New Hampshire is small but mighty when it comes to road trip opportunities. Some of the best road trips in New Hampshire can be done in under an hour but are best savored by stopping at campgrounds and scenic lookout points along the way, parking the RV for the night on the shores of one of the state’s crystal clear lakes or deep in its autumnal forests.
Make sure to leave time for some hiking, as New Hampshire is home to lovely mountains and even part of the Appalachian Trail, where you can spot moose and black bears. In fact, the state is home to so much wilderness and natural beauty that all four of its state nicknames revolve around it.
Known primarily as the Granite State, you’ll find fascinating granite formations all over the state. You’ll also find some of New England’s most important rivers, hence the nickname Mother of Rivers. Home to the White Mountain Range (where the Appalachian Trail passes through), New Hampshire is also known as the White Mountain State. Finally, the state is sometimes called the Switzerland of America for its sweeping scenic beauty.
All of this and more can be found on one 32 mile stretch of road called the Kancamagus Highway. This National Scenic Byway runs from the town of Lincoln to Conway, New Hampshire and passes through the White Mountains and White Mountain National Forest, some of New Hampshire’s prime fall foliage, and stunning rivers and waterfalls.
While Kancamagus Highway can be visited any time of year, it’s best experienced in the fall when the surrounding maple, beech, and birch trees are spotted with vibrant yellows and reds. It’s truly one of the best places in the United States to see the colors of fall.
There are a number of hiking trails, picnic spots, scenic overlooks, and historic sites as well as campgrounds off of Kancamagus Highway. You’ll also find several 1800s homesteads where you can visit old farmhouses and even a museum. Sabbaday Falls is just a short hike off of the highway and leads to a picturesque New England waterfall. You’ll even encounter a ski resort and a bike tour along the way if you’re looking for something more active.
What you won’t find, though, are most modern amenities. The stretch of highway remains fairly unspoiled by convenience stores, gas stations, and other developments, allowing you to enjoy the New Hampshire wilderness to its fullest. Of course, it is a short highway, and both towns on either side (Lincoln and Conway) offer all the amenities you could need.
With an RV rental in New Hampshire, there is plenty of natural beauty to be discovered. The Kancamagus Highway is one of the best ways to experience all the varying landscapes that the Switzerland of America has to offer.
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Just 2 miles from the visitor’s center at the entrance to Kancamagus Highway, Hancock Campground is located directly on the scenic Highway 112. The campground features river sites along the Pemigewassel River and is just down the street from the Village of Loom Mountain, making it one of the more convenient campgrounds located directly on the scenic byway. You’ll find restaurants, bars, and ski slopes in the nearby village.
This peaceful, quiet campground is wonderfully scenic and offers great views of the Pemigewasset River. It’s right next to the Lincoln Woods Visitor Center and just miles from the town of Lincoln, so it’s the perfect place to stay if you want both ture and nearby amenities. Sites are well spaced out so you have plenty of privacy.
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The Beach Camping Area is a perfect family destination in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. It’s just over a mile away from the center of Conway, the easternmost point on the Kancamagus Highway. Many of their campsites are right along the Saco River or against the beach, with some that offer mountain views!
The Beach Camping Area offers tubing, canoeing and kayak excursions nearby on the pristine waters of Saco River. There's a playground for kids, a recreation pavilion, and it's dog friendly! The campground is also a great place to spend a quiet day on a sandy beach. Hiking, climbing, berry picking, biking and tax free shopping are nearby in Mt. Washington Valley. It's the perfect balance of scenic and convenient! Check out the events calendar on their website for fun things like beach bonfires, movie nights and karaoke.
“A place I didn’t know my soul needed until we found it based on our friend’s recommendation. This place is an adventure! We spent 6-7 hours here walking the grounds, playing disc golf, and admiring all the natural and artistic design I’ve never seen anywhere else. THIS place needs to be on your bucket list for hiking and/or disc golf; seriously, you will not regret it. Especially the 1st or 2nd week of November when fall sets in. Pay attention to the bends in the trees, it leads you to natural water/springs in the property. This is an old Native American accent to lead you to water.” – Google Review
Located right off I-93 on the Pemigewasset River, Country Bumpkins Campground is right in Lincoln, New Hampshire just 5 minutes from the White Mountains Visitor Center and the start of the Kancamagus Highway. The campground is surrounded by amenities and attractions, including Clark’s Trading Post, the Hobo Railroad, and the beautiful ice castles of Lincoln, New Hampshire.
This is the perfect place to stay if you want to be in the middle of a range of amenities and attractions. You’re minutes from everything that Lincoln has to offer as well as the nearby ski lodge, and you can easily spend the day driving along Kancamagus Highway before returning to Country Bumpkins. Despite being in town, you’re right off the river and in a quiet area. This small campground is low key and great for families.
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Just about 5 miles in from the entrance to Kancamagus Highway you’ll find Big Rock campground. You’ll get a taste of New Hampshire wilderness here, camping in the middle of the White Mountain tiol Forest near several different river branches. At the same time, you’re just minutes from the nearby ski resort and 6 miles from Lincoln where you’ll find all the amenities you could need.
