiar with the area noted, "Ayers lake campground in New Hampshire is a well kept secret. Small and family owned and operated, this campground offers some of the greatest vistas of a small New Hampshire pond we have seen."
Many campgrounds near Rochester feature water access, which remains a primary attraction for visitors. The Rochester area's top-rated campgrounds include waterfront sites at Ayers Lake Farm Campground and Barrington Shores Campground that receive high praise from campers. Families particularly appreciate campgrounds with recreational amenities - Salmon Falls/Lebanon KOA includes features like water slides, swimming pools, and organized activities. Sites along lakes and rivers tend to book quickly during peak season. Forested campgrounds provide natural shade and cooler temperatures even during summer heat. According to review data, visitors frequently mention clean facilities and friendly staff as highlights of their camping experiences. One reviewer described Lazy Frog Campground as "a cute campground, just off the beaten path" where the "owners have worked hard to improve this little gem."
Best Campgrounds near Rochester (221)
1. 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."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $35 - $140 / night
2. 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."
Check Availabilityfrom $43 - $47 / night
3. Salmon Falls / Lebanon KOA
"We were able to book last minute and got a great tenting site, next to a running river that was great to sleep to. Very buggy, but it's outside, what do you expect?"
"Staff was very friendly and extremely cautious about their surroundings. Plenty of things to do to stay busy during the rainy days."
4. Beaver Dam Campground
"Campground is superior in its warmth, cleanliness, dog friendly and access to points of interest."
"LOTS OF GREAT restaurants there and nearby, like Ogunquit Maine and York Maine, etc. THERE is plenty to do if you canoe or kayak, there is a pond right there, there is a swimming area in the pond. "
5. Jellystone Park™ Lakes Region
"Started with really expensive sites, and we had 4 of them next to one another. Rained the whole time we were there. Wouldnt even consider a discount, nothing."
"This is a glampground, keep this in mind, if your looking for a peacful Shangri-La seek another campground, if your looking to let loose and enjoy an amenity filled experience around other people, give"
Check Availabilityfrom $64 / night
6. Bear Brook State Park Campground
"Tucked away in what feels like the middle of nowhere New Hampshire is it's largest state park. Bear Brook is full of trails, ponds and a fairly large campground."
"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."
Check Availabilityfrom $35 - $45 / night
7. Flat Rock Bridge Family Resort
8. Lazy Frog Campground
"Lazy Frog is a cute campground, just off the beaten path. The owners have worked hard to improve this little gem. We stayed in August when it is was hot."
9. Cole's Mine RV Resort and Campground
"Owner was around and super nice! Amazing place. My family has stayed here many times and will again!"
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
from $40 - $85 / night
10. Ayers Lake Farm Campground and Cottages
"Ayers lake campground in New Hampshire is a well kept secret. Small and family owned and operated, this campground offers some of the greatest vistas of a small New Hampshire pond we have seen."
"On lake site. Great management and owner."
Drive Time
- 43 min from Manchester, NH
- 1 hr 13 min from Boston, MA
- 1 hr 15 min from Portland, ME
- 1 hr 22 min from Lewiston, ME
Recent Camping Photos near Rochester, NH
448 Photos of 221 Rochester Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Flat Rock Bridge Family Resort
Salmon Falls / Lebanon KOA
Ayers Lake Farm Campground and Cottages
Old Stage Campground
Jellystone Park™ Lakes Region
Saddleback Campground
Huttopia Southern MaineH
Wellington Camping ParkR
Tentrr Signature Site - Crooked Run Farm
Sun River Campground
Apache CampgroundT
Pine Ridge Campground
Recent Reviews near Rochester, NH
1016 Reviews of 221 Rochester Campgrounds
Rebecca W.
ScoutBearcamp River Campground
Bearcamp River Campground
Bear camp River campground is a great place to camp for a weekend or be a seasonal. You can walk 6/10 of a mile to the covered bridge nearby and float right down to the beach at the campground or you can start on one side of the campground and float to the other via river for a good 30 minute float!! You get to Camp right on the Riverside. Owners (Mike and Tabby ) are great. Good place for the kids to run around and explore. The Camp store has sweatshirts and sweatpants , candy and snacks ,s’mores kits, and much much more. They also sell wood and ice on site. There is also hot showers for free, and bathrooms. Two thumbs up from this happy camper.
Nancy W.
LegendSea-Vu West Premier RV Resort
Pleasantly surprised.
This campground is mostly seasonal, privately owned park models, but has 45 spaces for RV’s. I was a little skeptical about staying at this campground with so many park models and seasonals but was pleasantly surprised at how nice, clean, and tidy all the sites were. They obviously take pride in how things look because the grounds and campsites were very well-kept.
All campsites are 50/30-amp full hook-up with level gravel pads with grassy patios, a picnic table, and fire pit. We stayed in site#702 which was long enough for our 45’ motorhome and tow car. All the utilities were easy to reach and the electric worked well. The only problem was that we were parked under a large oak tree that was profusely shedding large acorns. There are some sites that are in the open which I would definitely choose, if I came back in the fall. The campground is gated which is a nice feature. It is located a mile or so off Route 1 which means you don’t get the road noise and traffic, but still conveniently located near shops and restaurants.
