Best Campgrounds near Sullivan, NH

Camping near Sullivan, New Hampshire encompasses a mix of state parks, private campgrounds, and small family-owned facilities within southwestern New Hampshire and nearby Vermont. The region features established campgrounds like Gilson Pond Area in Monadnock State Park, Pillsbury State Park, and Ashuelot River Campground, all within 30-45 minutes of Sullivan. Accommodations range from tent sites and RV parks to cabins and glamping options, with most facilities situated in wooded settings near lakes, ponds, or rivers. Mount Monadnock, a prominent 3,165-foot peak described by one camper as "the second most hiked mountain in the world after Mount Fuji," serves as a focal point for outdoor recreation in the area.

Most campgrounds in the Sullivan area operate seasonally from May through October, with specific opening and closing dates varying by location. Reservations are recommended, especially for summer weekends and holiday periods. Cell service can be spotty throughout the region, particularly in more remote campgrounds. According to reviews, mosquitoes can be problematic during summer months, so insect repellent is essential. Many campgrounds offer coin-operated showers and basic amenities, with firewood typically available for purchase on-site. Weather conditions vary significantly by season, with comfortable temperatures in summer but potentially cold nights in spring and fall.

State park campgrounds like Pillsbury and Monadnock offer more primitive camping experiences with fewer amenities but greater privacy and natural settings. As one visitor noted, "Pillsbury is called a primitive campground which means no showers or electric hookups." Private campgrounds such as Spacious Skies Seven Maples and Kampfires provide more amenities including swimming pools, playgrounds, and organized activities. Family-friendly facilities are common throughout the region, with many campgrounds offering water access for kayaking, swimming, and fishing. Dog policies vary significantly between parks, with some state parks prohibiting pets entirely, so checking regulations before arrival is essential.

Best Camping Sites Near Sullivan, New Hampshire (169)

    1. Ashuelot River Campground

    16 Reviews
    West Swanzey, NH
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 357-5777

    $47 - $70 / night

    "We had easy access to trails that went along the river behind some of the sites with a few paths down to the river.

    Everyone we encountered was friendly and respectful."

    "Large, open campground surrounded by the Ashuelot River. Friendly owners who go around delivering wood and ice to guests given the pandemic right now."

    2. Gilson Pond Area Campground — Monadnock State Park

    19 Reviews
    Jaffrey, NH
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 532-2416

    $29 - $45 / night

    "Gilson Pond Campground is small— just 37 sites nestled into the woods near a swampy, but beautiful pond in Jaffrey, New Hampshire."

    "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."

    3. Greenfield State Park Campground

    21 Reviews
    Bennington, NH
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 547-3497

    $35 - $105 / 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."

    "Nice views of the lake, swimming, wide open sites, not too over crowded! I'd definitely go back!"

    4. Spacious Skies Seven Maples

    11 Reviews
    Hancock, NH
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 525-3321

    $54 - $999 / night

    "The shower worked well and it was nice not to have to walk to the restrooms, though they were close by. Our stay was during the week so it wasn’t very crowded."

    "We loved being next to the large field and basketball court where we watched the kids play without having to worry where they disappeared to."

    5. Pillsbury State Park Campground

    14 Reviews
    Washington, NH
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 863-2860

    $29 - $40 / night

    "Many campsites are on the lake. None are very far from the lake. 

    There are also a few 'remote' campsites that are not accessable by car. They are accessable by a sort walk or boat. "

    "Pillsbury resides in a very pretty spot nestled around a lake. There are campsites that are car accesable and remote campsites only accessable by boat. Canoe rentals are available at the park."

    6. Chapman Acres

    1 Review
    Sullivan, NH
    1 mile
    +1 (603) 852-4527

    $50 - $90 / night

    "A hidden path nearby brings you to a canopy covered swing that overlooks the pond. Another path leads you to the canoe access. FREE firewood and rubbish removal at both sites."

    7. Kampfires

    8 Reviews
    West Chesterfield, VT
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 254-2098

    $30 - $50 / night

    "They have an ice cream shop attached to their office/store, mini golf just outside of it too. There is an amphitheater for concerts and shows throughout the summer."

    "Even though it is off season, there are several units throughout but dispersed so no one was right next to us. The site was somewhat level with a gravel base. FHU at each site made hook up easy."

    8. Swanzey Lake Camping Area

    3 Reviews
    West Swanzey, NH
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (603) 352-9880

    $35 - $42 / night

    "Nice beach, but need to cross public road to get there - short walk. Relaxing evenings along side fire pit."

    9. Fort Dummer State Park Campground

    12 Reviews
    Brattleboro, VT
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 254-2610

    "There are 3 nice and short trails, 2 with a great view and the other that is quite steep down to a swimming hole."

    "We had site 30, which looked to be one of the best sites available (and the lean-tos next to site 30 also looked great). Most sites on this side of the loop were private, forested, and spacious."

    10. Brattleboro North KOA

    4 Reviews
    West Chesterfield, VT
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 254-5908

    "It was only like 40 mins away from us. Just to get away. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable of the area . They had activities for kids and adults. They had a rec."