This small, scenic campground is a great way to experience New Hampshire’s White Mountain forest and the Kancamagus Highway. Surrounded by tural beauty, this is the kind of campground that you remember years later. If you’re visiting the Kancamagus Highway in the fall, there’s nothing better than camping in the densely forested Big Rock Campground, surrounded by autumn leaves.
This Kancamagus Highway campground is right on the scenic byway along the Swift River. It’s just down the road from the Russell-Colbath House and within walking distance from the Sabbaday Falls trailhead, one of the most popular sights along the highway. Located halfway between Lincoln and Conway, the start and end point of the scenic byway, Passaconaway Campground is in the middle of many of the highway’s most beloved trails and attractions.
If you’re really looking to get away from it all in nature and see the best of what Kamcamagus Highway has to offer, this campground is a great option. Large campsites offers ample privacy and the setting itself is remote and tranquil. The area is wooded and scenic and right next to a number of great waterfalls.
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You’ll find this popular campground just off I-93 near Mount Lafayette. It’s located in the middle of the dense White Mountain National Forest and Franconia Notch State Park, so it’s near plenty of natural landmarks and hiking. Yet being right off the interstate means you’re still close to many amenities, and it’s easy to access. It’s about 5 miles north of Lincoln, the start of the Kancamagus Highway and also a great town to spend some time in.
This state park campground offers full bathrooms and very clean, well-maintained facilities. You’ll even find a dishwashing station with hot water. The campsites themselves are also very well-maintained and in a lovely, scenic area. Friendly staff members work hard to make sure that guests are comfortable and have everything they need.
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This Kancamagus Highway campground sits on a branch of the Swift River just minutes from a number of popular trailheads. You’ll also find a number of nearby waterfalls, including Lower Falls and Champney Falls, and the Rocky Gorge Scenic Area is not far. This campground is on Kancamagus Highway closer to its endpoint on the eastern side, just 10 minutes from Conway where you can find most major amenities.
This is one of the most idyllic campgrounds along the Kancamagus Highway. It is rustic, but that’s what people who come here are looking for: an immersion in nature. However, although it feels remote, it’s still close to a major town, and there are friendly and helpful staff on-site. The sites are private, and the wooded areas surrounding them offer perfect hiking opportunities.
Just 10 minutes west of Conway, right on Kancamagus Highway, you’ll find Covered Bridge Campground. It’s right on the banks of the Swift River, offering scenic riverside campsites. The Boulder Loop Trailhead is right on grounds of the campground, and many other trails are nearby, as a the picturesque covered bridge. Additionally, if you’re coming from Lincoln, Covered Bridge Campground is just a 40 minute drive east.
The amenities at this campground are very basic, but you’re surrounded by natural beauty. Hiking, swimming, and fishing opportunities abound as do cliffside views and waterfalls. Their campsites are beautiful, surrounded by mossy forest, small streams, and perfectly clean and well-maintained. They’re also large, offering plenty of privacy and picnic space.
Nestled off the Kancamagus Highway just down the street from the Russell Colbath House, a homestead from the 1830s and museum, Jigger Johnson Campground is a great central camping area within the White Mountain National Forest and the Kancamagus Highway. It’s right next to Bear Notch Road, which leads to some great cross-country skiing trailheads, and it’s near several hiking trailheads as well. Midway between Conway and Lincoln, Jigger Johnson Campground is perfectly located for those who want to get the most out of all this area has to offer.
If you want to stay on the Kancamagus Highway but still have access to modern showers and bathrooms, this is one of your only options. It’s right in the middle of the scenic byway’s greatest attractions, close to several major towns. The campground also offers easy access to the Swift River.
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You’ll find Lost River Valley Campground at the fork of Lost River Road and Sawyer Highway, just two miles west of I-93 and Lincoln, New Hampshire. Within minutes, you can be at the ice castles of Lincoln or on the Kancamagus Highway. You also have the Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves, a unique and stunning hiking experience, only one mile away. It’s also situated right on the Lost River.
If you want to stay on the Kancamagus Highway but still have access to modern showers and bathrooms, this is one of your only options. It’s right in the middle of the scenic byway’s greatest attractions, close to several major towns. The campground also offers easy access to the Swift River.
Camping and traveling in an RV is truly the best way to see Kancamagus Highway and the state of New Hampshire. Whether you want to go wilderness camping in the forest, beachside camping on one of the state’s beautiful lakes, or RV camping in one of New England’s quaint historic towns just down the street from an 1800s homestead, this list covers all the options.
Being in the middle of White Mountain National Forest, Kancamagus Highway passes through many of New Hampshire’s most stunning natural landmarks. It’s also just a short drive from the New England coast to the east, the Canadian border to the north, and the finger lakes to the south, so you can easily extend your trip to a number of different destinations in the northeast.
The top 10 campgrounds we selected all show daily, weekly and monthly rates for you. Pricing will vary.
Pricing will vary. The top 10 RV Parks we selected all display daily, weekly and monthly rates for you.
Staying at an RV Park for a long period of time will vary on the campground & RV Park you choose. View our post for more information.
Yes. The majority of campgrounds we selected in this blog allow pets.