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Best Tent Camping near Salem, NH

673 Reviews

Tent campgrounds around Salem, New Hampshire provide accessible options for overnight stays in natural settings. Cape Ann Camp Site in nearby Gloucester, Massachusetts offers wooded tent sites with fire rings on dirt surfaces, while Camp Nihan Education Center provides a more rustic experience with picnic tables and fire-allowed policies. Most sites are located within a 30-45 minute drive of Salem, making them suitable for weekend getaways.

Many tent-specific areas feature basic amenities including picnic tables and designated fire pits, though facilities vary significantly between locations. Camp Nihan provides recently renovated bathroom and shower facilities, while primitive sites may offer only vault toilets or require pack-in, pack-out waste management. Sites typically have dirt or mulched surfaces rather than concrete pads. Water availability differs by location, with some campgrounds requiring visitors to bring their own supplies. Most locations are seasonal, with Cape Ann Camp Site operating from May 15 to October 15.

The terrain at area campgrounds ranges from wooded settings with moderate privacy to more open layouts. A visitor commented that Cape Ann's "sites are nice and wooded" with "a lot of space between them," providing a sense of seclusion despite being relatively close to urban areas. Camp Nihan received positive feedback for blending accessibility with natural surroundings, as one camper noted it "always felt like we were really in the woods" despite being "super close to parking." Tent campers will find varied landscapes from coastal sites near Gloucester to more inland wooded settings. Most locations accommodate standard tent setups with flat areas for pitching, though some feature more challenging, uneven terrain that requires careful site selection.

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Best Tent Sites Near Salem, New Hampshire (13)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Salem, NH

36 Photos of 13 Salem Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Salem, NH

673 Reviews of 13 Salem Campgrounds

  • Emma N.
    May. 24, 2018

    Greenfield State Park Campground

    Secluded Sites

    The night before hiking Mount Monadnock, my husband and I camped here. Monadnock State Park is about a 25 minute drive from the campground, and provides a beautiful hike. The RV sites at Greenfield State Park were relatively secluded, as it is a very wooded area. We visited very early in the season, so the main tent camping loops were blocked off for maintenance. Our site had a picnic table and a fire ring. We drove by a shower facility and a building with restrooms. The restrooms were still locked for the winter, so there were a few port-a-potties right outside- these were absolutely disgusting. It looked as though they had not been cleaned out all winter. Otherwise, the campground seemed nice! Just don’t forget to bring some bug-spray for those New Hampshire mosquitos!

  • Migdalia G.
    May. 29, 2019

    Lorraine Park Campground — Harold Parker State Forest

    Nice Wooded Campground in Awesome Area

    We stayed at Harold Parker State Forest Campground during Memorial Day Weekend. Reservation through Reserve America was a breeze. Check in till 9:00 pm was convenient. Checkout by 11:00 am but we paid for an additional night to be able to leave at night the day we checked out. Totally worth it!

    Nice large campsites. The sites’ privacy is very diverse. You could be tucked away from everyone or closer together depending on the site you choose but they are all pretty decent in size. All sites have water which is a plus. All have a fire pit/box, charcoal bbq and a picnic table. Most of them are drive in. 

    Quiet hours from 10 am to 7 am. No alcohol allowed (although I didn’t see an actual enforcement of this rule and guess it’ll happen only if people act out). Rangers are constantly patrolling. Felt pretty safe at night. You can’t bring wood. Bundles are $5 each and it burns really well. 

    Lots of biking/hiking/walking trails, a nice small pond/beach, boat access, a few basketball courts, a volleyball court and a common huge fire pit added to the fun. A ranger ran a program to teach about the area fauna which was pretty interesting for kids and adults alike. 

    Bathrooms were fairly clean although small and showers were free! Some sites were right in front of a lovely pond and there were many group sites available as well. 

    The location is pretty good. Salem, Andover, Boston Are accesible while staying here. Close proximity to Richardson Ice Cream which you CANT miss if you decide to stay.  They have cheap but amazing ice cream, mini golf and battling cages which was entertaining for my whole crew. 

    It rained a lot during one night of our stay and the site (301) did not flooded at all. All sites seemed in pretty good shape the morning after as well. 

    Beautiful and will recommend to families with small kids, groups and couples too.

  • M.A.D. P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 1, 2023

    Pawtuckaway State Park Campground

    Large and friendly park with plenty of water activity opportunities

    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. The park includes a large family beach on the lake. There are many opportunities for hiking, with trails leading to many special points of interest, including a mountaintop fire tower; an extensive marsh where beavers, deer, and great blue herons may be seen.

    The park lines the shore of beautiful Pawtuckaway Lake.  The 192 sites are wooded and many provide views of the lake.  Each campsite has an open fire ring, picnic table, flat areas for a tent, and a parking space. The bathhouses are equipped with running water, flush toilets, and 24 hour showers.  There are no hook-ups at any of the campsites. The park also has a camp store where canoe and kayaks are available, as well as a plublic canoe and kayak launch. Five cabins are available; each sleeps six people, has electricity, and includes a fire ring and picnic table. Pets are not allowed in the campground or beach area of the park.

