Best Tent Camping near Stratham, NH
Public lands surrounding Stratham, New Hampshire offer several tent camping options within an hour's drive. Lost Boys Hideout provides walk-in tent sites in a secluded woodland setting about 40 miles west of Stratham. Military Park New Boston Recreation Area, located near New Boston, NH, offers year-round tent camping with basic amenities. For tent campers seeking established campgrounds, Crown Point Campground in New Hampshire and Sun Outdoors Saco Old Orchard Beach in Maine provide dedicated tent sites with varying levels of amenities.
Tent campsites in the region typically feature dirt or gravel pads with minimal grading. Most established tent campgrounds include fire rings, picnic tables, and access to toilets, though primitive tent camping areas may require campers to bring their own water and sanitation supplies. At Sun Outdoors Saco Old Orchard Beach, tent sites are available from May 1 to October 15, with clean facilities but some highway noise reported by tent campers. Cape Ann Camp Site in Massachusetts operates from May 15 to October 15, offering wooded tent sites with more seclusion than their RV areas. Campers should verify seasonal availability, as most tent campgrounds in the region close during winter months.
Tent-only areas often provide more privacy than mixed-use campgrounds. At Cape Ann Camp Site, campers noted that "tent sites are more secluded than the RV sites" with "nice sized sites surrounded by trees" creating a sense of privacy. One visitor at Sun Outdoors mentioned that tent sites numbered 96, P5, P4, P3, P2, and P1 were "among the best spots, offering full shade and privacy," though they also cautioned about nighttime noise affecting tent campers: "Highway noise nearby is noticeable if tenting." For backcountry tent camping experiences, Lost Boys Hideout requires a short hike to reach sites, creating a more immersive forest experience while still providing basic amenities like drinking water, fire rings, and toilets.