Sullivan, New Hampshire campgrounds operate in a mountainous landscape at elevations between 800-1,200 feet with harsh winters limiting camping seasons. Most campgrounds close between October and May when snow accumulations can reach 70+ inches annually. Many rv campgrounds near Sullivan utilize former forest or farmland properties, maintaining natural wooded buffers between sites.
What to do
Hiking nearby trails: Jamaica State Park Campground offers easy access to the West River Trail which leads directly to Hamilton Falls. "I love the area around Jamaica State Park and have stayed a few times! There is plenty of trails in the area and you can go to the waterfall/rock slides and take a dip in the pools," notes one camper about this Vermont destination that's accessible from Sullivan.
Swim in natural settings: Several campgrounds feature swimming areas in ponds or lakes rather than pools. At Dorset RV Park, one visitor mentioned "Great location near a fantastic quarry, country store, and Manchester shopping. The camp grounds were family friendly and quiet. They even had rabbits and chickens for the kids to enjoy."
Mountain climbing: Gilson Pond Area Campground provides a perfect basecamp for hiking Mount Monadnock. "Clean well kept level areas! Staff was friendly! Great hiking or biking along the West River!" wrote one reviewer. The campground fee includes parking access for hiking Mount Monadnock, saving the separate entrance fee.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained bathrooms and showers as important factors. "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," commented a visitor to Gilson Pond Campground.
Friendly management: Tree Farm Campground receives high marks for owner attentiveness. "We had a couple of issues with our pop-up camper which could've easily sent us back to CT crying but Ben along with another friendly neighbor helped us without hesitation. This made our two night stay fantastic," shared one grateful camper.
Wooded privacy: Tree spacing creates natural site separation at many regional campgrounds. According to a reviewer at Chapman Acres: "2 well stocked campsites. One is setup for tenting or an RV/Camper. Clean portable toilet for use, plenty of parking, hose for water and 2 kayaks at site one. The other site is a charming Bell Tent."
What you should know
Seasonal limitations: Most campgrounds operate from May through mid-October with limited off-season staffing. "Stayed for over a week off season, mid September. Very quiet during the week, weekend is Party Time when the gang pulls in on Friday Night," reported one camper at Woodmore Family Campground.
Limited cell coverage: Many campgrounds have spotty connectivity due to mountain terrain. "find something that you dont like about this park... go ahead, ill wait. small town general store, no cell service and a gorgeous back drop is a perfect spot to just unwind from the real world," noted a Jamaica State Park visitor.
Electrical system quality: Check with campgrounds about power stability before booking. One camper cautioned: "The electrical system has claimed countless rv components and 2 total losses. Instead of fixing it, they simply run generators for years. If you go take every precaution from the electrical. Its dangerous."
Tips for camping with families
Campground playgrounds: Several RV campgrounds near Sullivan feature dedicated play areas. One reviewer at Jamaica State Park noted: "Nice little weekend getaway. Clean bathrooms, roomy tent sites, nice staff. Fun playground and nature area for kids. Very family friendly place with beautiful hikes to Hamilton falls."
Water safety considerations: Swimming areas vary significantly in supervision and conditions. "The sandy beach is nice but the swimming area is quite weedy," noted one visitor to Sandy Beach Campground, while another mentioned: "There's also another waterfall (Pikes Falls) - a short drive away and Stratton Mountain/Resort is not too far either. Also dog friendly."
Seasonal activities: Look for family programming during summer months. A Woodmore Family Campground visitor shared: "We tent camped here with 2 other families in the summer of 2019. Everything was clean, staff was friendly and attentive. Pool was clean, they have a great wiffleball park."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Many rv campgrounds in Sullivan, New Hampshire and surrounding areas have uneven terrain. One camper at Hidden Valley RV and Golf Park reported: "Unfortunately, I can't give high marks to our campsite. 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."
Weekend vs. weekday differences: Occupancy levels fluctuate dramatically by day. One Woodmore Family Campground visitor noted: "50 percent or more is seasonal camp sites. Sites in back are ok with trees and different levels. Sites are a little closer than I usually find. Neighbors are very considerate on site privacy."
Navigation challenges: Tree placement can make maneuvering difficult for larger rigs. "Larger rigs might want to avoid loop 6-14, especially for sites 8-12. Tree placement and a pretty sharp 110+ degree turn makes it challenging to maneuver," cautioned an RVer about site access at a nearby campground.
