Pawtuckaway State Park Campground
Great spot with all types of different campsites.
3 campgrounds with availability next weekend
The coastal region around Somersworth, New Hampshire features a range of established campgrounds serving both tent and RV campers, with many offering cabin accommodations. Pawtuckaway State Park Campground in Nottingham provides lakefront sites with swimming, hiking, and kayaking opportunities approximately 20 miles west of Somersworth. Old Stage Campground in Dover offers tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals within 10 miles of Somersworth. Several campgrounds in the area support multiple accommodation types, including basic tent camping, full-service RV sites, and cabin rentals, creating options for various camping preferences and needs.
Most campgrounds in the Somersworth region operate seasonally from May through September or October, with limited winter camping availability. Reservations are strongly recommended during summer months when waterfront sites fill quickly. Tent sites typically include fire rings, picnic tables, and access to bathhouses with flush toilets and showers. RV sites commonly feature water and electric hookups, with some offering sewer connections and 50-amp service. Cell coverage varies across the region but remains generally reliable at developed campgrounds. Many facilities maintain camp stores with basic supplies and firewood for purchase. According to one visitor, "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."
Water access represents a significant draw for campers in the Somersworth area, with several campgrounds situated on lakes, ponds, or rivers. Barrington Shores Campground provides waterfront sites with direct lake access, while Pawtuckaway State Park features campsites along the shoreline with opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, and swimming. Sites at many campgrounds vary in privacy and shade coverage, with waterfront locations typically commanding premium rates. A review noted that at Pawtuckaway State Park, "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." Mixed-use campgrounds frequently offer recreational amenities such as swimming pools, playgrounds, and sports facilities alongside natural features like hiking trails and fishing areas.
"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."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $35 - $140 / night
"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
"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. "
"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."
"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."
"Had to walk around to find signal for phone call."
"Sites are wide I parked my truck next to camper and still had enough space for a safe fire in the pit."
from $45 - $55 / night
"Consider the Thousand Trails membership when booking this site. Our annual membership fees basically covered what it would cost to camp here for two weeks."
"We stayed in the newer area with larger spots near the entrance to the park. There are activities and food within walking distance."
"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."
"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












Great spot with all types of different campsites.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Campsites near Somersworth, New Hampshire sit in a region that experiences four distinct seasons, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F and winter dropping to 10-30°F. Winter camping is limited, with most campgrounds closing by mid-October and reopening in May. Riverside and lakefront camping spots can experience significant mosquito activity during summer months, particularly at dusk.
Tubing on the river: At Salmon Falls / Lebanon KOA, visitors can float down the adjacent river during summer months. "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?" reports Ben J.
Kayaking and boating: Many campsites offer direct water access for small watercraft. "This 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 Matt R. about Pawtuckaway State Park Campground.
Hiking and wildlife observation: Explore the diverse landscapes around camping areas. "Excellent hiking, beach, wildlife-filled wetlands, girding, geology, forests, and water to enjoy. Pretty serious trail up and around some mountains, to a fire tower, ponds," describes Harry H. about the trails at Pawtuckaway State Park.
Waterfront sites: Premium waterfront spots are highly coveted at many campgrounds. "The sites on the water book up quickly but they're perfect for fishing and boating. Also, the view!" says J L. about Barrington Shores Campground, where waterfront sites provide direct access to fishing and water activities.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms and showers are consistently mentioned in positive reviews. "The bathrooms were clean. The walk to the beach was along a public parking lot. The beach was clean. The small store is well stocked," notes Susan B. about her experience at Pawtuckaway State Park.
Family-oriented atmospheres: Many campgrounds prioritize family experiences with dedicated activities. "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," reports J B. about Lazy Frog Campground.
Site privacy varies significantly: Campsite layout and proximity to neighbors differs across campgrounds. "Sites are level and roomy. The bathroom was clean," notes Susan B. about Pawtuckaway, while another camper mentions "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."
Seasonal popularity affects experience: Booking early is essential for prime spots, especially on weekends. "If you plan ahead and get a water front site it's amazing... but all the sites are roomy and lovely to camp at!" advises Erin W.
Dog policies fluctuate: Not all campgrounds welcome pets throughout the season. "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. I would of hoped for one loop but NH state parks are anti-dog I guess," notes Erin W. about Dixons Coastal Maine Campground, which does permit pets.
Water attractions for kids: Many campgrounds feature water-based recreation. "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," notes J B. about the Lazy Frog Campground.
Educational opportunities: Wildlife observation provides learning experiences. "Pawtuckaway park offers not far from Boston, making this a nice escape but also a pretty crowded day use park and campground. Excellent hiking, beach, wildlife-filled wetlands, girding, geology, forests, and water to enjoy," notes Harry H.
Night noise levels: Some campgrounds maintain stricter quiet hours than others. "The campground, though we had neighbors in every adjoining site, was pretty quiet. There are some spectacular views of the lake and mountains from many sites," reports Kris M.
Electrical service considerations: Power limitations may impact larger RVs during peak usage. "We have a 50 amp unit but reduced down to 30 amp (30 was the only option). We always use a surge protector. Once the weekend campers arrived our surge protector kept tripping due to low voltage," explains J B. about Thousand Trails Moody Beach.
Site configurations: RV sites vary in layout and accommodation. "The 30 amp sites are very close together. The campground layout is quite unusual, with campers parked lengthwise along the road. This means that you share the space where you sit outside with the camper behind you, resulting in very little privacy," advises Arno W. about Thousand Trails Moody Beach.
Seasonal considerations: RV camping before full season may encounter limitations. "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. Thankfully, there was a place down the road that sold wood from a trailer on the side of the road," shares Kris M.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best campgrounds near Somersworth, NH?
The Somersworth area offers excellent camping options. Bear Brook State Park Campground is a top choice in New Hampshire's largest state park, featuring trails, ponds, play structures, a camp store, and beach access. Family-friendly Pawtuckaway State Park Campground offers large, level sites with water access and activities including swimming, hiking, kayaking, biking, fishing, and bouldering. Both parks require advance reservations during peak season to secure the best sites.
What types of campsites are available in the Somersworth, NH area?
The Somersworth area offers diverse camping options. For RV camping, Beach Rose RV Park provides clean sites with pool access and proximity to New Hampshire's coastline. If you prefer a more intimate experience, Roots and Wings Homestead offers a peaceful retreat in rural New Hampshire. For those seeking additional options, Old Stage Campground near Dover provides drive-in sites with water and toilet facilities that can accommodate big rigs.
How much do campgrounds near Somersworth typically cost?
Campground costs near Somersworth vary based on amenities and location. Ayers Lake Farm Campground and Cottages, a small family-owned operation, offers affordable sites with scenic pond views. For those interested in membership options, Thousand Trails Moody Beach provides value through their annual membership program, which can significantly reduce costs for extended stays. State parks in the area typically range from $25-45 per night, while private RV parks and resorts generally charge $35-75 depending on hookups and amenities.
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