Tidewater Campground

We've stayed at Tidewater a number of times including short stays as we were looking for a house in the area. The short version of this review is that it is a very, very nice campground and we strongly recommend it. 

It's hard to believe that this has been in business as long as it has. I grew up spending summers at a campground in Maine that is just about as old. I've gone back there a couple of times to revisit old memories. What a mistake. That place has not aged well. On the other hand Tidewater is almost immaculate: Clean bathrooms, very well maintained grounds, nice pool and more. There's always someone working to keep things in great condition. 

Maybe my favorite part of Tidewater is Theresa, the owner and manager. She's friendly, helpful and very easy to work with. She even remembers me when I come in after months away. 

On the other hand...: Maybe you'd better find some other place to stay if you don't like rules. You know-- the kind of rules that basically remind you not to be a selfish jerk. No dogs, because so many people don't seem to care about bothering neighbors when their dog barks. A very strict(and slow) speed limit throughout the campground, to try and keep kids from getting run over. If you like to get drunk and noisy, again I'd urge you to go somewhere else. We've stayed at countless(literally; I have no idea) campgrounds and RV parks all across the country. The parks with firm, fair rules-- like Tidewater-- are so much more enjoyable than the parks that are poorly run, and where the management clearly just cares about renting every site, no matter how people behave. 

So look at the rules on the Tidewater site. To me they seem logical and reasonable. But I've seen negative reviews by people who feel they can do whatever they please, no matter how it affects those around them. I don't know about you, but to me that's pretty annoying. 

By the way, I've seen reviews claiming that there are a lot of permanent residents here.  I haven't seen that.  There are certainly a number of units that have been there for years, but as far as I know they're seasonal visitors who just like the place.  This is definitely Nothing like a trailer park, which is what the "permanent resident" description sounds like.

Tidewater is in a great location, just off a major highway but far enough away so you don't hear anything. Very close to Hampton and Hampton Beach, and almost as close to Portsmouth. Read between the lines of the negative reviews. And keep in mind that Good Sam rates Tidewater highly. It's a great place to stay.

There are a lot more permanent sites than open sites for transient guests, and sadly many were run down. No dogs allowed.

Speed limit is 5 mph, don’t even try going 7 mph even on a downhill.

Beverages will be checked at the pool, only water allowed, no soda or alcohol. Mosquitos were out of control.

Nowhere does it say but you must have $10 in cash only to get a gate key. We had to leave and find an ATM for this inconvenience even though we had a balance due. She wouldn’t put the charge on our card. So frustrating and completely unnecessary.

My only reason for giving is a 3 is good wifi, decent location to the beach, and salt water pool.

Close to the beach and other area activities.

First of all, the location is a little quirky and I think I only arrived once without a wrong turn! Watch the GPS carefully. That said, it’s very close to Hampton Beach and you can easily drive or bike over. The campground is parallel to US1, so there is some road traffic noise. Some of the tent sites overlook the marsh. The tent sites are definitely tighter than trailer sites. Some sites back up to each other and it takes a moment to understand where one ends and the next begins. 

I was here early in the season and placed in a seasonal site with water/electric. Site was level. Neighbors were friendly. The bathroom was a short walk away and spotless. I did notice that in the tent areas, the main bathrooms are supplemented with portable toilets. Sites are mostly wooded, which will offer nice relief from the heat. It's a nice base for exploring the area.

There’s a gated entry and turtle-speed limit that they take seriously. The pool was not yet open. There’s a small store onsite for ice and essentials. All the big box stores and a number of restaurants are nearby. For a change of pace from seafood, I picked up Shane's Texas Pit BBQ and brought it back to my site. 

You may request a reservation online, but you have to confirm and pay for it via the phone. You’ll need to arrive before 9pm to check in. Bring $10 for a cash deposit on the gate card. Only 1 vehicle and 1 camping unit (tent or trailer) allowed on a site.

Downside: They charge for showers, the amount and duration is unclear and the duration varies depending on which shower you choose! Given the rates they charge, this seems petty.