Waterville Campground
White Mountain National Forest
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.
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.
Need to Know
Two pets per site
No switching sites upon arrival
Be bear aware; keep all food out of site in approved containers or locked inside a hard-sided vehicle and remove all food from area after eating
Please Note: Site fee includes one RV with tow vehicle, tent sites include two vehicles. If space allows a third vehicle would be an additional fee paid at time of check in.
Reserved Sites will be held until check out time (NOON) the day following your arrival date. Sites must be occupied by the checkout time of that following day to hold a reservation or the site will be forfeited and released to other guests. Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.
Refunds: Refund requests made through www.recreation.gov will be charged a $10 processing fee. This fee is retained by the reservation service contractor along with the non-refundable reservation fee. All requests for the return of the non-refundable reservation fee and the cancellation fee will be declined by the campground concessionaire as they did not receive these fees (these are the fees retained by the reservation contractor, a different entity).
Visitors should be prepared for rugged trails and changing weather: Hike SafeHike Safe
- Don't move firewood: To limit the spread of invasive tree-killing pests, firewood from outside the area is not permitted. Some states have quarantines and may confiscate your firewood. Please help protect our forests from invasive species by obtaining your firewood at or near your camping destination and burning it on-site. Visit dontmovefirewood.org for more information.
Click here for more information on White Mountain National Forest website
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.
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.
Contact Information
Default
WHITE MOUNTAIN NH
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 603-536-6100
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
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.
Available Campsites
- Site 003, Loop WATE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 020, Loop WATE, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 022, Loop WATE, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 004, Loop WATE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 017, Loop WATE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 010, Loop WATE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 026, Loop WATE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 008, Loop WATE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 006, Loop WATE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 011, Loop WATE, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 005, Loop WATE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 009, Loop WATE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 023, Loop WATE, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 015, Loop WATE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 013, Loop WATE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 024, Loop WATE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 025, Loop WATE, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 027, Loop WATE, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 014, Loop WATE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 016, Loop WATE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 018, Loop WATE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 012, Loop WATE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 002, Loop WATE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 019, Loop WATE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 021, Loop WATE, Type Standard Nonelectric