One nice feature are the shaded walking trails in the park. While they are not super long, it is a nice change from walking the roads (which are paved). Other amenities include a decent size swimming pool (closed while we were there), a basketball court, playground, laundry, and camp store. I thought it was a little expensive at $75/night (for full hook-up) at the end of the season, especially since the pool was closed.
- Nancy W.Legend
Sun Outdoors Wells Beach
Tight sites and expensive, busy area along the Maine coast
We stopped here in the summer to check out the coastal towns in southern Maine. There are many campgrounds in the area and we chose this one because they had a 25% off coupon (on a 7-night stay) which gave us the best nightly price in the area. However, the nightly rate was still$74/night, one reason being they charge a “resort fee” of$15/day which is ridiculous. This is a typical resort-style campground with lots of amenities (most of which we never use). But, for some people, this is a destination campground because of all the amenities- a large heated swimming pool, basketball courts, sand volleyball, bocce, fitness center, two playgrounds, 18-hole minigolf (that you pay extra for), and more.
The campsites in the front of the park are sandwiched between the swimming pool and Route 1 which is very busy and noisy. Campsites in the far back portion of the campground are shaded and a much quieter section. Camping pads and patios are a mix of gravel and sand. Many sites have shade and some have an astroturf patio (I think those are “premium” sites). Our campsite was in the middle section which was fairly quiet but the sites are close together with no privacy. The site was a long and level pull thru with a gravel pad and gravel/sand patio. All sites have a picnic table and fire pit.
There is a tent-only section and they have renal cabins. There is lots to do for families in the area including the beach and amusement and water parks. Restaurants of all sorts are nearby. You can easily walk to Congdon’s Donuts which is a Maine classic.
- Nancy W.Legend
Seacoast Camping and RV Resort
Nice Campground, Love the area!
This is a nice, clean, well-maintained campground for RV and tenting. The campground is located on Route 1 which means you are convenient to a lot of things but there is lots of traffic. Half the campground is seasonal/long term campers and the other side is mostly transients. The roads and campsites are fine crushed gravel with nice grassy patios. The campground is very well maintained (the best part being that the mower collects they cut the grass so no clippings get tracked in your camper). There are some mature trees that provide shade but don’t impede navigating in and out of sites or impacting slide outs.
Campsites range from tent with water/electric to RV water/electric and RV full hook-up 50-amp and full hook-up 30-amp. There are three bathhouses on the property (one of which has a dishwashing sink) and laundry. Tent sites 50-55 are in an are set away from RV sites and more private. They are also close to a large bathhouse with multiple toilets and showers. Tent sites 90-100 are across from a large playground which can be quite chaotic, but if you have kids, this is a great spot.
Our site (#147) was a long pull-thru with a descent amount of space between our neighbors. We got about half a dozen over-the-air channels (one being a major network station) and were able to connect with eastern arc satellites with our Dish Satellite. The 50A electric was good as was the water pressure.
The campground does not have much in the way of amenities except for a game room, basketball court, and playground. The game room is pretty cool with lots of arcade-style games, a pool table, foosball, and table tennis. While we were there, they just finished putting in all new playground equipment and enlarged the size making it really big and a hit with the kids in the park. Once convenience is that maintenance picks up garbage at your site (between 8am– 3pm). Unfortunately, people leave them out after hours and animals got into them and scattered garbage everywhere. We've stayed here before and always enjoy being in the area as it is close to the fun cities of Portsmouth and Newburyport.
Briggs M.ScoutBerry's Grove Campground
Nice Place To Relax
We were visiting family around Nashua and needed somewhere to park the RV nearby. Berry’s Grove ended up being a really good fit. We could come and go easily and still have a nice place to relax at the end of the day.
- KKurt B.Scout
Hampton Beach State Park Campground
Oceanfront camping at its best—full hookups just steps from the beach. Located in popular Hampton Beach, you'll be close to nightly bandshell concerts and vibrant nightlife. There is a lottery system in place for stays during the summer.
Harvey R.ScoutBerry's Grove Campground
Never Got Old
Waking up with the lake right outside the camper never got old. We would have breakfast, sit by the water for a while and then head out to explore the area.
- SSienna M.Scout
Berry's Grove Campground
Our Dog Loved
Our dog loved it here. We spent alot of time outside and there was enough space around the campground for him to get some exercise too.
Guide to Rochester
Camping spots near Rochester, New Hampshire range from lakeside sites to forested retreats within a 20-mile radius. The region sits at the junction of coastal and inland forest ecosystems, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F and frequent evening cooling. Most camping areas experience a microclimate that's slightly cooler than nearby urban centers due to tree cover and proximity to water features.
What to do
Hiking options: Bear Brook State Park Campground offers extensive trail networks. "Pretty serious trail up and around some mountains, to a fire tower, ponds. There are at least three campground areas, one of which is on an island and has tent sites along the water," notes camper Harry H.
Water activities: Pawtuckaway State Park Campground provides multiple water recreation options. "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," shares Matt R.
