Discover the best beach and dog-friendly campgrounds in New Hampshire

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New Hampshire

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12 top beach and dog-friendly campgrounds in New Hampshire

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Souhegan Shores

2 sites · RVs, Tents21 acres · Merrimack, NH

20Sep2024 Update: The river is near record lows but that exposes the sandbars for setting up your beach chairs and there is ample depth for the swimming hole below the rapids. This also means the fish have congregated to the deeper pools and you can see them from the trail above the riverbank. The wood chip road in to both sites is dry and easily passable by passenger vehicle. If we get a deluge of rain from a hurricane this season, please check in with your host to ensure your type of vehicle won't have difficulty getting out of the site. (back to our regularly scheduled campsite description...) Site-1 is located under the trees adjacent to a 3 acre meadow and Christmas Tree farm. Camp near the bank of the Souhegan River in the shade of white pine, shag bark hickory and blue birch while listening to the river tumble over the ledges upstream. In season, enjoy the swimming hole 100 feet from your campsite. On the other side of the privacy fence is a pasture where two horses graze. If you don't like friendly dogs then you'll be better off on site 2 where we can better keep our dog Wilson from dropping in to visit. He loves people too much not to want to greet folks on Site 1. Site-2 is located at the farthest most downstream end of the property and from mid-May to mid-October it is totally private. You'll see nothing from your site except for trees and the river. If you or your dog don't like other dogs, this is the site you want. Still no guarantee Wilson won't visit you, but it's easier to keep Wilson away from this corner of the property. The other side of the river is town conservation land so the only people you're likely to see will be passing by in kayaks or on paddleboards. In the dry season, both sites are a great place to start a float trip and you'll likely have the next 1.5 miles all to yourself since the rapids up stream become unpassable in July and August. If planning a winter trip, just check ahead to ensure your host has finished plowing the access road. If southern NH gets really clobbered with snow, check with your host about the possibility of constructing snow shelters. You are only two traffic lights away from the Merrimack Premium Outlet Mall should you need something to do during inclement weather.

Waterfront Woodsy Glamping

5 sites · Lodging27 acres · Bennington, NH

Find some info and links to a few of the unique accommodations on our property, in Southern NH, which is 27 acres on the Contoocook River and Powder Mill Pond. Be it swimming, kayaking, boating, sunning, hiking, biking, or fishing; spectacular fall foliage, and bird watching or winter sports like skiing, boarding, ice skating, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing,....take time out to enjoy what nature has to offer to the fullest, right here in your new backyard. Explore nature’s wonderland; starting with 27 acres of woods and waterfront beauty on Powder Mill Pond and the Contoocook River. During the warmer weather, you can hop in one of the kayaks, canoes, and paddle boats, (on-site for a small rental fee), sunbathe on the refreshing 30 ft. lily pad, or simply relax in the swing or hammock looking out over Mount Monadnock. During the winter, cross country ski, ice skate or fish or strap-on a pair of the complimentary snowshoes, ...while year round, enjoy sharing s’mores and stories by the fire pit!

Camp chickweed

1 site · Tent2 acres · Epsom, NH

I recently bought this place to realize my dream of owning land and sharing it with like-minded people. I have fallen madly in love with it already and I’m just getting started! I have cleared space for a great campsite to maintain privacy and river access for all. Looking forward to you falling in love with it too!

Horseshoe Bend NH

5 sites · RVs, Tents14 acres · West Ossipee, NH

Welcome to Horseshoe Bend located in Tamworth NH! Very Private tent sites on the Bearcamp River! Come take your shoes off, relax and enjoy a soak! Most have Tent Platforms. There's plenty of dry and wet sandbars around each site. Make sure you bring a rope, tie off and enjoy the sunshine! There is wood for sale close by on the east side of Whittier road and Rt 25 https://visittamworthnh.com/about Designated wood fire pits Site 2 is RV/Small camper capable Add/Like us on Instagram Horseshoe Bend NH :) https://www.instagram.com/horseshoebendnh?igsh=MXViNm15cmZwOGdwOA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr https://www.publichouseonpagehill.com/ They have the best Sunday Brunch with a view! https://farmtotablemarketnh.com/ PLEASE READ: Sorry but Absolutely NO discharging firearms or fireworks. They are prohibited due to dry fields, other campers and neighboring houses. Side note there is a gun range a few miles away! Most the time you can drive to the site but if its been raining alot you will park by the road, grab a cart (if needed) in the red shed and walk 2 min through the field (mowed walkway) to your specific site. Please put carts back in the shed for the next hipcampers to use. Thanks! ALSO checkout our RV friendly sites at Stagecoach falls a couple miles away! To get to your reserved site go around the red shed and follow the mowed path through the field until it splits into three paths. Site one is to the left. Site 2 the middle path. Site 3 and 4 are the right path. Even though we haven't seen any there are bears in New Hampshire so: Secure coolers, grills, cooking utensils, any food not in use, snacks, and anything with food odors inside the locked compartment of a vehicle or trailer or a bear proof storage locker if available. Wipe off picnic tables and grills. Properly discard aluminum foil used for cooking. Do not keep food/snacks in or around your tent!

