Camping near Tuftonboro, New Hampshire offers varied terrain accessibility from tent-only primitive sites to luxury waterfront RV spots. The region sits at the southeastern edge of the White Mountains, with elevations ranging from 500-800 feet at most campgrounds. Water levels in the Swift River and Bearcamp River fluctuate seasonally, often running higher in spring and early summer when snowmelt contributes to flow rates.
What to do
River tubing opportunities: Whits End Campground provides direct river access for water recreation. "Beautiful area by Mount Chacora as well as wooded sites. You can tube down the river, it's peaceful and clean with great views and location is great," notes camper Heather M.
Swift River swimming: Tamworth Camping Area features a natural beach area on the Swift River. "Nice little beach on the Swift River. Nicely wooded sites. A quarter will get you five minutes of hot water for your shower," according to Amy V., who stayed at site 19.
Mountain exploration: Several campgrounds serve as gateways to hiking trails. At Gunstock Campground, one visitor reported, "I was lucky to receive a tranquil, secluded spot next to a brook - perfect. This campground has nothing to do, or plenty you can do - walking, hiking, biking, and close access to all Gunstock's adventures."
What campers like
Spacious wooded sites: Privacy and shade rank high for tent campers. At Harbor Hill Camping Area, campers appreciate the natural setting. "The tenting sites are pretty big and they allow up to 4 tents and 2 cars per site. Extremely quiet and the bathrooms are super clean," reports Sarah W.
Lake access: Waterfront camping represents a major draw in the region. Long Island Bridge Campground receives consistent praise for its lakeside location. "Campground is right on the lake, very clean, pet friendly, employees are great, overall just a nice place to relax and enjoy yourself! People are awesome here!" notes Austin M.
Wildlife viewing: Multiple campgrounds offer opportunities to observe local wildlife. At White Lake State Park Campground, one camper mentioned, "The lake is clear, the swimming area is shallow for quite a distance so you can feel comfortable with kids, and there is a separate boat launch area... We were able to hear the loons calling on the lake at night too."
What you should know
Security procedures: Several campgrounds implement strict entry systems. "It's a gated campground so a key card is necessary and also hugely inconvenient for people with more than one car," notes Ashley S. about Bearcamp River Campground.
Campground enforcement: Rules vary by location. At Danforth Bay Camping & RV Resort, campers report strict policy oversight. "The security people have been extremely aggressive to us. I could understand if they asked us respectfully not to add to it but the woman got right in our face yelling at us and telling us that she wasn't leaving until the fire is out including the coals," according to Jeremy P.
Site topography: Terrain differs significantly between campgrounds. At Chocorua KOA, one reviewer noted, "The waterfront site we had (site 38) was very nice, it's pretty spacious. The deck had furniture on it and a grill... Most of the waterfront sites are back in, and the only level part of the site is away from the deck and water."
Tips for camping with families
Beach selection: Several campgrounds offer dedicated swimming areas. At White Lake State Park Campground, Douglas L. reports, "The beach was clean and had lots of ducks swimming near by. The kids enjoyed ice cream tacos from the snack shack."
Bathroom proximity: When booking sites, consider facility locations. "This is a VERY LARGE campground, it will be a trek to get to the bathrooms or showers or swimming. You do NOT get to park at the lake if you are a camper. So that will be a long walk. However, the sites were spacious and felt semi private, I had a site next to the bathroom, which was very helpful and I felt confident letting my children go to the bathroom alone," notes STephanie C. at White Lake State Park.
Activity scheduling: Many campgrounds program regular entertainment. At Chocorua KOA, families appreciate structured recreation. "There are a lot of options for boat rentals - paddle boats, kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, and row boats... There were also a lot of free activities for the kids like crafts, wagon rides and games with a full schedule of events."
Tips from RVers
Leveling requirements: Several campgrounds require substantial leveling equipment. At Chocorua KOA, one RVer reported, "And when I say a lot, I mean my 5" drive on leveling blocks weren't enough and I had to put them on top of a 2x8 to level the camper out."
Power supply verification: Always check electrical connections against documentation. A reviewer at Chocorua KOA warned, "Our site was labeled as a 50 amp connection, but it wasn't, it was 30 amp. So double check that."
Wi-Fi reliability: Internet access varies significantly. Positive experiences exist: "The wifi actually was decent at this site - I'm surprised because 8 out of 10 campgrounds I go to that claim wifi, its slow and unusable," noted one Chocorua KOA visitor staying at site 38.