Recreational facilities: Campers with children can enjoy structured activities at Salmon Falls / Lebanon KOA. "This Campground is family friendly and has a lot to offer. Our camping group consisted of children from the ages of 8-17 yrs old. No one was bored," according to J B.
What campers like
Waterfront sites: The lake views at Ayers Lake Farm Campground receive consistent praise. "This campground offers some of the greatest vistas of a small New Hampshire pond we have seen," mentions Bob H., who appreciates the quieter atmosphere.
Clean facilities: Beaver Dam Campground maintains high standards for their amenities. "Campground is superior in its warmth, cleanliness, dog friendly and access to points of interest. The owners are friendly and maintain the grounds which include lots of activities for young and old," reports Nancy.
Privacy between sites: The layout at some campgrounds provides separation between campers. At Bear Brook, "Many of the sites are separated from their neighbors by large, downed pine trees," and sites vary greatly in size, offering options for different camping styles.
What you should know
Seasonal restrictions: Dog policies vary by campground and season. At Pawtuckaway State Park, one reviewer noted, "Tried to plan ahead this year and get a prime site to learn they don't allow dogs anywhere in the campground during summer months."
Reservation timing: Prime spots book quickly, especially waterfront sites. "The sites on the water book up quickly but they're perfect for fishing and boating," shares J L. about Pawtuckaway State Park.
Weather considerations: Spring camping can be challenging with temperature swings. "We went in early May, when it was still a bit cold at night (in the low 40s) and not many people were around," reports Kris M. about their Pawtuckaway experience.
Terrain variations: Old Stage Campground sites can be sandy rather than grassy. One camper mentioned, "The sites were spacious in wooded area near a small river. The road in is dirt but is mostly level."
Tips for camping with families
Campground size considerations: Smaller campgrounds offer a different experience than larger ones. Lazy Frog Campground receives praise for its manageable size: "We love the small space. Its a great local campground with activities going on all the time. We love the fishing pond and its pet friendly!"
Activity planning: Schedule around peak usage times for amenities. At Pawtuckaway, "The closest bath/shower was well kept, with four bathroom stalls and the one huge shower, I imagine that the wait times in the summer months might be a hassle but in the off season it was hardly used."
Wildlife encounters: Prepare for local wildlife interactions. One camper at Pawtuckaway described, "I forgot the daily visits from the ducks, like clockwork morning and dusk a family of ducks visited looking for grub."
Noise levels: Some campgrounds are quieter than others. A Bear Brook visitor noted, "We went in early May, when it was still a bit cold at night and not many people were around. The campground, though we had neighbors in every adjoining site, was pretty quiet."
Tips from RVers
Electrical management: During peak periods, power supply can fluctuate. A Lazy Frog camper shared, "We have a 50 amp unit but reduced down to 30 amp. Once the weekend campers arrived our surge protector kept tripping due to low voltage. To remedy the situation we used only one air conditioner, used propane for our hot water and refrigerator."
Site selection: At Barrington Shores Campground, waterfront sites are limited but worthwhile. One RVer mentioned, "Few transient sites but beautiful spots. 119 on water by the beach and fishing spot. Would definitely come back."
Access considerations: Some campgrounds have tight turns or challenging access points. At Bear Brook, a camper noted, "I found that the little loop to my campsite was tight to exit (I was towing a 14' teardrop, not a big trailer) and I had to be careful to swing wide at the corner."
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there tent camping sites available near Rochester?
Are there tent camping sites available near Rochester?
Yes, several campgrounds near Rochester offer excellent tent camping opportunities. Covered Bridge provides spacious tent sites in a quiet setting, perfect for first-time campers. Bear Brook State Park Campground offers tent sites in New Hampshire's largest state park with trails, ponds, and family-friendly amenities. Other options include White Ledge Campground with primitive tent sites and Roots and Wings Homestead for a more rustic experience. Most tent campgrounds in the area feature fire rings, picnic tables, and access to restroom facilities.
Where can I find campgrounds near Rochester, NH?
Where can I find campgrounds near Rochester, NH?
Rochester offers several excellent camping options nearby. Barrington Shores Campground is a convenient choice with drive-in access and full hookups for RVs. Just a short drive away, Pawtuckaway State Park Campground offers a beautiful wooded setting with water activities. Other nearby options include Old Stage Campground near Dover and Beaver Dam Campground near Berwick. The region provides a mix of private and public campgrounds, with options ranging from lakeside settings to forested retreats.
What amenities do Rochester, NH campgrounds typically offer?
What amenities do Rochester, NH campgrounds typically offer?
Campgrounds near Rochester typically offer a range of amenities to enhance your camping experience. Ayers Lake Farm Campground and Cottages provides firewood and scenic lake views in a family-owned setting. Danforth Bay Camping & RV Resort features extensive facilities on nearly 200 acres with lakefront access. Most area campgrounds provide water hookups, toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. Many also offer additional amenities such as camp stores, swimming areas, playgrounds, dump stations, and hiking trails. Private RV parks tend to have more services like full hookups, while state parks focus on natural amenities with basic facilities.
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