Russell Pond Campground

Russell Pond is a really nice find. Unlike most campgrounds there is a good amount of low vegetation between sites for privacy. We also loved that our firepit faced the woods rather than the road or another campsite, which is often how the sites are set up. The pond is small but very pretty and very shallow and sandy. We took our dogs on a romp to swim and wade in the water. The bathrooms are tired, the bathhouse I was closest to had one of three stalls functioning and one of two sinks were operational. However, they were perfectly clean. I didn't check out the shower. I chatted a bit with the camp manager, and she mentioned the bathrooms are slated for updates in the spring. All around the campground is peaceful, well maintained, and you really feel like you are fully in nature!

Found this campsite through Dyrt and I vouch for this campsite as the #1 place to stay when you come to check the fall foliage in NH.

Location is central; close to hiking trails, tourist attractions, and Woodstock to grab ciders and local brews. Bathroom and showers were kept so neat, it surprised me. You need quarters to access a shower ($2.50 for 5 minutes) and the camphost can exchange your dollar bills to quarters.

I got there on Thursday during the peak fall foliage season but I was able to snag a ff spot next to the pond (maybe like 20 steps away). It was spacious and very well leveled.

Waking up for a sunrise was never easier than this. I wish I had a clear sky but the rising sun hitting the trees across the pond was gorgeous. Will definitely stay here again next time I visit NH.

This is a beautiful campground. Bathrooms are nicely kept. Camp sites are huge and surrounded by trees. The water faucet is all over the loop, but you can't connect a hose. No dump station for the RVs either. There's a Mobile gas station in Lincoln for $10-$20 for dump.

The campground is down a 3 mile road with nothing but woods. It sets a peaceful tone. The sides here are spaced out and some are very secluded. We stayed at a more open site (A1) with a road on both sides, but it wasn’t a problem due to it only being campground traffic. Our site was large enough for our giant tent and a friends normal sized one, with extra room to spare. There are stairs and/or incline roads to get around and to the bathroom/showers. The bathrooms were clean and the site hosts were very friendly and helpful.

Mostly people were respectful of quiet hours and by midnight on Friday and Saturday all you could hear were loons on the lake.

When you’re at Russel Pond it feels so wonderfully peaceful but the campground is close to lots of great hikes and attraction.

Another amazing campground in the White Mountain National Forest. This is a very large campground with many sites and it fills up quickly in the summer season. You can reserve some sites while others(the super nice ones) are first come-first serve. There are a few sites that sit right on the pond but those are popular and you would be lucky to get one! Other sites are situated on knolls that require parking below and walking a few steps up to the site. So be prepared to possibly hike your gear a short distance. There are even some walk-in sites if you’re looking for a bit more seclusion and don’t mind a walk. 

There is fishing allowed in the pond which is stocked in the early summer. I didn’t have any luck but you can fish from shore or launch a non-motorized canoe/kayak/john boat and try your luck. There are also a few trails you can explore around the pond and a swimming beach(no pets allowed). We were there in October so we didn’t take a dip. 

Sites are nicely spaced and shaded. Fire pits are large and were clean upon our arrival. Large picnic tables are also a plus. Most sites have crushed gravel but there are some that appear to have more dirt, which might be less than ideal in a hard rain. There are well maintained restrooms and showers(coin operated) centrally located in each of the loops(of which there are many). The camp hosts are attentive and friendly. This is a great, inexpensive, well run Forest Service Campground in the White Mountains.

Russell Pond is a great campground (I'm shocked it doesn't have 5/5 rating!). The sites are huge and have a great amount of space between them. All of them have leveled areas for the picnic tables and tent pads. The bathrooms are clean and showers a hot(quarter operated, $2.50 for 5 minutes). Camp hosts were very knowledgeable and sell wood. The wood burned easily. The lake is quiet and was beautiful at sunset (it would be a great spot to Hammock). For peak season of leaf peepers I couldn’t believe how empty the campground was. I don’t think there’s a bad site in the entire place. Many of the sites have steps but the listing on the USFS site usually indicates so. This was an ideal location to hike Mt. Osceola the next day, then drive the Kancamagus Highway and camp at the other end of the White Mountain National Forest.

This campground is a real gem—conveniently located in WMNF but also seems very secluded and isolated in the mountains when you’re there. Russell Pond is beautiful. A few things to know—many of the campsites are first come first serve, including the best ones by the pond which are also walk-up only. We had a reservation but arrived on a slow day, and we ended up changing our site to H3 which is one of the best in the whole place—adjacent to the lake with a small private beach for swimming. All of the H sites are great but a few are 5-star. The only problem with this system is that we had to cancel our online reservation and pay cash for the new site—so we lost one night’s rate plus the $10 cancellation fee. I’m not sure there’s a way to fix this, but they should figure out a way to more effectively manage folks who want to move around. Another thing is that apparently the forest service doesn’t want to commercialize the pond, so you can’t rent canoes/kayaks on site, which would be a great perk.

Quiet and the pond is beautiful (although watch for leeches!) Great basecamp for visiting the Whites. Close to the highway, towns and tons of hiking. Mostly tent campers and many of the sites are first come, first serve. Overall very nice.

Does have some hike in spots and spots that require you to take stairs so just be aware when you book. There are some great waterview spots if you can get them. Decent sized spots with shade. Bring hand soap for bathrooms.

It is organized and clean!

I went to this campground in both 2017 and 2018. We had a great time here for fall camping, we were able to drive up and get a site that day. The waterfront sites are the best and unfortunately we were unable to get one of these sites (though our friends did). The campground is easy access to Franconia Notch and Lincoln. The bathhouse was clean. As stated in previous reviews, staff is friendly, but also particular about the rules and the showers are a little more expensive than average. Overall good campsite and would recommend it.

Some sites are flat, others tiered and divided making your site not always a drive up. But it was quiet and the pond is beautiful. Would love to get a spot by the pond next time.

Walk in sites at Russel Pond are nice. spacious sites with fire pits and a picnic table. Potable water is close by along with a bear box. Bathrooms are clean and the showers are $2.50 for 5 minutes. Genuinely nice staff a close proximity to several nice hikes.

Great fishing here, lots of sites to choose from. Hosts are a little up tight on the rules. The showers are a bit expensive. Overrall great place.

Took my 5 year old daughter here for a weekend of camping and kayaking and we were not dissapointed. I had been here as a kid and always wanted to go back. We went up there the weekend after labor day and according to the caretaker it was a smart move. He said usually in the summer the only days you will find a site would be Sunday-Tuesday . The campground has seen alot of upgrades over the years, paved roads, new bathrooms and coin-op showers. I recommened bringing plenty of water seeing as when we tried to fill up from the taps the water was very cloudy, almost white, we chose not to drink it. However if you forgot anything or just want to head into town Lincoln is about a 20 minute drive. Most of campsites are not rv/trailer friendly since they are tucked into the hillside and usually have a few stairs either up or down to the tent sites and the few that are trailer/rv friendly are small, wont fit much more than a pop up. All in all we had a great time kayaking and swimming at the beach, we will deffinently be back.