    "The pool was sparkling clean and the best part, not a bunch of screaming kids running around. There's a market next door with fresh fruit and veggies for sale. The store is large and well stocked."

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Recent Reviews near Sullivan, NH

728 Reviews of 169 Sullivan Campgrounds


  • alicianlv The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Grout Pond Campground — Green Mountain & Finger Lakes National Forests

    Grout Pond Loop

    Camping Grout Pond Loop is truly nice after Labor Day (Sept 5-7). Campsites 15 & 16 offer pull-out space to turn around truck campers --we lucked out w/ 4 wheel camper pop-up). Over hanging trees would make it difficult for larger equipment, plus saw posting that excludes trailers from certain roads. We reserved well in advance; however many fellow campers were trying to find first come sites and ended up hiking in to camp around pond sites. Sites are in eye-site of each other but you don't feel crowded. Temps during day around 65-70 F. Nights dipped to 45-55F.
    We saw deer & turkeys driving the surrounding woods after short hikes.
    We love chatting w locals and learned of a special shrine that was faithfully built from stone to resemble original in modern day Turkey. What a special & serene place.

  • Utshob A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Bear Brook State Park Campground

    Convenient and fun

    The park was easy to get to, only about half an hour from Manchester. It has kayak rentals and a very well stocked camp store, that was close to the camp sites. Our campsite was only about a hundred feet away from the camp store but still felt private.

    Our campsite also had a fire pit and a picnic table which were great.

    The size of the sites varies quite a bit though as well as their isolation, some were out in the open.

    For cell service: ATT seems to have pretty decent coverage but not Verizon.

  • Andy M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Statton Pond Camp on Forest Road 71

    Large Area with Fire Pit in the middle

    This was a great site.  I couldn't believe that the site was not being used at all, especially the just a couple of days before Fourth of July weekend.  Many other sites further south on 71 were filled and some were just TTs holding the space for the upcoming weekend.

    The site was very flat and could accommodate several small campers.  It was quiet during our overnight stay other than a car or two on Stratton-Arlington Rd.  There weren't many mosquitoes either.  Hiking trail to Stratton Pond close by.

  • Kenneth P.
    Aug. 28, 2025

    Fort Dummer State Park Campground

    Not So Bad

    We spent one night at site #20 and enjoyed our stay.  It was rather peaceful other than the hum of I-91. The staff was friendly and helpful. The sites were generally wooded, pretty level, and fairly spread apart from one another.  I saw no signs of the problems identified in the June 2025 review.  Yes, I must agree that the restrooms are old, but they were clean.  The other problems might happen anywhere and were obviously brought under control.  Clearly, the writer of the June 2025 post knew way more than any weekend camper would be aware of and this shows that is more to their story that should have been revealed in their post.

  • S
    Aug. 23, 2025

    Cold Springs Camp Resort

    All Around Exceptional

    This place is just great! They have clean, flat sites, easy to navigate and get our fifth wheel in. The facilities are spotless. There are numerous pools and hot tubs, activities and the people that work there are just the nicest! Our kids were never scolded for being loud and neither were the adults. We have booked our return trip already and can't wait to go back!

  • W
    Aug. 20, 2025

    Quechee State Park Campground

    Good location

    The park is in a good location; it is right next to the road. We were at sight #3.  We were able to walk to the gorge as well as to the Antique mall.  The staff was very friendly and accommodating with us. My wife really enjoyed it and had a lot of fun. The ice cream was really close and really good. 

    The issue I had was the camp next to ours had the generator on all night long and I had a hard time getting back to sleep after going to the bathroom. Next time I will get a volunteer or park ranger to get it turned off.

  • Rachael K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Lake Dennison Recreation Area Campground

    Really pretty and chill

    This campground is pretty and offers many private site options. We didn't use the bathrooms so can't speak on that. But overall it's a clean campground.

    There are two loops. The loop closer to the entrance has a lot of private sites. Although if you have one closer to the main road, it is quite noisy with road sounds. But many of the sites in the middle are more quiet. The sites by the lake are really pretty, but there's not much privacy. All of the sites are good size and the fire pits are placed well.

    The other loop farther away from the entrance has a lot more lakeside sites. But there's very little privacy. The sites with higher numbers by the lake are all on top of each other with little to no trees or shrubs between sites, and you can't really decipher where one site ends and the next begins. We would not stay on that loop if we visited again. Unless it was site 101 which seemed more private for that loop.

    Sites 1 through 5 on the first loop are pretty quiet and peaceful. We stayed at site 4 and we think that it was one of the best sites in the campground. We didn't have neighbors on either side of us. We only had neighbors across from us. The site was spacious , peaceful and pretty. There was a little trail from our site that went down to a marsh. That was absolutely beautiful.

    We will definitely stay here again.


Guide to Sullivan

Camping sites near Sullivan, New Hampshire spread across a varied landscape of hills and valleys in the southwestern portion of the state. Elevations range from about 800 to 1,000 feet throughout the region, creating a mix of woodland and open meadow camping environments. Nighttime temperatures can drop significantly even in summer months, with average summer lows in the 50s and occasional dips into the 40s in late spring and early fall.