  • d
    Aug. 19, 2025

    Cape Ann Camp Site

    25 cents for a shower

    The aerial photos of this place are very deceiving. This camp ground is the foreground of the main house which, is situated on the top of the hill. The sites are all dirt. There is no concrete pads. There is no WIFI. There is no sewer hook up however, near the street there is a "dump station."  The camp ground is run down and unmaintained. Our site had a fire ring which, was filled with ash. Our first night we woke up to a trailer filled with smoke because, someone near by had a fire in 92 degree heat. Most campers are full time residents. There is no sight of them during the day light hours but, at night they are up and about on bikes and mingling with each other. 

    25 cents per 5 minute hot shower is offered in the public restroom. Some shady people immediate started to hover near the public restroom once we drove up the hill to use the public restrooms. For $70/nite for a view it's not worth it. I was glad to leave- very creepy.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 28, 2023

    Greenfield State Park Campground

    Loved it here

    We stayed here for a night in mid October, as they were getting ready to close for the season, so more than half of the campground was closed off. But the part that we did see was awesome. Each site was huge, separated from its neighbor, private, mostly flat, and beautiful. No hookups in the campground, and sites are hit or miss with tree coverage, some sites may have enough opening for solar or starlink, but I wouldn’t count on it. 

    There are hiking trails throughout the campground, but our dog got covered in ticks so watch for that. There are water spigots throughout the campground and a dump station. Showers were free and nice and clean, and you can control the temperature and let the water run (no button to push). 

    The dump truck driver was there picking up garbage and I asked him about recycling and he said they have their own transfer station where the waste is sorted, so all recycling and garbage goes into the dumpster. 

    We paid $23 for a site because it was primitive season, but I think normally it’s $25. No other taxes or fees were charged. There’s a little store in the ranger office with basic supplies and gifts, ice cream, fire starters, ice, etc. There’s also a little free library exchange behind the office. And to top it off, we had cell service here. Great stay, highly recommend! Beware of ticks!

  • Jessica N.
    Sep. 13, 2021

    Greenfield State Park Campground

    Great Park, big sites

    Stayed for a weekend (1 night). Easy access to a bathroom (which was very clean). Quiet neighbors, everyone around us observed the quiet hours (10p-7a) and even during the day no one was super loud. Very respectful drivers made biking feel fun and safe for kids. Campers beach was lovely. Sure the water was a little weedy, but we didn’t mind. The lake is a great spot for kayaking (although it is a little bit of a walk from the parking lot with a heavy boat) and the sunset on the lake definitely didn’t disappoint. Nice partially shaded and level site with good access for backing in our small trailer. Playground, camp store, convenient check-in at office, firewood available for $6, lots of trails and fairly level for easy biking. State park camping (no hookups) but there’s a dump station near the exit and water spigots dispersed around the campsites. Absolutely would go again.

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 15, 2021

    Tidewater Campground

    Large campground near, but not on the beach

    First of all, the location is a little quirky and I think I only arrived once without a wrong turn! Watch the GPS carefully. That said, it’s very close to Hampton Beach and you can easily drive or bike over. The campground is parallel to US1, so there is some road traffic noise. Some of the tent sites overlook the marsh. The tent sites are definitely tighter than trailer sites. Some sites back up to each other and it takes a moment to understand where one ends and the next begins. 

    I was here early in the season and placed in a seasonal site with water/electric. Site was level. Neighbors were friendly. The bathroom was a short walk away and spotless. I did notice that in the tent areas, the main bathrooms are supplemented with portable toilets. Sites are mostly wooded, which will offer nice relief from the heat. It's a nice base for exploring the area.

    There’s a gated entry and turtle-speed limit that they take seriously. The pool was not yet open. There’s a small store onsite for ice and essentials. All the big box stores and a number of restaurants are nearby. For a change of pace from seafood, I picked up Shane's Texas Pit BBQ and brought it back to my site. 

    You may request a reservation online, but you have to confirm and pay for it via the phone. You’ll need to arrive before 9pm to check in. Bring $10 for a cash deposit on the gate card. Only 1 vehicle and 1 camping unit (tent or trailer) allowed on a site.

    Downside: They charge for showers, the amount and duration is unclear and the duration varies depending on which shower you choose! Given the rates they charge, this seems petty.

  • B
    Jul. 11, 2018

    Gilson Pond Area Campground — Monadnock State Park

    Beautiful State Campground

    This was my first time to New Hampshire so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the state parks there. I was not disappointed. I arrived after 7, so there was no one to check me in but I had reserved a campsite ahead of time so I was I went right to my site and set up. The site was big with 2 platforms, a nice picnic table and a fire pit with a grill. I was right next to the bathroom but there was a lot of woods in between my site and the facilities so it didn’t matter at all. In fact I barely noticed any of the neighboring campsites. There is quite a bit of space between each site. The bathrooms and dish washing area are new and well kept. Bring quarters for hot water. The only bad thing was the only place to buy wood for a fire was the camp store which was closed, but my fault for coming late. It was open both days I was there until 6. The hiking is incredible, both from the site and by driving to the headquarters to park. The people working there were friendly and jump started my car when the battery went dead. It was a wonderful weekend away and I will definitely be back.