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Baker Rocks

6 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents76 acres · Rumney, NH

Nestled between New Hampshire’s White Mountain and Lakes region, we offer boutique nature experiences set along 3000 ft of river frontage. Stay. Farm. Events. Sites are spaced for privacy, but enjoy some shared amenities. Climb, hike, kayak, float, workout, chill, appreciate. We’re here to make your trip great!

Browns Ridge Family Farm!

6 sites · Lodging, Tents40 acres · Ossipee, NH

We are one of the first farms in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire and was originally the first stage coach stop for the area. Our house built in 1750s and at one point had hundreds of acres passed down which were passed down from a kings grant The original area was named after the original settlers, the Browns. Our house was also tavern in the beginning. This property has only passed hands through 4 families and remained with the Browns for most of its life. It has stayed as a farm for most of its tenure. We own 40 acres of pasture and woods and would love for you to come stay!

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Sip Pond Lakefront Cottage

1 site · Lodging1 acre · NH

This is a cozy off grid cottage, right on Sip Pond, situated on 1.2 acres of land. The cottage is 380 sq. feet that runs on a generator. There is a Port a potty, there is no running water. The property has a dock and a fire pit. The pond is 114 acres, quiet and great for kayaking, SUPing, fishing etc. Near by there are hiking trails, snow mobile trails. The Rhododendron State Park and Mt. Madonock are near by.

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Suncook River Camp

47 sites · Tents22 acres · Allenstown, NH

Enjoy the outdoors of New Hampshire, just an hour outside of Boston, and located 5 minutes from Bear Brook State Park. Fishing, kayaking, river tubing, and hiking are all right in our backyard. Suncook River Campground will be under new ownership in 2024. We can't wait to spend time with you on the river this season. We offer everything from bring-your-own tent sites to upscale vintage camper experiences. Our campground has bathroom and shower facilities onsite, or bring your RV and just plug and play. Come to Southern NH's Suncook River: canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards (SUPs), or your best alligator floatie. We're waiting for you. The Suncook River also offers some of the best fishing and wildlife watching around!

Beautiful Sand Pond

1 site · Lodging3 acres · Lempster, NH

The Lodge and cabins we have at Sand Pond are situated about one hundred yards from beautiful sand pond (actually a lake). Sand Pond is a spring fed lake near the base of Silver Mountain which is a beautiful and close by hike to 360 views of the surrounding region/mountains. You will have easy and direct access to the sandy beach and swimming. The water is crystal clear and the water around the beach is very shallow which is great for children. The beach has a fire pit available as does the lodge. We have kayaks, a canoe and paddleboards available on the beach for guests to use. All cabins and the lodge have a single bathroom and shower, porches, kitchens and living rooms. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/new-hampshire/silver-mountain-trail -getting to the trail base is ½ mile from the lodge walk Closest grocery shopping: https://www.acworthvillagestore.com/ https://lucky7farm.com/

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Huttopia White Mountains

3 sites · Lodging50 acres · Albany, NH

Less than a 2.5 hour drive from downtown Boston and convenient to the trailheads, scenic views and swimming holes of the White Mountain National Forest, Huttopia White Mountains is an ideal place to escape to nature. Wake up and head out on an adventure, or stay and enjoy a swim in Iona Lake from our beach. There’s also our heated saltwater pool and plenty of freshly made meals to enjoy from our unique on-site bistro – we converted an old Airstream trailer and equipped it with a full commercial kitchen and even flatbread pizza oven! Couples and families alike will find plenty to explore on site, with additional attractions located conveniently nearby, including the shops and outlets of North Conway, tubing on the Saco River and the scenic vistas all along the Kancamagus Scenic Byway.