What to do

Paddling adventures: Ashuelot River provides excellent kayaking opportunities near Ashuelot River Campground, where campers can bring their own equipment or rent on-site. "We brought our kayaks and had no problem kayaking on the flat surface river," notes Karen O. The campground also offers a shuttle service for water sports enthusiasts.

Rail trail access: Several campgrounds connect to local rail trails for biking and hiking. "You can pick up the Ashuelot Rail Trail at the campground. They have canoes and kayaks on site, plus a shuttle service for water sports or biking," explains Carry M. These converted railway corridors provide flat, accessible routes suitable for all skill levels.

Playground facilities: For families with younger children, Spacious Skies Seven Maples offers extensive play facilities. "The pool is amazing for kids of all ages with water slides and a splash area... The playground is really big with plenty to do," shares Erin M. The campground also includes a fishing pond for additional recreation.

What campers like

Waterfront locations: Many campers appreciate the direct water access at several area campgrounds. At Pillsbury State Park Campground, "Our site was waterfront and shared a small beach/kayak launch with the neighboring site. Kayaking on May Pond and discovering little islands and coves was a highlight," reports Jessica N. These waterfront sites typically fill quickly during peak season.

Secluded site options: Campers seeking more privacy can find remote options throughout the region. "Pillsbury State Park is a great place to get away from it all. There are great hikes that you can get to right from your campsite, connecting to the Monadnock-Sunapee greenway," writes Matthew S. Several campgrounds offer walk-in or boat-in sites for those willing to pack in gear.

Clean facilities: Many reviewers consistently note the cleanliness of campground facilities in the Sullivan area. At Gilson Pond Area Campground, "The bathrooms are immaculate. The showers take coins but the facilities are some of the best I've seen while camping on State Park grounds," according to Jess G. Most campgrounds maintain well-serviced restrooms despite high visitor numbers.

What you should know

Cash only at state parks: Several state parks in the region operate on cash-only systems for on-site purchases. At Pillsbury State Park, "Everything is cash here, no cards accepted except when reserving a site online," notes Brandon C. Plan accordingly by bringing sufficient cash for firewood, rentals, or other needs.

Limited cell service: Connectivity remains spotty throughout the area, particularly at more remote campgrounds. For safety, download offline maps and campground information before arrival. Some specific sites may get limited reception—"If you have Verizon and you're at campsite 34 you can get a little service," mentions Lisa P. about Pillsbury State Park.

Leech concerns in some lakes: Swimmers should be aware that some bodies of water in the region have leech populations. According to one camper at Pillsbury State Park, "Swimming in the stream is safe but the lake is loaded with leeches!" Consider bringing water shoes and checking with rangers about current conditions.

Tips for camping with families

Early reservations required: Family-friendly campgrounds fill quickly, especially for holiday weekends. At Fort Dummer State Park Campground, one visitor noted, "Sites are large and well maintained. Plenty of space between sites." Plan to book at least 3-6 months in advance for summer stays.

Pool options: For families wanting swimming options beyond natural water bodies, several campgrounds offer pools. "The pool was sparkling clean and the best part, not a bunch of screaming kids running around," reports Rebecca S. about Brattleboro North KOA. These facilities typically operate from late May through early September, weather permitting.

Campground-specific pet policies: Policies regarding pets vary significantly between locations. One critical note about Mount Monadnock: "Dogs aren't allowed anywhere in Monadnock State Park, and while we were sad to leave our goodest boy at home, he would have hated the hike up the mountain anyway—too many rock scrambles," explains Tara S. Always check current pet policies before booking.

Tips from RVers

Site size considerations: Many campgrounds in the region have limitations on RV size. At Swanzey Lake Camping Area, one camper reported, "Site 12 a little tight for 21 ft travel trailer." For larger rigs, call ahead to discuss specific site options and access limitations.

Electric reliability: Some campgrounds have issues with consistent power supply. One RVer noted at Seven Maples Campground, "Had issues with 30 amp service at site was not providing enough power, could not run all my campers amenities." Consider bringing a surge protector and inquire about recent electrical upgrades when booking.

Bridge clearance warning: Access routes to some campgrounds include covered bridges or low clearance areas. At Ashuelot River Campground, "Highly suggest reading the directions on the campgrounds website about the covered bridge you're not allowed to cross—we discovered this the hard way," cautions Mallory P. Always research access routes specifically for RVs before arrival.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Sullivan, NH?

According to TheDyrt.com, Sullivan, NH offers a wide range of camping options, with 169 campgrounds and RV parks near Sullivan, NH and 16 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Sullivan, NH?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Sullivan, NH is Ashuelot River Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 16 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Sullivan, NH?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 free dispersed camping spots near Sullivan, NH.

What parks are near Sullivan, NH?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 parks near Sullivan, NH that allow camping, notably Edward MacDowell Lake and Townshend Lake.