322 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
The camping areas surrounding West Ossipee, New Hampshire encompass a mix of established campgrounds and recreational areas with access to lakes, rivers, and mountain views. Developed campgrounds like White Lake State Park Campground and Whits End Campground provide accommodations for various camping styles including tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals. Several facilities in the vicinity, such as Danforth Bay Camping & RV Resort and Tamworth Camping Area, feature waterfront access to lakes and rivers, with amenities ranging from basic toilets to full electrical hookups and shower facilities. The area's campgrounds are generally situated within short driving distance of White Mountains National Forest and popular hiking destinations like Mount Chocorua.
Camping season in the region typically runs from May through October, with most campgrounds closing for the winter months. Many sites require reservations, particularly during peak summer weekends when facilities often reach capacity. "Beautiful lake and campground. I was only here a short time and didn't get a chance to swim in the lake, but it looks fabulous! Crystal clear water. Lovely hike around the lake too, about 2 miles round trip," noted one camper about White Lake State Park. Weather conditions vary significantly by season, with pleasant summer temperatures ideal for water activities and cooler fall temperatures providing scenic foliage viewing. Campground proximity to Route 16 means some sites may experience road noise, while others offer more secluded settings tucked into forested areas.
Waterfront camping receives consistently positive reviews across multiple campgrounds in the area. White Lake State Park Campground features a sandy beach area with swimming access and boat rentals, making it particularly popular with families. Campers frequently mention the clear water quality and mountain views as highlights of their stay. Some visitors note that campgrounds can become crowded during peak season, particularly on holiday weekends. "This is a VERY LARGE campground, it will be a trek to get to the bathrooms or showers or swimming," explained one reviewer about White Lake State Park, highlighting the importance of site selection. Proximity to hiking trails, particularly those leading to Mount Chocorua, appears as a common advantage mentioned by visitors staying at campgrounds throughout the West Ossipee region.
"Last weekend, our family stayed at White Lake State Park for four days."
"I’ve stayed here a few times and love the location and access to White Lake."
from $35 - $105 / night
Check Availability"This campground is huge with over 300 sites set on nearly 200 acres and along a beautiful lake!"
"We love the golf carts and sandy beaches as well as the proximity to North Conway and Lake Ossipee. Staff are nice, quiet time is a bit over enforced."
from $40 - $85 / night
Check Availability"There were some rules in place in order to ensure social distancing and reduce risk to ourselves and to the staff."
"They were wooded and in a central location close to the playgrounds, pavilion, beach and nature trails."
from $45 - $110 / night
Check Availability"A large wooden shelter stood over our picnic table, with a decent amount of space next to it for tents or a small camper."
"Great location with easy ride to all North Conway attractions. Nice hay ride and playground. The beach is sandy and lots of room to spread out. We visited Story Land and Mt."
"White Ledge Campground is in the White Mountain National Forest and should not be confused with nearby White Lake State Park."
"Water spigot and vault toilets, dumpsters all within easy walking distance of all sites. Great spot to start Carter Ledge Trail to hike Three Sisters and Mount Chocorua."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"He absolutely loved it and there was plenty of space in the tent site for him to roam around."
"Our site was spacious and backed up to a little ravine so it was fairly private even though it was right next to the bathrooms (also convenient). We weren’t far from a hand pump water spigot, either."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"Located on the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire, Jigger Johnson is one of those great sites that has close proximity to plenty of hiking, exploring, swimming and isn't too far from the hustle and bustle"
"earlier in the day, around 1 pm when new campers are welcomed."
from $24 / night
Check Availability"You can tube down the river , it’s peaceful and clean with great views and location is great ❤️ We even went horse back riding as it’s close to castle in the clouds"
"Large sites River front Well worth the drive"
from $31 - $55 / night
Check Availability"We were sitting on the side of the foothills entrance ( check in time was 2:00), the owner allowed us to enter early. I would like to thank him very much for that."
