3 MONTHS FREEPlan your New Hampshire trip with offline maps, RV Trip Planner, and the Free Camping Map.Try PRO
Try PRO free for 3 months
The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Get the app

Tent Camping near Wilton, NH

1 campground with availability next weekend

Search destinations
    Add dates

    Tent campsites surrounding Wilton, New Hampshire provide a mix of established and primitive camping experiences within an hour's drive. Campers seeking tent-only sites can find options at Tully Lake Recreation Area in Royalston, Massachusetts, which features walk-in tent camping with picnic tables and fire rings. The New Boston Recreation Area offers additional tent camping opportunities with scenic surroundings approximately 15 miles from Wilton, though amenities are limited.

    Tent campers should note that many sites in the region require carrying gear from parking areas to the actual campsites. At Tully Lake, wooden wheelbarrows are provided to transport equipment from the central parking area to individual tent sites, with distances ranging from 50 yards to nearly a mile. Potable water is available at several campgrounds, but some primitive tent areas lack this amenity. Composting or vault toilets are common at established tent campgrounds, while shower facilities vary by location. Many campgrounds prohibit alcohol, enforce quiet hours, and have seasonal restrictions, with some tent campsites closing after Labor Day.

    The natural setting around these tent campgrounds offers diverse recreational opportunities directly accessible from campsites. Several tent-only areas provide lake access for swimming and paddling, with Tully Lake being particularly popular among tent campers who appreciate water activities. Hiking trails connect many backcountry tent camping areas, allowing for day hikes or longer backpacking excursions. Tree cover varies by location, with some sites offering significant shade and others providing more open spaces. A visitor commented that "sites closer to the water were less private, but still very peaceful and spread out. No cars at all at the campsites, which was great for peace of mind as our toddler roamed around. It also made for a super quiet stay."

    Best Tent Campgrounds near Wilton (14)

    Filters    Tent onlyRVCabinGlampingPetsEquestrian

      1. Military Park New Boston Air Force Station New Boston Recreation Area

      5.0(1)9mi from WiltonTents
      Check Availability

      2. Country Barn Motel & Campground

      4.0(1)13mi from WiltonTents

      3. Lost Boys Hideout

      3.7(3)18mi from Wilton3 sitesTents

      Available next weekend

      from $49 - $149 / night

      Check Availability

      4. Tully Lake Recreation Area (MA) — Tully Lake

      4.7(10)28mi from WiltonTents

      "Tully Lake Campground is located in Royalston, MA, which is a northern part of Central Massachusetts, near the New Hampshire border."

      "Two tents allowed per site, no alcohol although no one checked. No water or electricity at the sites. You park & walk in but they provide carts. You have to buy firewood from them."

      from $40 / night

      5. HQ Campground — Monadnock State Park

      Be the first to review18mi from Wilton14 sitesTents

      from $35 - $140 / night

      Check Availability

      6. Shady Point Beach & Campgrounds

      Be the first to review20mi from WiltonTents
      Check Availability

      7. Sweetwater

      Be the first to review23mi from WiltonTents, Cabins, Glamping

      from $75 - $175 / night

      8. Federated Womens Club State Forest

      3.0(1)36mi from WiltonTents
      Check Availability

      9. Camp Nihan Education Center

      5.0(2)44mi from WiltonTents, Cabins

      "The group site is super close to parking and yet the terrain is rugged enough that it always felt like we were really in the woods."

      Check Availability

      10. Barton Cove Campground

      3.5(2)44mi from WiltonTents

      "The office was super helpful when I called to make reservations, making sure to ask questions about how big my tent was, what kind of view/privacy we wanted etc so they could help me find the perfect campsite"

      from $22 - $30 / night

      Check Availability
    View all 14 campgrounds

    2026 Explorer Giveaway

    Presented byLifeStraw

    Review campgrounds, win gear.

    Enter to Win

    Wilton Contest

    Enter to Win

    Drive Time

    Recent Tent Camping Photos near Wilton, NH

    8 Photos of 14 Wilton Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers

    Tent Camping Reviews near Wilton, NH

    685 Reviews of 14 Wilton Campgrounds

    • Nancy W.The Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 30, 2026

      Winter Island Park

      Basically a parking lot but with great views!

      I’m not going to lie this was a little tricky for big rigs to get to, but with lots of patience and skillful driving, it is doable. Salem is an old New England town so there are many narrow streets and some low clearances. Follow the directions on the parks website as they are designed for RVs– don’t use Google Maps unless you are a small camper. Even getting into the park is kind of challenging because of the way the entrance is laid out with the entrance booth and some low hanging trees. This campground is in a municipal park with a marina, beach, a short walking trail, and picnic areas. The campground has different sections and totally different feels to them. We arrived on a weekend and section we were in the section which is in the parking lot of a busy marina. The parking lot was half full which made for navigating our 45’ bus into our site pretty hard. 

