Within a short drive from South Hampton, New Hampshire, RV campgrounds offer convenient access to both New England coastal areas and inland attractions. The region features a mix of seasonal and year-round camping options within a 20-mile radius, with most campgrounds positioned along Route 1 and Interstate 95 corridors. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-85°F during peak camping months, while spring and fall bring cooler conditions that many campers prefer.
What to do
Nearby beaches and coastline: Hampton Beach is just 5 miles east of Seacoast Camping and RV Resort, making it a popular day trip. "About 5 miles to the east is Hampton Beach and a little farther is the town of Rye which are worth the drive. There we discovered Ray's Seafood and Petey's Summertime Seafood where you can get a great meal right next to the water," notes one visitor.
Golf and recreation: Some RV parks include on-site activities like the 9-hole course at Hidden Valley RV and Golf Park. "This campground is 1300 acres owned and operated by the Simonsen family in Derry, NH. The main attraction of this campground is the golf course of 9 or 18 holes. There is a pro shop, golf cart rentals, etc," reports one camper.
Swimming options: Many campgrounds have pools for days when ocean swimming isn't ideal. At Cole's Mine RV Resort, "the pool is heated and has an amazing water slide and themed. We had a blast and plan on visiting again next year!!" according to one enthusiastic review.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Maintenance standards vary across South Hampton area RV parks, with some receiving particular praise. One camper at Sea Coast Camping and RV Resort noted, "This is one of the cleanest, most meticulously maintained campground we have been to. So quiet and peaceful as well. Wifi service was excellent."
Helpful staff: Customer service quality stands out at several parks. A visitor to Thousand Trails Moody Beach shared, "This is a fantastic campground. It is clean. The staff are friendly. The pool area and hot tub are open until 8pm and are at a comfortable temperature."
Strategic location: Many campers value the proximity to multiple attractions. "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 one reviewer about the location advantages.
What you should know
Site selection matters: The quality of sites can vary significantly within the same campground. At Pine Acres Resort, site location impacts the experience: "Stopped for the night on our way to Maine. Site was across from the pavilion. Arrived at 6:30 pm and there had to be about 30 or more golf carts parked in front of our site. Large crowd of people gathered yelling and karaoke started until 11:20."
GPS navigation challenges: Several campgrounds have reported access issues with navigation systems. "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."
Seasonal camper concentration: Many parks have a significant seasonal camper presence which changes the atmosphere. "Half of the park is seasonal campers (which is a lot more cramped and more junked up) and the other half is for transients. The two sides are separated by a tree line where the tent sites are located."
Tips for camping with families
Playground options: When traveling with children, look for parks with dedicated play areas. "2 amazing playgrounds, clean facilities and one amazing pool. We are local to the area and are thrilled to have met the owners and Cole himself!"
Organized activities: Some campgrounds offer scheduled entertainment for different age groups. "The live band was cool but we had golf carts & parked vehicles pretty much surrounding us & some right on our campsite, it was a little awkward. Then around 8, there was a gentleman that started setting up for a comedy show that they would be doing that night."
Swimming alternatives: Pool quality and rules vary by location. One family mentioned, "There are lots of seasonal campers so if you don't like that atmosphere this is probably not the place for you. It's a great base for sightseeing."
Tips from RVers
Site size considerations: Not all RV sites accommodate larger rigs despite advertising as big-rig friendly. "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. They recently seeded the area so new grass was starting to grow. The roads in the park are fairly narrow and we had to drive over the grass across from our site in order to back in."
Utility placement challenges: Hook-up locations can create logistical problems. "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."
Wi-Fi reliability: Internet access varies dramatically between parks and even within different areas of the same park. "The wifi worked perfectly for streaming tv despite the campground being fully booked for Memorial Day weekend."