"Super close to piper trail where we climbed Mt. Chocora the next day. 10/10."
from $50 - $80 / night
Check Availability
TravelerNo toilet, no showers, no Wi-Fi, no electricity Love it I’ve been primitive camping since before I could walk and def glad this app exist
First use of the app and found the perfect spot away from my friends Airbnb and still close enough to go hangout with them. The site is the perfect size for a single or couple and it gives off the right kind of privacy
Thanks Dyrt
ScoutWent on a weekend and it was still very peaceful! Lots to do on such a beautiful back road. We stayed at two different sites each night we were there and both were equally beautiful and peaceful
Scout⭐**Gunstock Campground: Apparently Your Reserved Site Is More of a Suggestion**
I don't believe I have**ever** left a negative Google review. I generally think that when something goes wrong, you contact the business, give them an opportunity to make it right, and most businesses are genuinely interested in doing exactly that.
Gunstock Campground has cured me of that quaint notion.
I reserved a full-hookup campsite for two nights. I was unable to make it there the first night, but arrived shortly after 7:00 a.m. the next morning. The camp store, where registration takes place, wasn't open yet, so I headed out for my planned hike— about six miles through the Belknaps, including summiting Rowe twice and Gunstock.
By the time I returned, I was utterly exhausted, starving, and actually feeling weak. My ambitions for the afternoon were modest:**eat something, take a shower, and collapse at the campsite I had paid for.**
The staff at the camp store greeted me warmly, checked me in, and sent me on my way.
I drove to my site. There was already a camper in it. Not merely*parked* there, mind you. They had apparently moved right in. They were hooked up to**my site's water and electric**, with water spraying from their ill-fitting hose connection and forming a rather impressive puddle underneath the camper.
I returned to the camp store to report that someone had apparently activated Gunstock's new**"Choose Any Site You Like"** camping plan. A staff member went down to speak with them and came back to tell me they were "packing up." Excellent! My mistake was assuming" packing up" meant**leaving**. It did not.
Apparently these campers had actually reserved a site**two rows away** that had**no water or electric**. Yet somehow, sometime after arriving the previous night, they had accidentally found themselves two rows over, in my clearly different site, connected to utilities their reservation didn't include.
We've all made mistakes. I've occasionally parked one space away from where I intended. I've never accidentally parked**two rows away, hooked myself up to someone else's electricity and water, and spent the night.**
But perhaps I lack imagination.
After they had now consumed about an hour of my afternoon— which, incidentally, is an hour I normally bill at attorney rates— I went back toward my site expecting to find it finally vacated.
And it was! Because Gunstock had moved these folks to another site**two spaces away from me**, apparently allowing them to pay for the upgrade they had already been test-driving. So the people who knowingly or unknowingly occupied my reserved full-hookup site, used the utilities, and delayed me from getting into the site I paid for were rewarded with...a nearby full-hookup site.
They never walked over to apologize. At that point, I no longer felt comfortable staying. It's difficult to relax at a campground when you've just discovered that site assignments appear to operate somewhat on the honor system— and that when someone helps themselves to your reserved site and utilities, management's solution is apparently to make sure *they* remain comfortably accommodated nearby. So I left. On my way home, I called Gunstock and asked for a refund. Surely, I thought, this would be the easy part. After all, I had paid for two nights, hadn't used the first, couldn't get into my site when I arrived for the second, waited while unauthorized occupants vacated it, and ultimately left because the entire experience had become so unpleasant.
Nope. Instead, the staff member **defended the other campers**. I was told they arrived late and "mistakenly" took my site. I was even told they supposedly **hadn't used the utilities**. This was particularly fascinating information for me to receive because **I PERSONALLY SAW THEM HOOKED UP TO THE WATER AND ELECTRIC.** I also took photographs. Including the enormous puddle underneath their camper from the leaking water connection. But apparently my eyewitness account and photographs were no match for the alternative version of events.
For my inconvenience, however, Gunstock did give me a coupon for a **free Bavarian pretzel**. So there is that.
I paid for a full-hookup campsite. Someone else occupied it and used the hookups. I lost roughly an hour waiting to access what I had reserved. The other campers were accommodated with an upgraded site nearby. I left because I no longer felt comfortable staying. And when I asked Gunstock to make the situation right, they refused to refund me and instead argued with me about things **I had personally witnessed and photographed**. The most disappointing part isn't that another camper took my site. Campers can behave badly. Businesses can't control everything their customers do. **What a business CAN control is how it responds when that happens. ** Gunstock had every opportunity to turn this into a mildly annoying story about a camping mix-up. Instead, they turned it into my first negative Google review.