      No sites have fire pits but you can have a fire if you bring your own above ground pit. Tent sites have picnic tables but nothing else. Some sites you can drive to and have a car onsite and others are non-vehicle access sites (11, 17, 18, 25, 26, 27& 38) in which you have to park in a parking lot. Some RV sites have great water views and others are in a back gravel lot. In my opinion, the best RV sites are 12-16(A-D) because they have a water view. Sites 16B-D are a little tricky for big-rigs to get into because of the tight space. Our site (#13) had a slight downhill slope. We pulled in forward so we could have a view of the harbor which meant the utilities (water electric only) were in the front of our site but we were able to reach without an extension cord. We loved watching the action in the harbor. There is a gazebo by the water which we enjoyed siting under and watching boats go in and out of the harbor while it rained. 

      There is a nice sandy beach onsite which attracts a lot of day use vistors. The grounds are interesting to walk around as the water views are nice and there is an old fort to explore. Nearby town of Salem Willows is(about½ mile away) is a cute old seaside town with restaurants and arcades. They have a Bluebike rental station which is an easy way to get downtown and explore the area if you don’t have a car.

    • Nancy W.The Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 29, 2026

      Seacoast Camping and RV Resort

      Nice Campground, Love the area!

      This is a nice, clean, well-maintained campground for RV and tenting. The campground is located on Route 1 which means you are convenient to a lot of things but there is lots of traffic. Half the campground is seasonal/long term campers and the other side is mostly transients. The roads and campsites are fine crushed gravel with nice grassy patios. The campground is very well maintained (the best part being that the mower collects they cut the grass so no clippings get tracked in your camper). There are some mature trees that provide shade but don’t impede navigating in and out of sites or impacting slide outs. 

      Campsites range from tent with water/electric to RV water/electric and RV full hook-up 50-amp and full hook-up 30-amp. There are three bathhouses on the property (one of which has a dishwashing sink) and laundry. Tent sites 50-55 are in an are set away from RV sites and more private. They are also close to a large bathhouse with multiple toilets and showers. Tent sites 90-100 are across from a large playground which can be quite chaotic, but if you have kids, this is a great spot. 

      Our site (#147) was a long pull-thru with a descent amount of space between our neighbors. We got about half a dozen over-the-air channels (one being a major network station) and were able to connect with eastern arc satellites with our Dish Satellite. The 50A electric was good as was the water pressure. 

      The campground does not have much in the way of amenities except for a game room, basketball court, and playground. The game room is pretty cool with lots of arcade-style games, a pool table, foosball, and table tennis. While we were there, they just finished putting in all new playground equipment and enlarged the size making it really big and a hit with the kids in the park. Once convenience is that maintenance picks up garbage at your site (between 8am– 3pm). Unfortunately, people leave them out after hours and animals got into them and scattered garbage everywhere.  We've stayed here before and always enjoy being in the area as it is close to the fun cities of Portsmouth and Newburyport.

    • Devon B.
      Oct. 27, 2026

      Crow's Nest Campground

      Play Games

      The recreation hall was a nice surprise. We had some rainy weather one afternoon and the kids were able to play games while we relaxed for a bit. Saved the day honestly😂

    • Riley B.
      Oct. 23, 2026

      Crow's Nest Campground

      Spend A Few Days

      We came up looking for a campground where we could actually spend a few days without constantly driving somewhere. Ended up fishing, swimming, walking along the river and exploring the area. The campground gave us plenty to do, but it was also nice having the option to just sit at the campsite and do nothing. Would definitley come back.

    • R
      Oct. 22, 2026

      Crow's Nest Campground

      A Longer Stay

      We have a big RV and had no trouble getting settled in. Having the full hookups made things super easy, especially for a longer stay.

    • B
      Oct. 17, 2026

      Crow's Nest Campground

      Really Convenient

      Nothing beats sitting by the river after a long day of exploring. We visited a few places around the Lake Sunapee area and this was a really convenient home base.

    • Renee R.
      Oct. 15, 2026

      Winter Island Park

      Cool location!

      Hard to beat being right on the water with a lighthouse!  But it's kind of a kooky campground.

      Pros:

      - Gorgeous views.

      - Cute little trails.

      - Super friendly staff.

      - The bathrooms were always being cleaned (which is nice), but the bathrooms are dilapidated, so it's kind of like putting lipstick on a pig.