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Champion Meadow Campground

37 sites · RVs, Tents14 acres · Stewartstown, NH

Learn more about this land:We are located right on the Connecticut River, with access to atv and snow machine trails, restaurants and a grocery store. We have a brand new bath house with hot showers, sinks and outside access to outside water. The fishing on the Connecticut River is simply amazing and all riverside sites have direct access to the river.

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BASECAMP NH

1 site · Lodging1 acre · Canaan, NH

Basecamp is an ideal location to begin your exploration of the Dartmouth Lake Sunapee region of New Hampshire. Swim at our town beach on Canaan Street Lake. Hike the West Ridge trail to the summit of 3000 foot Cardigan Mountain for spectacular 360° views. Bike the Northern Rail Trail. Visit Hanover New Hampshire home of Dartmouth College for shopping and fine dinning.

Nearby parks

Explore the area’s public lands.

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(80)

White Mountain National Forest

Bartlett, New Hampshire

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(16)

Franconia Notch State Park

Lincoln, New Hampshire

Pawtuckaway State Park: site 43 and site 44 on Horse Head Island are both large private sites with direct lake access.

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(14)

Pawtuckaway State Park

Raymond, New Hampshire

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(4)

Crawford Notch State Park

Bartlett, New Hampshire

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(3)

Lake Francis State Park

Colebrook, New Hampshire

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(1)

Jericho Mountain State Park

Berlin, New Hampshire

Mount Sunapee State Park

Blodgett Landing, New Hampshire

80%

(7)

Greenfield State Park

Bennington, New Hampshire

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Beach and dog-friendly camping in New Hampshire guide

Overview

Home to Mount Washington, the highest mountain in the northeast, and brimming with lakes, rivers, and miles of hiking trails, New Hampshire serves up four-season fun for outdoor enthusiasts. From hiking, mountain biking, backpacking, fishing, and swimming in summer to cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and downhill skiing in winter, New Hampshire has something for every type of traveler whether you’re going solo or looking for a family adventure. New Hampshire state parks offer a wide variety of camping experiences from primitive tent sites to lakeside RV spots with prime mountain views.

Where to go

Mount Washington

Sitting at 6,288 feet in eastern New Hampshire, Mount Washington is the tallest peak in New England, famous for its extreme weather. (The highest recorded wind speed outside of a tornado, 231 miles per hour, was measured at the Mount Washington Observatory atop the summit.) Mount Washington is on the Appalachian Trail and visitors can hike, drive, or take the Mount Washington Cog Railway up to the summit.

Franconia Notch State Park

In the heart of the White Mountains, Franconia Notch State Park is one of the most family-friendly state parks in New Hampshire and packed with natural wonders including Flume Gorge, Cloudland Falls, and Echo Lake. Lafayette Place Campground is a nice family campground right in the center of the park, near many trailheads and top sights, with a camp store and 97 campsites ideal for tent campers. Nearby Cannon Mountain RV Park offers seven RV sites with full hook-ups and a dump station.

White Mountain National Forest

The 800,000-acre White Mountain National Forest offers some of the best camping in the state. Renowned for its mountain scenery, abundant wildlife, and stunning fall foliage, the park is home to over a thousand miles of trails that weave through the rugged terrain for hikers, mountain bikers, snowshoers, ATVs, and snowmobiles. Overnight visitors will find 23 national forest campgrounds, backcountry huts, and cabin rentals.

When to go

Summer through early fall is the best time for camping, hiking, canoeing, and kayaking in New Hampshire. Snow tends to linger on peaks into early June, and mosquitoes can be the most troublesome in July. Fall, when the changing leaves are at their peak, is an especially popular time to visit. Be sure to make camping reservations during this time well in advance. Some New Hampshire state park campgrounds, including Lafayette Place in Franconia Notch, remain open year-round, although off-season services are limited.

Know before you go

Camping reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance online or over the phone for New Hampshire state parks. Rates vary by the campground, with senior rates available. Monadnock State Park, Bear Brook State Park, Pawtuckaway State Park, and White Lake State Park feature some of the most popular New Hampshire campgrounds; advanced reservations are strongly recommended.
Many New Hampshire state parks have pet restrictions. Some do not allow them at all and others prohibit them on beaches, swimming areas, and picnic areas.
Numerous backcountry campsites and shelters exist in the White Mountains. Most are free to use as long as you adhere to White Mountain National Forest backcountry camping rules.
Weather in New Hampshire can be challenging and unpredictable. Come prepared with rain gear and extra layers, even in summer.