Campground

Waterville Campground

White Mountain National Forest · New Hampshire — managed by USDA Forest Service

Waterville Campground campground
Photo: Recreation.gov · PRO-SPORT, INC.

Weekend availability at Waterville Campground

Live from Recreation.gov · checked Sep 17, 9:23 PM PT

Sold out 1 of the next 4 weekends — exactly when cancellation alerts earn their keep.

  • Fri, Sep 18
    Sold out
  • Fri, Sep 25
    Limited
    3/16 sites
  • Fri, Oct 2
    Open
    6/16 sites
  • Fri, Oct 9
    Limited
    2/16 sites

Friday + Saturday nights, sites bookable both nights. Counts come from a rotating sweep and can lag a cancellation by up to a day — alerts watch your exact dates within minutes.

Campsites & amenities

Site-level details from Recreation.gov's official catalog.

Campsites
29
Max rig length
30 ft
Standard No HookupTent Only No Hookup

About this campground

Overview Waterville Campground is a popular home base for hikers who want to explore the southern White Mountains, including the scenic Pemigewasset Wilderness. The tremendous choice of local attractions and the proximity to outdoor recreation opportunities - fishing, swimming, hiking and whitewater paddling to name a few - bring campers back to Waterville again and again. The White Mountains boast pristine forests, clear mountain streams and rivers and the tallest peaks in the Northeast. The forest encompasses nearly 800,000 acres in New Hampshire and western Maine, and is one of the most popular in the country.Recreation Hikers are drawn to the many trails in the area. Campers can easily access the Drakes Brook Trail (4.4 miles) and Sandwich Trail (3.9 miles), which form a loop that begins and ends near the campground. Water sports include fishing and kayaking. Anglers can cast a line for brook trout in the Mad River. A bit farther away is the Winnipesaukee River, which has a great 2.1-mile category I-II section of whitewater. Other activities such as summer concerts, a swimming area, golf course and the Gunstock ski resort are close by. Learn more about recreation in the national forest.Facilities A mix of standard and tent-only sites are well-spaced around a single loop. The facility provides the basic amenities of restrooms and drinking water. Many other amenities such as showers and laundry facilities are within a short drive. Natural Features The campground sits in a thick forest of northern hardwood trees, adjacent to the Mad River and surrounded by mountains. The national forest is home to many species of northern wildlife, including moose, white-tailed deer and black bear. Almost 200 species of birds, including the rare Bicknell's Thrush, live in the White Mountains. Nearby Attractions Campers may want to take an afternoon to visit Gilford Beach, Dixon Point and Sandwich Beach, all near Waterville Campground. The facility is also close to Waterville Valley Resort, which offers night life, summer concert tours, restaurants, horseback riding, canoeing, mountain bike rentals and shops. The White Mountains region hosts four alpine and five nordic ski areas, which provide year-round recreation opportunities. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (802) 289-0970.

Getting there

From Highway 93, take exit 28. Follow Highway 49 east for 10 miles, then turn left on Tripoli Road. The campground is 0.25 miles on the left.

Elevation
1,411 ft
Contact
603-536-6100

Activities

  • SWIMMING SITE
  • WINTER SPORTS
  • HORSEBACK RIDING
  • HIKING
  • FISHING
  • CAMPING
  • BOATING
  • BIKING

Nearby federal campgrounds

Never miss an opening at Waterville Campground

Popular New Hampshire campgrounds book out months ahead — but cancellations happen every day. We watch Waterville Campground around the clock and alert you the moment a sold-out site reopens for your dates, so you don't have to keep refreshing Recreation.gov.

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Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office or on Recreation.gov before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.