  • Sable W.
    May. 16, 2018

    Lorraine Park Campground — Harold Parker State Forest

    Spacious, Quiet, Clean and Conveniently Located

    Five friends and I decided to compete in Questival, which came to Boston for May 11-12, 2018. There aren't many campgrounds open in Massachusetts this early in the season, but Harold Parker State Forest was! I snagged a group campsite since we'd have four tents. We had to set up after dark, so we wound up congregating in one corner of the group site. When we woke up we could see just how HUGE the group site was! We had 4 two-person tents; you could easily fit 3x that number of tents. PLENTY of flat ground to set up on, and we were far enough back from the road that we never heard or saw other campers arriving, even though we know most other Questival competitors stayed at this campground. It was about a 5 minute walk to the bathrooms and showers, and potable water was available right on the site. Even though it was early in the season and not very leafy, we could only occasionally see our neighbors' headlamps. There were 4 or 5 fire pits, 5 large picnic tables, and 3 driveways that could fit two cars each. Great value for the cost! We were pleased with the privacy, space, cleanliness, and amenities.

Guide to Salem

Tent campsites near Salem, New Hampshire typically operate from May through mid-October due to New England's seasonal climate. The region features wooded terrain with elevations ranging from 100-400 feet above sea level. Most campgrounds maintain a 10 PM quiet hour policy, with campfire restrictions sometimes implemented during dry summer conditions.

What to do

Beach access: Cape Ann Camp Site offers proximity to coastal recreation with "close to a nice beach" according to Lajaun C., who also mentioned the campground's convenient location makes it "close enough to stores if you need more" supplies during your stay.

Island exploration: For those willing to venture further, Boston Harbor Islands State Park provides unique camping with ferry access. Martha H. shares, "During the day you can take small ferries to a variety of other islands to go swimming or explore. This is a great adventure for kids."

Hiking opportunities: Trails near Salem camping areas range from easy to moderate difficulty. At Camp Nihan Education Center, Michael V. notes it's "adjacent to Breakheart Reservation, which had a great shallow pond with life guard on duty as well as bike trails and a range of different hikes."

What campers like

Wooded privacy: Tent campers consistently mention site separation as a key factor. Cristina P. from Cape Ann Camp Site reported, "It doesn't look like much but it is absolutely lovely when you actually pull in! We had a nice perfectly level site in a beautiful wooded area."

Wildlife sightings: Several camping areas near Salem offer opportunities to observe local wildlife. John S. noted at Cape Ann Camp Site: "Very nice folks, great sites with A LOT of space between them. Spectacular views and wild turkeys, deer, etc."

Beach proximity: Coastal access ranks high for campers in this region. Rebecca S. specifically mentioned "Great beach access" at Cape Ann Camp Site, though noting facilities "are on the old side."

What you should know

Shower facilities: Many campgrounds charge for showers. Ben E. at Cape Ann Camp Site mentioned: "The showers require payment with quarters. I don't know how many quarters it takes because I don't carry change. So I washed my hair in the sink."

Ferry logistics: For Boston Harbor Islands, plan transportation carefully. Jess G. explains: "We took all of our gear on the T to the harbor by the aquarium. We then took the ferry to Georges Island. After that we waited and got on a much smaller island to Lovells."

Water availability: Not all campsites provide drinking water. For Boston Harbor Islands, Jean C. advises: "Pack as lightly as possible and plan to carry or wheel it to your site. If you have a folding wagon, you may appreciate having it to carry items on and off the ferry and to your site."

Tips for camping with families

Water activities: Salmon Falls River RV Resort offers multiple water features for children. Samantha N. states: "If you have young kids this place is so fun! Multiple pools, a water slide, high ropes, a jump pad, mini golf and more!!! My niece had so much fun!"

Convenient rustic options: Some sites balance wilderness feel with practical access. Michael V. shared that Camp Nihan "group site is super close to parking and yet the terrain is rugged enough that it always felt like we were really in the woods."

Planning ahead: Most family-friendly tent camping near Salem requires advance booking. Martha H. advises for Boston Harbor Islands: "These sites book quickly, so you should try to book 7 months to the day in advance. That said, you can also look for last minute openings."

Tips from RVers

Site surface conditions: Most RV sites in the area are not concrete pads. Doris C. from Cape Ann Camp Site observed: "The sites are all dirt. There is no concrete pads. There is no WIFI. There is no sewer hook up however, near the street there is a 'dump station.'"

Utility hookups: Check specific amenities before booking. Aaron G. at Salmon Falls River Camping Resort noted: "Campsites are level and site is fairly easy to maneuver with bigger rigs."

Seasonal considerations: Most campgrounds close by mid-October. Cape Ann Camp Site operates "May 15 - Oct 15" according to their listing, with similar operating schedules at other area campgrounds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Salem, NH?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Salem, NH is Cape Ann Camp Site with a 4.1-star rating from 16 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Salem, NH?

TheDyrt.com has all 13 tent camping locations near Salem, NH, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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