      Cons:
      - It's just an odd arrangement of sites.  The RV area is a parking lot.  Some tent sites don't allow cars on them.  Our site #37 was cool, but right by the busy entrance.

      - As we stayed in October, the entire area is Halloween central.  There were tour trolleys coming in all day, and since we were near the entrance we felt like animals in a zoo.

      - As mentioned previously - the bathrooms could use a serious upgrade.

    Guide to Wilton

    Tent camping options near Wilton, New Hampshire range from primitive sites to established campgrounds with some amenities. Located in Hillsborough County at approximately 900 feet elevation, the area experiences typical New England seasonal weather patterns with warm summers and cold winters. Most tent camping facilities operate between May and October, with limited options available during colder months.

    What to do

    Paddle on Tully Lake: Tully Lake Recreation Area in Royalston offers canoe and kayak rentals for exploring the lake. "We take our canoe and spend the whole day at the lake. You can find lots of private areas to swim, pick blueberries and relax," notes camper Ben P.

    Hike at Soapstone Hill: Near Federated Womens Club State Forest, the trails lead to panoramic views. "If you continue past site 15, you'll head through Gate 36 out toward Soapstone Hill which offers a great view of Quabbin Reservoir and sunsets," explains Jean C. The area contains remnants of towns submerged during the 1930s reservoir creation.

    Swimming access: While not all campgrounds permit swimming, some sites provide water access. At Barton Cove, a camper notes: "You can't swim (unless you rent a canoe/kayak and swim while you're out on the water) and sites are fenced in due to how steep it is to the water."

    What campers like

    Cart-based camping: The best tent camping near Wilton, New Hampshire often includes car-free experiences. At Tully Lake Recreation Area, "Large wooden wheelbarrows are provided to bring your gear to your camp site. (This means no noise or disturbances from cars entering your camp sites)," explains Nancy R.

    Privacy between sites: Many campers appreciate the separation between camping areas. "We stayed at site 1, which was HUGE and extremely private," notes Megan G. about Tully Lake, adding that even waterfront sites maintain good spacing.

    Rustic amenities: Camp Nihan Education Center balances basic camping with necessary facilities. "The group site is super close to parking and yet the terrain is rugged enough that it always felt like we were really in the woods. A recently renovated bathroom and shower facility makes clean ups easy," says Michael V.

    What you should know

    Campsite access varies: Most tent sites require walking from central parking areas. At Barton Cove Campground, one camper describes the process: "You check in at the office, grab a key to unlock the gate, drive to the campground, unlock gate, drive through gate, lock gate, unload your stuff, drive to gate, unlock gate, drive through gate, lock gate, return key."

    Limited cell coverage: Many camping areas have poor or nonexistent service. At Federated Women's Club State Forest, "Cell phone coverage is faint to nonexistent on Verizon. You may want to download offline maps before you head out here," advises one camper.

    Booking timeline: Popular campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. For Tully Lake, one camper notes that sites "fill up weeks out (and can completely fill the day registration opens, which is date-dependent each year...Booking for Memorial Day meant I booked in April)."

    Tips for camping with families

    Look for car-free sites: Parents appreciate campgrounds that limit vehicle access. At Tully Lake, one parent noted, "No cars at all at the campsites, which was great for peace of mind as our toddler roamed around."

    Check bathroom proximity: Consider distance to facilities when camping with children. At Tully Lake, one camper mentioned, "Our site was fairly far from services, long run with small kids in the middle of the night."

    Explore local attractions: Lost Boys Hideout provides access to nearby activities. "Nice new tents provided at Sleepy Hollow site. Improvements to the firepit, area all mulched, even some games and water are provided!" reports Steve K.

    Tips from RVers

    Focus on tent camping: Most sites around Wilton are designed primarily for tent campers, with limited RV infrastructure. New Boston Recreation Area provides basic tent camping without typical RV amenities like hookups or dump stations.

    Consider prepared sites: For those seeking comfort without an RV, several campgrounds offer prepared sites. One camper at Lost Boys Hideout appreciated the "Nice new tents provided at Sleepy Hollow site," noting this eliminates the need to bring bulky equipment.

    Weather considerations: New England weather can change quickly. One camper at Tully Lake mentioned being thankful for sites "located on a small rise," noting that was "appreciated the night 4 inches of rain fell recently."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular tent campsite near Wilton, NH?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Wilton, NH is Military Park New Boston Air Force Station New Boston Recreation Area with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

    What is the best site to find tent camping near Wilton, NH?

    TheDyrt.com has all 14 tent camping locations near Wilton, NH, with real photos and reviews from campers.

    Keep Exploring

    2. View all New Hampshire cities for camping