But hey... **I do have that free pretzel coupon.**
TravelerPros: We have the p lube nearly to ourselves, thus it was very similar to dispersed camping. Nice little campground with two small ponds (One for fishing, the other for swimming). Nothing very remarkable, though.
Cons: As others have mentioned, if you want flush toilets and pay showers, you have to either stay at the more crowded, larger loop or walk across the highway to get to those amenities.
ScoutWe just came back from a big family weekend there. We had 5 sites with 19 people(including children). This is by far the most rundown campground I've stayed! Only 1 bathroom facility was functioning. Of the 3 times I tried taking a shower, I only succeeded 1 time. The other 2 times(once at night and once the following morning at 6am) I only got drops coming out of the hot and cold faucets. I tried the only 2 stalls. Speaking of bathrooms...these have not been updated since the 60s-early 70s when I was camping with the same style bathroom facilities. The children's playground should be condemned!!! At least 25% of the wood is rotted. Some steps are missing from ladders. My granddaughter was swinging in the childs swing, the bottom unlatched and she fell through the bottom. If she wasn't monkey like in holding on she would have done a face plant to the ground. After looking at the swing, I found the plastic latch broken! 2 positives: the campsites are very nice! and the beach is great! Bottom line, these owners are not putting any money back into the campground and it's facilities. They are running it into the ground. I won't be coming back again!
ScoutWonderful stay! Clean bathrooms/showers. Woodsy and quiet. Clean campsites with water and electric. The people were super helpful and friendly! Wonderful stay, would easy stay here again :)
TravelerIt was everything we were looking for, right on the river, quiet and clean, the section we stayed in was all tent camping so we weren’t sandwiched in between a bunch of RVs blocking the view. There was no lights, generators or loud music. Alcohol wasn’t permitted so that really cuts down on a lot of unnecessary nonsense. Pets are permitted and our dog loved it. It was very pleasant and relaxing. Can’t wait to go back.
GuideStayed 8 nights with complete solitude. Bugs weren't too bad. There were plenty of dead birch trees and beech trees for firewood. Not any evergreens though. Site 16 has two campsites. I took the further one with plenty of room. Good size fire pit, but people before me left some large pieces of wood not completely put out along with lit coals.
ScoutWe stayed in site #5. It was grassy and had a little creek running next to it that was lovely to listen to.
West Ossipee camping areas sit at an elevation of approximately 480 feet, nestled between the Lakes Region and White Mountains of New Hampshire. The region experiences warm summers with average July temperatures around 80°F and cold winters that typically reach below freezing from December through February. Camping sites near West Ossipee offer a mix of private campgrounds and public facilities, with most located within a 15-mile radius of Mount Chocorua's distinctive peak.
Swimming spots: Try White Lake State Park Campground, which features a lake with gradual depth changes ideal for families. "Beautiful lake and campground... We rented both a canoe and kayaks and it was such a nice experience. The views from the lake are incredible," notes Amanda at White Lake State Park.
Hiking access: Plan a trip to White Ledge Campground, which connects directly to trails. "We hiked the White Ledge Loop which was 4.1 miles and got amazing views. The brooks running through are beautiful. Just a super awesome hidden gem," reports Sarah J. This campground serves as an excellent base for day hikes to Mount Chocorua.
River activities: Explore the Swift River at Tamworth Camping Area where sites back up to the water. "Our site was right on the river! You can swim right in the river. Pet friendly. They have a recreational area right as you enter," says Betty F. The Swift River offers shallow areas for wading and deeper sections for swimming depending on seasonal water levels.
Dog-friendly options: Visit Chocorua KOA if traveling with pets. "This is an incredibly dog-friendly campground with a fun dog park, a special swimming pond just for dogs and doggie day care available," writes Erin M. The campground also offers "dog pond and dog wash" facilities according to Marla B.
