Crawford Notch State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Cradled in New Hampshire's White Mountains, Crawford Notch State Park is renowned for scenic vistas and waterfalls. The 5,775-acre state park, officially opened in 1950, greets visitors with views that captured the heart of America's first landscape artist, Thomas Cole, whose grave guests can visit to this day. Although always beautiful, the park puts on a fantastic show during the fall, bursting with some of the best and brightest colors in the country. Along with the natural splendor of the valley, the park features the Willey House historical site, a home from the 1800s preserved after the Willey family's tragic deaths in 1826. The park also boasts part of the Conway Scenic Railway and a section of the Appalachian Trail.
Nearby Cities:
Jackson, NH
Intervale, NH
Littleton, NH
Lebanon, NH
Spring 16-29 F
Summer 43-55 F
Fall 24-36 F
Winter 2-21 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Crawford Notch State Park
Campground Accommodations
Dry River Campground
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: No
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 40 ft.
Other amenities: Bathhouse, flush toilets, potable water, laundry, fire rings, picnic tables
Crawford Notch Campground
When you're visiting Crawford Notch State Park, you might want to park your vehicle at Crawford Notch Campground. This family-owned park is nestled in the heart of the White Mountains. You can enjoy the majestic mountains, unspoiled wilderness, and miles of hiking trails at this secluded spot. The campground's cabin and camping sites are located near the banks of the Saco River. Crawford Notch Campground's full hookup RV sites will cost $40 per night.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: close to local attractions
Twin Mountain Motor Court & RV Park
At Twin Mountain Motor Court & RV Park, you can choose to stay in a cabin or at a full hookup site. This campground is located in the nearby community of Twin Mountain, NH. If you want to explore, you can take a scenic drive or hike on one of the local trails. If you want to relax, there is plenty of space to disconnect from the outside world. At Twin Mountain Motor Court & RV Park, there are 18 RV sites with 30-amp electric hookups. If you are planning to spend the night, the cost is $40. However, there are discounts for longer visits.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Good Sam discounts
Twin Mountain KOA
For those who want to stay in the heart of the White Mountains, this award-winning KOA location is ideal. The Twin Mountain KOA offers pull-through RV sites with full hookups. If you want to "rough it," there are primitive campsites available in the park. You can also rent a cabin, cottage, or lodge for your stay. There are plenty of amenities to enjoy, such as a swimming pool, snack bar, and a dog park. The prices for a site will vary depending on the size of your vehicle.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: camping store, fire pit, and picnic tables
What to Do at
Crawford Notch State Park
Hikers of all abilities and skill levels can find wonder on the park's many trails, and some routes are also suitable for ambitious mountain bike enthusiasts. The park's waterfalls are not to be missed, and if you enjoy climbing, there's a cliff face waiting for you to conquer. With so many other parks and nature preserves nearby, there's more wildlife than civilization. The stars glow bright and clear, just waiting for stargazers to set up their telescopes, and Crawford Notch makes an excellent playground for photography, landscape painting, and more artistic endeavors.
With over a dozen hiking routes, multiple waterways, towering mountains, and more jaw-dropping scenery than a single roll of film can capture, Crawford Notch State Park is an incredible escape for nature lovers.
Inside Crawford Notch State Park
If you're looking for a break from the hustle and bustle of city life, Crawford Notch State Park is the perfect place for you. You can take in the beautiful mountain views or try to spot the local wildlife. Of course, history buffs and curious visitors will want to check out the Willey House, which is now an interpretive center within Crawford Notch State Park. Be sure to stop in and learn about its tragic history.
Fishing
The Saco River, Dry River, and Kedron Brook all run through Crawford Notch, and they have plenty of fish for anglers to catch. You can fish from shore or try your hand at fly fishing.
Geocaching
The park participates in official New Hampshire state parks geocaching events and challenges, and there are several traditional caches in key areas around the valley.
Nature Watching
As a river valley in the middle of a mountain range, Crawford Notch sees a lot of four-legged traffic. Guests often nature watch in camp from the comfort of their own RVs, and the trails teem with life.
Stargazing
With its remote location, relative isolation, and high elevation, the park is an excellent place for stargazing. Nearby clubs and resorts often offer special stargazing events, but it's just as easy to find an open spot near your campsite, lay out a blanket, and stare into the sky. On a clear night, you can see the Milky Way.
Flora and Fauna
Some of the most impressive flora in the park is in the old-growth Jack Pine forest by Dry River Camp. There are also lots of maple, poplar, and white birch trees. Guests may spot black bears, snowshoe hares, moose, and foxes. Additionally, the area is home to deer, beavers, and wild turkeys.
Hiking
This park is a hiker's paradise. Trails range from easy to hard and stretch from one mile to 17. The Arethusa Falls Trail is one of the most popular and passes by several smaller waterfalls as a build-up to the trail's namesake, one of the state's tallest and most scenic falls. The Ripley Falls trail is one of the park's shortest at one mile, but it offers stunning waterfall scenery and a family-friendly adventure. The Frankenstein Cliff Trail is just under four miles and is a challenging excursion, but the views of the valley at the top are incredible.
Climbing
Several areas in and around the park attract climbers, including weathered granite faces on Mt. Willard and Mt. Webster. The Frankenstein Cliffs may be the most popular spot for steep climbs. There are also several designated bouldering routes to challenge your puzzle-solving skills.
Biking
It's fair to say that while the park has many trails, most are better for hiking. That said, the Field Brook Trail and Zealand Trail will offer a doable challenge for experienced mountain bikers.
How to Get to
Crawford Notch State Park
To reach Crawford Notch from Concord, New Hampshire, head North on Interstate 93. After about 73 miles, take exit 35 for US Route 3 North, heading toward Lancaster and Twin Mountain. Follow Route 3 for roughly 10 miles, then turn right on US Route 302, heading East. After about eight miles, Route 302 enters the park and continues through, providing the main route through Crawford Notch. There are trailheads, scenic view parking areas, and campsites on either side of the route for several miles. Dry River Campground, the park's RV-friendly campground, is on the left.
Entering Crawford Notch State Park
Parking is available near the office, which is at the entrance to the campground. There is no day-use fee for Crawford Notch, but you may have to pay $5 to park at some of the trailheads nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crawford Notch State Park
Winters in New Hampshire's mountains often become dangerous for travel, and the park isn't always accessible. While spring and summer offer an excellent experience, early October showcases the best of the region's legendary fall colors.
Like most New Hampshire state parks, the area has wild turkeys, raccoons, and deer. Its wildlife also includes big mammals like black bears and moose.
There are RV campsites in the Dry River Campground area of the park. It's worth noting all the sites are back-in only and do not have hookups.
Guests should reserve online or by phone if they plan to visit during peak camping season, between Memorial Day and Columbus Day. Off-season camping is first-come-first-served. The cost in any season is $25 per night.
Leashed pets are allowed in all outdoor areas, and the park's campsites are pet-friendly. The historical Willey House, however, does not allow animals.