Waterville Campground
Campground · New Hampshire · 25 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
White Mountain National Forest (NF) · Open Access
- 25
- Bookable sites
- 30 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 8
- People per site
- 22
- Accessible sites
- 1,411 ft
- Elevation
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.The facts
- Season: mid-May – mid-October — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
- 25 bookable sites
- 29 sites in total, including non-bookable
- 22 accessible sites
- Vehicles up to 30 ft
- Up to 8 people per site
- Loops: MANAGEMENT SITES, WATE
Site types
- 19 Standard Nonelectric
- 6 Tent Only Nonelectric
- 4 Management
Amenities
- Shade
- Pets allowed
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, campfires allowed, fire pits, picnic tables, grills.
29 campsites at Waterville Campground
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H1 | MANAGEMENT SITES | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX | MANAGEMENT SITES | Management | Back In | Gravel | 30 ft | 8 | ♿ |
| XXX2 | MANAGEMENT SITES | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX3 | MANAGEMENT SITES | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 002 | WATE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 25 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 003 | WATE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 25 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 004 | WATE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 25 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 005 | WATE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 30 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 006 | WATE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 30 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 008 | WATE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 25 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 009 | WATE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 30 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 010 | WATE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 30 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 011 | WATE | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 012 | WATE | Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | 30 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 013 | WATE | Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | 30 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 014 | WATE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 30 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 015 | WATE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 30 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 016 | WATE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 30 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 017 | WATE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 30 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 018 | WATE | Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | 30 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 019 | WATE | Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | 30 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 020 | WATE | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 021 | WATE | Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | 30 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 022 | WATE | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 023 | WATE | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 024 | WATE | Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | 30 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 025 | WATE | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 026 | WATE | Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | 30 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 027 | WATE | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
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.
43.94194, -71.50917 · 43°56'31.0"N 71°30'33.0"W
Typical weather
Typically 77°F in Jul, down to 28°F in Jan.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 28 | 30 | 38 | 50 | 63 | 72 | 77 | 76 | 69 | 56 | 43 | 33 |
| Low °F | 6 | 6 | 15 | 29 | 40 | 49 | 54 | 52 | 45 | 34 | 25 | 14 |
| Precip in | 3.9 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 5.2 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 5.6 | 4.5 | 5.0 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 0.3 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Waterville Campground
- Can you reserve a site at Waterville Campground?
- Yes, Waterville Campground is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Waterville Campground have?
- 29 sites in total, of which 25 can be booked.
- What is the maximum RV length at Waterville Campground?
- 30 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
- Are pets allowed at Waterville Campground?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Waterville Campground.
Also listed by
Waterville Campground also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Waterville Campground's operator.
USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026
- Single Family Site Per site / per night $24.00
- Extra Vehicle (Space Permitting) Per vehicle / per night $6.00
Accessibility:
- This campground has accessible sites.
Camping near Waterville Campground
- Osceola Vista Campground 2.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Campton Campground 7.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Big Rock 7.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Radeke Cabin 8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Russell Pond Campground 8.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Hancock Campground (NH) 9.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Flat Mountain Pond Shelter 3.4 mi · Campground
- Algonquin Trailhead 5.7 mi · Facility
- Tripoli Road Camping Area 7.3 mi · Campground
- Passaconaway Campground 7.9 mi · Campground
- Sawyer Pond Trailhead (Kancamagus Hwy) 8.5 mi · Facility
- Jigger Johnson Campground 9.5 mi · Campground
Contact
- Phone 603-536-6100
- Email whitemountaincampgrounds@goexplorus.com
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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