Waterfront sites: Campers praise Danforth Bay Camping & RV Resort for its lakeside options. "Its rare to find a campground with so many spacious wooded sites overlooking the water. I always appreciate the onsite kayak rentals for exploring the river that runs along the campground," says Jake C., who also mentions the Mary's Mountain hiking trail accessible from the RV storage area.
Proximity to attractions: Foothills Family Campground offers convenient access to nearby hiking. "Super close to piper trail where we climbed Mt. Chocora the next day," notes Sebastian D. This location provides quick access to both the mountains and the lakes region attractions.
Wilderness experience: Jigger Johnson Campground receives praise for its natural setting. "Located on the Kancamagus Highway, Jigger Johnson is one of those great sites that has close proximity to plenty of hiking, exploring, swimming and isn't too far from the hustle and bustle of North Conway," says Joseph N. Another camper mentions, "We got to see a moose! There was a pair of moose that were hanging around while we were there which was quite fun."
River access: Eastern Slope Camping Area stands out for Saco River use. "This is a nice little campground if you're doing the Saco, has a nice bath house, has a bunch of campsites, a good store that has everything that you might have forgotten! The river is right there and you can splash around in it," mentions Matt R.
Site selection matters: At White Lake State Park, site location significantly affects your experience. "This is a VERY LARGE campground, it will be a trek to get to the bathrooms or showers or swimming," explains Stephanie C. Sites near the bathrooms work better for families with young children.
Seasonal fluctuations: At Covered Bridge Campground, water levels vary throughout summer. "The Swift River is in walking distance and offers a great place to relax after a long day in the New Hampshire woods," says Michael M., though water levels drop in late summer during dry years.
Noise levels: Consider road proximity when selecting a campground. White Ledge Campground sites "parallel NH16; you WILL hear and even see road traffic and Rte 16 is busy," warns Jean C. Campgrounds deeper in the forest offer more quiet.
Reservation systems vary: Some campgrounds require advance booking while others operate first-come, first-served. Jigger Johnson Campground doesn't take reservations: "It is first-come, first-served, so if you want a site with a path to the water it is best to arrive earlier in the day, around 1 pm when new campers are welcomed," advises Rita M.
Pool access: Choose Eastern Slope Camping Area for water options. "Love that it is right on the Saco river, has two beaches," mentions Jennifer O., though she notes the playground is limited to swings only. This campground offers river access plus traditional pool facilities.
Organized activities: White Lake State Park offers family-friendly programming throughout summer. "They seem to always have events & family friendly activities to keep kids entertained," notes a reviewer. Weekend activities include nature programs and ranger-led walks.
Site spacing: Consider Jigger Johnson Campground for quieter family camping. "The camp sites have lots of space between them—we rarely heard our neighbors, even when they were up and about. It was quiet at night when our kids needed to sleep," says Rita M.
Bathrooms and facilities: Campgrounds vary widely in bathroom quality. Some campers note that White Lake State Park bathrooms "are a little dirty and for the condition, unfair to have to pay for water." Consider bringing quarters for showers as many facilities require payment.
Access limitations: Large RVs require careful planning at Covered Bridge Campground. One camper warns about the entrance: "The road in for RVs is not terrific. There is about a 1/2 mile that is mostly one lane (with a drop off on one side) and if someone is coming decisions have to be made." Additionally, "Covered bridge has 7.9' height restriction from the main scenic highway."
Leveling challenges: Be prepared with extra leveling equipment. At Danforth Bay, one RVer reported: "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." Waterfront sites often require more extensive leveling due to sloping terrain.
Hookup availability: Check specific sites for services. Danforth Bay offers full hookup sites, but one camper discovered a discrepancy: "Our site was labeled as a 50 amp connection, but it wasn't, it was 30 amp. So double check that." Many campgrounds offer a mix of primitive and serviced sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near West Ossipee, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, West Ossipee, NH offers a wide range of camping options, with 322 campgrounds and RV parks near West Ossipee, NH and 10 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near West Ossipee, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near West Ossipee, NH is White Lake State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 25 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near West Ossipee, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 10 free dispersed camping spots near West Ossipee, NH.
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