Tent camping opportunities near Sunapee, New Hampshire extend beyond established campgrounds into White Mountain National Forest and private wilderness sites. The region sits at elevations ranging from 1,000 to 2,900 feet with average summer temperatures between 75-85°F during days and 55-65°F at night. Winter camping requires cold-weather gear as temperatures frequently drop below freezing from November through March.
What to do
Hike Mount Cardigan: Access trails from Cardigan Campsites for a moderate day hike with panoramic summit views. According to Madison G., it's a "great spot to spend the night before a climb of Mt. Cardigan! Or after! The climb is challenging but shouldn't take too long. Great fire tower views at the top too!"
Fish Baker River: Baker Rocks campground provides direct river access for fishing. The river contains primarily small species during summer months. As one camper noted, "Around the campground there was a little beach along the Baker river. I only caught a few minnows when fishing but that may have been more to do with the angler."
Visit nearby wildlife areas: The Lost Boys Hideout serves as an excellent base for wildlife viewing in surrounding conservation lands. Recent upgrades noted by visitors include "new tents provided at Sleepy Hollow site. Improvements to the firepit, area all mulched, even some games and water are provided!"
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Baker Rocks campground receives high marks for site separation. A recent visitor mentioned, "The tent sites are within the wooded area around the property and felt very secluded. There was a bit of road noise overnight."
Distinctive shelter options: The Happy Hill Backcountry Shelter on the AT features uncommon sleeping arrangements. One hiker described it as having "a ground floor and a loft but each floor could maybe fit 4-5 people comfortably... The loft was nice since folks could decide to sleep up there while others were down below, either cooking, arriving, or departing."
Viewing areas: Several campgrounds incorporate dedicated spaces for scenery appreciation. At Baker Rocks, "Along another bend of the river were two chairs for taking in the scenery."
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms appear in multiple reviews as standout features for tent campers. April W. specifically mentioned Baker Rocks has "beautiful property, wonderful hosts, clean and private" facilities.
What you should know
Water availability: Unreliable water sources affect multiple backcountry sites, particularly during drought conditions. At Trapper John Backcountry Campground, one hiker reported, "There is a water source in the area but it did not have water when I visited (probably on account of the drought)."
Site surfaces: Tent platforms are common at several locations, offering flat, elevated camping surfaces. Baker Rocks sites include "a large tent platform they could fit multiple tents, a brand new picnic table, a fire ring (with a free bundle of firewood), two chairs by the fire ring, and even a few strings of solar lights."
Wildlife precautions: Bear-resistant storage containers are inconsistently available. At Velvet Rocks Shelter, campers should note "There was no bear box onsite" according to recent visitors.
Reservation requirements: Most established campgrounds require advance booking, while AT shelters operate on first-come availability. Cardigan Skyline Camps has only 2 designated sites and fills quickly during summer weekends.
Tips for camping with families
Animal encounters: Select campgrounds offer supervised animal interactions. At Baker Rocks, "They even have animals to visit like bunnies and goats (far away from the campsites)."
Insect protection: Summertime camping requires preparation for insects. One visitor to Baker Rocks advised, "Do bring bug spray, the mosquitoes at certain times of day were aggressive, as to be expected."
Weather variability: Weather patterns can change rapidly in the White Mountains region. Family campers reported successful trips despite challenging conditions: "Our family of 4 visited Baker Rocks during a very rainy week and still had an amazing time."
Site selection for groups: When camping with children, prioritize sites with level terrain. Winturri Backcountry Shelter offers "lots of tent camping spots as you worked up the hill perpendicular to the shelter" that provide options for different family configurations.
Tips from RVers
Limited RV accommodations: The best tent camping near Sunapee, New Hampshire includes few developed RV sites. Most forest service and backcountry locations accommodate tents only.
Potential alternatives: For those requiring hookups, established campgrounds further from Sunapee offer more RV options. Camp hosts at Baker Rocks are noted as "very flexible with timing and wanted to make sure I had a great stay."
Tent-to-RV transitions: Many visitors combine tent and RV camping during extended stays. One reviewer at the Moose Mountain Backcountry Shelter observed it had "a host of large, flat tent sites around the shelter" that could accommodate overflow sleeping arrangements from nearby RV areas.
